Default.mp3
Established
I apologize ahead of time for any vagueness, omissions, or mistakes in the AAR, as my notes are a bit incomplete, as a large amount of discussion arose organically and not as a set part of the class curriculum.
This was my first course with carbine instruction of any kind. I had a small amount of prior knowledge simply through online reading and informal shooting events with well-versed acquaintances; I have also taken multiple pistol courses from various well-regarded instructors, along with some edged weapons work.
For the pistol portion of the class, I used an H&K P30LS with the Grayguns Reduced Reset Carry Perfection Package carried in condition 1, with an X400 Ultra - Green laser mounted with the DG-11 and zeroed for 25 yards. Sights were Heinie Straight Eights with the front sight painted bright orange with Revlon Colorstay nail enamel. Lube was SLIP 2000 EWL, magazines were modified with the Taylor Freelance Border Special +5 magazine extensions with the included Wolff springs. Round count was at 9536 at the start of the class.
For the carbine portion of the class, I used an AR-15; the upper was assembled by Weapons Outfitters (Centurion Arms 16" light-weight midlength barrel cut down to 14.5", MicroMOA Govnah, Vltor MUR-1S, Noveske NSR 13.5, Centurion Arms FA BCG, WOA gas tube, Surefire SF3P, AXTS Raptor), while I personally put together the lower (AXTS AX556 lower with mostly LWRC small parts, Vltor A5 RE and H2 buffer, Geissele SD-C, Magpul ACS-L, IKH SLAP, BCM Mod 1 Grip, BAD ASS, Sprinco Green Spring). Accessories on the rifle were as follows: Surefire M600 Ultra with an SR07 on an IWC Keymod Thorntail, Aimpoint T-1 2MOA on a GDI MT6-OSM with TD iO, EOTech G33, KAC 600m Micro BUIS, IWC Keymod QD sling mount, Magpul RVG attached via PXT Low Profile Keymod rail section, SOB QD Bitch sling, Surefire SOCOM556-RC, Magpul rail ladders, and Noveske Keymod rail panels. Lube was FIREClean, magazines used were Magpul PMAG MOEs and Lancer AWMs, with Magpuls mounted sideways. Round count was at 578 at the start of the class.
Since the usage of the carbine was unlikely in my EDC attire, I did not attempt to run the course in my EDC set-up, and instead opted for a battle belt. I used a TYR Tactical XFrame Brokos belt with their Assaulter's Base Belt-Tail and Emdom-MM Battle Suspenders. Attached to the battle belt, from the left side moving counter-clockwise, were two ITW FastMag Pistol, two ITW Gen3 FastMag, EGL Loppy Dump Pouch, a Gear Keeper retractable pistol lanyard, and a Safariland 6004-39512 with DFA.. Dress wise, I was fairly close to my EDC attire, besides the addition of Outdoor Research Firemark gloves and Arc'teryx kneepads. Eye pro was Oakley Ballistic M-Frames 3.0, ear pro was MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X with the gel earpads and OC Tactical headband.
Paul Howe was the primary instructor, with 10 other AIs. Class started at about 0745. Weather was fairly warm and humid, but cloudy and with minimal wind, so decent training conditions for May in Texas. There were approximately 20 students in the class, mostly shooting Glocks, a couple of M&Ps, 3 H&Ks, 2 XD family pistols, and a 1911 when it came to pistols; for rifle, there were 2 AKs, the rest were all AR patterned rifles, mostly DI, but at least 2 LWRC, a KAC SR-15, a couple of SBRs, and two suppressed rifles (including one DD MK18 upper). Gear-wise, everyone ran their pistols from the open, and at least half were running retention holsters of some sort. Some were running battle belts, and a couple ran full plate carriers on the second day, with the carbine. The AIs shot similar guns, mostly Glocks, a couple of M&Ps, a 1911, and a Sig, and all ran ARs for rifles. Gear was similar to the students, all open carry, several battle belts, and even a couple of PCs.
The class started out with Paul having us fill out some paperwork. After that, he then passed out a sheet of standards, drills with the maximum amount of time allowed on them. These standards can be used as baseline drills, as it can show where one is weak and needs additional focus on. Also, this class is part of the 6 day carbine/pistol instructor course; the last two days are used for those taking the instructor course to have an actual class to teach, thus the 10 AIs. This is notable because this allows Paul to pair instructors with students in a way that maximizes information flow, such as left-handed instructors with left-handed students, or 1911 using instructors with 1911 using students. The same AIs are paired with the students through the whole class, so there isn't any conflicting advice.
Paul then went over the structure of the class. Hydration was stressed, given the weather here in Texas at this time of year. Also, the range was set up so that the students could simply work out of the back of their vehicles, rather than having to set up tables or the like. Beyond that, Paul runs a cold range during class. He also stressed that once one takes a course with him, the student is free to contact Paul via email for any kind of question, and he would generally respond within 24 hours, depending on his workload at the time. As for the instruction itself, generally a drill would be explained by an AI with everyone circled up, then demoed three times (slow to show the mechanics, then run normal speed, then slow again) by another AI, then the students shoot the drill. The vast majority of the drills were run with 24 rounds (8 rounds in three magazine), and utilizing this target:
We then headed out to the line. Before starting the first drill, Paul touched upon the SERPA; while he doesn't ban the holster at his class, he stresses that the retention must be defeated with a straight finger, rather than a curved finger, in order to prevent the trigger finger from slipping onto the trigger during the draw. For the Safarilands, there are two methods, coming in on top, or grabbing the holster and moving the hand up to the master grip. He also stressed that there is no reason to speed holster, as one would holster only if there was no more threats left. He liked to utilize the modified iso as his stance, a slight lean forward, with his feet heel-to-toe, which is to say, the weak side foot is slightly forward, so that the heel of the weak side foot is in line with the strong side foot's toe. The arms should both be locked, so the natural point of aim should be achieved via moving the feet, rather than the arms. The weak hand should be as high up on the gun as possible, striving to be the same height as the strong hand, so that the recoil will be neutral. If searching and needing to pivot, Paul usually floats the leading foot.
When Paul starts in the high ready, his muzzle is slightly elevated. This is to help him pick up his front sight as he extends, as he allows the front sight to sink into the rear notch during extension. Generally, he has a loose grip in the high ready, and firms up his grip only upon reaching full extension. He also likes to take up the slack as he's extending, stopping at the wall of the trigger until he reaches full extension, at which time he breaks the shot. For most slide manipulations, Paul likes to powerstroke, as this keeps things simple; the same action can be used for reloading, press checking, malfunction clearing, etc. While one can use a slide release, Paul notes that many guns have slide releases too small to be easily used while wearing gloves, a great concern of his; however, if one is able to do so, then he has no issues with it. A simple test for eye dominance determination is to simply put a thumb over a designated target, then closing one eye to see if the thumb is covering the target still. As for questions about both eyes open versus one eye open, Paul states that for shooting, it doesn't really matter, one just has to remember utilize both eyes during the search phase.
This class focuses on the tactical employment of the sidearm. The class will focus on the following:
- Safety
- A stair-stepped shooting program that covers all the basic skills needed for surgical shooting.
- Discrimination
- The use of cover
- Transition drills
- Realistic time and accuracy standards will be used as a training standard and goal.
- Individual shooting plans will be developed and used.
- Shooting “work out” plans for future individual development will be taught.
This was my first course with carbine instruction of any kind. I had a small amount of prior knowledge simply through online reading and informal shooting events with well-versed acquaintances; I have also taken multiple pistol courses from various well-regarded instructors, along with some edged weapons work.
For the pistol portion of the class, I used an H&K P30LS with the Grayguns Reduced Reset Carry Perfection Package carried in condition 1, with an X400 Ultra - Green laser mounted with the DG-11 and zeroed for 25 yards. Sights were Heinie Straight Eights with the front sight painted bright orange with Revlon Colorstay nail enamel. Lube was SLIP 2000 EWL, magazines were modified with the Taylor Freelance Border Special +5 magazine extensions with the included Wolff springs. Round count was at 9536 at the start of the class.
For the carbine portion of the class, I used an AR-15; the upper was assembled by Weapons Outfitters (Centurion Arms 16" light-weight midlength barrel cut down to 14.5", MicroMOA Govnah, Vltor MUR-1S, Noveske NSR 13.5, Centurion Arms FA BCG, WOA gas tube, Surefire SF3P, AXTS Raptor), while I personally put together the lower (AXTS AX556 lower with mostly LWRC small parts, Vltor A5 RE and H2 buffer, Geissele SD-C, Magpul ACS-L, IKH SLAP, BCM Mod 1 Grip, BAD ASS, Sprinco Green Spring). Accessories on the rifle were as follows: Surefire M600 Ultra with an SR07 on an IWC Keymod Thorntail, Aimpoint T-1 2MOA on a GDI MT6-OSM with TD iO, EOTech G33, KAC 600m Micro BUIS, IWC Keymod QD sling mount, Magpul RVG attached via PXT Low Profile Keymod rail section, SOB QD Bitch sling, Surefire SOCOM556-RC, Magpul rail ladders, and Noveske Keymod rail panels. Lube was FIREClean, magazines used were Magpul PMAG MOEs and Lancer AWMs, with Magpuls mounted sideways. Round count was at 578 at the start of the class.
Since the usage of the carbine was unlikely in my EDC attire, I did not attempt to run the course in my EDC set-up, and instead opted for a battle belt. I used a TYR Tactical XFrame Brokos belt with their Assaulter's Base Belt-Tail and Emdom-MM Battle Suspenders. Attached to the battle belt, from the left side moving counter-clockwise, were two ITW FastMag Pistol, two ITW Gen3 FastMag, EGL Loppy Dump Pouch, a Gear Keeper retractable pistol lanyard, and a Safariland 6004-39512 with DFA.. Dress wise, I was fairly close to my EDC attire, besides the addition of Outdoor Research Firemark gloves and Arc'teryx kneepads. Eye pro was Oakley Ballistic M-Frames 3.0, ear pro was MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X with the gel earpads and OC Tactical headband.
Paul Howe was the primary instructor, with 10 other AIs. Class started at about 0745. Weather was fairly warm and humid, but cloudy and with minimal wind, so decent training conditions for May in Texas. There were approximately 20 students in the class, mostly shooting Glocks, a couple of M&Ps, 3 H&Ks, 2 XD family pistols, and a 1911 when it came to pistols; for rifle, there were 2 AKs, the rest were all AR patterned rifles, mostly DI, but at least 2 LWRC, a KAC SR-15, a couple of SBRs, and two suppressed rifles (including one DD MK18 upper). Gear-wise, everyone ran their pistols from the open, and at least half were running retention holsters of some sort. Some were running battle belts, and a couple ran full plate carriers on the second day, with the carbine. The AIs shot similar guns, mostly Glocks, a couple of M&Ps, a 1911, and a Sig, and all ran ARs for rifles. Gear was similar to the students, all open carry, several battle belts, and even a couple of PCs.
The class started out with Paul having us fill out some paperwork. After that, he then passed out a sheet of standards, drills with the maximum amount of time allowed on them. These standards can be used as baseline drills, as it can show where one is weak and needs additional focus on. Also, this class is part of the 6 day carbine/pistol instructor course; the last two days are used for those taking the instructor course to have an actual class to teach, thus the 10 AIs. This is notable because this allows Paul to pair instructors with students in a way that maximizes information flow, such as left-handed instructors with left-handed students, or 1911 using instructors with 1911 using students. The same AIs are paired with the students through the whole class, so there isn't any conflicting advice.
Paul then went over the structure of the class. Hydration was stressed, given the weather here in Texas at this time of year. Also, the range was set up so that the students could simply work out of the back of their vehicles, rather than having to set up tables or the like. Beyond that, Paul runs a cold range during class. He also stressed that once one takes a course with him, the student is free to contact Paul via email for any kind of question, and he would generally respond within 24 hours, depending on his workload at the time. As for the instruction itself, generally a drill would be explained by an AI with everyone circled up, then demoed three times (slow to show the mechanics, then run normal speed, then slow again) by another AI, then the students shoot the drill. The vast majority of the drills were run with 24 rounds (8 rounds in three magazine), and utilizing this target:
We then headed out to the line. Before starting the first drill, Paul touched upon the SERPA; while he doesn't ban the holster at his class, he stresses that the retention must be defeated with a straight finger, rather than a curved finger, in order to prevent the trigger finger from slipping onto the trigger during the draw. For the Safarilands, there are two methods, coming in on top, or grabbing the holster and moving the hand up to the master grip. He also stressed that there is no reason to speed holster, as one would holster only if there was no more threats left. He liked to utilize the modified iso as his stance, a slight lean forward, with his feet heel-to-toe, which is to say, the weak side foot is slightly forward, so that the heel of the weak side foot is in line with the strong side foot's toe. The arms should both be locked, so the natural point of aim should be achieved via moving the feet, rather than the arms. The weak hand should be as high up on the gun as possible, striving to be the same height as the strong hand, so that the recoil will be neutral. If searching and needing to pivot, Paul usually floats the leading foot.
When Paul starts in the high ready, his muzzle is slightly elevated. This is to help him pick up his front sight as he extends, as he allows the front sight to sink into the rear notch during extension. Generally, he has a loose grip in the high ready, and firms up his grip only upon reaching full extension. He also likes to take up the slack as he's extending, stopping at the wall of the trigger until he reaches full extension, at which time he breaks the shot. For most slide manipulations, Paul likes to powerstroke, as this keeps things simple; the same action can be used for reloading, press checking, malfunction clearing, etc. While one can use a slide release, Paul notes that many guns have slide releases too small to be easily used while wearing gloves, a great concern of his; however, if one is able to do so, then he has no issues with it. A simple test for eye dominance determination is to simply put a thumb over a designated target, then closing one eye to see if the thumb is covering the target still. As for questions about both eyes open versus one eye open, Paul states that for shooting, it doesn't really matter, one just has to remember utilize both eyes during the search phase.