My priority has been getting all of my technician level courses in the tech rescue disciplines so I can go to Structural Collapse School, which sounds like fun in it’s own right, then I can go to the annual Rescue Challenge.
So basically, I need to get the state certs so I can go do the cool guy shit.
After that, my plan is to continue training until I reach the Robert Murtaugh stage of my career. Rather than just going through the state curriculum over and over again I want to branch out and find other sources for training. I will hang on to your link there, thanks again!
Idaho-I was thinking about your kill house training that got cancelled. This seems like a perfect time to run the training in gas masks. Everyone stays 6’ apart in the staging area then mask and stack. Our filters are cbnr rated and given to us to work in those environments not just CS/OC fog.
Thanks! I’ve been around long enough to watch some of the older guys who didn’t want to train anymore, and get stuck on techniques and gear that was obsolete decades ago, and it’s hard to respect guys like that.
Also, in our area, tech rescue calls are pretty rare events. The only way to maintain competence is training.
Agree with you. Different agencies all have different rules, so, after a “memo” was signed by agency administrations, they will be used. I have never seen so much red tape as this COVID pandemic has created, also, IMHO, it has created a new level in " timid" in various administration directors.
Example: “gas masks must be cleaned by a certified professional after each use”
I have never met a “certified” gas mask cleaning professional. You cannot make this shit up.
Looking for some tips on pistol practice without necessarily having to actually fire the gun. I’ve been spending a few minutes daily practicing quick site acquisition and dry firing, but it’s hard to say if I’m actually getting any better at sighting the gun.
If ammo were more available I’d just go shoot, but 9mm is fairly scarce and there’s only one range around here open to the public on a reservation basis. I don’t have enough of my own land to safely shoot here.
Is there any real carryover from practicing with a pellet gun? I understand the recoil will be basically non-existent.
I don’t carry my gun, it stays home unless I’m going target shooting. It’s a home protection/fun at the range piece.
You can get laser training cartridges in all normal chamberings. Targets too. I’ve never used them, but they seem like the best option for dry fire training. You’ll see if you’re jerking low-left and/or doing anything other than keeping on-target. Just no boom and no normal cycling in semi-autos.
Yes air guns are good to practice with but make sure you setting your expectations for the gear you get. If you want to work on basics like sight alignment and trigger control, get a low to mid price range competition style pellet gun. If you are looking to move, draw and USPSA/IDPA accuracy, grab an air soft that replicates your pistol.
When I knew I was not going to get to enough range time before a precision rifle school, I spent time with a pellet rifle practicing position shooting.
@twojarslave thanks for the recommendation man, that’s intriguing. I’ll have to check the prices on something like that.
@mixicus thanks dude. Would you mind elaborating on why you’d recommend an airsoft pistol for the latter? I’m under the impression that the plastic BBs would be inherently less accurate than a metal BB or pellet.
Dry fire practice is extremely important, if used correctly. Take your time and make every effort for a perfect shot. I have never met a professional shooter who didn’t dry fire practice. Like 2JS said, a "laser bullet " will go along way in improving your shooting. I can recommend this one as a solid investment, since I have used one for about 6 months with no failures.
I agree with mixicus. They can be very good for training when used within their limitations. I have pellet rifles and pistols, and one BB pistol. All have horrible triggers, which forces me to have a good grip, and focus on trigger control. Learn to control the triggers on these guns and your EDC pistol will seem like you had Wilson Combat do you a trigger job.
“@mixicus thanks dude. Would you mind elaborating on why you’d recommend an airsoft pistol for the latter? I’m under the impression that the plastic BBs would be inherently less accurate than a metal BB or pellet.”
Sure thing. You are correct, pellets are much more accurate than plastic BB’s. That is why I’d go with more of a match single shot pellet (10meter) air pistol if I’m drilling down on fundamentals. That pistol isn’t going to be why your group is is skewed. When I’m looking for footwork, manipulations and engaging multiple targets, the air soft allows me to duplicate the ergonomics, draw and sight picture of something like a Glock 17 using my actual gear. The plastic BB’s give A zone accuracy at indoor distances. Depending on the pistol you may be looking at 2-3" at 5 yards.
It gives me more options in a training environment since I’m not worried about stopping a higher speed metal pellet/BB. A copper BB could be an option be then I’m more worried about my backstop mostly due to bounce.
Draw. Aim. Draw. Aim. Times x 1,000. Training doesn’t have to be fancy or “extreme” to be effective. Master the fundamentals.
I’m on a major metropolitan SWAT team. One of my teammates was SEAL TEAM 4 before joining the department. When guys get to green team (TEAM 6) one of the first things they do on the range is draw / aim, repeat. Hundreds of times.
I taught marksmanship in the Corps. We always harped on the fundamentals. Sight alignment / picture. Breathing control. Proper stance / position. Proper grip.
Don’t know if y’all saw this, it’s from about a year ago. Japanese kid (no private firearm ownership in Japan) watched videos on YT and religiously practiced fundamentals and manipulation. He comes to visit the T Rex crew, and they put him on the range for his first ever live fire and he crushed it - at least with respect to split times and such. They never did show what kind of accuracy he was getting. But point being, if actually practiced, airsoft can be great for fundamentals and manipulation.
I’m sure loads of airsofters saw this video and started claiming they could do the same, because of their airsoft skillz.
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. Muhammad Ali
As I have posted a couple of times recently, Active Shooters have not be driven away by COVID, especially now. Any uniformed cop who has worked the street from Halloween to New Year’s Day, knows the calls are jacked up with heavy increases in armed robberies, car jacking’s, violent domestics than often end in SWAT call outs.
Street muggings, snatch and grabs , and even porch pirates are crawling out from under the woodwork. Now, is the time to review basic safety rules with your family, making sure everyone is situationally aware of what can happen. Learn to look around and make sure you remind who you are responsible for, to get their face out of the phone and for once, actually look around.
For some reason, that struck me like the ‘baseballers’ that stop at the speedgun tent in the parking lot while going into a ballpark. They end up throwing 45mph and arms hurts during the game, from no warmup. lol
