So, I have already done basic classes in the last few months. I feel like I didn’t come out with as much knowledge or training that I should have. Now I’m looking at taking the Vicker’s basic pistol/carbine over a weekend in April. In your opinions, is this a good or bad idea to do both in one weekend? I would plan on taking as many notes as possible cause I figure it would be a lot of information to cover over a weekend. Anyways, thoughts and comments are appreciated.
Aaron
Not to state the obvious, but… It’s a Vickers class! Of course it’s worth the money! If you are confident in your skill set, sign up and enjoy it!
Notes help with remembering certain drills, but don’t get so caught up in note taking that you forget to enjoy the class.
It’s best if you can go with a buddy and share the responsibilities. The best analogy I’ve heard for some of these classes is drinking through a firehose. Also, be sure to debrief after each range day.
It’s not the money that is the concern. As mentioned before, I don’t think I got what I needed out of the other classes. That’s why I am looking at doing basic classes again. Just trying to get thoughts on doing both classes over one weekend.
Aaron
Then maybe the question should be what do you expect to get out of the class?
I was very fortunate to have two world class pistol shootes mentor me when I worked at the training division for my agency. I spent three and a half years with them. That things I learned from them cant be taught in two days.
I have been to Vickers, Hackathorn, Tigerswan, McNamara, and Falla to name a few. Each of them was able to give me something to work on later. Two days is not much time to teach, especially if you’ve got 15-20 students attending.
If you didn’t get anything from your previous classes, maybe you are already at a level where one on one private coaching would be the most beneficial.
As far as whether pistol/rifle is too much for one weekend, no.
My first real training was a three day pistol / carbine course. It was not “too much” and I enjoyed it immensley.
The smartest thing that I did was to bring reliable weapons. Neither my rifle or pistol had a single malfunction of any sort although a time or two I had to replace or smack a PMAG as ammo didn’t rise to the top properly.
Keep the weapons well lubed and show up with them properly zeroed. Even when I was a first timer, my reliable guns made it so that I was free to learn even though several others had to fight with their weapons’ problems occasionally.
I walked away from the course thinking it was a hell of a value and the best money I had ever spent. Like the other gentleman said, don’t get too caught up in notes. I found that taking notes tended to hinder me from hearing what was being discussed as things move fast and if you miss stuff you feel stupid asking what you should be doing when everyone else heard it the first time. I made that mistake more than once.
Yes. IMHO, if you walk out of a class without having learned something, then the instructor probably wasn’t any good (assuming you were paying attention).
I still go to basic classes all the time and pick up little things that I just missed in previous classes.
C4
Not saying I didn’t learn anything, just maybe not as much. I mean hell we didn’t even to make it to basic malfunction clearing due to time restraints and heat. Maybe it was just the heat getting to me during the class that lead to not picking up enough. There was 6 of us and of that 4 people almost passed out from heat.
If everything works out right, I will be attending the Vicker’s courses in April. Worse case scenario it never hurts to practice the basics more and with LAV being the instructor I’m pretty sure I will come away better off.
Aaron