RECCE ROOM

This was posted online. Reposted here because it is good information on what should be trained primarily. -----   After meticulously viewing 1000s of OIS (Officer Involved Shootings) here’s what we continue to document:  We generally don’t see:  Braced kneeling, of any kind.  Shoulder transitions on rifle.  Slug select on 12ga.  Rifle to handgun transitions.  Multiple lethal threats.  Patrol rifle magnifiers being utilized.  Reloads with retention.  Shooting on the move, towards a threat.  Patrol rifle dot to iron sight transition.  Proactive prone engagement.  Shooting to trigger reset.  Transitions from handheld light to handgun WML.  Braced barricade work.  Patrol rifles / handguns being used through loopholes.  Auditory lethal cues.  Failure drills being needed.  We usually see:  Draw stroke under rapid reactive movement.  Muzzle orientations in confined spaces (door procedu...

Seen in the wild. This individual has some interesting takes on training. Of note, he lists himself as a former firearms instructor for what appears to be a law enforcement organization. Note the word former . That matters. PICTURE 1 In the first image, he rails against training facilities that use words like “tactical,” “defensive,” “special,” or “advanced.” He declares that you cannot teach anything of value in a few hours or in a single eight hour day. He also insists that anything “tactical” or “realistic” cannot be trained in an air conditioned environment. That is a remarkable stack of absolutes. He goes on to say it took him four hours to properly teach nomenclature, and another four to teach grip and stance. If that is his baseline, that tells us more about his methodology than about anyone else’s. Yes, the photo he criticizes shows an imperfect grip. That happens. It happens with brand new civilian shooters. It happens with military personnel. It happens with law enforcemen...

A reader writes in and asks: "What is a day in the life like (for a firearms instructor)?" I can’t speak for every instructor on Earth. But I am the world’s leading authority on what it’s like to be me. So here’s a snapshot, lifted from one random day. The Good A 21-year-old young man I’ve known for years stopped by the house. He’s one of my son’s closest friends. He wanted to show us the Smith & Wesson he just purchased. Would I have chosen that exact model? Probably not. But it fit him . And more importantly, he knew this was a place where he could share, ask questions, and get encouragement instead of eye-rolling. I taught his carry permit class a few years back. Watching students grow into thoughtful, responsible gun owners never gets old. Elsewhere in the day: • Someone registered for an upcoming class. • Someone else emailed with questions about whether a course was right for them. Those moments may look small, but they’re signals: people want to learn, and they tr...

 Your humble author turns 50 this weekend. In honor of that, here is a post on something gun related that has the number 50 in it.  50 Is Fine, But Not a Default – Why the 50-Yard Zero Isn’t Always “Good Enough” for Every Practical Rifle Use Abstract When it comes to zeroing a rifle, the 50-yard zero is often tossed around like it’s the gold standard. And truthfully, it is a solid choice—if you’re running a red dot or holographic optic. But too many shooters treat it like the universal solution. In reality, the 50-yard zero is context-specific. It performs well in many use cases but falls short when applied blindly across platforms and sighting systems. As always, tools work best when they’re used correctly. And that includes your zero. When 50 Works Let’s start with the good news. For red dots or holographic optics mounted on an AR-15 (barrels between 14.5" and 20") firing 55- or 62-grain military clone ammo, the 50-yard zero offers a remarkably flat trajectory. From contact...

Abstract For decades, many shooters (especially those with military backgrounds) have leaned heavily on the so-called 25/300 zero for the AR-15 platform. It’s often treated as gospel: zero at 25 meters and you’re supposedly good to go at 300. But there’s a major problem with this belief:  it’s not true. The math, the ballistics, and even the original doctrine don’t support the way people are still applying this zero today. And if you’re relying on it for practical shooting, you're probably holding wrong at every range between zero and 400 yards. Where it started Let’s start with the military roots of this zero. Back when the U.S. Army standardized the 25-meter zero, soldiers were instructed to use a special “Z” setting on their rear sight drum; and this setting was specifically designed to account for the extremely close zero distance. That Z setting wasn't just a convenience; it was essential for syncing up the trajectory at longer ranges. Fast forward to civilian applicati...

Stating an unpopular opinion here - red dots for pistols are still a fad, and always will be one as long as they persist.  James Yeager felt and never really came off this opinion that red dots on a pistol are a fad.  Red Dots on CCW Pistols - Part 1 (youtube.com) A RED DOT DOES NOT INCREASE SPEED WITH A PISTOL A red dot on a rifle is a speed aiming apparatus. A red dot on a pistol is a precision apparatus. It is fairly easy to teach a student a combat proficient level of accuracy using iron sights on a pistol within a the first day of a larger two-day class. Meanwhile, most people wear a pistol for self defense. Self defense situations are widely known to be situations where time is of the essence. You won't have time to find that dot and line it up.  YOU WILL HUNT FOR THE DOT. Oh, you think that you can fix that? Yes - it can be fixed. No, it has little to do with "proper fundamentals," like so many YouTube videos would have you believe (that's just how they explain...

With the failed attempt on President Trump's life, there has been much written and said about the killer, the weapon used, etc. Of course, within the "gun guy" communities, there are many myths propagated.  Naturally, I do not condone the actions. Also, statements by people on our side can be stupid. We need to curtail them.  One such: "So, I consider myself a decent shooter. But 152yrds, I’m not gonna try to use the AR for accurate shots. There are much better choices out there. Definitely sounds like an Antifa nut job." A typical AR-15, getting 3 MOA from a 55 grain load. At 150 yards, that is 4.5 inches. The "average" human head is about 7 inches wide by 9 inches high. A 4.5 inch window is more than accurate enough to make that shot. An accurized AR and better ammo would yield much better results - perhaps even a 1 inch group or less at that distance.  Another, from the opposite point of view: "In the USMC we qualified at 500 yards iron sights....

This post to serve as a more thorough review of the class, Rifle Marksman, by Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant.  Abstract My reason for taking this class was twofold. First, as someone who identifies as a Rifleman (who also teaches pistol classes), I wanted to see how a rifle class would look as taught by an expert pistoleer. Brian Hill certainly foots that bill. Second, my rifle classes to this point have either been taught from the tactical perspective, the "precision" perspective, or the competitive marksmanship perspective. I wanted to take one from a "sport shooting" perspective more similar to the so-called "run-and-gun" - and this class certainly foots that bill.  The Instructor Brian Hill is a distinguished competitive shooter, former law enforcement, and martial artist. He has been teaching firearms for a long time and is well known in firearms communities as an expert in the art of the pistol. As a person, he came across as kind and friendly...

After writing this article , the author spent more time reviewing YouTube videos from the linked source. What was to be found was a walk down memory lane for this blog!  This video  and the follow up video both work to detail the accuracy of a 1:9 twist barrel with 77 grain ammunition. Three different 1:9 twist barrels are used, including a 16" rifle. This blog post , written over 7 years ago, comes to the same conclusion. Specifically written in that post: "70+ grain ammo not being stabilized out of a 1:9 twist barrel is a myth when the barrel is 20" long. I have no data or proof for the claim one way or the other for 18, 16, or 14.5" barrels." Well, now there is proof of the 16" barrels!

Revisiting this old post on the "25/300 yard zero."  Why?  Because this video was found in the wild on YouTube recently. The video states exactly the same thing this blog has stated over and over. Do not zero at 25 m. It does not equate to any other known zero. Even using the old military iron sight "z" setting, you are only getting shots on paper (man-sized paper at 300m) at best. Then you must fine tune the zero.  And absolutely and completely avoid this "zero" at all costs with any sort of scope. 

Because the internet is forever®. And because this has been posted about before.  Let's review this passive-aggressive post and evaluate for accuracy.  Since 2016, Patriot Training has had over 1000 paying students walk through the doors.  In 2022, just over half of all paying attendees have been Alumni (had a live fire class with Patriot Training) Over 200 paying students have taken life-saving medical classes.  Prices for classes have been increased every year.  Attendance has increased every year, with the exception of 2022 (unknown, as the year is not yet complete - but trending to be slightly less than 2021).  Over 70 military veterans have attended classes. All but one has attended again.  Over 50 current or former LEO have attended classes. All but three have attended again.  46 Facebook reviews - 45 of which are 5-star reviews. The lone negative review is from an individual who has never and will never attend a Patriot Training class....

  Some time ago, this blog had a post designed to expose some of the idiocy in and around the gun community - particularly online.  One presumably well-intended reader commented "Gee. What made you think that you were exempt from the general BS?" And then he went on to suggest I was somehow whining about something.  Of course, anyone who read the article as a whole understands the purpose was to categorize the types of "yahoos" one might encounter online.  To that point, more recently, Mike Glover of Fieldcraft Survival had one such yahoo make some of those irregular statements.  And Glover documented it on his Instagram page.  Nope, nobody is exempt.  Nobody should pretend they should be.  The point is, internet yahoos will do what they do, which is to find fault where one does not exist.  Mainly because they do not get out there and train, they type from cheetos-dusted keyboards in mommy's basement. 

From a reader: " Great stuff this week. What do you suggest for a rifle these days?" AR15 platform... hands down.  Free-floated barrel.  16" / 18" / 20" barrel.  Backup sights Sling - Vickers style or Magpul MS1, or similar.  55 grain ammo - all of the same make and model.  10 Magpul PMAGs.  Red dot or Low Power Variable Optic. The LPVO should be a 1-4x, 1-6x, 1-8x, or similar.  Keep it dialed to "1." Get some good training with the rifle - marksmanship as well as tactical.  Get some good training with the handgun, as well.  Get some medical training and carry medical equipment. 

From a reader: "I enjoyed this article . Thank you for the suggestions. What would you suggest for EDC (every day carry)?" GLOCK 19 Sig P320  Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Each of these is 15+1. Each of these is well proven, very reliable, and more accurate than most shooters. This author has one of each and does not hesitate to take a class with them, or loan them to students in classes. They simply work.  Also, for those that want a smaller gun: GLOCK 43 Sig P365  Smith & Wesson Shield.  Avoid: Avoid .380 and "mouse gun" calibers (.22LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP).  Avoid the S&W "Shield E-Z" - it is NOT "EZ."  Avoid 1911 models for self defense carry. Avoid arming women with revolvers - they are neither more reliable, nor easier to shoot. Avoid falling into the 9mm vs .40 vs .45 debate. They are all pistol calibers. 

Reader:  So I absolutely loved your " tell me you've never been to a gun class, without saying 'I've never been to a gun class' " post. Do you have more? Thou art quite fortunate! (my thoughts in italics below the entries) Seen on an ad for a $125 one-day gun class: "Too pricey for me." What?? Did you expect it to be free, Scooter?? On many gun ads: "go join the military!" Ok. Random. What does joining the military have to do with taking a civilian gun class?? Like the above one: "playing soldier!" or "there's no way you can learn infantry tactics in two days!!!" The first is a #LibNut who is offended by the thought of a gun class. The second is a former infantryman, who wasn't good at his infantry job, and scored a negative 12 on the ASVAB, and is jealous he cannot make money teaching gun classes.   At a pistol class: "This is a really neat idea. You should teach rifle classes, too!" This is simply a ...

 Many readers tell me they enjoy when I write about things that do not make sense. Here is one from the gun world.  Setting A participant in a pistol class. This class teaches tactical reloads in the standard method - remove a partially expended magazine and replace with a full magazine. Participant states that since the methodology was not to work the slide with a tactical reload - this caused him to experience double feeds during the class.  Note Of all of the training I have had, the ONLY place that advocates working the slide when performing a tactical reload has been Tactical Response. Their thinking is that each time you handle the pistol, you always address the magazine and the slide - to "dummy-proof" the manipulation. All of the other schools I've attended advocate simply swapping the magazines.  Facts Double feeds in pistols - particularly the GLOCK 19 (what this participant was shooting) - are almost always caused by one of just a few things: 1. Improperly...

From a reader: "Can you get back on the subject of guns? I agree with you on Babies' rights, but come to your blog for guns." Will do. From another reader: "I have come to the realization that I need training. What company should I train with? What company should I avoid?" Outstanding questions. As there are two questions, they will be answered separately. Q1 was " what company should I train with? " The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, is in Tennessee. Here is a list, in no particular order, of firearms training companies I recommend:   Valor Ridge     Tactical Response     Citizens Safety Academy     Middle Tennessee Firearms Training     Patriot Training  - you knew this one would be here. The second question was "what company should I avoid?" The answer to this question presents some ethical problems. This author knows of two companies in Tennessee that should be avoided for good reason.  However, it is...

In April, I ventured for a third time to Tactical Response. The purpose of this trip was to take Sniper Basics. Unlike Fighting Pistol, the class had no handout, so I shall follow the instructions from Fighting Pistol on making a review. Who - Who attended? I attended, no friends with me this time. There were four other shooters. Who taught? Instructors were Jay and Louis. Who could take this and benefit from it? Someone who has dabbled with marksmanship and owns a precision rifle. Who did I like and who did I want to punch? I liked all of the instructors and participants. Of note on this topic - the rear tire of my car went flat on Day 2 - while I was in class. Louis, the instructor, patched the tire for me. I dare you to get this at any other firearms school.  What - What class? Sniper Basics What did I do? All of the drills as guided by the instructors. What did I learn that I expected? Marksmanship and holdovers and wind holds. What did I see? A very well thought out curriculu...

In March, I again went to Tactical Response. This time, the purpose was to take Fighting Rifle. Unlike Fighting Pistol, the class had no handout, so I shall follow the instructions from Fighting Pistol on making a review. Who - Who attended? I attended, along with my friend, "Butler." Who taught? Instructors were Bryan and Jay. Who could take this and benefit from it? Most people. Have a little experience with your rifle, first.  Who did I like and who did I want to punch? I liked all of the instructors and participants.  One non-participant observer was just a tad annoying, and only a couple of times. Jay shut him down before he could make too much of an idiot of himself.  What - What class? Fighting Rifle What did I do? All of the drills as guided by the instructors. What did I learn that I expected? Virtually all aspects of fighting with a rifle in relatively close quarters. What did I see? A very well put-together syllabus executed for students of most skill levels. W...

 A recent conversation with a reader of this blog gave rise to the need to update some information. Clearly, guns and shooting are a major source of enjoyment for me and have been for many years. Often, those who shoot find themselves in prepper communities, and I am no different. At this point, I have taken dozens of firearms classes, and taught over 100 live fire classes. So this week, posts will center around my suggestions for guns and equipment for SHTF.  Day 3 - Rigs My primary chest rig is a Helikon Tex Micro Rig. This rig holds 4 AR mags, and has 4 pouches for pistol mags and tools. It has a med pouch, as well as a main pouch. Very comparable to most micro rigs on the market.  A secondary rig I own and train with is a Tasmanian Tiger MKII chest rig. It has 5 AR mag pouches. I have added to the MOLLE a pair of pistol mag pouches. It has two side pouches - one I use for medical, and the other for general tools.  Another rig I own and train with is an Army FLC (...