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View Full Version : AAR FROM VSM CLASS 4/9/11



Mr. Smith
04-11-11, 13:07
AAR Pics is on the way.

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/SuperiorFirearms/VSM%204-9-11/100_3289.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/SuperiorFirearms/VSM%204-9-11/100_3243.jpg

http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/SuperiorFirearms/VSM%204-9-11/100_3262.jpg

kwelz
04-11-11, 15:04
VSM 1 Day Basic Handgun Class
April 9th 2011
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=73003


Before I get into the details of the class I would like to thank Tactical Tailor for providing a number of prizes that were given out for winning drills throughout the day. I have always been a fan of their products and feel that their support of training like this is another good reason to support them.

Now onto the class info.


Instructors: Joe Barnsfather, Barry Foster(AI)
Location: Ft. Harmar, Marietta Ohio


Total in attendance: 12 + instructors


Range conditions: Beautiful. While it was overcast the weather was great. The clouds kept the sun off of us but it was bright and easy to shoot.


Weapons and Equipment:
The majority of weapons were M&Ps. There were also a few Glocks a couple 1911s and a couple 2011s.
Overall there were no major equipment malfunctions one gentleman had some ammo issues due to reloads and another gentleman had problems locking his slide back during malfunction drills.

Belts were the normal mix of Padded belts, rigid belts and duty rigs for the Police officers.

Class:

As always the core ideals of this class were the same. They can be boiled down to two very simple statements.

Speed is fine. Accuracy is final.
Aim small, Miss small.



As always we stared off with the range safety briefing and the seemingly boring but very important dryfire drills. As I have mentioned before, these are often ignore or marginalised. But trigger pull the most important part of making the hole appear where you want it. So dry fire drills are a great way to learn proper trigger manipulation.

Since a number of us were flinching early on we moved onto two very important drills. The first is the Ball and Dummy drill. We partner up and hand our partner our gun. Maybe they load it. Maybe they don't. You are not sure till you pull the trigger. Your partner watches you to see if you flinch. And before you ask. Yes I did once or twice.

We also did another drill that I can never remember the name of. Your partner places an empty casing on top of your front sight and you have to dryfire the gun without it falling. This is a GREAT way to practice trigger control.

Now I could get into every step and every drill of the class. But I don't think that is the important part of this AAR. The important part is what we took away from these drills.

As always there were a lot of ups and downs throughout the day. I personally started off happy with my performance but started dropping shots. If these classes have taught me anything it is that dropping a shot is NEVER acceptable. Will it happen? Yes. But that doesn't make it in any way acceptable.

Most of the students had been in class with us before but a couple were shooters who had never had the chance to learn under Joe before. I think they were a bit surprised when he switched from gentle giant to "Stop screwing around and make your shots" mode.

One things I have always enjoyed about these Classes is how Mr. Barsnfather teaches. He explains to us exactly what he expects out of each of us. And that is always a bit more than we expect out of ourselves. When we fall short of what he knows we are capable of he will always give us another chance. But if you fall short again then he will let you know. I feel that his attitude towards us is appropriate for the seriousness of what we do. While this is something many of us enjoy doing, it is also a deadly serious endeavor.

Every time we pull the trigger we have the potential to kill someone. And if you can't hit the target properly at 5 or 10 yards on a calm open range, then what are you going to do in a Mall with people running around and some guy trying to hurt your kid!

Grant also stepped in at one part just to prove a point. We had moved off to 10 yards and some f us had started dropping shots. Grant picked up a rock and nailed the 10 ring on one of the targets from behind where we were standing. If he could do it with a rock we should be able to do it with a bullet! Now could he repeat that? I don't know. But damned if it didn't motivate us there on the range.

Malfunction drills proved to be another fun part of the day. These always bring out the fun. And by fun I mean FML!
A couple members had trouble at this part of the training. Mainly due to weapons issues. One gentleman could not get his weapon to lock back during the double feed drills. And another gentleman was running a 9mm 1911 and every time he induced a double feed it would lock the mag in place hard.

By far the defining moment of the weekend however was during a reload drill. We were doing reloads on the clock one at a time. So everyone was watching. One guy went to reload and he dropped his spare mag as he pulled it from the holder. The reached for his other spare and managed to drop it as well. Instead of asking to start over or cussing or freezing up he recovered. Grabbed a mag off the ground and fought through it. Did he have the fastest time? No. Was it perfect? No? But that moment brought everything we learn in these classes together. Shit happens. You can either bitch and moan about it or you can man up, fight through it and get it done.

Throughout the day we did various drills based off of what we were learning at the moment. Tactical Tailor prizes were given out ranging from Shirts to, padded belts, to some really nice bags. The gentleman I mentioned above was the Grand Prize winner. Once again not because he had the fastest time or shot a perfect group. But because he fought through the problems and was able to keep going.

99% of the problems could be boiled down to 1 issue. Proper trigger control. Squeezing the trigger consistently will put the hole where the sights are even if you do everything else wrong. And way to many people jerk the trigger. One bit of advice that Barry often gives is to act like you are pulling the front sight through the rear. Essentially ignore the trigger completely. And I have found that once I do this I shoot a lot better. Now I just need to be more consistent about it.

And as one final note. After looking at the photos posted above I see the single most important thing I took from this class. Fat boy needs a haircut and a ****ing Diet starting NOW.

C4IGrant
04-12-11, 16:18
Great class and I enjoyed spending time with everyone.

C4

Violator
04-13-11, 08:34
Class was great. As always I learned more than I thought I would. Great instruction too. I also learned that I subconsciously must enjoy getting yelled at before I shoot well.

kwelz
04-13-11, 08:45
Class was great. As always I learned more than I thought I would. Great instruction too. I also learned that I subconsciously must enjoy getting yelled at before I shoot well.

I hear that! It happens at just about every class.

I think the worst part is that he never sounds angry when he does it. He sounds disappointed. Which of course is much much worse.

By the way. I could have swore I saw a a woman with a Neck brace and a cute blond watching from the tree line during class. Know anything about that?

d90king
04-13-11, 08:46
Sounds like it was a great training opportunity! Who knew Grant could throw rocks...

Mr. Smith
04-13-11, 19:00
It was a great class and I love to have such motivated students.

C4IGrant
04-13-11, 20:24
Sounds like it was a great training opportunity! Who knew Grant could throw rocks...

Who knew. :)



C4

Violator
04-13-11, 20:42
I hear that! It happens at just about every class.

I think the worst part is that he never sounds angry when he does it. He sounds disappointed. Which of course is much much worse.

By the way. I could have swore I saw a a woman with a Neck brace and a cute blond watching from the tree line during class. Know anything about that?

Nope, no idea. Haha.

It's bad when a man can throw better than you can shoot isn't it? It wasn't my fault though. My stance was jacked up and I had brass hitting me and a fly was buzzing around my ear. Hahaha.

Stonebridge
04-13-11, 22:48
Sounds like a good time was had by all and the proceedings were Troll-free which we've learned is a Very. Good. Thing. Wish I could've made this one. I think I see a couple familiar faces. Hopefully there'll be more opportunities this summer (?)

You have no idea how much we lucky Ohioans fear that Grant is going to find greener pastures somewhere and effectively derail our gravy train :D

-'bridge

kwelz
04-17-11, 23:10
Sounds like a good time was had by all and the proceedings were Troll-free which we've learned is a Very. Good. Thing. Wish I could've made this one. I think I see a couple familiar faces. Hopefully there'll be more opportunities this summer (?)

You have no idea how much we lucky Ohioans fear that Grant is going to find greener pastures somewhere and effectively derail our gravy train :D

-'bridge

I would love to say we would steal him. But I don't think this are could handle both Joe and Grant at the same time. The shooting community would implode from the coolness factor. :dirol:

C4IGrant
04-18-11, 15:41
Here are some more pics.


C4


http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/Drills.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/Drills1.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/Drills2.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/Drills3.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/BD.jpg

C4IGrant
04-18-11, 15:44
More...



C4


http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER7.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER6.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER5.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER4.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER3.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER2.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER1.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/Training_Pics/VSM_SH_Pistol_11/ER.jpg

kwelz
04-18-11, 16:07
Wow Grant. You must really like that one Photo.

C4IGrant
04-18-11, 17:11
Wow Grant. You must really like that one Photo.

It was a "burst" shot that shows a full mag change from beginning to end.



C4

kwelz
04-18-11, 17:39
Observation fail. Sorry man.