Indy_Guy_77
06-28-2010, 12:16
This past Saturday, myself and 13 other men took MDFI's "Handgun I" course (Michigan Defensive Firearms Institute) taught on private property near Morgantown in Brown County, Indiana.
Here's my Take:
Even though this wasn't the design of the course, I suck. (They have another training course called "You suck, it's not the gun".)
My drawstroke needs major work. I had to REALLY concentrate to pull straight up and push out. I was reprimanded SEVERAL times by all instructors that I was kind of "bowling" with my pistol as I drew. I was clearing the holster, then almost subconsciously I was dropping the pistol, looping/swinging out back up towards my chest to meet my other hand and then pushing out to acquire the sights.
I also got to the point where I was really rushing shots in the middle of the day. I was 'mashing' the trigger and it was dropping my shots low. A lot.
I think I'm one of the big reasons that we did dot tests, actually. After those, though, I got myself to slow down and work within the pace that I could achieve the necessary shots. My accuracy improved as I slowed down a little. Funny how that worked out.
Hardware: S&W M&P9c w/4 compact mags + pinky extension base plates and 2 fullsize mags w/ X-grip extenders as to not leave a gap.
Raven Concealment Systems Phantom modular holster worn OWB at 4:00-ish + single RCS mag pouch worn OWB at 11:00 and a Fobus double mag pouch worn at 8:30-9:00 or so. I began the day with the FS mag in the gun and the other FS mag as #1 reload. By the afternoon, I decided that my primary mag needed to be the size of mag that I normally carry in the gun, the compact. My mag system worked out to be "C (in gun), FS, FS, C, C, C" Mags #5 & 6 were in my front left pocket.
Note on how I was dressed. I decided to wear an off-brand under-armor shirt under my outerwear to assist in wicking to help keep me cool. That slick material + the relatively slick material of the Columbia shirt I wore over it was NOT a good combination. The outer shirt kept untucking to the point of being in the way of my holster as I reholstered. SEVERAL times I had to clear the shirt out of the way from being pinched into the holster with the pistol. Thankfully there weren't any toggles, straps, buttons, or etc on the shirt, could have led to an ND if a toggle/strap found its way into the holster at the same time the gun did. If I had to do it over again, I'd not have worn that particular outer shirt.
Where does that leave me?
I still suck... But not as bad. I NEED to invest in some snap caps in order to practice my draws and reloads.
Steve said at the end of the day that Handgun II, the next level class, was about 85% shooting/reloading/drawing while on the move. I'm no where near being up to that. I would take Handgun I again, at least one more time, before I took Handgun II.
Also a note about MDFI and Steve: Even though he speaks in a manner that would make a sailor blush (and types like a ham-fisted gorilla...but I repeat myself), he's a straight shooter. Literally. He said more than once that nothing's definitive when it comes to handgun training. Training is training, learn from everyone. Not any one guy or system has "the" answer.
To me, coming from a teacher, that's pretty darned respectable.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/256.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/325.jpg
Learning to scan for additional threats
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/324.jpg
A simple movement drill...that's not all that simple if it's new to you.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/337.jpg
Taping up outside intended target zone. Note all the masking tape... There were 2 shooters per target. While I had my share of misses, not all that tape is my fault!
-J-
Here's my Take:
Even though this wasn't the design of the course, I suck. (They have another training course called "You suck, it's not the gun".)
My drawstroke needs major work. I had to REALLY concentrate to pull straight up and push out. I was reprimanded SEVERAL times by all instructors that I was kind of "bowling" with my pistol as I drew. I was clearing the holster, then almost subconsciously I was dropping the pistol, looping/swinging out back up towards my chest to meet my other hand and then pushing out to acquire the sights.
I also got to the point where I was really rushing shots in the middle of the day. I was 'mashing' the trigger and it was dropping my shots low. A lot.
I think I'm one of the big reasons that we did dot tests, actually. After those, though, I got myself to slow down and work within the pace that I could achieve the necessary shots. My accuracy improved as I slowed down a little. Funny how that worked out.
Hardware: S&W M&P9c w/4 compact mags + pinky extension base plates and 2 fullsize mags w/ X-grip extenders as to not leave a gap.
Raven Concealment Systems Phantom modular holster worn OWB at 4:00-ish + single RCS mag pouch worn OWB at 11:00 and a Fobus double mag pouch worn at 8:30-9:00 or so. I began the day with the FS mag in the gun and the other FS mag as #1 reload. By the afternoon, I decided that my primary mag needed to be the size of mag that I normally carry in the gun, the compact. My mag system worked out to be "C (in gun), FS, FS, C, C, C" Mags #5 & 6 were in my front left pocket.
Note on how I was dressed. I decided to wear an off-brand under-armor shirt under my outerwear to assist in wicking to help keep me cool. That slick material + the relatively slick material of the Columbia shirt I wore over it was NOT a good combination. The outer shirt kept untucking to the point of being in the way of my holster as I reholstered. SEVERAL times I had to clear the shirt out of the way from being pinched into the holster with the pistol. Thankfully there weren't any toggles, straps, buttons, or etc on the shirt, could have led to an ND if a toggle/strap found its way into the holster at the same time the gun did. If I had to do it over again, I'd not have worn that particular outer shirt.
Where does that leave me?
I still suck... But not as bad. I NEED to invest in some snap caps in order to practice my draws and reloads.
Steve said at the end of the day that Handgun II, the next level class, was about 85% shooting/reloading/drawing while on the move. I'm no where near being up to that. I would take Handgun I again, at least one more time, before I took Handgun II.
Also a note about MDFI and Steve: Even though he speaks in a manner that would make a sailor blush (and types like a ham-fisted gorilla...but I repeat myself), he's a straight shooter. Literally. He said more than once that nothing's definitive when it comes to handgun training. Training is training, learn from everyone. Not any one guy or system has "the" answer.
To me, coming from a teacher, that's pretty darned respectable.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/256.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/325.jpg
Learning to scan for additional threats
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/324.jpg
A simple movement drill...that's not all that simple if it's new to you.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/Indy_Guy_77/MDFI/337.jpg
Taping up outside intended target zone. Note all the masking tape... There were 2 shooters per target. While I had my share of misses, not all that tape is my fault!
-J-