Training "Do's" and Don'ts"

As you all know by now, I’ve come on board with Cheaper Than Dirt to do a little shooting, a little writing, and to continue the mission of Gun Nuts Media to promote and enhance the shooting sports. I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with Cheaper than Dirt, as they’ve shown a great commitment to the shooting sports and IDPA in particular and I hope to help with that.

For my very first post, I want to talk about what you should and shouldn’t do at your first handgun course. For a lot of new shooters out there, the decision to take a General handgun course, such at the General Defensive Handgun class offered by Insights Training Center in Bellevue, Washington is a big step, as they’ve made the realization that they want or need to be more proficient with their carry firearm than they can get by just plinking targets at the range. This is a good thing, so in the hope of supporting that training decision we’re going to offer some helpful tips on some handy guidelines for having a good training experience your first time out.

The first thing to bear in mind is that a class like a General Defensive Handgun class or Gunsite’s 250 class isn’t going to make you a High Speed Low Drag Tier Zero Operator. They’re not designed to do that. There are classes higher up the skill level chain that can teach you a lot of the skills used by elite military and law enforcement units, however a basic defensive handgun class has a very specific purpose in mind; to make you more effective at using your concealed carry firearm if you ever find yourself in the middle of a defensive shooting.

At the left, Insights Training Center instructor Tracy Roberts demonstrates the modern isosceles stance used in their classes, which brings us to the first thing to bring to gun school: an open mind. If you’ve already had training, or “have always done it this way”, don’t let that interfere with your ability to try new things. If you open yourself up to new techniques, you might find out that something works better than the way you had previously been shooting, and that’s always a good thing.

Now, while bringing an open mind is a great first step, there are a few other things that you’ll need as well – not the least of which is a basic understanding of how your firearm works and how to handle it safely. An intro defensive firearms course presupposes that you are already conversant with the basic function of your weapon – if you have never fired your gun before or aren’t familiar with how it functions, a basic “intro to firearms course” or some private training time with a qualified NRA instructor would be a better fit. However, if you’re past the “introductory” skill level and want to step it up, then you’re the right candidate for a basic “defensive” firearms class.

Speaking of guns, that’s another good item to bring – a gun. But not just any old gun you have laying around, but a functional, reliable firearm that’s going to get you through a 400-600 round class without inflicting abuse on you as the shooter. A great example is the Ruger SR9 (and by extension the SR40). I shot the SR9c, the compact version through a defensive handgun course recently with zero malfunctions or issues through the pistol.

The final important item to bring to your gun class is a good holster and magazine pouches. Holsters are important, as your gun is going to spend a lot of time coming in and out of the holster, which means that you’re going to want a good, reliable rig. I personally prefer outside the waistband holsters made of kydex from companies like Comp-Tac and Blade-Tech for my training holsters, as they’re going to provide the highest level of comfort for the training experience.

But again, all gear issues aside, the most important thing to bring is an open mind. If you approach all training as an opportunity to learn and improve yourself as a shooter, you’ll always stand to benefit from it.

Proper Pistol Grip

Many words and much debate has gone into discussing the proper way to grip an autoloading pistol. Some will argue that the proper grip is to have your thumbs forward, some that the thumbs should be up, while still others insist that the thumbs locked together. I’ve even heard it recommended that the thumbs be canted away from the gun to ensure that they do not interfere with the action or inadvertently hit the slide lock. Which is correct?

A hybrid of the “Thumbs-Forward” and “Thumbs-Up” grip on a 1911 handgun. Note that there is a gap where the slide lock lever is.

One point of agreement among nearly all experts is the role of the primary hand and the support hand. The primary hand should apply slight pressure to the front and backstrap of the grip, while the support hand squeezes from the right and left side. In order to maintain positive contact with the gun, the support hand should be such that the heel of the hand is nestled within the gap left by the shooting hand on the left side of the grip.

Your support hand should do most of the work here- your shooting hand has enough to do working the trigger, safety (if equipped) and magazine release. Most instructors explain that your support hand should provide 60% of the grip, squeezing side to side, while the shooting hand provides 40% of the grip squeezing front to back. While you’re practicing your grip, do make sure you’ve not got a death grip on your pistol. You want a firm, solid grip to be sure, but you don’t want a “white knuckle” death grip. Think of it like holding a small squirmy animal: you’re not trying to crush it, just keep it from getting away from you.

But what about those pesky thumbs? What do you do with them? As far as this writer can tell, it doesn’t really matter too much so long as they are not interfering with the slide or controls, however I don’t recommend using the locked thumb method. The locked thumb method can interfere with the support hand’s ability to have good solid contact with the grip panel. By wrapping the thumb of your support hand over the thumb of your shooting hand, it necessarily pushes the heel of your palm out away from the grip. The presence of this gap makes the gun tend to turn towards the support hand under recoil.

Many competition and tactical shooters recommend the thumbs-forward grip as it is a more intuitive method to point the pistol at your target. The question then becomes: Do you lay your thumbs along the slide, or hold them away to minimize any interference? Here, the experts are split. Glock pistol shooter Dave Sevigny keeps his thumbs laying right along the side of the pistol. Brian Enos on the other hand keeps his thumbs away from the pistol. Some Sig Sauer pistoleers have noticed that having the thumbs along the side while using a thumbs-forward grip can cause the slide lock lever to be pushed down so that the handgun will not go into slide lock on an empty magazine. Conversely, Glock pistols can be inadvertently locked back by riding the slide lock lever.

Todd Jarrett using a thumbs forward grip at the USPSA Steel Challenge.

The thumbs-forward method demonstrated by Todd Jarrett on the left is perfect for shooting 1911 handguns. With this method, the frame mounted safety is positioned directly underneath the shooting hand thumb, making it incredibly fast and intuitive to draw and disengage the safety selector in one smooth motion. With a gun equipped with a high-ride beavertail making it easier to get a higher grip on the pistol and extended safety lever, the thumbs-forward method is very natural and comfortable.

Shooting semiautomatic pistols using the thumbs-forward method really becomes useful when used in action pistol or tactical applications where speed and accuracy are both needed. By positioning the thumbs-forward along the slide (or slightly off of the slide) you are in essence creating a second sighting device: wherever your shooting thumb is pointing is where the pistol is pointing. This makes it incredibly fast to draw the pistol, get your proper grip, and press forward to the target without needing to hunt around for the front sight. As Colonel Jeff Cooper explained, “The body aims, the sights confirm.” If you are watching the target (which you should be) as you press forward using this grip, the front sight should naturally come up into your view, presenting you with a very fast and natural sight picture.

Biggest Appleseed Rifle Event Ever

We’ve discussed the Appleseed project in past blog posts. For those not familiar with the project, it aims to train a nation of riflemen to be able to shoot and hit targets out to 500 yards while educating them on our nation’s history.

The RWVA is now planning the largest ever Appleseed event at the Aurora Sportsman’s Club in Waterman, Illinois. They will have 60 instructors on site to train the 300 expected participants. This will make it the largest Appleseed event ever, and you can be a part of it. The event is absolutely free for children, women, and active military personnel. Past participants in previous Appleseed events will also be able to register for free, and people who are new to the Appleseed project can register for only $70. This represents an enormous bargain for the whole family to be able to learn a fun and valuable skill.

The Appleseed project website has more information:

The Appleseed 300 will be the largest two-day Appleseed event ever. Bringing together three hundred students and over sixty instructors, we will crush a number of current Appleseed records including: most attendees at a single event, longest contiguous firing line, and most rounds fired in a single volley!

Why Should YOU Be There?
Record setting is great – great to do, great to be a part of – but it’s what you can get out of the Appleseed 300 that will drive your decision to attend. Marksmanship skills? Great! Knowledge of your heritage as an American? Even better!

At a time when dark clouds seem to be rapidly building Appleseed will bring you renewed HOPE about the future of this country. And because of that, you’ll want to bring everyone you know to experience this Appleseed. Friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, relatives – persuade them all to come with you.

It’s even a great experience for kids. Parents have told us that a weekend of learning marksmanship and heritage has had a very positive impact on their family as children learn that by paying close attention to what they’re taught they can become successful marksmen. Being taught safety around firearms can be a real injection of maturity into young minds, an important part of their ‘growing up’!

So, come be a part of this record event, but don’t come just for that. Come and find out what Appleseed can do for your rifle marksmanship, your family, and your faith in America.

Anticipating the Appleseed Experience
At this record-breaking Appleseed event you will learn how to take accurate shots using nothing but your rifle and a sling – no benches, bipods, or rests. You will learn the Steady Hold Factors for prone, seated/kneeling, and standing/offhand positions. You will discover marksmanship “secrets” such as The Six Steps to Firing the Shot, the Rifleman’s Cadence, Natural Point of Aim, and how to zero your rifle efficiently.. You will acquire the skills necessary to shoot out to 500 yards, a distance traditionally known as “The Rifleman’s Quarter-Mile.” You’ll even learn to dance – the Rifleman’s Dance!

Reliving Our Heritage
In addition to outstanding marksmanship instruction, our instructors will teach the historical significance of the American Rifleman, starting with the beginning of the War for Independence. As our nation’s history is recounted, you will find yourself transported back in time 234 years to witness the first shots on Lexington Green and hear the resounding clash of arms as British Regulars were forced from the North Bridge in Concord. You will hear the stories and personal sacrifices of those who are in danger of becoming all but forgotten footnotes in history. Sadly, the true story of the birth of our nation is slowly fading, becoming infused with myth. We intend to reverse this trend by retelling the unadulterated facts. The actions of our founding generation need no embellishment.
Will you help us, by attending this very special Appleseed event?

We’re planning a special tribute to honor those who gave their lives for Liberty. Among other experiences, everyone at the Appleseed 300 will participate in a special volley fire event. You’ll find yourself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other Americans – men, women, and children – who share your love of liberty and rifles. Imagine what it will be like to hear three hundred rifles all fired at once, and all in honor of those heroes that fell on April 19th, 1775! And don’t miss the opportunity to fire one of them.

As if taking part in this historic event wasn’t enough, concessions and Appleseed gear will be available on-site. Various prizes will be awarded throughout the event and a special award will be given to the person who travels the farthest to attend. Our premiere gift will be a brand new Marlin Model 795 .22lr semiautomatic rifle, fully outfitted as a complete Liberty Training Rifle package. It’s perfect for practicing your skills as a Rifleman, and even better suited to teaching others!

Outstanding Value For Everyone
With the economy in mind we are making it easy to attend by offering the Appleseed 300 free of charge to almost everybody. Just who can attend this event for free? Well, for starters, women, children, and active duty military. (including reserves and National Guard)

We are also offering this class FREE to ANYONE who has ever attended an Appleseed event. Just register online with the special code WM 300 AND bring proof of attendance at any earlier shoot to the registration table at the Aurora Sportsmen’s Club. What counts as proof? An Eventbrite ticket receipt, a canceled check, or a scored AQT (Army Qualification Test) will all get you admitted to this event free of charge.

Those who do not qualify to attend this event for free will pay only $70 for the entire two-day class! And will recieve a certificate to attend their next Appleseed FREE!
Come help us ensure the great American tradition of rifle marksmanship and our colonial history is not lost for future generations.

Click HERE to sign up for this event.

Contact RWVA Illinois state coordinator Dan Hendrickson at (630) 525-5654 or via email at IL@appleseedinfo.org for more information.

Dry Fire Practice – Is It Safe For Your Firearm?

Many of us who grew up around firearms have been warned for years never to dry fire any firearm. But can you really damage your firearm by pulling the trigger on an empty chamber? The answer is, as you might have guessed, “it depends.” Most modern firearms are safe to dry fire, but there are some notable exceptions.

Rimfire rifles and pistols should never be dry fired. The reason is due to the design of rimfire chamber. When a rimfire firearm is dry fired, the striker hits the outside mouth of the chamber instead of the soft brass rim of the cartridge. This can not only damage or destroy your firing pin, but over time will peen the barrel face. Extensive peening can be so bad that ammunition will no longer chamber.

Many older pistol designs had notoriously brittle firing pins, such as the CZ-52. Pull the trigger on an empty chamber with that pistol and you’re almost assured of having a broken firing pin in just a couple dozen strikes. The problem with many centerfire designs is that the firing pin travels too far when dropped on an empty chamber. In many semiautomatic firearms, the firing pin is only stopped when it hits the end of the firing pin channel. Other pistols, such as older Smith & Wesson revolvers, have the free floating striker pinned to the hammer. Again, there is the same problem that when the firing pin over-travels, it can hit the frame potentially causing damage to the striker.

While you can safely dry fire almost any modern pistol, rifle, or shotgun, why take the chance? It’s obvious from a design standpoint that firearms were not designed to be frequently used that way. Modern firearms are designed to have the firing pin hit the primer, ignite the powder, and make the thing go “boom” while propelling a small projectile out of the barrel at a high velocity. They are not, by design, intended to be dry fired thousands of times. Dry firing a modern centerfire firearm does not result in the firing pin “hitting air” – something has to stop it if the primer or a snap cap isn’t there. That impact, whether it’s a pin, rivet, or just the firing pin channel, is what can eventually damage your firing pin.

Will a modern firearm hold up to it? Sure, modern metallurgy has enabled engineers to produce much stronger steel, virtually eliminating problems from dry firing centerfire rifles and pistols. But they’re not designed to, so why risk it? Snap caps and various other designs of dummy ammunition allow you to fire nearly any weapon without risk of damage to your firing pin, or any other part of the firearm.

Every time I purchase a firearm in a new caliber, I always pick up a pack of snap caps to practice with. They’re inexpensive, and are great not only for dry firing, but also an invaluable resource for practicing malfunction drills. I carry a snap cap in all of my bolt action rifles for use when the rifle is unloaded so that I can release the spring tension on the striker without dropping it on an empty chamber.

So, is it safe to dry fire your pistol? We contacted Ruger and asked their technical advisors to see what they had to say. According to them, dry firing is perfectly fine on all of their modern centerfire firearms for clearing the weapon, dropping the hammer/striker, or just trying out the trigger. However for practice, they said you should definitely use snap caps. And that just makes sense. When practicing for USPSA Limited Revolver, I’d regularly go through 100 trigger pulls a night, on snap caps as that was how I’d been taught. Ruger technicians confirmed for us that if you’re going to be practicing with your revolver or semiautomatic pistol, you should seriously consider using snap caps.

Rimfire firearms should never be dry fired without the use of dummy rimfire training rounds made of soft metals such as brass or aluminum, or polymer rimfire snap caps. Most modern centerfire firearms can be safely dry fired, but infrequently. If you’re going to be dry firing for practice, it’s always advisable to use snap caps. And as always, if you’re checking out your buddy’s rifle, or handling a new pistol you’re considering purchasing at your local gun shop, ask permission before dry firing.

Accurately Using A Double Action Trigger

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One thing I noticed at the 2010 SHOT show was the immense number of small pocket sized handguns. As concealed carry has grown in legality (and popularity) the demand for these little heaters has also increased dramatically. Smith & Wesson's Bodyguard line, Ruger's LCP and LCR, and Kel-Tec's popular P3AT line all have small pocket sized pistols, and all of these little numbers have triggers that are double action only.

This long heavy trigger is compact, simple and reliable, but it can be difficult for many people to operate accurately. The long pull and heavy trigger weight, relative to a single action trigger, makes negligent discharges less likely by users unfamiliar with the stress of a combat scenario and decreases the chance of an accidental discharge from a foreign object hanging on the trigger when the pistol is carried in a pocket or purse. But these same traits that make the action safe and reliable can make actually firing the handgun more difficult unless the user has practiced with the firearm extensively. The additional force required to pull the trigger can drop the nose of the pistol or otherwise cause the shooter to lose a proper sight picture.

To quickly and accurately use a double action trigger, you first need a proper grip on the handgun and the correct interaction between your finger and the trigger. Without getting into the specifics of a proper handgun grip, your trigger finger should rest on the trigger with only the pad of your fingertip touching the trigger.

Most people who have had at least a minimal amount of training in handgun use are familiar with the phrase "front sight, press." This of course refers to the action of acquiring a proper sight picture and then smoothly pressing (not pulling) the trigger to the rear. Rather than pulling the trigger with your first joint as one might do when gesturing "come here" with a single finger, with only the pad of your finger contacting the trigger press it straight back. As you press the trigger, focus on keeping a consistent force and speed throughout the press.

Some people say that the first joint of the finger should be used instead of the pad of the finger tip on a heavy double action trigger, but this can cause problems with accuracy. Because of the long arc of a double action trigger, your finger will slide down the trigger face as it is pulled. When using the finger pad, this is not a problem, but if you are using the first joint of the finger tip to press the trigger the motion needed to keep your finger joint in constant contact with the trigger face can cause the pistol to twist. This does not mean that it is wrong to use the first joint of the finger on a double action trigger- don't misunderstand. In general using the pad is much more accurate, faster and smoother. But heavy triggers and double action triggers with a long arc can be easier to operate using the finger joint. Using the first joint gives you additional leverage that helps operate heavy triggers without dropping the front sight. If you choose to use the first finger joint as opposed to the pad of your finger tip, take care not to "milk" the trigger. Milking or grasping the trigger occurs when using the joint of the finger causes the finger to contact the frame of the gun or allows the entire hand to curl with the trigger finger as part of the motion. For this reason, it is better to learn to use the pad of your finger and, if the trigger pull is too heavy, lighten the trigger or use a different pistol with better ergonomics or a lighter trigger pull.

Just as important as the trigger press is the trigger return and reset. Again, maintaining a smooth and consistent speed and pressure on the trigger is important. Think of the trigger return as your follow through. A good trigger return allows you to setup your next shot quickly and accurately.

Properly done, a double action trigger pull will not move the front sights at all. The best method I've found to practice using a double action trigger involves balancing a coin on the front sight while pulling the trigger. The goal is to be able to pull the trigger through the full range of motion until the hammer drops (or the pin fires) without dropping the coin. The larger the coin, the more difficult it is to balance it properly. With most front sights it's fairly easy to balance a dime or penny on the top. Nickels and quarters are more difficult, but as you get better with your double action trigger control you can move to a larger coin.

It doesn't take much practice to get smooth and consistent when using a double action trigger. If you are unable to work the trigger using the pad of your finger tip, you can use the first joint for better leverage, but be aware that this can have a detrimental effect on accuracy and can build bad habits.

Airsoft Practice for Maintaining Shooting Skills

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I've been shooting a lot of IDPA matches lately. I used to shoot them every week, but a change in my schedule three years ago meant that I would not be able to compete as much. What was worse, the new schedule seriously cut into my available range time.

Now that I can get out and shoot more, it's become painfully obvious how much my shooting ability has declined. Like they say - "Use it or lose it."So, I've developed a new routine to ensure that I can get 30 minutes of practice a day. No, I didn't suddenly win the lotto so that I could afford enough ammunition to practice every day. I'm not even going to the range. Using dry-fire practice and airsoft replicas, I'm practicing at home.

One of the biggest impediments to consistent regular practice is the cost of ammunition. We've seen a significant spike in ammunition prices in the past couple of years. Ideally, I'd like to practice with live ammunition on a range, but the reality is that ammunition costs would be prohibitively expensive. Nothing beats being able to shoot and move with a pistol and live ammunition, but airsoft replicas can come close.

Many different models of airsoft guns are available, and most are exact replicas of actual firearms. Pistols like this Walther P99 are faithfully recreated in airsoft form. Many even have reciprocating slides that lock back after the last shot. But the best part is, airsoft ammunition is incredibly inexpensive.

While an airsoft gun may not duplicate the recoil of an actual pistol, training with them can still be useful for the first shot. Using an airsoft pistol, you can easily practice drawing from concealment and engaging a target with the first shot.

The other reason people cite for not practicing is a lack of time. There's no easy answer here - if you want to improve, you simply must set aside the time to practice. Practicing at home is at least a partial solution to the time problem. Considering the amount of time it takes to pack up your gear for the range, drive there, drive back, unload and clean your firearms (you do clean them after every range trip, right?) the time saved can easily be an hour or more.

Even still - practicing at home can only provide you with so much. There is no way to accurately practice followup shots at home - for that you need to be at a range. Practicing double-taps and Mozambique drills (two to the chest, one to the head) pretty much requires the use of live ammunition in order to allow you to train to handle muzzle climb and bring the front sight back down onto the target.

The reason that you need live ammunition to practice follow-up shots is that when you practice, you are training muscle memory. The reason for repetition drills is to ingrain the proper motion into your brain until it becomes instinctual, requiring no conscious thought to perform perfectly. If you train using practice equipment that does not work exactly as the real deal, you will be ingraining the wrong muscle memory and your performance will suffer. For this reason, limit drills at home using airsoft or dry-firing to "first shot" drills - ones that stop after the first shot.

This won't help you on your splits, but believe it or not, that's not where most speed is made up. Most of the time spent in practical shooting competition is drawing from the holster, reloading, and maneuvering. Fast shooting looks cool, but if you spend 8 seconds on a reload, it doesn't matter how close your slits are. It's the complex actions of drawing and reloading that eat up most of the time. Luckily, airsoft and dry-fire practice is very effective at improving your speed in drawing and reloading. Practicing these actions at home will increase your performance enormously.

Experts say that it takes 10,000 repetitions before something becomes so ingrained that it can be done effortlessly and perfectly without thought. That's a lot of practice. What's worse, if you don't continue to practice regularly, those skills will fade. Utilizing airsoft replicas and dry-fire practice at home for just 30 minutes a day can help you improve and maintain your shooting skills.

Dry-Fire Training at Home

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I recently shot a local IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match. I did OK, but noticed a couple of problems that slowed me down significantly: namely, quickly and smoothly drawing from the holster and pressing forward to the target. On one stage I failed to firmly seat the beavertail of my 1911 into the webbing between my thumb and forefinger, and subsequently had an awkward and loose grip that I had to readjust before engaging the target.

More practice is the simple solution here, but most ranges prohibit drawing from a holster, and I don't have a large tract of land where I can practice this. So what to do? Dry-fire practice is the only solution in this situation.

Dry-Fire
Dry firing is practice done with an unloaded firearm. The use of Snap Caps or dummy rounds can help replicate having real ammunition. Snap Caps are specially designed dummy rounds that protect your firing pin by replicating the slight flex of a primer when struck. They're also necessary to load into the magazine to prevent the slide from locking back when practicing reloads.

Dry-firing will never duplicate the training that you can achieve with live rounds on a hot range, but it can come close. Frequent practice is the only way to build the muscle memory necessary to have the speed and accuracy necessary to perform well, not only at a competition, but also in a real life self-defense situation. Dry-fire practice allows you practice on a daily basis, even if you do not have access to a range. It can also help you to become intimately acquainted with your firearm and it's controls. This familiarity with your firearm will breed confidence, as will as increase your ability to quickly and accurately manipulate the safety, magazine release, and slide lock.

Dry-Fire Safety
The advantage of dry-fire training is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home. However, your home is not a shooting range, and therefore certain safety guidelines should always be followed.

1. Unload your firearm completely. If you are using magazines, ensure that they are all unloaded as well.
2. Inform anyone else in the dwelling that you are going to be practicing so that they can minimize any distractions.
3. Do not have any live ammunition AT ALL in the room where you are practicing.
4. Have an adequate backstop.
5. Set firm start and stop times for practice. When the time to stop comes - STOP.

Of course your firearm should be unloaded when dry-firing, and it goes without saying that your magazine should also be unloaded when you are dry-firing. But you should go one step further and keep all of the ammunition in another room than the one you are practicing in.

Like any form of practice, dry-firing requires concentration and minimal distraction. Doubly so, since you are practicing with a deadly weapon. Practice alone, and make sure that any other people in the building are aware that you are going to be practicing so that they can minimize distraction.

Limit your practice time to 15-20 minutes. Practice is by it's nature repetitive, and the repetition, while necessary for building muscle memory, can easily lead to boredom. Boredom can cause your mind to wander from the task at hand, and when handling a firearm, your mind MUST be on the task at hand and no where else.

When the time to stop comes, stop. You are no longer practicing, and the firearm should be treated as if it is LOADED. The reason is, most negligent discharges that happen when people are dry firing occur when the person stops practicing, loads the weapon, and then absentmindedly does another "dry fire" exercise. Make it a clear delineation in your mind when your practice starts, and when it stops. You don't want a moment's carelessness to result in an accident!

Dry-fire practice is a great way to practice on a daily basis. But as always, safety should be priority one when handling a firearm.