Any suggestions for a fellow who cannot attend formal training

[billclodude]

I'm new here, and am wrestling with a training quandary. Due to both my family situation and lack of local training courses, I have not been able to get formal training. I'm looking for reputable sources of training materials that I can use to improve my skills.

I have not been able to find local training that I can attend, and travel to a regional trainer is basically out of the question, so I need ideas for things that I can do at the range/home. I'm lucky if I can get one range session a month for 2-3 hours. I am a stay at home Dad with a toddler to take care of so range time is severely restricted. When the wife is home she wants to have family time, so I only grudgingly get range time at all. The wife is very much not on board with the idea of my taking even a whole day off to travel somewhere to train, let alone a 2-5 day course (of course the large cost is a factor as well).

There is a range about an hour away that has some training - they have some pistol work (IDPA) in the evening, but between my wife's weird work schedule and tending to a toddler, it's not possible. They also have the NTI study group, but frankly they're way ahead of me, and when I used to associate with them (mid-late '90s), I just didn't fit into their clique. I'm at what I would consider experienced beginner with inadequate sense of tactics.

I prefer to shoot carbine, but realistically I suspect a pistol would be more likely to be used in real life. I've gotten a decent amount of practice over the years, and am reasonably accurate, but I'm sure I have picked up bad habits as well. Not having a in person critic of my shooting is a real handicap to improving my skills.

I have/shoot various AR-15 configurations, as well as a Glock 19 pistol.

I'd be interested in hearing any ideas to help me improve my skills. I live in south-Central PA state, near the MD border.

[Shawn.L]

there is no good substitute that I know of for high quality formal training.

although you are not as far from training oppertunity as you think, pm inbound.

sounds like you need a good basic course.

and if you are home most of the day, and protecting your family is the main consideration, then a carbine course would be very fitting.

how many guns do you own ?

[rob_s]

First, read. Become a student of the history of training. Start with books from Jeff Cooper, anything from Cooper, and go forward. Bill Jordan, Chuck Taylor, etc. right up to modern trainers like Paul Howe and Jeff Gonzales. Some are better writers than others, so be prepared. Some also learned their writing style in the military, so be prepared for that as well.

Second, if given a limited training time and budget, forget the carbine. Truth of the matter is it's the gun on your hip that you need to be worried about. Put your limited range-time focus there. Start with fundamentals of marksmanship. You cannot unlearn or undo bad habits you pick up from jumping into the deep end of the pool. I tell you this from my own personal experience because it's something I'm wrestling with right now myself.

Third (and this really should be first, but it goes hand-in-hand with first) mindset is everything. I can promise you that if someone is threatening me and mine, I don't care if all I have is the coffee cup and computer screen in front of me, I will find a way to end that mother****er. I am SHOCKED that the passengers on the plane with the underwear bomber allowed him to live to see the ground. None of the men on that flight must have been flying with a wife and child.

Finally, prevention is everything else, and goes with mindset. With the right mindset you'll remember to lock the doors regardless of how nice your neighborhood is. With the right mindset you'll avoid the ATM machine in the bad part of town at 3 AM. With the right mindset you'll keep your gas tank on your car above half-full at all times because you don't want to run out at the wrong time. The list goes on and on. Learn to listen to your instincts and not let political correctness do you in. I had a friend that was robbed at gunpoint by three teenagers that he saw coming from across the large open parking lot of a college campus. He didn't divert and didn't change his path because he dismissed his Spidey-sense as being racism against the poor disadvantaged youths that nearly shot him 5 minutes later.

[billclodude]

how many guns do you own ?

A G-19 pistol, several AR15s of various configurations, an AR in 6.8 SPC, and a broke-down Marlin .22 rifle.

[billclodude]

Finally, prevention is everything else, and goes with mindset. With the right mindset you'll remember to lock the doors regardless of how nice your neighborhood is. With the right mindset you'll avoid the ATM machine in the bad part of town at 3 AM. With the right mindset you'll keep your gas tank on your car above half-full at all times because you don't want to run out at the wrong time. The list goes on and on. Learn to listen to your instincts and not let political correctness do you in. I had a friend that was robbed at gunpoint by three teenagers that he saw coming from across the large open parking lot of a college campus. He didn't divert and didn't change his path because he dismissed his Spidey-sense as being racism against the poor disadvantaged youths that nearly shot him 5 minutes later.

I think I have a good handle on the prevention/avoidance thing; I've always been one to go about in Condition Yellow at least. I've had people ask my wife if I am a cop before they found out what my profession was. Not so much anymore as I've mellowed with age.

Of course the wife is the typical female who thinks that because nothing bad has happened yet, nothing will, and so why take X or Y extra precautions. I think she thinks I'm uptight about that - but damn, it's my job to keep her and the kid safe, so belittle my efforts? <sigh>

[Jay Cunningham]

I think she thinks I'm uptight about that - but damn, it's my job to keep her and the kid safe, so belittle my efforts? <sigh>

Have you ever actually explained this part to her?

[M4arc]

If you can't get to formal training but can make it to the range for an hour or so each week use these drills to improve your skills: http://pistol-training.com/drills

[Submariner]

I figured out a few years ago that I'm not smart enough and don't shoot enough to be proficient (for me) with more than one platform at a time. I find that I can keep the same level of skill with two platforms if I alternate with them, but that I'll be at about 75% of proficient with either gun.

From The SIMP Principal and how it applies to me. Also read The SIMP Principal.

Determine what you really want to do and how much you are willing to pay to do it.

A G-19 pistol, several AR15s of various configurations, an AR in 6.8 SPC, and a broke-down Marlin .22 rifle.

Define "several." If dollars are an issue, sell a carbine or two and get in a pistol class with a good trainer. Training requires feedback to identify (and correct) the bad habits you have acquired. Perfect practice makes permanent. Knowledge/skill beat gear every time. Use proceeds from sales to buy something your wife wants, if necessary. Leave yourself two carbines, if possible, but focus on the pistol first.

[Shawn.L]

If dollars are an issue, sell a carbine or two and get in a class with a good trainer. Use proceeds to buy something your wife wants, if necessary. Leave yourself two.

Read The SIMP Principal.

my thoughts exactly.

and if childcare/time is an issue use that $$$ to pay for a baysitter for the weekend.

IMO the only way to truly judge one priorities is through their actions.

I sold a gun to take my first class, and it was a life changing experiance. One of the best decisions I ever made in regards to my personal safety and the safety of my family.

[parker7777]

email sent.