Armed self-defense: Beyond the basics

May 27, 3:43 PMCharlotte Gun Rights ExaminerPaul Valone

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As student Brad Barley engages targets, note the photo captures not only spent shell casing being ejected, but also the
bullet leaving the barrel. Photo: Lori D. Roets, LazyRPhotography.com

As the fifth in the “Armed self-defense” series intended for both long-time shooters and the many new gun owners created by the Obama administration, this segment examines slightly more advanced techniques as taught by veteran instructors Tom Iradi and Scott Mauldin of Eagle Rock Training Systems.

Previous segments have discussed decisions in buying firearms for self-defense, getting basic training, getting concealed handgun permits, and basic defensive pistolcraft.

This course, “Practical/Tactical Phase II” (P/T II), covered:

• Turns and pivots intended for threats to the side or behind;
• Movement while shooting, including forward, aft and laterally;
• Use of cover on both strong hand and support hand sides; and
• Complex exercises encompassing most of the above plus emergency reloads.

RANGE BRIEFING

P/T II was the second day of training, and drew a number of shooters not in class the previous day. Accordingly, Scott repeated the safety briefing on “hot range” safety rules for an environment in which guns are generally kept loaded but holstered between exercises.

MORNING EXERCISES

We started with a review of press-outs to the target from a high ready (with shots delivered at or slightly before extension), presentation from the holster, reloads, and tracking the firearm’s sights through increasingly shorter intervals between shots.

Although initial shooting was done on IDPA-style cardboard silhouettes, the instructors quickly changed things up, shifting to 8” steel plates mounted atop 2x4s and moving us back to the 10 yard line consistent with safety when shooting steel. (Note: Even at this range, expect to receive occasional splatter from jacketed bullets.)

Among different types of targets, the ring of steel plates provides instant reward for shots delivered correctly … and instant punishment for those that miss.

PIVOTS & TURNS

Next, we addressed threats to the side and rear. Here I learned something valuable: When pivoting toward the support hand side (left, for right-handed shooters), I had previously rotated on the ball of the support hand foot, causing me to over-pivot and requiring me to rise while pivoting, further slowing the shot.

Instead, after taking a “ready” position – eyes turned toward the threat, hand on holster – Scott taught us to simply step out with the strong side foot, then pivot the hips square to the target, resulting in much faster hits. Threats to the strong side were even easier, as the support side foot simply steps forward for the pivot.

Next, we addressed rearward threats using pivots on either the strong side or support side foot, depending on direction of turn (slide show #1). In the interest of range safety, students were instructed not to draw from the holster until facing the target.

MOVEMENT WHILE SHOOTING

Next came drills in moving forward, backward and laterally. Unlike years past, when training consisted of standing and shooting, current doctrine stresses movement – particularly to cover – to minimize exposure to the aggressor.

Here too Scott gave us valuable information: Instead of walking upright, which causes the shooting platform to bob up and down, we assumed a high ready shooting stance with knees bent, and walked by rolling from heel to ball of the foot (moving forward) or from the ball of the foot to the heel (moving rearward). Using the lower body as a “shock absorber” allows a more stable shooting platform for the upper body (slide show #2).

For lateral movement, the instructors emphasized keeping the lower body oriented toward the direction of movement, rotating toward the threat at the waist in order to keep a constant upper body shooting platform. To finish up the segment, students walked the shooting line, one at a time, with an instructor close behind, engaging each of the steel plates in turn.

POSITIONAL SHOOTING

Although most people practice shooting only from upright positions, the body’s natural response to threat is to get low. Accordingly, the course covered shooting from a kneeling position (sometimes called a “high kneel”) and from a rollover prone position.

Kneeling: For kneeling, guns were drawn from the holster by actually dropping the body out from under the gun while kneeling such that when both knees reached the ground, the upper body was in a high ready shooting position to deliver shots on target (slide show #3).

As the exercise continued, we learned to “fight our way back to our feet,” rising from the kneeling position by rocking back from the balls of our feet to a flat-footed position, then standing to continue engaging targets. Throughout the exercise, the instructors admonished students to keep the muzzle down range at all times and the finger outside the trigger guard until the gun was pressed out to the target.

Prone: Getting into the rollover prone position was taught by first kneeling, keeping the handgun presented to the target and well in front of the shooter, then placing the support side palm on the ground, using it to support body weight as the legs are thrust rearward (slide show # 4). Once in position, the body is canted toward the strong side – facilitating access to magazines on the support side belt – and the support side leg is bent slightly toward the target (slide show #5).

Again, exercises were sequenced such that we fought back to kneeling, engaging targets, and then back to our feet. Given the gut I’ve developed in my old age, this exercise was a bit of a challenge.

SHOOTING FROM BARRICADES

The emphasis here was on not crowding the barricade – touching it with an outstretched hand to maintain distance – and on minimizing body exposure to your aggressor. In this exercise, students alternately engage targets from the strong side and support side of the barricade. Although engaging from the support side requires slightly increased body exposure in giving the dominant eye a sight picture, exposure on both sides was minimized by using a standard shooting platform and canting the body slightly by flexing the knee on the side of engagement (slide show #6).

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Our final exercise consisted of drawing from the holster, engaging one target while moving diagonally to a second, then engaging the second target from kneeling, prone and standing positions, then moving diagonally rearward while engaging a third. Given the number of rounds fired, reloads could come at any time, including (in my case) while prone. Keeping the steeling ringing proved enough of a challenge that I asked to shoot it a second time (slide show #7).

GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL

Throughout the day, Tom and Scott brought humor to the class. When George Lowe became the first to shoot off the 2x4 below the steel plate, they proclaimed he would buy the class lunch. (Still waiting, George.)

After lunch, Tom ran a double elimination competition for everyone to deliver two hits on an 8” plate from increasingly longer distances. Not only did Tom (with his “fancified” STI 1911) win, he managed to put two hits on a plate quite literally from the parking lot about 75 yards away. (Show off!)

Eagle Rock provides tactical training at a fraction of the price of “big name” schools, and without the intimidation such schools can sometimes impart. Given the short, one-day format, everybody in the class was chomping at the bit for a new “P/T III,” to include one-hand shooting, judgmental shooting scenarios, moving targets, and maybe even light-assisted techniques. (Tom?)

And as Steve Myer and Troy Horton departed by helicopter (yes, I said “helicopter”), after letting us use it for a class photo, I am happy to report that the craft lifted off without a single accidental bullet hole …

Author's note: For a full photo gallery of the Eagle Rock P/T II class, go to: LazyRPhotography.com
 

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