There are some real deal shooters in there. Some of the most talented gun slingers I have come across are in that photo.
C4
I’m probably the least glamorous of the bunch (:p):
National Rifle Association Endowment Life Member.
Concealed Carry Permit Holder.
I’ve attended training under the tutelage of the NRA, Blackwater, Pat Rogers, Larry Vickers, David Pennington and 10-8 Consulting. Total of 184 hours of documented private firearms training.
Title II firearm addict.
1911 and M16/AR15 enthusiast.
Avid hunter and sportsman.
You are also one of the best shooters I have met and your weapon knowledge is extremely high.
C4
Nah, you have me confused with some of our other mods and staff. It’s pretty sad that I HAVE to be “that guy” at the mod classes. :D:p:D
I think our mix of regular guys, military professionals, industry professionals and subject matter experts is what makes us a very unique forum. We have a pretty good balance of people.
GotM4 brought me here. We met at a Bushmaster Carbine Operator’s course in May of 2006. I did a little writeup of the vehicle shoot that was a part of that course and Robb found the thread and somewhere along the line sent me an IM to come and check out a new site called M4Carbine.net.
I signed up for an account and after a bit of participation and figuring out who was behind some of the screen-names I saw tremendous value in this site.
Through this site I’ve had access to training opportunities and information I simply wouldn’t have found anywhere else. I can also rely on the information I get here. You can fit what I know about building AR’s into a thimble, but if I ask a technical question I’m 100% positive I’m going to get a good answer from a number of folks.
When I really need to know something about firearms, somebody here has a reliable answer.
The presence of our IP’s and SME’s is another huge benefit. Some folks in those ranks will only post on this site.
The unique training opportunities (like the Vickers/Hackathorn low light classes, or Dave Pennington’s Concealed and Off Duty course this weekend) are my favorite part of the M4C experience. I’ve really enjoyed those classes and meeting my classmates. Watching a line of guys stack up on the pineapple upside-down cake at the Low Light II class is the kind of thing you never forget.
I am using conservative numbers because it is always best to underestimate than overestimate IMO. I assign 8 hours as a day of class, even though many training environments that I have been in go more like 10 or 11.
No, I think Dinger is usually “that guy!” 
C4
Agree. I use 8hr per day (even though they tend to be MUCH longer).
C4
I won’t even start to add mine–not that it helps me much!:eek:
Ya, I know that some of you guys have THOUSANDS of hours logged (just too many to keep track of).
C4
I keep track of my formal training, insamuch as total courses and (conservative) total hours. This is relatively easy when you are a civilian paying for each class out-of-pocket… obviously practice time is hard to quantify so I don’t try to. We have thousands upon thousands of combined total hours amonst our staff and moderators.
My resume is not worthy of posting so I will bypass that side off the thread.
I will say that this forum has a lot of great guys who know there stuff. I have attended a Vickers pistol course and am looking forward to hopefully 2 more this year. I am a 1911 NUT but overall I am a firearms enthusiast of all kinds. I have been working at a feverish pace to play catch up with most on here but I am just about there with the exception of a .308.
I want to personally thank all who I have learned from, either speaking with on the phone or meeting at Vickers or by merely reading their posts. I also want to thank all of the pros who post great informative threads for newbies trying to learn the ropes. Katar and Templar threads have been very helpful and saved me from having to ask stupid questions.
Thanks again to ALL for making this a great site to learn from.
Not necessary! This thread is a “get to know us” thread for the staff, mods, IP’s and SME’s to post some of their relevant training and experience. 
My pleasure. Templar is an incredible resource for general firearms knowledge.
I was obligated to post, otherwise I would have left mine off too.
Fact is, if you are getting out and learning from good, fundamentals based instructors you are “doing it right” – in my book.
Technically, they all are, I would just have to sit down to add.
The thing I’ve learned is that you never stop learning. I try to pick up anything I can and use it if it works.
Long ago, I took a Beretta Auto Pistol Skills course. The Instructor was a retired Chicago PD guy(Jack Manfree). I remember the first thing he said "everything I’m about to teach you is stuff I picked up along the way and used and found it to work, nothing is “my own” That statment gave him my respect since he wasn’t up there beating his chest, professing that he just invented gunfighting.
He was a great instructor, that was early on in my formal training and I try my best to continue that line of thinking.
Ed, you are a great shooter and a valuable addition to M4C.
I just try and listen and learn.
You can ask Templar to tell you the exact military model designation for a Turkish parade rifle seen on a specific date and he can tell you. I can’t even remember my own birthday.
I am a relative newcomer to M4C.
I was steered in this direction after making some inquiries about firearms training with Larry Vickers, whom I had heard so much about.
Well, five classes later and countless hours under the tutelage and fellowship of Larry, Ken Hackathorn, and David Pennington, and several GREAT M4C mods … I have to say …
Thank you M4C.
Grant, this is an incredible community and a great learning/training resource for clueless folks like myself.
As far as my background, it ain’t much to talk about.
I can say… I believe I have a burning desire to learn and perfect my craft. M4C is definitely the place to help me do just that.