I have heard and read a number podcast and forums talk about training, usually from trainers. One message is rather than buy a new gun you should spend it on training and ammo. Fair enough if you already own guns and have the cash to buy a new gun you should think about training as an alternative to your gun purchase. I recently bought my last pistol that I for see and will focus on training in the future.
I love to train and miss that from my military days but now it comes down to time, money, family priorities and being unsure of who, what and where and if it is worth it. I know if I own and carry for self-defense it is time and money well spent but the questions remain.
So here are my question and comments. This revolves around more advance skills and topics and not the basic NRA and marksmanship course.
What qualifies as training?
Instructor lead, self-regimented (read, videos, dry fire, range time) or both? Can it be self-regimented only? If it is instructor lead do you require range time? What do you think the minimum time should be? Does a few hour course count, one day, weekend, one week?
Who do you pick and why?
What do you look for in an instructor? What quals must they have? Should they have? I have heard you should find an instructor who has been in critical situations (gun or knife fight) because they will have an insight other will not. I partially agree with that but you if you do you might dismiss some really good instructors who may not have been in a fights but have insight in other ways such as students, LEO and military who have and they work(ed) with?
Would you stay local or travel?
This dovetails off the question above. Will you waste money in travel expenses because it is a big name instructor or do you stay local? There are some affordable instructors and facilities locally but is it worth going down south or out west for close to what you pay for in your own backyard?
How much would you pay?
Loaded and open question but I have seen some great pricing others that make me go HMMM. How much per day and what do you expect to be included?
How do you know you are not wasting your cash?
Like all of us here I read and watch a lot on shooting subject, techniques, legal matters, etc. How do you know you are not getting the same stuff you already know? I truly believe if you can an open mind you will gain something new but at what price. If nothing else it is an opportunity to shoot and network. I always read the good reviews but never see any bad. Are there any?
How do you know if you need training?
I dry fire every night, during the week I have a regimen of practicing my draw strokes from various body positions, even inside the car, schedule time for a revolver and semi from the different carry position I use, and reload drills. I also work in a rifle dry fire. On average I shoot twice a month where I practice the draw stroke, shooting from various allowed positions, dot torture drills, marksmanship and speed drills. I am not competition material nor do I wish to be but my shot placements are very acceptable with pistol, rifle and shotgun. I also try to do an IDPA in when I can to add the stress of time and movement. I feel pretty comfortable in my abilities.
What kind of training would you do?
So what would you choose? This is all with respect to personal defense and not the basics; handguns, long range shooting, shotgun, AR/AK, force on force, Hand to hand, knife, a legal discussion or other? For me I think from a truly practical position a legal course, handgun (both revolver and semi), hand to hand, shotgun and knife. An AR course, long range shooting and force on force would be fun but doesn't seem practical in my world...but I will still do them if I can.
I have to convince myself that I need to rather than want to before I try convincing my wife.
I love to train and miss that from my military days but now it comes down to time, money, family priorities and being unsure of who, what and where and if it is worth it. I know if I own and carry for self-defense it is time and money well spent but the questions remain.
So here are my question and comments. This revolves around more advance skills and topics and not the basic NRA and marksmanship course.
What qualifies as training?
Instructor lead, self-regimented (read, videos, dry fire, range time) or both? Can it be self-regimented only? If it is instructor lead do you require range time? What do you think the minimum time should be? Does a few hour course count, one day, weekend, one week?
Who do you pick and why?
What do you look for in an instructor? What quals must they have? Should they have? I have heard you should find an instructor who has been in critical situations (gun or knife fight) because they will have an insight other will not. I partially agree with that but you if you do you might dismiss some really good instructors who may not have been in a fights but have insight in other ways such as students, LEO and military who have and they work(ed) with?
Would you stay local or travel?
This dovetails off the question above. Will you waste money in travel expenses because it is a big name instructor or do you stay local? There are some affordable instructors and facilities locally but is it worth going down south or out west for close to what you pay for in your own backyard?
How much would you pay?
Loaded and open question but I have seen some great pricing others that make me go HMMM. How much per day and what do you expect to be included?
How do you know you are not wasting your cash?
Like all of us here I read and watch a lot on shooting subject, techniques, legal matters, etc. How do you know you are not getting the same stuff you already know? I truly believe if you can an open mind you will gain something new but at what price. If nothing else it is an opportunity to shoot and network. I always read the good reviews but never see any bad. Are there any?
How do you know if you need training?
I dry fire every night, during the week I have a regimen of practicing my draw strokes from various body positions, even inside the car, schedule time for a revolver and semi from the different carry position I use, and reload drills. I also work in a rifle dry fire. On average I shoot twice a month where I practice the draw stroke, shooting from various allowed positions, dot torture drills, marksmanship and speed drills. I am not competition material nor do I wish to be but my shot placements are very acceptable with pistol, rifle and shotgun. I also try to do an IDPA in when I can to add the stress of time and movement. I feel pretty comfortable in my abilities.
What kind of training would you do?
So what would you choose? This is all with respect to personal defense and not the basics; handguns, long range shooting, shotgun, AR/AK, force on force, Hand to hand, knife, a legal discussion or other? For me I think from a truly practical position a legal course, handgun (both revolver and semi), hand to hand, shotgun and knife. An AR course, long range shooting and force on force would be fun but doesn't seem practical in my world...but I will still do them if I can.
I have to convince myself that I need to rather than want to before I try convincing my wife.