We Made it to March!

Status on scheduled classes:

• March 26 Intro to Precision Rifle: 4 spots left
• April 30 Defensive Pistol Elements *Lite: 1 spot left
• July 30 Black Rifle 101: 8 spots left

Concealed Carry 4-Hour Renewal Class

Intro to Precision Rifle

Getting the Most out of your Training Class

1. Prepare Yourself

• Have a training goal - know why you are taking the class and what you hope to learn or achieve. That will give you measurable results. Realize that some of your fellow students may have different goals. Some folks may be taking the class just for the fun of it, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just be open to learning new things along the way and keep in mind other students may have different reasons for being there.
  
• While you are packing up the rest of your gear, make an honest effort to unpack your ego. The single greatest obstacle to learning in a firearms class is the attitude that you are going to "show the instructor how much you know." That will cause you to miss out on valuable learning and more than likely cause you to experience unnecessary frustration. Approach the class with a mindset to learn and you will do fine.
  
• Try it the instructor's way. You may have a particular method or style you use when you shoot and your instructor may show you something different that challenges your status quo. That is why you are there! If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got. Improvement means change. It may feel clumsy and uncomfortable at first, but stick with it. A quality instructor wants to see you succeed, so they are going to show you the best techniques and information they have to help you achieve your training goals. That's also why it's important to pick the right instructor - someone with training and experience relevant to your needs who keeps up with the industry. There is, unfortunately, no shortage of unqualified teachers passing along antiquated information.
  

2. Prepare your gear

• Make sure your guns are clean and well-lubricated.
• Check your ammo, does it fit in your magazine and chamber? does it feed and function reliably in your firearm?
• Don't bring unnecessary gear, it's just more stuff to carry and keep track of. Resist the urge to turn class into "show-and-tell."
• Zero your rifles and carbines. If the class/instructor recommends a particular zero (e.g. 100 yd zero for precision rifles or 50 yd zero for carbines), I would set them up that way - there's usually a very good reason.
• Make sure actions are tight in their stocks and make sure optics and mounts are tight! I have seen several scopes fall off people's rifles in the middle of a class. If your action is loose in your stock, you will waste time and ammo trying to zero a rifle that can't be zeroed.

• Make sure you know what peripheral gear you will need to be successful - shooting mats, spotting scopes, holsters, slings, flashlights... usually there is a gear list for the class that you can follow. If you can't find a gear list or have questions about gear suitability, reach out to the instructor as soon as you can so you have time to buy, beg, borrow, or steal whatever else you need.
• Wear appropriate clothing. If you are too hot or too cold or soaking wet, you will be thinking about how uncomfortable you are instead of focusing on learning. Check the weather report and govern yourself accordingly. Sturdy footwear is recommended. Avoid loose or low-cut tops that provide a path for hot brass to go down your shirt. A scarf, gaiter, or shemagh is recommended, especially for high-volume pistol and carbine classes to keep brass out. A brimmed hat to keep brass from getting behind your safety glasses is a good idea. For classes with magnified rifle or carbine optics, a shorter brimmed hat like a "boonie" hat won't get in the way of your scope as much.

3. During Class:

• Safety! The 4 firearms safety rules are crucial. Classes that stray from these rules eventually end in disaster. Taking classes with "hot-range" rules (a.k.a. "big boy rules") doesn't mean we get to violate the 4 fundamental rules, it means we are so good at following those 4 basic rules that we can be trusted to safely perform more advanced tasks without endangering ourselves or anyone else.
  
• Respect: Don't compare yourself with other students. Most likely, everyone in class is starting at a different skill level. The goal isn't to achieve uniformity for all students, it's to take everyone, no matter where they are starting from, and make them better. (In my experience, that is also the main difference between military or law enforcement-style training and professional private sector training.)
  
• Ask questions, but, there isn't usually time built into a class for deep philosophical exploration of technical rabbit holes. If you have these kinds of questions, make a note, and take it offline. Ask the instructor during a break, or get in touch with them after class.
• Take notes when it is appropriate. Take time immediately after class to record your thoughts on what you learned that day. As soon as you leave the range, you will start forgetting what you learned. By keeping some notes of important points you will hold on to more of what you have gained.

4. After Class:

• Take time to safely and correctly stow your gear for transportation before you leave the range. If you are swapping out practice ammo with defensive ammo in handguns, inform the instructor and they should point out a safe place on the range for you to do this (as opposed to doing this in your vehicle, for example). Treat your gear right if you want it to treat you right.
  
• Write an After Action Report or AAR. AAR's are useful tools for everyone involved. For you, they help capture your mindset immediately after class and serve as a good reminder later. Share your AAR's on forums or social media you participate in, that will help prospective students figure out if they want to take that class or train with that instructor. Often, instructors and training companies will want to share your more complimentary AAR's to attract business. If you aren't quite sure how to write a good AAR, we have some guidance HERE: "Writing a Worthwhile AAR."
• Practice what you have learned. If you take a class and never practice what you learned in that class, the benefits you obtained will fade quickly. Training teaches you HOW to practice and WHAT to practice - but you still must practice.