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View Full Version : AAR: Rangemaster: Combative Pistol Course, June 11-12 2011



virginiatactical
06-21-2011, 03:35 PM
Range Master Combative Pistol
June 11-12 2011
After Action Report

Instructors: Tom Givens, Lynn Givens
Location: Culpeper, VA
Training times: Sat 0800-1700 Sun 0900-1700
Total Training Hours: 17 Hours
Synopsis:

• The Beginning

This course began with Tom speaking to us under the awnings at the Range. He spoke to us about firearms safety and covered a little bit of mindset as well. He instructed us to be loaded at all times, and the few students that did not have a loaded weapon corrected themselves.
Tom spoke to us quite eloquently about student involved shootings and instilled us from the start how important training is, and more importantly being prepared mentally to use our weapons. He made it quite clear that if we carry a weapon, the primary task of that weapon is to shoot people. He instilled to the class that carrying a weapon is a lifestyle, and the most important thing about the lifestyle is to carry the firearm wherever you legally can.
Tom shared with us his records on his previous students. Tom has been teaching for over 30 years. During that period, he has had 58 students involved in shootings. Out of those 58, 2 were murdered. The primary factor in those deaths is the fact that the students did not have their firearms with them. Out of the other 56 students, only three were wounded in their confrontations.
Tom also talked to us about gun handling. He instructed the class that there are only three areas where it is acceptable to have your weapon.: in the holster, at the ready, or on target. This will be stressed throughout the duration of the course.

• The Shooting Portion Day 1

The class began with us at the 3-yard line shooting a Modified FBI QIT target our aimpoint was the box inside the QIT. On the 1st day, we spent a large majority of our time at the 3-yard line delivering shots in that box. We would shoot 5-8 rounds and then reload. After the reload, we would pick up our magazines from the deck and top them back up. We moved away from the QIT target and refaced our targets with a torso target with an 8-inch circle in the high center chest area and a note card in the T-Box. We began moving back to the five and 7-yard line, and Tom emphasized shooting a little faster, but still hitting the 8-inch circle. The goal was to refine each individual shooter’s balance of speed and accuracy. He commonly said to shooters "focus on the bumpy thing and press the trigger" Our shooting portion on day 1 was cut short due to some thunderstorms and we moved into the air-conditioned classroom for some class work.

• Classroom Time

The classroom time was exceptional. I have not seen such good classroom time on analyzing of actual shooting events in a civilian course since attending my last FPF Training Course in October 2009. We went over three events in two classroom times.
The first thing we compared was Kyle Dinkheller's slaying compared to Lance Thomas's successes. We watched both videos went over some of the things both men had done and why they came out differing in their situations. Tom and Lynn had given us workbooks at the beginning of the course, and this portion of the class was in the workbook as well.

The second classroom event was a small diagnosis of the FBI Miami Shootout. It was a very brief summary, but Tom was able to capture the most important points as well as show us the FBI recreation video. Having attended the FBI's street survival school (where this incident is described and analyzed in great detail), I can tell you that Tom did an excellent job giving a synopsis to his students on the lessons learned at that shooting incident. He also did a good job breaking away from the LEO lessons learned, and instead focused on the lessons a civilian could learn from that incident.

• Shooting Portion Day 2

The 2nd day of shooting was ramped up a bit. We were administered a slew of quall courses that took us back to 25 yards, but shot primarily from a car lengths away at our targets. We also shot one handed, and worked a little on movement. Tom does not believe in shooting on the move, but rather moving to cover, or to get out of the way of the muzzle at 5 yards and in. We were instructed to sidestep as we drew when we were 5 yards and in, however we were instructed that it does not help when we are at further distances.

We also began shooting multiple targets, and our shots no longer came in pairs, but in larger numbers (3-5 shots). The shooting portion of the course stepped up a notch on day 2, and shooter's targets were getting better and better as we went along. I noticed many shooters having a rough time keeping their shots in the 8-inch circle on day 1, but at the end of day 2, they did a much better job. Their speed improved as well. We also used dummy rounds to induce malfunctions during strings of fire and practiced remedial action as the malfunctions occurred.

We also began doing small competitions. Tom had targets with circles, and triangles, and squares, and had some verbiage that would tell you to engage a certain target on the target. It was ramped up a little when he stated that if you missed a shot you had to step off the line, also the last shooter would have to step off the line. In just a few strings, we would narrow down to the last shooter per relay and he would be declared "the winner". We did this drill many times during day 2.

The last thing we did for the day was a man on man drill. We engaged a t threat from hands distance, and then transitioned to a steel ipsc target at 15 yards. 2/3 wins kept you alive, no excuses. It was a good ending to a fun day of shooting.

• Conclusion

Tom and Lynn conducted a good course, and I would recommend it to any new shooter or intermediate shooter. I would also recommend it to any shooter who is interested in developing their mindset as well, regardless of shooting skill. This course is extremely good for a shooter who needs to find a good first course. You will get a great explanation of trigger control, and learn a way to establish your shooting platform and to grip your handgun. You will also get some good trigger time, and get taught by an excellent instructor and shooter.

- special thanks goes out to John Murphy from FPF training for making this course happen.

Al T.
06-22-2011, 10:06 AM
Excellent AAR! Thanks!

Sherman A. House DDS
06-22-2011, 10:23 AM
Very good AAR!

Tom and Lynn do a great job. I recommend them to everyone.