SixBravo

This should be considered a "blog" following my experience through Gunsite's 250 Level Pistol Course. This will also include their Arizona CWP course which is an additional $100.

I will be attending their course this Friday through next Tuesday (December 15th - 19th, 2006) in a special program offered through my college, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. I was briefly requested to give some insight into what they offer in their course. I will take this one step further. What I hope to accomplish with this thread is a simple guide as "what to expect" going through their course.

I won't be offering any tips that they give or any insight as how to score "Expert" with their team. As I said, I just want to provide this community with a brief as to what a participant will see, day-by-day. Do not expect me to give you a "How-To" as far as technique goes. I will leave this to the professionals - which I am not.

Here is a little reference to myself and my background experience with shooting going into this weekend. This should provide a little reference to anyone else considering attending this course:
I am 25 years old. I have been carrying for three years. I have put roughly 13-14,000 rounds through my Hk USP .40 Compact in that time (yes I know that is A LOT). I have attended a 150-Level Course in California last February through a company called "Force Protection Services International." I graduated "with honors."

As I said before, I will not be giving away any secrets or "How-To's" with their course. This should just be considered a reference for any shooter seriously looking into doing their 250-Level Course. I will do any follow-ups needed - I live down the street from them and their 350 and 400-Level courses sound very inviting. Especially their rifle offerings....

This is what is reccomended to start the course:
-1000+ rounds of ammo per caliber ("small" caliber will not be used. 9mm is the smallest, *I believe*. Call them for further information @ 1-928-636-4565) - I spent $160 locally.
-A tactical light (Surefire highly reccomended) - I have a Surefire G2.
-A holster you are comfortable with. Any kinds of accessories (including retention belts with snaps) will be subject to scrutiny. A Fobus-type holster is reccomended. What really matters is your personal comfort level with them. CCW IWB & OWB holsters should be okay. I will ask and report back. - I will be using an Uncle Mikes Size 12 el-cheapo holster.
-4-5 Magazines - I will start this course with four 10-round mags.
-A double-mag pouch (or two single mags) that fits your belt on your weak side. - I have a double-mag Fobus.

I have all of the equipment listed. I will list anything further that I will need to purchase throughout the week.

Moderaters:
If you feel this should fit into "CCW & Tactical Training" feel free to move it. However, I believe it to be more relevent here due to the impending questions following my experience there. If this is moved, please PM me so I don't lose it someplace. haha

If anyone has been through this course and has any suggestions, I am never above taking some advice. I'll also answer any questions that people have as far as cost or anything else goes.

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Blackeagle

Good luck!

JT

A little friendly advice…

Do you think you might have been able to word that a little nicer? To me that was a turn off to the whole thread. And while I’m not questioning your experience, it made you sound like some sort of arm chair commando or Internet warrior, instead of the real thing.

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Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

Si vis pacem, para bellum

SixBravo

....Good point, JT. It was late and I couldn't sleep when I wrote that. Sorry about that. I just went ahead and deleted that whole area. While its relevent, no real way to be nice about that kind of stuff.

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JT

I understand. I’ve been known to come across in a way I didn’t intend more often than I care to admit.

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Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

Si vis pacem, para bellum

glock21guy

I completed the 250 back in Oct. Take a camel pack or equivalent, if you have climbers chalk bag or some sort of dump bag of loose rounds. That way you can be loading mags as the other shooters are one the line. This gives you the ability to watch them. Or you can leave it at the back of the range, just dump 100 or so in, and you are good to go.

I took my G2, and found I like the G2Z better. The Z2 is fine but the bulb will have a better chance of breaking in the metal case vs. the polymer body.

You probably have a place to stay at this point. If you go back I would recommended the Little Thumb Butte B&B. It ads that much more to the over all experience, and Ann is a great host.

It was the best money I have spent on training. So much so I am going back for the 350 next year.

Go, and have fun.

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Aaron

If you don't protect your self, who will?

SixBravo

Glock-

I actually live about 20 minutes from Gunsite. But the chalk bag is an awesome idea!!! I'm definitely going to use that. I do have a Camelback that I was planning on using.

If anyone is ever in town for any reason, please contact me. More than happy to show someone around the town.

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SixBravo

Today went amazing and I got a lot of good notes for you guys. But I'm pretty swamped with practice and homework from them so I'll have to write everything up tomorrow evening.

So far I'm the best shot in the class. If I can keep this up for 4 more days..... ::Scoff:: I'm exhausted right now. I don't know... lol

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XD in SC

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Sean
XD 9SC | XD 45ACP Service | XD 45ACP Compact |Borealis
"You may know where you are. God may know where you are. If you don't tell your dispatcher where you are, you'd better be on speaking terms with God!"

SixBravo

It is the end of Day Two. I am mentally and physically exhausted. My legs hurt, I can't feel my hands, and I nearly fell asleep during the classroom instruction at the end of the day.

Needless to say, I am having the time of my life. I am already reconsidering how and what I carry. I know when I saw all those testimonials about how "Gunsite changed my life" and all that jazz.... I kept thinking "Nahhh. I've shot plent in my life. I think about self-defense all the time." It's 18 hours into the program, and I am buying everything I heard. Lock, stock, and saddle. Even from experienced carriers, I'd believe it all.

Day One:
Let me make one thing perfectly clear: IF YOU RENT TRANSPORTATION TO GUNSITE - GET A TRUCK OR MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INSURANCE ON THE CAR!!!! The road out to it is all washboard, potholes, and just completely horrible on a car. But... moving forward....

I arrived at Gunsite at about 0730. The first half hour of your day is devoted to doing paperwork. I must have signed eight or nine different documents where I had to swear to God, the law, my dogs, and their hairy mothers that I would not sue Gunsite for shooting myself. Or if anyone else shoots me. Rut-Roh.

Splayed out underneath your various required lawyer-like materials, are a couple of books and readables. They are a small "Jurors Handbook" that explains the importance of the Constitution, a 155-page textbook (I'll omit the name - no cheaters!!! hehe), and a spiral-bound booklet that outlines the various pistoleering courses and what will be required of you for the courses.

Our three instructors walk in and introduce themselves to the 20-or-so of us. Our rangemaster, Larry, and course leader is a guy who spent his whole 40 year career with Arizona DPS doing SWAT, Warrants, etc. He is clearly the Honcho. Another instructor, Kirk, is a gentleman who spent 23 of his 24 years in the Navy as a SEAL Operator. He retired in 1994. Imagine what he has seen... his stories are REALLY interesting!!!! Another instructor, Scott, flew AH-1 Cobras in the Army for quite a few years. Lots of combat time. He now also teaches Helo Pilots @ Embry-Riddle.

We spend the first 2 or so hours of our wellspent cash listening to a lecture. This sounds boring, but covers EVERYTHING neccesary - beginning shooters to advanced guys.
This lecture covered:
-Gun Handling @ Gunsite
-Liability and Travel
-Local Law Enforcement's relationship with shooters and Gunsite
-Arizona Carry Laws
-Gunsmitthy
-Grading and Evaluation System
-Class Schedule
-Hydration
-Performance Objectives
-Range Safety
-Lead Contamination
The lecture then moved to the history of the modern technique.

Those few hours sound exceedingly boring, but the insight these guys have makes it thoroughly intruiging. The wealth of knowledge these gentlemen pass on.... its just not something you could put a price on (though they do, at over $1200 a person haha).

We then pack our shooting supplies up and head out back to the ranges at 1000 or so.

The first few hours of drill cover basics: trigger control, dry firing, single shots, etc. They really use this time to allow beginners to get comfortable around the weapons they are using AND to evaluate the experienced shooters.

We broke for lunch at about a quarter to noon and had to be back at the range @ 1300. They will tell you that you do not have time to leave and get lunch. However, if you have a truck for that damnedfangle "gravel" driveway they have, you can make it to McDonalds or Sonic in Chino Valley and back way before 1300 (round trip is about 45-55 minutes in a truck). BUT!!! The food they offer is really not bad!!! The meals they offer are quite tastey and are complete. Good stuff.

The second half of Day One is dedicated, more or less, to presentation (read: the "Draw"). I would STRONGLY ADVISE that you not try and practice presentation before you get there unless you have prior AND RECENT formal firearms instruction on it.... Anyhow, I digress.. They also teach you their own special reloading techniques and then you move into various other shoots (slow doubles, etc). We were out there until about 3:15.

I wanted more range time!!! I wasn't finished!

We moved back up into the classroom. The instructors discussed Negligent Discharges and dry firing. They passed out plastic rounds to place in our chambers for the practice. We were then formally dismissed. Some of us stuck around for a damned funny bull session with the instructors. Its worth the time to hang around afterwards. They will help you in any way they possibly can as long as you are willing to let them. Heed my advise on that, too. The best thing you can do before this course is resigning yourself to that fact that they will re-teach you how to shoot... unless something works for you. They are not above letting you do your own thing - but some old habits will have to go.. to be replaced with new ones!

Rounds Expended Today: ~200


Day Two:
Our marching orders upon leaving last night were to meet at the range at 0800 and be ready to put lead downrange from the get-go. I got there just in time to get my mags loaded-up and my carry rounds swapped-out. I should also mention I had a horrible cramp in my left leg that left me near dabilitated by the end of the afternoon.

The morning was spent on the introduction of a tactical reload, various ways to clear jams, and a really cool competitive shootout!!! By lunch, the class was a lean, mean group of souls. We were shooting faster, presenting smoother, and looking very angry. The targets are set-up on a compressed-air powered flip system that will panel the targets out for a preset amount of time. We had moved into the territory of 5-7 second shoots on the targets and expected to make kill shots on all of them.

By the afternoon, you are proficient at things you never-EVER expected you could do and in times that you would not believe if I told you.

The range-time adjourned at around 3:30. We went back to the classroom for a discussion on ballistics and how it matters.

Personally, I did awful. By the end of the day, my leg was near death and I couldn't concentrate. I just wanted to sit down and take a nap. haha This was just me, though. Everyone else was cleaning house!!! I'm glad I was so humble about doing well on Day One!! I'd be catching Hell if I hadn't been. However, despite all of this... Day Two is an EXTREME confidence builder. As a person who believes in self-defense, you will believe in YOURSELF more than you thought possible. Gunsite will take you to new heights on Day Two.

I went-on and am taking the CCW class that they offer in conjunction with the 250 Pistol. The instructor is very cool and has some excellent insight into carrying. He is very no-frills and no-BS. I thoroughly enjoy that class. It is broken-up into two days, with your shooting evaluation is not done on the range...... BUT IN A KILLHOUSE. You fail the course if you kill an innocent in the house. I'm unbelievably excited.

That's all for now, though. I need to goto bed. I have a very early morning.

Rounds Expended Today: ~300

I may never be able to stop shooting. Everywhere I look right now, I can see my sights on things I look at.

Good doggy.

What have I done to myself?!!?

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SixBravo

Day Three:

It turns out the cramp in my leg was an old snowboarding injury from about 8 years ago. I tore something in my knee and it prevents me from putting too much pressure on it quickly.

The day begins again at 0800 in the classroom. The lecture ran until just after 1015. It was two hours of the Combat Mindset. Some of what I heard, I have seen explained here - but never at the same depth or length which they went to. Their examples are amazing as well as their other angles to look at. It is truely a treat to have these guys with all of their combined experience.

At 1015 we broke and went to the range. We did some quick warmup drills to get the blood flowing because it was a little chilly this morning. After that, they introduced us to 4 or 5 different positions to shoot from. I will suffice to say that the first one involved us falling to our knees rather quicky.

A large rock got me right in the cartiledge on my knee where I injured it years ago. I managed to keep the gun downrange amid curses. I hate my leg at this point in my life. So I popped a few asprin and watched the rest of our team do the drill whilst waiting for it to kick in.

It didn't until lunch when I got some food in my body. I returned from lunch ready to whoop some serious [donkey]!!!!! We immediately jumped into some quick draw drills and hammers. During an execution of one of our new drills that required a turn, I twisted said knee very hard. I was so infuriated, no kidding, I almost started to cry out of sheer anger. Especially when I found out the next item on the list - which was something I had been looking forward to learning for MONTHS.

Just before we broke for the classroom again, we did a few more drills, but way faster. I could DO THESE. I was getting happy again. haha Just imagine a target flash in front of your eyes for less than a few seconds and the immense pride of seeing multiple holes in it as it spins back away. Two weeks ago, I would have laughed at the idea of me doing it.

Getting back to the classroom at 3 or so, there was an hour-long discussion about carrying firearms and what it truely entails. The responsibility, more about the mindset, a new way to look at the classic "sheepdog" mentality, and a few other points.

At the end of class, the announced our main event for tomorrow:

The Killhouse and Hostage Creekbed.

We briefly saw the Killhouse. I would say that it is roughly 1300 square feet, with about a dozen individual rooms that may or may not be divided off by hallways. It will be amazing.

Right now, my busted knee is covered with ice and I've got some more ibuprofen in me. It already feels better.

Rounds Expended Today: ~80
Average Number of Rounds by Participants: ~250

PS: I completed the CHP class tonight. Easy. Good discussion with the teacher. The test was a simple 20 question exam. I have not taken a CHP class anywhere else so I have no comparisons, however our instructor knew a LOT about the laws and how they were applied (turns out he's a former LEO,s too).

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levi333

Very interesting read. I look forward to its finale.

SixBravo

Day Four:

For those that just want to hear about the Killhouse and Wash, skip ahead to it.

This morning began out at the range at 0800. We did our standard warmup drills from 3, 7, 10, 15, and 25 yards. This took about 8 or 9 minutes tops. Immeadiately after, members of our team were trucked-off and taken to the killhouse and wash. Chance would have it that I would be the last one through the house.... but that's later.

We spent the morning getting back to basics. Our team had been showing a lot of fatigue and strain. While initially we had begun to become extremely confident, only one or two of us could actually come close to the goals set by Gunsite. This had disheartened a few people and it was beginning to show. So, like I said, we went back to basics: Controlled pairs, practicing from different distances at unlimited times, etc. This helped-out immensely. I won't say I was above it, either. I was getting frustrated myself. This was a real morale booster.

Then myself and four others were called away for the "Sims." These may be done in different orders, but this is how I did them...

The Wash:
You arrive at a small cinderblock shelter. You hear rapid gunfire not too far off to the left. It ceases. Followed some time later by more, in random intervals. There may or may not be other team members in the shelter waiting nervously with you. When your turn finally comes, you proceed down into a wash (for those that don't know - a "wash" is a creekbed with high, steep walls) and some steps. The instructor waits. It is now, that it is explained to you that today is only a "test" and tomorrow will be the real thing.

"WHAT?!?!"

"All the targets you encounter can be considered hostile. This is just an exercise to teach you to think tactically. Work the problem out in your mind and execute a plan. Don't be afraid to back-up and restart a section with a new plan. Take your time. Tomorrow counts, not today. I'll be right behind you to answer any questions. Any questions right now? No? Okay. Don't forget to breathe. Draw your weapon, make ready, and proceed at the low ready when you are prepared."

I was doing okay and all psyched-up for this until I hear "draw your weapon." I'm pretty sure my heart hit the ground and shattered into a million pieces - but only after passing the butterflies fluttering around the ball of ice in my stomach.

Turn, face down the 10-foot wide wash, and draw. Rack the slide. Press check. Decock. Scan the area. Don't cross your legs. Move slow. Shoot deliberately. Front sight press. Don't slap the trigger! This is it! Are you ready?! Do you have enough ammo?!! HOW MANY TARGETS?!?!?! Wait, I'm forgetting something. Oh yeah:

Breathe.

I take my first step forward. Then another... Wait.. What is that on the other side of that little ridge... Is that a face? Gun up!!! Press the trigger. I feel the gun jump. I even see it. I don't hear it. I don't even hear the target get hit.

"Hit!!! Clear right!! Keep moving!!!"

After-Action Report: That was probably the biggest adrenaline rush I have ever had. I've raced cars for 10 years, played paintball with US Rangers, "shot" at government agents in mock gunfights, and done quite a bit which has gotten the juices flowing. But NOTHING matched the rush of being put in a "combat" situation like that. Granted, these targets didn't shoot back, but the situation is unique because all of your past week's training is to be utilized in these sims. This is where a big chunk of your grade comes from.

I found at different times I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. I also experienced something which is appearently very common - my muscles damned-near froze at the bicep. In two years of playing around with simunitions, I had NEVER experienced that. Weird.

My heart rate has climbed just really thinking about it.


The Killhouse:
It's a giant cinderblock house. It has rooms. You have to perform tactical entries - through doors. Ever played the video game "Rainbow Six?" Yeah it's a lot like that. The instructor calls me up and lays it out:

"Here's the situation: You are turning onto your girlfriend's street to pick her up for a nice dinner. She calls you up and starts yelling that strange people are coming over the back fence. You hear a window break in the background. She screams and drops the phone. All you hear is scuffling as you pull up in front of her house. You get out of your car and run up to the door and hear her scream again."

I'm sure my eyes looked like saucers. I know my heart did the same dropping maneuver it had oh-so-successfully pulled-off before.

"Draw your weapon and make ready!!! Proceed at your own pace from the low ready position. Go!"

[Many, many, many explecitives deleted that crossed my mind in an instant.]

Pie the first corner. There's a door in front of you. First problem. How do you deal with it. **** it! Kick it open! That's my girlfriend they're assualting!!! HOW DARE THEY?!?!?!

Door flies open. Target! Gun in the hand!!! Hk up! Sights on the punks chest!!!!!!

"Drop the ****ing gun, NOW!!! I WILL KILL YOU!!!"

[Instructor] "Eat me!"

Again... I feel the gun move. Hell, I can see it. I even watch three holes appear on the target. One in the target's left lung, another towards the liver, and another in the left eye.

No sound.

God, that's annoying.

Keep moving!


After Action Report:
The instructors tell you that when you clear the funhouse, you will feel one of two ways about it. Either you will never, ever, EVER, want to do it again. Orrrrrrrr..... You will want to clean that house every single day for the rest of your life.

I am of the latter. Forgive my enthusiasm, but that was SO COOL!!!!!!!! It was so awesome, that I cannot go into it much more than to tell you "Oh.... my....!!!!!!!!!!" Only those who have been through the course or who have done this before as part of their job or otherwise will really understand what I mean.

My apologies if what I just said made absolutely zero sense.


Anyhow, after this, we broke for lunch. I didn't get to eat. I had to get fingerprinted for the CHP. As well, I spent all the other time discussing the sims with the instructors and other team members. Everyone was just chatty as Hell.

The afternoon was much of a return to basics from other directions. We did repeated drills in preperation for tomorrow. I really can't say too much about it because after the sims, it really wasn't much to talk about. The mood pretty much dropped-off as well because, despite numerous warnings about it, it snowed on and off during the afternoon. No one, save myself and two others, had any cold weather gear.

We returned some hours later for some awesome night shooting. The instructors discussed tactics for fighting at night, different ways to hold the flashlight, and just about everything in between. The "series fire" was REALLY awesome.


Tomorrow: The Final Exam and Graduation

PS: Also an interesting experiment and some really surprising (and undoubtedly controversial) happenings with different firearms.

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SixBravo

Just got home from the last day. I'll have to finish this blog up tomorrow afternoon when I have more time. I'm gonna buy some of my classmates a few beers.

We all deserve them.

You all will have details tomorrow. Today was even better than yesterday.

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XD in SC

Wow this s great! I wanna play, ummm train too!!!!

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Sean
XD 9SC | XD 45ACP Service | XD 45ACP Compact |Borealis
"You may know where you are. God may know where you are. If you don't tell your dispatcher where you are, you'd better be on speaking terms with God!"

retsupt99

I have thought about going there...I appreciate your 'journal' adventure...
This is GOOD...

Thanx...looking forward to the 'rest of the story'...

ret

__________________
"That I cannot do."

"Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks."


***********************************

NRA Life Member

SixBravo

Don't ever go out to dinner with a bunch of fresh Gunsite grads. Everyone wants to have the best view of all the entrances. Those that ended up with their backs to the doors kept looking over their shoulders. hahaha

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Day Five

We arrived at the range at 0800 again. It was probably 14 degrees. Damned cold. But I had my McStopnRob coffee so I was alright. We started-out with out standard school drills. We all moved through them twice. Most of us hadn't even thought about doing the sims yet. We were too cold and tired... and trust me: After a week of this - you are dead exhausted. I think they plan for this because those b*$t*rds just all of a sudden start racking off names about who is going to the sims. We hadn't even been there 30 minutes.... They really don't pull any punches.

I was picked to go with the second group to the Funhouse. Keep in mind - if I shoot any stray rounds or shoot an innocent then I fail my CCW course and I still owe the $75. More about that later, though...

The Funhouse - Final Exam:

We get trucked out to the house and bunker down against the cold while we load of up frangibles. Its a completely different killhouse. Two guys go ahead of me. Both of them come out with their heads shaking telling me "Its HARD and it makes you think!!!" I get pretty psyched at this point. I love this kind of stuff. When I used to do force on force engagements, I was always the guy on the other side of this and I had never had a chance to do it from the "Entry" side until now. There was a lot of nervous laughter among those of us waiting to go. We all know it. The kind of laughter where someone makes a bad joke and everyone laughs a little more than they should. Shivers were abound, as well. Was it the cold? Were we just that nervous? Hell I can't remember because I was sweating bullets when I came out.

I'm called up. I goto the instructor who is standing in front of a door. Some idle conversation and more nervous laughter from me. I'm sure he was eating this up. Punk see's it all the time. I hate him for it. haha

"Here's the situation: Your little brother stayed home sick from school today. You are pulling up in the car and see people coming over the fence and jumping through your back window. You hear your brother calling for help. Now, you live in a duplex with your best friend. As far as you know, he is not home. That's it. Draw, make ready, and perform your entry at your discretion."

Draw. Rack the slide for a chambered round. Eject the mag. Replace the gun. Load an extra round into the mag. Draw. Insert the mag. Deep breath. Safety off. **** it. I'm going in on Single Action.

Turn the knob, kick the door open. Pie. No threats.... Just a hallway. Breathe!!! Okay. Two doors. One left, one right. I'll go right, first. Prepare for entry. Knob. Kick. Pie and lean. TARGET!!!!

[Me yelling in command voice] "ON THE ****ING GROUND!!! NOW!!! I SAID NOW!!!"

[Instructor] "Chill man. I'm just tryin to get warm. I'm getting down."

"Stay there!!!"

I think my heart is going to explode through my chest. My muscles are so tense they burn. The air is so crisp in my nose it feels like its going to bleed. The pressure is unbelievable! The rush is amazing! Okay, keep moving.

Go through another few doors. No targets. Another hallway. It has a turn. Hmm. Alright... Pie it. Target!!! HE'S GOT A GUN!!!

"DROP THE GUN!!! DROP IT!!!"

[Instructor] "Why?! What're you gonna do abo-"

Two quick rounds.

I have to trade glasses with the instructor at this point. My Oakleys were fogging up too badly for me to see anything. I keep moving through the house. More targets. Some were no-shoots. Most were not. Until you come to the last guy.

I won't betray what it is, but it will hit you like a ton of bricks. Holy God. What do you do now?!!? Do you shoot?! He can see you! He's staring you down! Half a second feels like an eternity while you try to think of what you should do...

After Action Report: The instructor said I did it really well. I cheated and used bullet-holes as peep holes a few times, but in their own words "Cheat if at all possible! Always! If its a fair fight, you planned it wrong." I caught their one trick, too. Only one in my group of five. haha I felt good about that. But, I didn't shoot any innocents. All but one of my shots were kill shots and I think I fired close to two dozen rounds.

It was absolutely the most intense thing I have ever done. I felt great. I did the right thing on the last target, too. However, I completely forgot to check one of the rooms and missed a guy. THAT made me upset. But, I did everything else extremely well. Time to puff the chest out and smile big.

We are eventually trucked back to the range. We do some more practice rounds while people are out in the sims. After some time, I am the second to last person to move through the wash.

The Wash:

This is a different wash, too. Hmm. It's wider, has bushes in it, and slowly draws right. A large bush obscures downrange most of the way.

"Here's the scenario: You have to fight your way out of this creekbed. Assume that the BG's have the high ground covered with automatic weapons. They are waiting in ambush, but a friend of yours is someplace up ahead. These will not be faced targets, but steel planks. You must identify and I will call gun or not. Make ready and proceed at your own discretion."

Again, like I said before. I'm an adrenaline junkie. But this is just a whole different feeling. I am addicted. Completely.

Draw. Rack. Refill my mag. Safety off. Single Action again. Go time.

I step off. There's a small revetment to one side. I pie it out. See the top of a target and one eye.

"Target!!!"

[Instructor]: "Gun!!!"

One round to the head. Wait, there's another one right next to him!
Same spiel. He gets a little lead, too. I proceed further down the wash executing BG's as fast as I can see them. Except on one target. I missed the first shot, got excited, and pumped four more misses at him. I had to stop and breathe and then pop him good. This was from about 10 yards.

Eventually I come to the big bush. I take a knee and stop for a speedload. When I come back up, I notice a target 15 yards the other side of the bush. I just bring the gun up... take aim. Fire right through the scrub and hit the target right in the left eye.

[Instructor]: "Hot damn! Nice shot!"

I pie around the bush and see two more about 20 yards down the wash. I pop back around the bush and stop, getting a good sight picture, for half a second. I then roll out the other side firing at the targets as I move forward.

Three shots. Two kills.

"Holster your weapon. Sim completed."

I holster. I then catch a bunch of flak for firing while walking at the target. It was true that I shouldn't have done it. As new as I am to these tactical scenarios I am prone to getting target fixation. I had not bothered to check either side while moving forward and I could have stumbled on some very large and loose rock. It was a well-deserved talking-at.

Other than that, I appearently did very well again. No shot innocents. Hell yeah!

Lunch time. We went into Chino Valley for some Coneys from Sonic. Energy food.

We return to the range at 1315. This when they inform us that it is now time for the rest of our final exam. Timed shots, from predetermined positions and ranges. Damn those times are quick. No one is quite sure they can even get a shot off in that time. Oh well.

We move through all of the drills. Despite my knee about to blow out, I somehow manage to do very well at that, too. Certainly not the best, but I far exceeded my expectations!!! I am further pleased.

We then move to a different range. Its time for the class shoot-off to see who is really the best. This involves drawing from the holster, shooting two targets about the size of a slice of bologna at different ranges, a speedload (required), and then shooting your half of a steel man-target the size of a toddler.

All said and done, we spent about 45 minutes doing this. I won 3 straight matches, lost to my friend with a Beretta, and then won my last one. These were EXTREMELY tough and very competitive. Most of them were over within 3-4 seconds and involved a lot of cheers and clapping. Desite the heavy pressure and competition, everyone was shaking hands, smiling, and trading ideas. Truely a blatant display of comraderie if there ever was one.

The winner of the competition was finally announced. No, it was not me. It was my buddy Daniel, who I had taught to shoot not even six months prior! He was completely floored!!! And no kidding, I wish I would listen to my own advise because that guy was a good shot BEFORE Gunsite. He has a lot of natural talent and a healthy aggression that is required for the class and shooting itself. He thanked me profusely. I insisted numerous times that he's the one that shot it, I didn't do it for him. I was extremely proud of him. As well, the friend that out-shot me with the Beretta was another "student" of mine and a former anti. Again, I was extremely proud of him for handing my tail to me. haha He promised to never let me live it down. I told him that he would only provoke more rematches. lol As for myself, I finished somewhere in the top four. They only shoot to classify the 1st Place guy, but there were three of us with a 4-1 record. We were all pleased.

We were eventually sent back to the classroom. They handed out Instructor/Course evaluations and our diplomas with our graduation rank.

I hit "Marksman 1" which is right below "Expert." I didn't expect expert because of my knee problems, but Marksman 1 was still a hope for me. Needless to say, I am still smiling about it. My other three buddies that I taught to shoot all scored Marksman 1. I have no doubts that much of their success is DIRECTLY the result of what they learned at Gunsite.

Final 250 Pistol Analysis:
They advertise that this class will change your life. I would believe it for the vast majority of people. Speaking for myself in that aspect, I would say its WAY too early to tell. The lessons that are taught are ingrained into your brain and the killhouses are places you will remember for the rest of your life.

The Instructors are absolutely top-notch. Do not expect to be coddled, either. They will yell. They will put you under pressure. They will curse at you. If you are easily offended, don't even consider this course. If you have problems taking orders, I would talk to one of their reps before spending the money.

However if you don't have a problem with any of this, I cannot stress enough the quality of this course. While there may be more "Instant Gratification" ways to spend $1200+, few, if any, of those ways will last you the rest of your life or possibly save your (or your family's) ass one day. The first few days will feel like you might have mis-spent your money for some, but when you move through those houses and the washes... then the past few days pump through your veins like blood... there is zero doubt in your mind about the placement of your hard-earned cash.


"The Experiment" and Gun Problems:
My Hk is NOT happy unless it has been fired. It seems like the gun will shoot wherever it pleases unless it has a mag through it. So, I went to the local range on the Tuesday before Gunsite and put about 100 rounds through the gun and didn't clean it before the class started on Friday. When it finally came time to shoot on Friday, the USP performed flawlessly. I didn't have time to clean it that night, and it shot like a champ through Saturday. At this point, I decided to bring my cleaning kit and I would give it a quick once-over on Monday.

And I did. I gave it a real quick and crappy cleaning job during lunch on Day Three. The gun ran flawlessly. ~1000 rounds of ammo under some pretty intense shooting, and not one single issue. I used re-packed ammo from a local range. Not one fail-to-feed, not a single double-feed, nothing. And the gun still shot like it was brand new.

My weapon, another Hk USPc .45, two Springfield XD45's, and my buddy Daniel's Taurus 1911 were the only weapons that did not suffer any jams or problems.

This is where it will get a little controversial.

The large majority of the group shot 1911's of various makes. Every single one of them either broke, jammed consistantly, or suffered from some problem. This includes three Glocks (two were .40's and the other a .45).

One of the Taurus 1911's had a sere(sp?) that broke and would randomly go into 3-round burst mode. The rentals were not cleaned all week by the staff because it was over a weekend and no one was available to do it. Thus, they jammed all the time. Every two mags or so. They performed awfully while one or two only jammed like twice or three times a day.

What I can tell you in summation is this: Do not use their rentals. Bring a gun you have owned, used plenty, and plan on carrying. If you have any kind of random jamming or FTF's, send your piece away and get it fixed before you go. And when you go, make sure you bring your cleaning kit. Take the extra time to thoroughly clean your weapon every single evening in your hotel room.


The CWP/CCW Class:

If you are going to be at Gunsite, take this class if you don't already have your Arizona CWP. I cannot stress this enough. It's only $75 with the 250 Course and the way the CWP Instructor applies it to your 250 is just awesome!!! Take it!!!


Well.... I hope you guys enjoyed the reads. I am done writing for right now. LOL I think my arms may fall off. If you've got any questions about the class or wanna know some more info - by all means post them or PM me and I'll try and answer the best I can.

I am doing another class there ASAP. It will be either the 223 Rifle (with the SKS) or 350 Pistol (with the Hk).

www.gunsite.com

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XD in SC

Terrific post!! Maybe it could be editted to your posts only and stickied??

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Sean
XD 9SC | XD 45ACP Service | XD 45ACP Compact |Borealis
"You may know where you are. God may know where you are. If you don't tell your dispatcher where you are, you'd better be on speaking terms with God!"

SixBravo

Yeah if someone wanted to do that I sure wouldn't mind. BUT... hey whatever. Someone can just as easily look it up under "Search," but that wouldn't be a bad idea anyhow. lol

If neccessary I can edit, etc.

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Blackeagle

I love the description of the Gunsite experience. Makes me want to go!

Thanks, SixBravo!