Pat_Rogers
04-23-07, 16:37
We had another great week at the Memphis Police Department Firearms Training Unit range. The quality of the physical plant is exceeded only by the quality of the cops who work there and who train the cops in the very hard city.
This class was a 5 Day Tactical Carbine Class, and included multiple shoot house runs (both as a singleton and two man) as well as square range out to 300m.
This was an open class and had the usual mix of cop, mil, contractors and earth people.
Wes Grant, the large pilot of MSTN fame was present once again and made many people happy by providing the assembled multitudes with equipment from his store. This was a great opportunity for students to see, touch, shoot and otherwise lust after those things that MSTN builds and sells.
We had no optics problems and few gun issues. The one glaring exception was an LMT that had 535 trouble free rounds through it and then decided it would not run.
The biggest problem was with ammo. The MPD shooters were using Q3131A, which is- at best- garbage.
It has once more lived up to the quality control standards by depositing popped primers into the lower receiver, bolt gas key and gas tubes of several guns. We also had a squib load from that same bunch.
Mike Hueser’s loaner carbine is locked up solid, probably because of a primer in the bolt cam pin slot (something we have seen before).
I haven’t seen any ammo from that part of the world- IMI, TZZ or the 3131A that I would be happy with. The experience over the past week just validate what was already known.
The quality of the shooters in this class was universally high, and while not everyone was up to the same level of experience, there were a few who were truly transparent in their applications of tactics and use of force.
Equipment will always be a major bugaboo for anyone in this business, and this class was no exception. It is difficult for people to research what is good and not, and we often have to depend on anecdotal info in making purchases- not always the best research tool.
A tip of the hat to my AI’s- Mike Hueser, Jay Tuttle and Jose Gordon- for making this work.
Also Kudos to Eagle Industries, CamelBak, Viking Tactics and Larue Tactical for their continued support of our program.
Finally, mega kudos to the Firearms Training Unit of the Memphis PD. These guys are forward leaning and very much dedicated to keeping the good guys alive while ensuring that the bad guys are properly processed. The CO of the FTU- Lt Mike Rawlins- attended the class (and he is a hell of a shooter) along with 3 of his Instructors (One was High Shooter /carbine and the other High Shooter/ pistol). They spent a lot of time preparing the range and deconflicting potential issues and making this one a great class. Two of these guys had serious issues- deaths in the family- while at class. They were able to work through all of the problems and stay focused on what was needed in order to maximize the training while also attending to family responsibilities.
Top shelf guys……..
One additional note. There was a PPC match taking place at the same time. At the end of TD3, two shooters were working on their downed LMT. A competitor was walking through the parking lot w/ wife and dogs. He asked if they were cleaning, and the students replied that they had a broke gun.
The competitor immediately offered up the AR he had in his trunk so that they could finish the class. He didn’t know their names, no questions asked, no handshakes- no nothing. He offered because other shooters might need help, and that was all he was concerned with.
The rifle was not needed (these very experience shooters had several spares) but that is not the point.
The point of course is that some of the very best people that I have ever met carry and use guns as part of their every day life. In this case the man making the offer is a former 18D and a retired tactical cop- clearly highly experienced and a true and faithful judge of character.
Images to follow (after I finish the next 8 classes on this trip…)
This class was a 5 Day Tactical Carbine Class, and included multiple shoot house runs (both as a singleton and two man) as well as square range out to 300m.
This was an open class and had the usual mix of cop, mil, contractors and earth people.
Wes Grant, the large pilot of MSTN fame was present once again and made many people happy by providing the assembled multitudes with equipment from his store. This was a great opportunity for students to see, touch, shoot and otherwise lust after those things that MSTN builds and sells.
We had no optics problems and few gun issues. The one glaring exception was an LMT that had 535 trouble free rounds through it and then decided it would not run.
The biggest problem was with ammo. The MPD shooters were using Q3131A, which is- at best- garbage.
It has once more lived up to the quality control standards by depositing popped primers into the lower receiver, bolt gas key and gas tubes of several guns. We also had a squib load from that same bunch.
Mike Hueser’s loaner carbine is locked up solid, probably because of a primer in the bolt cam pin slot (something we have seen before).
I haven’t seen any ammo from that part of the world- IMI, TZZ or the 3131A that I would be happy with. The experience over the past week just validate what was already known.
The quality of the shooters in this class was universally high, and while not everyone was up to the same level of experience, there were a few who were truly transparent in their applications of tactics and use of force.
Equipment will always be a major bugaboo for anyone in this business, and this class was no exception. It is difficult for people to research what is good and not, and we often have to depend on anecdotal info in making purchases- not always the best research tool.
A tip of the hat to my AI’s- Mike Hueser, Jay Tuttle and Jose Gordon- for making this work.
Also Kudos to Eagle Industries, CamelBak, Viking Tactics and Larue Tactical for their continued support of our program.
Finally, mega kudos to the Firearms Training Unit of the Memphis PD. These guys are forward leaning and very much dedicated to keeping the good guys alive while ensuring that the bad guys are properly processed. The CO of the FTU- Lt Mike Rawlins- attended the class (and he is a hell of a shooter) along with 3 of his Instructors (One was High Shooter /carbine and the other High Shooter/ pistol). They spent a lot of time preparing the range and deconflicting potential issues and making this one a great class. Two of these guys had serious issues- deaths in the family- while at class. They were able to work through all of the problems and stay focused on what was needed in order to maximize the training while also attending to family responsibilities.
Top shelf guys……..
One additional note. There was a PPC match taking place at the same time. At the end of TD3, two shooters were working on their downed LMT. A competitor was walking through the parking lot w/ wife and dogs. He asked if they were cleaning, and the students replied that they had a broke gun.
The competitor immediately offered up the AR he had in his trunk so that they could finish the class. He didn’t know their names, no questions asked, no handshakes- no nothing. He offered because other shooters might need help, and that was all he was concerned with.
The rifle was not needed (these very experience shooters had several spares) but that is not the point.
The point of course is that some of the very best people that I have ever met carry and use guns as part of their every day life. In this case the man making the offer is a former 18D and a retired tactical cop- clearly highly experienced and a true and faithful judge of character.
Images to follow (after I finish the next 8 classes on this trip…)