Mossie Tactics LLC – Intro to Pistol
Overview: This was an introductory class geared toward providing new to intermediate shooters with a detailed understanding of the fundamentals of operating a handgun. As a shooter who has attended courses from basic to advanced, there was still plenty of information to make it worthwhile. Fundamentals are the foundation upon which more advanced skill is based, and advanced operation in many cases is simply perfect execution of the fundamentals in a compressed time frame. You can’t do that if you don’t have a good understanding of the fundamentals.
Course Date: May 1, 2011
Teaching Approach: As previously noted in my review of Mossie Tactics’ Intro to Carbine course, the level of instruction was very good and followed a “building block” approach. Many skills built upon the previous skill, and were ultimately chained together to form more advanced techniques.
Rounds Fired: Round count was approximately 400 pistol rounds.
Range to Targets: Ranges varied from five yards to ninety yards.
Target Types: Targets varied from ten inch paper plates to paper silhouettes to various steel targets including life size silhouettes. Targets were changed frequently to provide shooters and the instructor feedback.
Class Size: This was a full class, of approximately 12 students. Students’ skill levels at the start ranged from first timers to avid shooting enthusiasts to intermediate/advanced shooters.
Weapons Used by Class Participants and Malfunctions Observed: Most common were Glock 17s and 19s (with two Gen 4 Glock 19s present), with one Glock 37 (.45 Gap) and one Glock 35. Also present were one M&P 9, one Sig 226/229 (caliber unknown), and one S&W 4506. Several malfunctions with Gen 4 Glock 19s were observed, including failures to eject, stovepipes, and double feeds.
Facility: The facility was a private range at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California (approximately fifteen miles north of Los Angeles). The range facility was awesome with a ninety yard long, bermed bay, and covered loading/rest area.
Overall Impression. This was an excellent course and, even though it is touted as an intro course, more advanced shooters also benefitted from polishing the basics. Repetition of fundamentals is key to developing skill.
Course Outline (provided to give overview of skills learned - may be out of order and incomplete)
a. Safety Brief – each student was required to memorize these four rules and required to write them, from memory, on a waiver.
i. Four basic safety rules:
- Treat every gun as if it is loaded at all times.
- Never allow your muzzle to cover something you are not willing to destroy.
- Finger off the trigger until the sights are on target and you intent to shoot.
- Know your target and what is beyond it.
b. Primary Course Focus Was the Seven Fundamentals of Marksmanship
i. Stance
ii. Grip
iii. Sight alignment
iv. Sight picture
v. Breathing control
vi. Trigger control
vii. Follow through
c. Manual of Arms:
i. Low ready
ii. Four count draw
iii. Reloads including tactical and speed
Some interesting video of the drills:
The 1-2-3-4-5 with Reload. Left target, 1 round, middle target, two rounds, right target, three rounds, middle target four rounds, left target, five rounds. Fifteen rounds were distributed in two magazines, with the student unaware of when the reload would come. NOTE - the right steel target did not ring when hit. What sounds like misses on the right target most often were actually hits.
Calling the Shot. Students rotated through pairs to the body, single head shots and failure drills.
Changing gears. Small then large then small targets engaged from fifteen yards. The goal was to understand the need to slow down on smaller targets.
Walk back drill. Twenty yards to ninety yards, miss a shot and you’re out.
65 Yard Pistol on Steel Silhouette
90 Yard Pistol on Steel Silhouette
I’ll have to keep an eye on that schedule, but the next time I come I will bring at least one and possibly two video cameras!