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Pat_Rogers
08-13-07, 05:46
Due to time constraints, this is a running AAR. I'll update it as I get time

EAG Conducted a Carbine Operators Course at the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area in StJoMo, 11-13 Aug 2007.
T1
Just prior to leaving home, the young daughter of one shooter decided to heat up breakfast syrup in a microwave. The bottle burst, causing 2nd degree burns but fortunately no serious eye damage.
On the way to class, one of my AI’s hit Bambi at 70 MPH on the interstate. Bambi DRT, truck WIA, AI good to go.
WX was typical of what you would expect for the area in August. T1 was hovering about 100. The range is primitive, and the surrounded by trees, preventing any breeze from stirring the hot air around.
This was an open enrollment class, and the mix was cops, military, contractors and average earth people.
The heat always presents issues, especially with people who are out of shape. We continue to emphasize hydration, but too many people – for whatever reasons- ignore this. The results are diminished performance factors, which leads to reduced learning and eventually safety issues.
People- bring a CamelBak or bottled liquid on the line with you. To not do so means you will either have a miserable time or will become a heat casualty- neither of which is optimal.
Gun issues. A cop’s duty RRA would not extract. The extractor was as smooth as butter (the gun had 500 rds through it). The extractor spring was a 4 coil and insert was blue. We replaced the extractor, installed a 5 coil spring and black insert.
A good running frankengun also stopped running. The extractor spring was flat- no spring in the spring so to speak.
There are parts, and there are parts. Parts are apparently graded, and not all are Grade 1.
Buy cheap and expect problems.
Several magazines were poor performers. Thanks to Paul Buffoni at BCM, we have one hundred brand new D&H magazines which we use as student loaners. They are good running mags at an excellent price.
We are T&E 3 S&W M&P15’s- two are 15T’s, and one a standard 15. All are in the hands of students, and when we get approximately 4,000 rds downrange we’ll write up a SWAT story about there performance.

And at the end of T1, one student had the misfortune to hit another student while getting on to the Interstate. Minor damage, no injuries.

T2
No car accidents and no suicidal Bambi’s interfered with training, but the temperature on the range at 1330 was 123 degrees. Fortunately, the humidity was high so it was a fairly miserable day.
People had a much better read on keeping hydrated, and we took several relatively long breaks to get people rested, and several people were smart enough to take themselves off the line prior to having problems.
LeeAnn Robinson- our host-and several others brought shade tents as well as mega coolers and ice for the class, and we were additionally blessed when one of Mike Hueser’s friend- owners of a chain of supermarkets- supplied the class not only w/ water and Gatorade, but also catered an excellent meal at the range.
While the WX made life uncomfortable, we still accomplished all we needed to.
The better your physical shape, the more likely you can tolerate the WX issues. While some were having difficulty, some ran the class in full armor- and did it with power to spare.
While Steve Sheldon is a stud, we also had a soldier, severely WIA, who is getting back into shape so that he can shoot more haji’s in the face.
Clearly mindset is supreme, but being in good shape makes it all easier.