Couldn't agree more. What impressed me most about the Magpul class was it was principle driven, and not intended as a vehicle to sell products.
Costa, Drake and Kerry never once said their way was the ONLY way -- it was A WAY that worked based on economy of motion, ergonomics and balancing speed with accuracy. The principles used are golden, even though there may be multiple applications based on a given situation. The situation really dictates the technique, not the other way around. If only more shooters were as open-minded about learning, rather than insisting they were the end-all because they used one system that worked. Breaking old paradigms is awesome, and broadens the knowledge base.
At my CA POST Patrol Rifle Instructor Course, the instructor said using the magazine as a monopod was a NO NO, because it could create stoppages. I cheated anyway, and didn't have any problems. The instructor was awesome, as he never claimed to be the best -- but he HAD been trained by a lot of world class trainers.
For the NRA course, monopodding is a NO NO. I cheated anyway, and didn't have any problems. The instructor was a Vietnam-era GySgt, who had forgotten more than most of us will know -- and he came by it honestly.
Took the Magpul HVWM Course in San Bernardino in February of 2010, and just about fell over when Costa recommended using the magazine as a monopod. Said I'd been "cheating" that way for years, but so many other instructors seemed to frown on it. Costa, Drake and Kerry all said the same thing, "If it works, why wouldn't you use it?"
Can't mess with success, and the truth can have more than one angle on it.
There's no such thing as cheating in a gunfight. In fact, if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying!
And Costa's "dropping into the prone" is more like landing in a one-handed push-up. Dude moves like a snake. Most of us weren't nearly as fast or graceful, but gravity was still our friend!
Yeah, been hearing about not using the magazine as monopod from all kinds of folks for almost 30 years.
Saw a student rifle have a rearward pressure-induced stoppage with an out-of-spec magazine -- when rearward pressure was applied, it would stop. If forward pressure was applied on the mag, it would run. He would have had problems using this magazine as a monopod.
In the meantime, all of the other magazines he had were checked and ran like sewing machines. Ditched the magazine, end of problem. Have only run into a few out-of-spec magwells, and they were with Olys.
STRONGLY recommend testing ALL mags thoroughly before using them in the field. Assuming they are GTG just because they are brand new in package is a HUGE mistake. All equipment should be vetted before use, regardless of manufacturer or other techniques.
As always, JMHO, and YMMV.



Reply With Quote
Bookmarks