"Low Speed High Drag" Night Shooting drills & considerations?

**Complication** · 07-25-10, 23:11

So in a few weeks I'm going to take a week off in WV with a buddy where we're going to do an ungodly amount of shooting.

Given that we can do night shooting if we want to, it seems like a terrific opportunity. For civilians, bad things overwhelmingly tend to happen at night but so far I've had exactly 0 low-light or night shooting experience. So we'd like to take advantage of the opportunity and get some trigger time in the dark if it's safe and practical.

However, there are two things I'd like some help with before we actually do anything. (This will be on a private range we'll have to ourselves.)

#1) Are there any low-light or night-specific drills worth trying? (Or are night drills basically the same as daytime drills with the lights off and the difficulty cranked up?)

#2) What are the safety concerns I should have? I don't want to do this without being absolutely safe about it so besides the safety precautions you should always take mixed in with the "seriously, it's ****ing dark, go slow, be extra safe, and make sure you have a well-defined firing line in front of which no one steps," what does one need to keep in mind to do really low-speed night drills?

We're not incredibly experienced shooters with years of trigger time, so we want to keep it simple, but we also understand that night shooting is inherently more complex and riskier, so we only want to do it if we can be safe about it (and having no experience with it, I would like some thoughts) and keep the GSWs and "Yeehaw, Cleetus" moments to a minimum.

(We've got weapon lights on the guns we'd be using.)

**Mo_Zam_Beek** · 07-26-10, 00:19

From what I can tell you are looking for 'white light' drills - not NV.

I am lucky in that I have access to an indoor facility where I can shoot LL a lot. As such I would say MSU (make shit up). Take the opportunity to set up some scenarios of common situations in the dark. If you can - replicate a room in a building (with furniture) and clear it, work around your vehicles, etc. If you can work with both HGs and long guns.

Some of the other things - think in terms of light discipline while you are doing all of this. When should a light be on? When should it be off? Have your buddy strobe you vs constant on (no gun) - what did you think? When your buddy has a light on you (no gun) ask yourself if you would see him draw? Would you know if he had you at gun point behind that wall of white light? Is a laser a good thing for this reason? If you can, stand on the other side of a closed door while your buddy approaches the door while clearing - did you realize when he got to the door b/c of the light at the bottom or sides? If you are using a hand held FL - try all of the classic holds and throw some of your own in. What works best for you from a static position, on the move, what gives you the most latitude to accomplish all tasks - not just shooting? Work on reloads while shooting with your hand held - solve the issue of securing 3 items that must not be dropped with 2 hands. Shoot with a variety of hand held FLs - you may not always have your high speed Surefire or whatever. Shoot with headlights - what range can you shoot your rifle to? Shoot the same but with the weak hand.

In short, I think drills are great once you identify a problem that needs to be solved. Think of the problems that you face in the dark, then think of the drills that can help you test your fix as well as identify other problems that will invariably come up.

As for safety - you know the drill - know where everyone is, declare a safety fan and make sure everyone is in it and stays in it when you go hot, no one moves except the shooter until 'range is clear'

Good luck

**Complication** · 07-26-10, 00:23

Yes, we're running some Surefires. No NV.

Some good suggestions. Sounds like doing drills with an empty gun and also with a crappy hand-held maglite (with dying batteries and a crappy incandescent bulb) might be a good idea. Hadn't thought of that.

**Mo_Zam_Beek** · 07-26-10, 00:44

Even better a 9v box style FL.

I remember a low light match where the COF had a vehicle light bar set it at eye level just askew of the shooter's box.

Noise / confusion / a light source in your own eyes / flood light at the back of your target that blinds you, light source behind the shooter that silhouettes their every move..... all problems that need a solution.

The other thing to think about as you solve these problems (and will likely make for good thoughts to chew on when your done) the element of time and what are you doing in that time period. Your goal is end the danger. That may or may not mean eliminate the threat but it definitely means not putting yourself at increased risk. So a strobe in your eyes that forces extra time - was it better to move, take a knee, use your weak hand to block it, or make the best shot you could with the light in your eye?

Good luck

**John_Wayne777** · 07-26-10, 07:11

Originally Posted by Complication

#1) Are there any low-light or night-specific drills worth trying? (Or are night drills basically the same as daytime drills with the lights off and the difficulty cranked up?)

Take a series of drills you know relatively well and do them in the day. Then do the exact same things at night when it's dark. Try them with no white light and with a white light. Ensure that your drills include things like reloads, malfunction clears, etc. You can concentrate on different drills on different nights...as in one night is purely accuracy and speed in the dark, another is target discrimination in the dark, etc.

Just be VERY CAREFUL about what you are doing, because it's stupid easy to **** up in a new, stressful environment. Muzzle awareness and trigger finger discipline are at a premium.

Doing some drills you know relatively well in the dark should give you a little insight into how darkness complicates life.

#2) What are the safety concerns I should have? I don't want to do this without being absolutely safe about it so besides the safety precautions you should always take mixed in with the "seriously, it's ****ing dark, go slow, be extra safe, and make sure you have a well-defined firing line in front of which no one steps," what does one need to keep in mind to do really low-speed night drills?

You need to be extremely certain about the area you are shooting in. Be damn certain about the backstop and beyond it, as well as the left and right limits of your shooting area. Check that stuff out thoroughly in the daytime. Mark it off using luminescent tape or glowsticks or something.

Luminescent tape on the back of your hats/heads or glowsticks attached to your back...something that makes you visible in the dark in case one of you has a darwin moment and wanders downrange. Ensure that only one of you is shooting at a time while the other stays behind you. No ****ing around with guns when you aren't on the shooting line...whatever that shooting line happens to be.

(We've got weapon lights on the guns we'd be using.)

Ensure you're using good light discipline. In real life use of a white light is a target indicator...and if you really think there are bad people out there who want to kill you I guarantee you will not be leaving that light on all the time.

For starters (and not simply to pimp my own thread) I'd read this:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=16114

**Complication** · 07-26-10, 09:17

Very helpful, JW.

Glow sticks/glow tape on the body sounds like a good plan (also making sure I don't owe him any money

)

Thankfully there's just two of us so we won't have to keep track of more than one body each on the line.

**G_M** · 07-26-10, 12:58

You should do a set of drills during the day in full day light. Then do the exact same thing during the night. I would not do anything during the night that you haven't during the day.

Night shoots are really dangerous because you and your AI's won't be able to catch any safety violations before they happen.

**Jay Cunningham** · 07-26-10, 13:06

Originally Posted by G_M

You should do a set of drills during the day in full day light. Then do the exact same thing during the night. I would not do anything during the night that you haven't during the day.

Night shoots are really dangerous because you and your AI's won't be able to catch any safety violations before they happen.

This is exactly the same advice I would have givenn you.

Low Speed High Drag

Hey - I like the sound of that!

**billy-s** · 07-26-10, 14:06

Plan out your practice ahead of time. Set it up in daylight. Do it in day light. Identify the safety hazards and set up your safety contingencies.

Inspect your range and backstops with white light before you go live. Use clear eye pro.

Use weapon mounted lights and hand held lights.

Considerations for night work:
Weapon mounted light:
Drawing and activating the light.
Lights off for reloads and malfunctions

Hand held light:
Identify different techniques, Harris, Rogers, Ayoob, FBI...and try them all.

Draw weapon and light and get into each technique. You'll quickly get to favor certain ones over the others.

Practice reloads and malfunctions with the light in your hand.

Have your partner flash your eyes with a HAND HELD light before you do a drill...who's to say the threat won't have training and a light as well.

Stay safe and have a hand held light handy for your inspections, have fun.