Pat_Rogers
05-27-07, 15:48
EAG conducted a Carbine Operators Course hosted by the Durango, CO PD May 23-25 May 2007. We piggybacked this course onto the previous Pueblo West class, and the trip westward was made memorable by the WX in Wolf Creek pass, when temps dropped from mid 40’s to below freezing, and sun gave rapidly away to clouds, rain, sleet and finally snow.. Fortunately Colorado understands how to deal with WX issues and the roads were functional. Aside from the requisite white knuckle moments the remainder of the trip was a non issue.
TD1 was a steady rain with temps in the high 30’s. It slowed things down just a bit, but the remainder of the course was sunny and cool.
The class was conducted on a commercial range, and the resultant noise of freedom being maintained apparently gave local Wal-Mart shoppers (and others) something to consider as they conducted their daily chores.
This class had cops from Durango, La Plata County, Vail, Ft Lewis College, Farmington NM, Yavapai County AZ, Casa Grande AZ, and Salt Lake City UT as well as local gunsmith and 1911 pistol wizard Stan Chen. The diversity of the class was also reflected in how regional US policing really is, and how each department visualizes what weapons, equipment and training are viable. It also reflects how each department balances budgetary issues relative during the GWOT.
Overall quality of the class was high. Some issues were perplexing. Most attending strongly believed that the AR required minimal lube, causing multiple weapon issues, especially on TD1. Some were perplexed when we administered heavy lube on the poorly running guns, but all saw the light when these guns ran as advertised.
Much of this is possibly due to prior training issues. Myths abound in this business, and sometimes when something gets rolling, it is hard to stop.
The AR runs better wet than dry. That is a fact of life.
Bad magazines continue to plague us. One department used their “training magazines” (painted bright blue) rather then their duty mags. While this is understandable on one level, we observed that the magazines with problems had the words “No Good” scratched on the body, indicating that they had caused problems in the past.
They felt it would be better not to damage duty mags during training (I agree) but having deficient magazines results in degraded training.
I’ll say this again- don’t fall in love with your magazines. If you identify one as a problem, get rid of it. Like a toothache, it won’t miraculously get better on its own. Mags are inexpensive now, a situation likely to change when the socialists come into power. Stocking up on mags is not a bad idea.
Half of this class had iron sighted guns. Of those with optics, two had C-Mores. The C-less is last on my list of optics for a wide variety of reasons. One shooter ditched his during TD1- the other kept his on for the class. Aimpoints and one EOTech were on the remainder of the guns.
One tac team ran the course with Gem Tech M4C suppressors attached. Gem Tech makes a sweet product, and while running a can during a training course ensures a very dirty gun, their guns ran well (OK, ran well except for the magazine issues…).
We had two high end guns go down. We believe it was gas problems associated with the gas block, but don’t have a lock on it yet.
Durango is a beautiful place, as is a fair amount of CO. Lots of yuppie/ hippie scum and granola munchers, but with enough real deal humans to make it livable.
We stayed with Jeff and Micki, and waking up to the sight of snow covered mountains was a great way to start off the day.
I like all of the classes that I teach, and I haven’t had a bozo in a long while (at least since Quantico a few years ago).
I don’t like most people, and while this business (like all businesses) is full of duplicitous back stabbers, charlatans and clowns, those attending the classes have a commonality of interest and a desire to improve skill sets that make the rest of it worthwhile.
Thanks to Mike Hueser and JK for their hard work. Both spent more time then necessary tweaking guns and changing parts, but the result was worth it.
Special thanks to Capt Micki Browning of the Durango PD for hosting the class.
Thanks as well to Kyle Lamb at Viking Tactics, TangoDown, CamelBak, Larue Tactics, Slip 2000, Tactical Springs and Eagle Industries for their continued support.
We’ll be back in Durango in May of 2008. FWIW, we are CO POST cert for our Carbine Operators class.
TD1 was a steady rain with temps in the high 30’s. It slowed things down just a bit, but the remainder of the course was sunny and cool.
The class was conducted on a commercial range, and the resultant noise of freedom being maintained apparently gave local Wal-Mart shoppers (and others) something to consider as they conducted their daily chores.
This class had cops from Durango, La Plata County, Vail, Ft Lewis College, Farmington NM, Yavapai County AZ, Casa Grande AZ, and Salt Lake City UT as well as local gunsmith and 1911 pistol wizard Stan Chen. The diversity of the class was also reflected in how regional US policing really is, and how each department visualizes what weapons, equipment and training are viable. It also reflects how each department balances budgetary issues relative during the GWOT.
Overall quality of the class was high. Some issues were perplexing. Most attending strongly believed that the AR required minimal lube, causing multiple weapon issues, especially on TD1. Some were perplexed when we administered heavy lube on the poorly running guns, but all saw the light when these guns ran as advertised.
Much of this is possibly due to prior training issues. Myths abound in this business, and sometimes when something gets rolling, it is hard to stop.
The AR runs better wet than dry. That is a fact of life.
Bad magazines continue to plague us. One department used their “training magazines” (painted bright blue) rather then their duty mags. While this is understandable on one level, we observed that the magazines with problems had the words “No Good” scratched on the body, indicating that they had caused problems in the past.
They felt it would be better not to damage duty mags during training (I agree) but having deficient magazines results in degraded training.
I’ll say this again- don’t fall in love with your magazines. If you identify one as a problem, get rid of it. Like a toothache, it won’t miraculously get better on its own. Mags are inexpensive now, a situation likely to change when the socialists come into power. Stocking up on mags is not a bad idea.
Half of this class had iron sighted guns. Of those with optics, two had C-Mores. The C-less is last on my list of optics for a wide variety of reasons. One shooter ditched his during TD1- the other kept his on for the class. Aimpoints and one EOTech were on the remainder of the guns.
One tac team ran the course with Gem Tech M4C suppressors attached. Gem Tech makes a sweet product, and while running a can during a training course ensures a very dirty gun, their guns ran well (OK, ran well except for the magazine issues…).
We had two high end guns go down. We believe it was gas problems associated with the gas block, but don’t have a lock on it yet.
Durango is a beautiful place, as is a fair amount of CO. Lots of yuppie/ hippie scum and granola munchers, but with enough real deal humans to make it livable.
We stayed with Jeff and Micki, and waking up to the sight of snow covered mountains was a great way to start off the day.
I like all of the classes that I teach, and I haven’t had a bozo in a long while (at least since Quantico a few years ago).
I don’t like most people, and while this business (like all businesses) is full of duplicitous back stabbers, charlatans and clowns, those attending the classes have a commonality of interest and a desire to improve skill sets that make the rest of it worthwhile.
Thanks to Mike Hueser and JK for their hard work. Both spent more time then necessary tweaking guns and changing parts, but the result was worth it.
Special thanks to Capt Micki Browning of the Durango PD for hosting the class.
Thanks as well to Kyle Lamb at Viking Tactics, TangoDown, CamelBak, Larue Tactics, Slip 2000, Tactical Springs and Eagle Industries for their continued support.
We’ll be back in Durango in May of 2008. FWIW, we are CO POST cert for our Carbine Operators class.