A Few Things I'm Learning Useing Todd Jarrett's Tips On Training

[SlideRacker]

I decided to posts some things that I am learning as I train useing Todd's training tips. I am a CCW guy, and I have been shooting all of my life. After watching Todd for a few months, I started training, and I discovered that I am not as smart as I thought. This was really a shock to my system as I have for many years thought I was a cross between Rambo and John Wayne.
Things I have learned - first two months:
1. Foregoing a belt type mag holder and useing the inside pocket of my jacket makes for ultra slow reloads. The bad guy may be in a hurry to kill me. This situation will help him meet his goal.
2. Drawing a snubby ( with hammer burr ) from the cargo pocket takes 4.7 seconds. The bad guy will meet his goal.
3. Shooting while walking backwards ( even toe to heal ) is hazardous until about the 30th time. It helps if your range isn't also parking lot for your kids' bikes.
4. When useing a secondary flashlight and a 1911, don't get your thumb too close to the slide's serations.
5. It takes about a week for the skin to grow back on a thumb knuckel.
6. When stepping in and out of your shooting box sideways while looking at the target, it is a bad time to realize that you don't have to use 2x4's to make the box. Spraypaint on the gravel would not be a tripping hazard.

After I get the hang of some drills, I hope to have some good info on here. Right now, I look more like a participant in a Chinese fire drill.

[gunman42782]

LMAO!  Words of wisdom, however!

[DonWorsham]

Great write-up SlideRacker. Please keep us informed of your progress. And remember be careful out there.

[SlideRacker]

You know, I am one of the old school guys who was shooting with targets set up at 25 yards, no cover training, and the once standard two handed press grip. When we got into the CCW and realized we needed to be training at point blank to 10 yards, everything changed. I would like to have seen a few shows dealing with just setting up a shooting range. I didn't change my 25 yard setup because I am running some handgun / rifle/shotgun transition training. I did move up some shooting boxes and cover to the closer ranges. I would love to see some shows that delt with setting up the range. We all don't live up the road from a range, so we have to build our own. I had to try many setups before I found something that looked like a real training environment.

[MikeBjerum]

Thanks Slideracker,

You point out a lot that I have learned as well what a lot of friends learn about.  However, I have tried to accept that I need to learn how to concentrate on the shot while bleeding from a torn off thumbnail (the next step after losing knuckle skin in poor hand placement), how to grow eyeballs in the back of the head or ears because there is always junk in the way during a fight, and that the gun and reloads will never move picture perfect when needed.  I have also accepted that the best use for the gun may be as a club or  that the spare mag may be inside a closed fist, because the bad guy is too close to get an effective shot or to try and reload.

I watch a lot of Pro Tips over on ShootingUSA, and I think it is Todd that has a lot on shooting out of position.  My first adjustment was to go from trying to learn perfect form to shooting off balance, sitting on my ass, or laying on my side or standing on my head (depending on how I fall).  The good thing about being old and fat is that I'm one Whopper away from being one of those weighted clowns we all had as kids - you remember them ... the ones with sand in the bottom that always stood back up after you hit them ... until we discovered pocket knives.  Imagine the fear in the bad guy's eyes when every time he knocks me over I just keep bobbing up and putting the laser on his chest.

I wish you the best on your training and look forward to your updates. 

[Sponsor]

[ellis4538]

Slideracker, m58 and I have a lot in common besides shooting and I 2nd what he says.  I also suggest going out to practice on a day you feel like you've just been run over by a semi.  Not much fun but realistic.

Keep us posted.

[1911 fan]

Todd is truly the man, and I dont know of too many shooters that cant lern a thing or 2 from a true pro. Good luck with the training.

[SlideRacker]

It's good to hear from fellow shooters. Yes, Todd is the man for true to life shooting situations. Right now, I am working on the handgun/rifle transition as well as the standing - kneeling - prone rifle transitions. The standing to prone is fast, and it will make you a bit sore after a few flops. Keeping your right foot pointed down and letting it slide to the inside flat as your knee hits will make a softer landing. This is really fast, and there is alot going on at the same time. If you can do this for about an hour, your a bigger man than me. The main thing for me here is keeping the rifle in hard against my shoulder. The weak had goes palm down as soon as it leaves the gun. If your rifle isn't good and tight against the shoulder, you'll bounce the muzzlebreak off of the ground.

[John McCreery]

Great tips. I'm no Todd but, I'm not a fan of walking backwards.  I know running as fast as I can backwards I will never be able to outrun someone running at me.  If there is a malf or blown drawstroke, you are backpeddling and still in line with the attack. I try to practice moving to the 3, 9, 11, 5, 1, 7.

[SlideRacker]

That's kinda like slicing the pie. That's a military exercise that I have trained with some. It is more of a 3,12,9,8,7,6,5,4,3. Done in a combat stance, it makes you a bit of a hard target. Trick is to make a big slice at a simi-fast speed. That will cause the bad guy to retrain his aim over and over while you lay down a constant rate of aimed fire. It's a good move.