Basic tactical and combat shooting classes

[Ten pin]

I live in southwest Mich. 51 years old. Been outdoors my whole life in the country with some sort of firearm. two years ago I obtained my cpl. was wondering if someone here knows of a simple, basic tactical and combat shooting class local to me. I can shoot as good as the rest of them but, in a tactical situation, i'll suck. I admit it. thanks for the insight. I appreciate all your help guys, gals and others.

scott

 

[adwjc]

Scott,

if you can't find a reputable local school or instructor, check out the NRA website under their "locate a Training Course near you" section.

They have a Personal Protection Course named "NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home".

Might be just what you are looking for.

 

[LenS]

Scott,

if you can't find a reputable local school or instructor, check out the NRA website under their "locate a Training Course near you" section.

They have a Personal Protection Course named "NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home".

Might be just what you are looking for.

I'm an NRA Instructor that teaches those Personal Protection courses (nowhere near the OP however). I've also taken 4 defensive handgun courses (2-3 days each).

- The defensive handgun courses are great for tactics and sitting watching YouTube videos is no substitute for doing it yourself and seeing what works and what doesn't firsthand.

- The NRA courses do something that none of the defensive handgun courses do . . . they teach you how to avoid the need to shoot, what happens in the aftermath, the legalities involved in self defense shooting, the likely physical, psychological, etc. reactions after the fact, how to deal with police so that you minimize your risk of prosecution (everything you say WILL be used against you), etc.

- NRA requires that students take Personal Protection In the Home prior to taking Personal Protection Outside the Home.

- I run my classes longer and with more material than NRA requires, but officially the NRA PPIH class is 8 hours with ~2.5hrs on the range. PPOH runs 2 days, 14 hours with a total of 9 hours on the range.

- One element of the NRA PPIH/PPOH classes requires that it be taught by a LEO/attorney knowledgeable of the gun and self defense laws in the state the class is held. The instructor for this portion is NOT doing so as an NRA Instructor (NRA rules). If this is done well, this is the most valuable lesson in these classes.

 

[LenS]

My personal recommendation is to take the NRA PPIH and then PPOH classes first and then seek out good defensive handgun classes for more advanced tactical drills.

I did this in reverse order, didn't even know about the NRA courses when I took the defensive handgun classes.

 

[WR Moore]

Video isn't as good as hands on-if the hands on instructor is competent. John Farnams defense-training.com has videos you can watch for a fee. Mas Ayoob's Ayoob Group has a class schedule, there might be a class near you and he does cover after-the-incident issues.

You might want to check on copies of Mas's books on legal issues. The most recent is available through Amazon.

I'm certified as a civilian instructor, was a LE instructor. Bear in mind that an instructor who is trying to sell you the one true way is dangerous. Instructors will differ somewhat on material, keep your male bovine excrement detector working. I've never agreed with 100% of what any of the folks I was trained by presented in over 30 years.

My issue with the NRA requirements for the legal issues is that use of force law is a specialist legal practice. Your average attorney is going to cover their butt. Some LEOs aren't much better. I can document over 100 hours training in this area and I've heard some stuff presented as fact that's just inexcusable.

 

[slipnotz]

Contact Denny Reichard at Sand Burr Gun Ranch located about 40 miles south of South Bend IN. There are classes you might be interested given by different instructors. sandburrgunranch.com or 574-223-3316

 

[msjdgman]

Skip Coryell, owner of Midwest Tactical is in SW Michigan. Allegan County. He offers 3 classes beyond the basic CPL class. I've taken the first in his series and I thought it was a very worthwhile class. My class was a small number with experienced shooters, so we actually did several of the segments normally offered only in the more advanced cousrses. If you have any trouble locating his website, shoot me a pm and I'll get you his number.

 

[Whitwabit]

The problem I have found is finding a range in the area that will allow you to do more then stand behind a bench with partitions on each side a foot away and shoot at a stationary target between 5 yards and 25 yards .. even double taps are not allowed at some ranges in my area .. rapid firing of any kind is also frowned on ..

The wearing of a holster isn't allowed nor is any kind of movement as your restricted to one lane at the range ..

There is a need for this type of shooting in getting use to the weapon and just plain accuracy practice .. but being able to practice moving while engaging a target is also a needed aspect of self defense training ..

So utilizing what you have learned through practice is exceedingly difficult as more ranges close !! Sadly within 30 miles of my location we have only 4 ranges with 2 being indoor and 1 being both the other one outside only .. few classes if any are offered in the area with probably St Louis being the closest place where classes of any caliber would be offered and that's a 2 1/2 hour drive ..

The population in the area is well over 175,000 so very few places for the amount of population in the area ..

 

[keithherrington]

John Farnam has classes in your area

John Farnam is one of if not THE best instructors in the world today. Over the decades I've taken several courses from him, focusing mostly on tactics. While he will help you improve your shooting, he mostly focuses on how to employ the pistol when defending yourself and others. His web site is at:

HOME | Defense Training International, Inc.

Look at his schedule for this coming year (SCHEDULE | Defense Training International, Inc.) and you will find that he is teaching courses in Sturgis, MI (19-20 August 2017); in Montecello, MN (10-11 June 2017); in Bloomington, IL (13-14 May 2017); and Kankakee, IL (1-2 April 2017).

These courses are all Defensive Handgun and the course description can be found at TRAINING COURSES | Defense Training International, Inc..

I'm confident that John Farnam will provide you with all the knowledge, skills and abilities you'll need to survive an armed encounter. Please reach out to him. You'll not be disappointed.

Keith

 

[Ten pin]

Okay, thanks all for your input. everyone here basically stated everything I have done and what I need to do. (you guys and gals are mind readers.) I have watched hours and hours of youtube tactical training and it has been a good help. however, as some of you stated, i'm a range guy, hands on. I love shooting and being given a state of mind and surroundings when training. I think that's key. msjdgman, I actually took my class with Skip. He has been around the block. no complaints. i'll take all of your advise and let you know the outcome. I appreciate all your input.

thanks
scott

 

[LenS]

Video isn't as good as hands on-if the hands on instructor is competent. John Farnams defense-training.com has videos you can watch for a fee. Mas Ayoob's Ayoob Group has a class schedule, there might be a class near you and he does cover after-the-incident issues.

You might want to check on copies of Mas's books on legal issues. The most recent is available through Amazon.

I'm certified as a civilian instructor, was a LE instructor. Bear in mind that an instructor who is trying to sell you the one true way is dangerous. Instructors will differ somewhat on material, keep your male bovine excrement detector working. I've never agreed with 100% of what any of the folks I was trained by presented in over 30 years.

My issue with the NRA requirements for the legal issues is that use of force law is a specialist legal practice. Your average attorney is going to cover their butt. Some LEOs aren't much better. I can document over 100 hours training in this area and I've heard some stuff presented as fact that's just inexcusable.

I completely agree with you. There are merely a handful of lawyers in MA that are truly conversant in the MA gun laws. I have sat thru LE and attorney presentations where info said was very wrong, could lead to felony convictions in some cases. My advantage personally is that I've been studying MA gun laws for 40 years and know what I know and more importantly I know what I don't know. I vet my info with authorities responsible for those laws when needed.

When I have an experienced group of students, I add extra drills to my personal protection classes with more movement and drawing from the holster and shooting.

As someone stated above, most ranges around here are "square ranges" that don't allow shooting from the holster, only can shoot at fixed distances, etc. Thankfully one of my clubs allows all these actions not only in teaching but for all members as long as safety is maintained, allowing members to practice what they learn in a class. Needless to say, I don't teach at my other club as it is totally unfair to the student that they can't do the drills as NRA laid them out.

 

[Whitwabit]

John Farnam is one of if not THE best instructors in the world today. Over the decades I've taken several courses from him, focusing mostly on tactics. While he will help you improve your shooting, he mostly focuses on how to employ the pistol when defending yourself and others. His web site is at:

HOME | Defense Training International, Inc.

Look at his schedule for this coming year (SCHEDULE | Defense Training International, Inc.) and you will find that he is teaching courses in Sturgis, MI (19-20 August 2017); in Montecello, MN (10-11 June 2017); in Bloomington, IL (13-14 May 2017); and Kankakee, IL (1-2 April 2017).

These courses are all Defensive Handgun and the course description can be found at TRAINING COURSES | Defense Training International, Inc..

I'm confident that John Farnam will provide you with all the knowledge, skills and abilities you'll need to survive an armed encounter. Please reach out to him. You'll not be disappointed.

Keith

I would love to take some of his course and those offered by others .. but they are out of my price range .. when a course runs 700 bucks for a 16 hour class just how good is he ??

He might be the best instructor in the world but because of the prices he charges many of us are unable to afford 700 dollars for a 2 day course ..

I was forced into a disability retirement some years ago and as you might imagine finances can be a struggle for those in my position ..

Even many other working people would be hard to come up with a fee of that amount .. half that or less and I might be able to swing it but any class over a couple hundred dollars is out of mine and many others means ..

 

[ACP230]

MCRGO may list classes on the website.

 

[OKFC05]

The NRA classes are quite good and a bargain.
Often going to a high $$ class too soon is waste. Get the basics down first