“formal” training being defined something like a paid professional instructing you in some sort of shooting discipline. What was it like? What was it for? Looking back on it from where you are now, what are your thoughts about it?
-my first ever “formal” training was a 10week course in bullseye pistol when I was a freshman in college. We were required to take 2 PE classes and this was one of them. Every Friday we would meet at the range for 3 hours and shoot NRA 50ft bullseye pistol and be instructed on the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship. Class was 20 people so we shot in 2 relays. This class was the first time I ever even shot a pistol. I had only ever shot rifles before that. We used Smith & Wesson K-22 Masterpiece .22lr revolvers (I know, I got spoiled).
Looking back on it now, I think it was a great way to introduce me to pistol shooting by cementing the fundamentals early in my shooting career. I went to a Vickers class last year and had no issues. I was able to focus on learning manipulation techniques in the class rather than spend all day struggling to shoot to his accuracy standards.
BRM in basic training, free guns and ammo. Then was the last MP class to qualify with the 1911. They brought 50 of them out in a big red tool box just piled on top of each other. They said pick one and I did. Shook it…rattle, rattle, rattle. - George
Police academy 80 hours combined classroom and range. Around 2500 rounds. Learned the basics but didn’t get alot of one on one because they focused on the ones who were not or barely qualifying.
First formal training with sig p228 and m4 almost a decade ago. it was crap. Reinforced my point of view that the dinosaurs who were issued revolvers and mp5’s and CHOOSE NOT to adapt over time to semi-auto pistols and the m4 platform need to go. I don’t want anyone to misinterpret me, there are plenty of old timers who stay current with new TTPs and I look up to them for their experience and leadership but there is no shortage of those who think what they learned 30 years ago is still valid because they “are still around” and think that they don’t need “no high speed bullshit” to do their jobs. These folks perpetuate this mindset through their ass kissing disciples. Pisses me off.
I didn’t learn much about actual firearms. I did learn a lot about legalities because the instructor had a lawyer come it and talk about gun laws and legal implications for about an hour.
First Class I paid for was TigerSwan 2 day Carbine.
Confirmed much of what I had learned in 10th Mountain’s superb Advanced Rifle class, but added a higher accuracy standard, different stances, and less restricted movement.
Outside of being an infantryman in the Army it was a basic handgun class in Mississippi. I received alot of good instruction but one of the most important memories I had was I got sick of reloading that day as compared to everyone else. We shot about 500 rounds. Everyone else had .40/9mm Glocks or M&Ps with roughly twice the ammo on board and I learned a big lesson that day and my ignorant attitude about the 1911 is the biggest and the best completely changed. It has its place but its not the end all be all. Of course that’s basic 101 stuff for most guys on here but its interesting to look back when a person unlearns and relearns what one thinks is known to be gospel when you really get serious about shooting and the new knowledge that folllows. The following week I bought an M&P 9. I haven’t looked back since.
Well do we get to count the “training” we got at basic I did get some advanced training when I was in USACAPOC. Trying to find a good reputable instructor near Chicago to take my first civilian class.
Jaycees, 4h or something when I was about 4th grade in Colorado in the early 70’s. Indoors with pellet rifles. Safety rules, gun handling, sight picture, trigger control, positions, breathing, etc. looking back, it was a pretty darned good class.
Dam, in the fourth grade I learned long division.
My first formal instruction was the week of classroom time in Boot and the week on the range. I wasn’t shouldering my rifle properly in the prone and lost a part of my front tooth(Since repaired) to a DIs boot.
my first formal was a firearms safety course when I was 24 but had been shooting guns since a little kid. then I took my CCW training class which was 12 hours 10 in a class and 2 at the range.
I did get some advanced training when I was in USACAPOC. Trying to find a good reputable instructor near Chicago to take my first civilian class.