Clearing Malfunctions- Advanced techniques?

[Rastoff]

In another thread a few commented that malfunction clearance should not be taught to new shooters. The thought was that this is only for advanced shooters.

I respectfully disagree. If the shooter intends to carry the gun for self-defense, shouldn't they know how to recognize and clear a malfunction?

Sure, a brand new shooter that has never fired a gun before, needs basic safety first. Then they need the 6 fundamentals of pistol shooting:

1. Stance
2. Grip
3. Sight Alignment
4. Sight Picture
5. Trigger Control
6. Follow Through

(For our NRA instructors out there: Aiming, Breath Control, Hold Control, Trigger Control, Follow Through. We can debate the differences in these some other time.)

But if they understand the 4 basic safety rules, can hold the gun and get the rounds to go in the direction of the intended target, when they intend them too, why not do malfunctions?


Some terminology that's important:
Malfunction
This is a problem that can be fixed on the spot. A stove pipe is a malfunction.

Jam
This is a problem that will need more extensive work and maybe tools or a gun smith. A squib load is a jam.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Baby steps. It's just like learning anything else.

Some people learn faster so it should be on a case by case basis.

 

[scooter123]

Picture having a class of 30 new shooters you have to ride herd on and have the make sure every one keeps the muzzle pointed downrange. Do you have any idea how often someone wanting to ask a question will swing that muzzle around and sweep the entire range when they look to see where you are standing? Yeah, that happens. They'll also say "I wasn't going to pull the trigger" while they are sweeping everyone on the firing line when you get a bit harsh.

When you are riding heard on a bunch of rookies you keep it to the basics, just the basics, and nothing more. Because when you fail to enforce the basics someone innocent can get killed. It is really that simple.

 

[crazyphil]

Rastoff a cleaning rod and a couple of taps clears most squibs.
Scooter123 If you are riding herd on 30 new students you are inviting
trouble. Way too many for one instructor.

 

[Rastoff]

Picture having a class of 30 new shooters you have to ride herd on and have the make sure every one keeps the muzzle pointed downrange.

That wasn't the question. The question was, are malfunction clearances an advanced technique?

Do you have any idea how often someone wanting to ask a question will swing that muzzle around and sweep the entire range when they look to see where you are standing?

Yes, in fact I do have a very good idea. Done properly it isn't an issue. Don't pass judgement on me yet, read on...

Scooter123 If you are riding herd on 30 new students you are inviting trouble. Way too many for one instructor.

This is exactly right. Only an idiot will try to have 30 shooters on the line, experienced or not, with only one instructor.

The right way to do it is with the shooter/coach concept. Take that same 30 shooters and divide them into two relays. One on the firing line and the other directly behind them. The second relay are one on one safety observers. Then you need at least 3 instructors available to answer questions should they come up.

So, yeah, it can be done and done safely. I've been in classes of as many as 60 students, 30 and 30. Yes, there were instances of people starting to turn, but their coach stopped them before they muzzled anyone.

Rastoff a cleaning rod and a couple of taps clears most squibs.

Yes, but what's your point? It's still a jam because it will require a tool and time. This cannot (or at least should not) be cleared in the middle of a gun fight. A malfunction can be cleared while moving toward, or after getting to, cover.

 

[Rastoff]

Let me also say this. I agree that I wouldn't teach malfunction drills to someone if it's their first ever day shooting. However, once they demonstrate they have some grasp of the 6 fundamentals, I would teach it to them. Usually this means only after a few times to the range.

 

[ContinentalOp]

As a non-instructor, I wouldn't consider malfunction clearing an advanced skill, but not a basic skill, either. Intermediate, maybe?

I would consider safe handling and marksmanship fundamentals to be basic skills. Drawing/reholstering, reloading, and malfunction clearing would be intermediate skills. Anything beyond this I'd consider advanced, i.e., one-handed reloads and malfunction clearing, shooting/manipulations from compromised positions, etc.

Again, I'm not an instructor, but this is how I see the different levels of skillsets.

The right way to do it is with the shooter/coach concept. Take that same 30 shooters and divide them into two relays. One on the firing line and the other directly behind them. The second relay are one on one safety observers. Then you need at least 3 instructors available to answer questions should they come up.

So, yeah, it can be done and done safely. I've been in classes of as many as 60 students, 30 and 30. Yes, there were instances of people starting to turn, but their coach stopped them before they muzzled anyone.

I also wanted to add that I can speak from experience that this methodology works. I took a training class several years ago and this is how we did it. There was one primary instructor/rangemaster with two assistant instructors, IIRC. I can't remember the exact student count, but it was probably 20-24 students. We split into two groups, one would shoot while the other would be safety observers, and then we'd switch. While observing I saw my shooter start to point his muzzle down the line of shooters instead of keeping it downrange and I was able to stop him.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

This is why they need to be carrying/shooting a revolver!!

 

[MichiganScott]

Let me also say this. I agree that I wouldn't teach malfunction drills to someone if it's their first ever day shooting. However, once they demonstrate they have some grasp of the 6 fundamentals, I would teach it to them. Usually this means only after a few times to the range.

The unfortunate fact is that it is the first day shooting for many people in any concealed carry class. The vast majority of the class will not be gun people. The information given as required by law overwhelms them. They go blank and it goes in one ear and out the other without pause.

I have never heard of any concealed carry class that requires several trips to the range.

There is also a major difference in teaching someone to keep the gun pointing downrange and waiting 60 seconds before ejecting a misfire and teaching someone to sweep a stovepipe jam and rack the slide in one motion.

 

[Rastoff]

There is also a major difference in teaching someone to keep the gun pointing downrange and waiting 60 seconds before ejecting a misfire and teaching someone to sweep a stovepipe jam and rack the slide in one motion.

This brings a certain amount of clarity to the situation I hadn't thought of before. I would not teach this method. I'm not saying it's invalid, it's just a lot more difficult than the way I teach it.

I can totally see that some might think teaching this kind of malfunction clearance is too much for any shooter. But, the method of Tap, Rack/Flip, Assess should not be too much for any shooter that owns a semi-auto. I mean, it's not any different than loading the gun. This is why I thought it strange to think this is too advanced.

So, yes, if you've got some sweep-while-racking method, I agree, that's an advanced move.