Punisher84

I think I'm just gonna stay out of Virginia.

I've yet to be pulled over or have had a situation to show my permit period. Kind of hope to keep it that way lol.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Marswolf, you touched on something I heartily agree with! I have a tough time accepting training tips from someone who hasn't put their tactics to the test. I believe U.S military and SWAT team training is the best you can get save for a few places like Blackwater, etc. One thing I can say about our instructors at Range USA we can boast a Marine Scout Sniper, a SWAT tactical entry team leader who has trained at Blackwater and several military complexes, and a SWAT team member who works with the other instructor as well. They practice what they preach. I think any civilian instructor worth his salt knows that you can't train people in a few days, but you can lay the foundation and they can then advance upon that training. I've had military training and civilian training and both have their pros and cons. Like I said you just gotta figure out what's good for you and then train,train,train.

I thought I'd borrow a line from a recent article in one of the gun rags for this thread and ask an important question, Are you training or just entertaining? It's been a big topic at the range lately and around here as well, as it should be. Training is important, we all need it, but to what degree and to what end? That means, what are you training for? Are you going to Iraq or Afghanistan? Are you Swat? (or are you not? hahaha) Are you training for possible real world scenarios? A la robberies, home invasions, or God forbid something like Virginia Tech. I was thinking about this tonight while I was doing some practice shooting and was (not proud to say) fumbling a bit with my new Blackhawk CQC holster. More than a few times I didn't get the gun clear because the button stuck and after the third time it happened I stopped and said to myself, "I'm dead." In a real-life scenario I would not have been able to deploy my gun quickly enough if I needed to do it fast. This made me rethink some of my tactics and choices on the ride home. So here is what i came up with... There are 2 types of training Realistic and Entertainment. Both can be fun, but one is definitely more serious than the other. Now what is realistic is going to vary by the type of person who is training. Example being, I'm not going off to Iraq so intense combat training, while still beneficial, would be primarily entertainment for me as it would be for most civilians. Realistic training falls more in the Street Survival School and Fighting Pistol type of classes for most people. Let's start with the average citizen. We carry guns to protect our families and ourselves. So we need to train for the types of scenarios we will most likely be in right? Ok let's start from the ground up. We need a quality firearm. A good, comfortable holster. If it's not comfy you won't wear it. A mag carrier and of course, an extra mag. Then let's round it off with a good carry ammo that feeds reliably in your firearm. Now, what is reliable? For me a gun that jams is unacceptable, period! It either gets fixed or replaced. On to training! So let's train. What are we going to most likely run in to? High speed chases? Lengthy gun battles with heavily armed assailants? A 30 floor shootout on broken glass while wearing no shoes and only our trusty Beretta duct-taped to our back hair?! Probably not. How about a run in at an ATM or maybe a car-jacking? What about a madman in a restaurant or a school? Bet your bottom dollar. So your basic training should probably consist of drawing from odd positions, shooting from abnormal positions, reload drills, malfunction drills, low light tactics and engaging multiple targets. This is realistic training! Now for the entertainment! SWAT and Military style training is awesome and we all love it correct? Why do we take it though? That's what you need to ask yourself. Could it come in handy? Oh sure, because hey you never REALLY know what could happen. All training has it's place, but don't fool yourself into thinking because you take "Advanced" training you're ready for it all. I've said it before and I'll say it again "You can look cool in your 5.11 and thigh rig all day long, but if you can't shoot straight you're just playing." So what am I trying to say? SSS, are you saying advanced training is worthless?!! No of course not, but think about why you're taking it. if you're taking it to have fun and do some stuff you might not otherwise do, hey go at it, I'll see ya there! Just don't confuse what's realistic and NEEDED for your day to day with advanced tactical training. So in closing be safe, be alert, and I'll see you on the line!

Oh my God...

Virginia Tech 16 April 2007 Armed foreign student Cho Seung-hui goes on a shooting rampage on campus and shoots over 50 unarmed victims, killing 32 before committing suicide. Virginia Appalachian School of Law 18 January 2002 Armed foreign student Peter Odighizuwa goes on a shooting rampage on campus, shoots and kills 3 unarmed victims before an armed student stops him. I think this speaks for itself.

I am truly middle of the road lol. On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (40). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (45). I think there were only 3 things that I really felt strongly about and that was guns, immigration, and NAFTA.

Not with the transfer, but if you buy a new gun from us we include two coupons for a free lane and target, 10.00 off a class, and 10% off any merchandise you want the day you purchase your firearm. We also have really great deals for members as well.

Voodoo, I work at Range USA and first let me say I'm very pleased you chose to use us and I hope you'll choose us in the future as well. You are not the first person who has come to us after getting treated poorly from other gun shops. We try to make sure our customers are happy above all else! I hate that you were treated poorly before finding us, but I am very glad you found us. - Charles at Range USA

Welcome Mike! I'm Charles and work at Range USA so we may know each other.

rofl nice thread. Well he's got a Cavalry patch now.

Good for you and your son Tungsten! Nothing makes me smile brighter than when a Father brings in his son or daughter to shoot for the first time at the range.

I'd go for Thompson in a second. Even if it's just because I liked him on Law and Order lol. Seriously though, I think he'd make a great president.

Good for them.

Firefox rules the hiz-ouse!

bump.

Be praying for you all Glock.

Tommy! What up dude? This is Charles. Welcome to TGO. Scott told me about the knee man, sorry to hear about it. Have you thought about crossdraw at all? Not the best method, but better than nothing. If you need anything send me an im or something brother.

I think our class is around 50 bucks for a 4 hour class.

Come to my range here in Memphis. Range USA. We do the training here. Check the website for the next class date.

Interesting video. Thanks for the post. It's strange how a person who carries a gun for a living could be anti-gun. Hypocrites, they are everywhere!

Kinda reminds me of some of the people in my apartment complex. I live around alot of middle-eastern people and Indians and they don't have much love for a guy with an Army bumper-sticker, and who is constantly wearing a gun and tactical clothing. I open carry at the range as well as to and from so I assume they think I'm a cop. Maybe next time they scowl at me I'll just scream INS really loud at them lol.

Went through that with my Grandmother, Wareagle you're in my thoughts and prayers.

I work at a gunshop and have a couple grand in credit card debt, that's how I do it lol. That'll be fixed soon though.

You are limited to 3 guns a day and you can have up to 3 on 1 background check and the cost is only 10 dollars. If you buy a gun at 10 am it's 10 dollars. If you buy another gun at 5 pm it's 10 dollars. If you buy 3 guns at 10 am it's only 10 dollars. It's per check not per gun. There is also no extra government paperwork involved for several purchases, it's simply 3 a day period.