Cruel Hand Luke

We will be offering the Defensive Concepts for Low Light Environments class on Saturday November 23rd at The Ridge in Dayton TN. Date: Saturday November 23rd 2024 Time: 4PM - 11PM Eastern Location: The Ridge Dayton TN. (http://www.theridgeshooting.com/) Price $180 ( plus a $10 cash range fee payable to the range at class ) Instructor: Randy Harris Instructor's BIO THIS IS NOT A BEGINNER CLASS . Students should be able to safely load, unload, draw from a holster and safely handle their pistol in close proximity to other people. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PLEASE CONTACT RANDY AND DISCUSS YOUR PREVIOUS SHOOTING EXPERIENCE. This class will cover some critical skills which include shooting with and without the help of flashlights in low or no light. We will work both proactively challenging unknown potential threats and also reacting to unexpected close quarter attacks in low light settings. You will see just how much light you really need to accurately shoot by and how much light you actually need to ID targets. We will also cover manipulating the pistol in the dark both with and without a light in our hands. We will load , unload and clear malfunctions with and without flashlights. A fair amount of time will also be devoted to using the flashlight as a tool to help you get deselected in the "pre fight interview" , use the light as a distraction device and impact weapon, and as a bridge from less lethal to lethal force. Range Gear and requirements : Handheld flashlight (Surefire 6P, G2, Streamlight Scorpion or similar). Extra batteries. Pistol and holster designed to be worn on the belt. Two spare mags (3 total minimum) and a mag pouch. If you have a weapon mounted light for your pistol and want to use it for some drills then please bring it too. If your carry pistol has a light that is fine too just make sure it fits your holster. If you have a "blue gun" or airsoft gun and training knife or inert "trainer" pepper spray you want to bring feel free to do so. We will be doing some interactive exercises where students will play the role of both good guys and bad guys to get a better feel for just what each experiences when the techniques are applied in low light. If you don't see it from both sides you only know about half of what is going on. Range Safety gear (eye and ear protection) . Clothing appropriate for weather. Snacks and drinks. You are welcome to bring something to eat for dinner. There are also several fast food places close to the range like Taco Bell or Subway to grab something if you chose to do that during our dinner break. Ammo: Approximately 200 rounds. If you want to shoot more you are certainly welcome to bring more and shoot more but we will be focusing on shooting with high accountability not mag dumps. If you have a weapon mounted light for your pistol and want to use it for some drills then please bring it too. If your carry pistol has a light that is fine too just make sure it fits your holster. If you have a "blue gun" or airsoft gun and training knife or inert "trainer" pepper spray you want to bring feel free to do so. We will be doing some interactive exercises where students will play the role of both good guys and bad guys to get a better feel for just what each experiences when the techniques are applied in low light. If you don't see it from both sides you only know about half of what is going on. PAYMENTS :Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (friends and family option) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defensive-concepts-for-low-light-environments-tickets-1081166330599?aff=oddtdtcreator Paypal – Randy@harriscombative.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47

This one is coming up THIS SATURDAY !!!!!!!

This one is coming up THIS SATURDAY . Location is about 25 minutes south of Cleveland TN !

This one is coming up THIS WEEKEND and we still have some spots available !!! Hope to see you in class !!!

We will spend the afternoon working on skills with our PCC including sighting, shooting, reloading and malfunction clearance , shooting on the move and some CQB distance work. Subject: PISTOL CALIBER CARBINE SKILLS ! Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: Windrock Shooting Range and Training Center 720 Windrock Rd Oliver Springs TN 37840 DATE : Saturday November 9th 2024 Time: 1pm -5pm Eastern Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pistol-caliber-carbine-skills-tickets-1048233704227?aff=oddtdtcreator Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 What you need to bring: Pistol Caliber Carbine and 150 rounds of ammo for your pistol caliber carbine. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy”.

This one is coming up THIS SATURDAY !!!

Subject: Backup Gun Skills Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: Windrock Shooting Range - 720 Windrock Rd, Oliver Springs, TN 37840 http://www.windrockshootingrange.com/ DATE : Saturday October 12 2024 Time: 12:30 PM EASTERN time – 4:30PM EASTERN time Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pistol-caliber-carbine-skills-tickets-1048233704227?aff=oddtdtcreator Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 This one will be a Subcompact/Pocket Pistol day. We carry 'em because they are convenient but lets see what we can actually DO with them. Snubby or Auto either one (or both?) and you will need at least 150 rds of ammo. So grab your Kahr or your Glock 26 or 43 or SW Shield or SW J frame for that matter and come on out. We will be doing a full spectrum test of our capabilities - everything from getting off the X close range reactive skills to mid range and even some long range work and of course we will finish up with a man on man shoot off . (If you don't have a subcompact pistol I can provide a loaner- just let me know in advance). What you need to bring: Pistol, at least 2 spare pistol magazines ( or speedloaders) and at least 150 rounds of pistol ammo. Revolvers are welcome if you want to party like it is 1899. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy”. And just a final reminder EVERYONE is welcome ! The TN/GA/AL Training Group started as a way for alumni of classes taught by Randy Harris to get together and stay current on skills and get some coaching in a one day format at a discounted price from what a normal class would cost. As it continued to grow we opened it up to ANYONE who is interested in coming out and learning some skills and just seeing what it is that we do and meet some new people with the same interests. So even if you are not an alum of one of my classes you are welcome to come join us!

Just TWO WEEKS to go on this one ! Hope to see you there!

RED DOT PISTOL SKILLS October 26-27 Dayton TN The Red Dot equipped pistol is becoming more common in the holsters of law enforcement, military and private citizens and this class is designed to quickly develop confidence and proficiency with the platform. Unlike iron sighted pistols Red Dot equipped pistols have a few quirks and idiosyncrasies that need to be accounted for and trained for. The most high tech weapon is worthless without solid skills to operate it to the full potential. This class will help you develop those skills. Some topics include Grip, Draw, Finding the Dot Faster, Acceptable vs perfect sight picture, Target Focus vs Sight Focus, Trigger control, Tracking the dot in recoil, Target transitions, Shooting on the move, Malfunctions (both with pistol and the optic) , Alternative indexing methods and much more. Required Equipment -Reliable Red Dot Pistol and at least 3 magazines, carry gear, Eye and Ear Protection. We have a few loaners if you do not have a Red Dot pistol and want to attend the class. Ammo Count is 600 Rounds. For safety reasons holster must fit the belt you use and must not collapse when the gun is removed. Holster must cover trigger guard. Serpa Holsters strongly discouraged unless that is your issued duty rig . A rain coat/wet weather gear is also a good idea in case of rain. Date: October 26-27 2024 Time: 8:30AM to 4:30PM Price: $400 (Plus a $20 range fee payable to the range at class) Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (friends and family option) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-dot-pistol-skills-tickets-1004516374517?aff=oddtdtcreator Paypal – Randy@harriscombative.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 Location: The Ridge Shooting Range 11534 US Hwy 27, Dayton, TN 37321 Weather Policy: If weather is such that it jeopardizes the students' safety, the class will be postponed or delayed as appropriate as determined by the instructor. Otherwise, the class will continue as scheduled rain or shine. Randy Harris is a highly accomplished civilian firearms trainer combining both real world experience with interpersonal violence and over 20 years teaching experience as an instructor. He holds both a Master Instructor and Advanced Shotgun Instructor certification from Rangemaster, a Tier 1 Instructor Certification from Suarez International, Pistol Instructor certification from the National Rifle Association, and Handgun Carry Permit Instructor certification from the State of Tennessee. He has participated in the National Tactical Invitational and is a multi-time presenter at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference. Randy is also an IDPA Master Class competitor in six divisions. He has won the Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas IDPA State Championships in the Back Up Gun division, finished 5th in Master Backup Gun at the 2024 IDPA Nationals, finished 14th in Master Stock Service Pistol at the 2015 IDPA World Championship and 5th in Master Back Up Gun at the 2023 IDPA World Championship. He is one of only four people to hold both the Red Pin (Advanced Ranking / Top score in class) from the Rogers Shooting School and a Turbo Pin from Gabe White's Pistol Shooting Solutions class both of which he accomplished shooting from concealment.

This one is coming up THIS WEEKEND !!!!!

Saturday Nov 2 2024 at Cohutta Pines 367 Old Highway 2 Cisco, GA 30708. Harris Combative Strategies - Intro to IDPA class. Do you want to get involved in the exciting and fast paced shooting sport of IDPA but you are not sure how to get started ? Or have you been participating for a while but would like to be able to perform better at matches without it taking years to improve? Or have you been shooting for a long time and just cannot seem to get over the hump and move up in classification? This class is for you ! We will cover the history , basics and rules of the sport and then move into drills that will help you to start cutting time off your match scores and strategies that will help your stage planning. This class is taught by Randy Harris. Randy is a sponsored IDPA shooter who is a Master class competitor in 6 divisions , has won multiple State Championships and finished in the top 10 in his division - 5th in the Master Backup Gun Class- at both the 2023 IDPA World and 2024 IDPA National Championships. More info about Randy and all the classes he offers can be found at Harriscombative.com. Location : Cohutta Pines 367 Old Highway 2 Cisco, GA 30708. (About 20 minutes south of Cleveland TN or about 45 minutes from Chattanooga TN) Time : 1pm to 6pm Saturday Nov 2 after the monthly IDPA match at Cohutta Pines. Price : $ 75 plus $20 range fee payable to the range. What you need to bring: Pistol , spare magazines or speedloaders , 200 rounds of ammo , eye and ear protection, drinks, snacks , clothing appropriate for the weather, and note taking materials. Payments can be made by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (friends and family option) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees by paying me directly. If you plan to attend RSVP with me in advance so I know how many people to plan for. Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 Eventbrite Link : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-2-intro-to-idpa-class-cisco-ga-tickets-999630881877?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Saturday Nov 2 2024 at Cohutta Pines 367 Old Highway 2 Cisco, GA 30708. Harris Combative Strategies - Intro to IDPA class. Do you want to get involved in the exciting and fast paced shooting sport of IDPA but you are not sure how to get started ? Or have you been participating for a while but would like to be able to perform better at matches without it taking years to improve? Or have you been shooting for a long time and just cannot seem to get over the hump and move up in classification? This class is for you ! We will cover the history , basics and rules of the sport and then move into drills that will help you to start cutting time off your match scores and strategies that will help your stage planning. This class is taught by Randy Harris. Randy is a sponsored IDPA shooter who is a Master class competitor in 6 divisions , has won multiple State Championships and finished in the top 10 in his division - 5th in the Master Backup Gun Class- at both the 2023 IDPA World and 2024 IDPA National Championships. More info about Randy and all the classes he offers can be found at Harriscombative.com. Location : Cohutta Pines 367 Old Highway 2 Cisco, GA 30708. (About 20 minutes south of Cleveland TN or about 45 minutes from Chattanooga TN) Time : 1pm to 6pm Saturday Nov 2 after the monthly IDPA match at Cohutta Pines. Price : $ 75 plus $20 range fee payable to the range. What you need to bring: Pistol , spare magazines or speedloaders , 200 rounds of ammo , eye and ear protection, drinks, snacks , clothing appropriate for the weather, and note taking materials. Payments can be made by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (friends and family option) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees by paying me directly. If you plan to attend RSVP with me in advance so I know how many people to plan for. Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 Eventbrite Link : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/november-2-intro-to-idpa-class-cisco-ga-tickets-999630881877?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

HARRIS COMBATIVE STRATEGIES Saturday September 21 REAL WORLD SHOTGUN SKILLS Eventbrite Link This class is designed as a primer in defensive use of the shotgun. This class is all about running your defensive shotgun as an individual in a combative environment from home or business defense to natural disaster. Topics include : How to set up your shotgun, Ballistics, Fight stopping hits, Recoil Mitigation, Proactive and reactive reloads, Transition to pistol and much more . Take your shotgun skill and confidence to the next level ! Instructor : Randy Harris Location: Cohutta Pines Shooting Range 367 Old Highway 2 Cisco, GA 30708. Time: 8:30AM to 4:30PM Price : Special Discount Price of $180 (this class is normally $200 AND it includes the range fee. ) Required Equipment: Defensive Shotgun ,Pistol and at least 2 magazines, Carry gear, Eye and Ear Protection, clothing appropriate for the weather and BRING A LUNCH. A sling on your shotgun would be helpful but not required. Ammo Count: 100 Rounds Birdshot, 25 Rounds Buckshot,10 Slugs, 20 rounds for pistol. Payments: You can register and pay through Eventbrite OR you can pay at class by cash or check OR you can pay by electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Friends and family option) in advance OR I can take payment by credit card (call or email for options on that – 423 827 9133 or Randy@harriscombative.com) Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 Eventbrite - Eventbrite Link

Harris Combative Strategies TN/GA/AL Training Group ! Subject: Primary Pistol and Backup Gun SKILLS and DRILLS ! Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: Phillips/Edwards Farm - 763 County Rd 332 Pisgah AL 35765 (Location is a private location about 40 minutes from downtown Chattanooga TN and about 10 minutes from Ider High School) DATE : Saturday August 31 2024 Time: 9:00 to 3:30pm CENTRAL Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aug-31-tngaal-training-group-pisgah-al-primary-and-backup-gun-tickets-972672328117?aff=oddtdtcreator Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 What you need to bring: Primary Pistol and at least 2 spare pistol magazines (or speed loaders if you plan to run a revolver as the primary) and at least 100 rounds of pistol ammo for the primary pistol. You ALSO need a "Backup Gun" and 100 rounds of ammo for it and a way to carry that gun. (It can be pocket holster, or ankle holster , or another holster on your belt), at least one spare magazine if it is an auto ( at least 2 speed loaders or speed strips if it is a revolver). If you want to ,you can run the whole day with only your backup gun to get extra reps with it. When we say "backup gun " that could be anything in the small auto or revolver category such as SW J Frame, SW Shield, Glock 26/27 , Ruger LCR , Ruger LCP, Glock 43 , or anything small enough that you would reasonably carry it as a backup to your primary pistol. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. We will break for lunch and go somewhere within a few minutes of the range but you are welcome to stay at the range and eat if you want to bring your lunch. We will be shooting some challenging warm up drills and then several short pistol qualification courses with both the pistol and backup gun. I will also keep records of these for future reference and use . This will serve to get your shooting prowess on record by a third party in case it is ever needed in the future in some legal matter. This is also something your church might like to have for their records if you are a member of a church security team. We will then work on the primary skills you need to operate the Backup Gun and keep it running. As far as the courts are concerned if training isn’t documented it didn’t happen so this is an opportunity to get some official scores on paper in case you ever need them . Not only that but it will be a good day of shooting some somewhat challenging and well known courses of fire. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy” just because you want to take responsibility for your own safety. And just a final reminder EVERYONE is welcome ! The TN/GA/AL Training Group started as a way for alumni of classes taught by Randy Harris to get together and stay current on skills and get some coaching in a one day format at a discounted price from what a normal class would cost. As it continued to grow we opened it up to ANYONE who is interested in coming out and learning some skills and just seeing what it is that we do and meet some new people with the same interests. So even if you are not an alum of one of my classes you are welcome to come join us!

This one is coming up THIS SATURDAY !

Harris Combative Strategies TN/GA/AL Training Group ! Subject: PISTOL DRILLS AND PCC SKILLS ! Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: Phillips/Edwards Farm - 763 County Rd 332 Pisgah AL 35765 (Location is a private location about 40 minutes from downtown Chattanooga TN and about 10 minutes from Ider High School) DATE : Saturday July 27 2024 Time: 9:00 to 3:30pm CENTRAL Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-27-tngaal-training-group-pistol-drills-and-pcc-skills-pisgah-al-tickets-945128724457?aff=ebdsoporgprofile Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 What you need to bring: Pistol and at least 2 spare pistol magazines and at least 100 rounds of pistol ammo. ALSO need a Pistol Caliber Carbine (or braced pistol) and 100 rounds of ammo for your pistol caliber carbine. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. We will break for lunch and go somewhere within a few minutes of the range but you are welcome to stay at the range and eat if you want to bring your lunch. We will be shooting some challenging warm up drills and then several short pistol qualification courses with both the pistol and PCC. I will also keep records of these for future reference and use . This will serve to get your shooting prowess on record by a third party in case it is ever needed in the future in some legal matter. This is also something your church might like to have for their records if you are a member of a church security team. We will then work on the primary skills you need to operate the Pistol Caliber Carbine. As far as the courts are concerned if training isn’t documented it didn’t happen so this is an opportunity to get some official scores on paper in case you ever need them . Not only that but it will be a good day of shooting some somewhat challenging and well known courses of fire. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy”. And just a final reminder EVERYONE is welcome ! The TN/GA/AL Training Group started as a way for alumni of classes taught by Randy Harris to get together and stay current on skills and get some coaching in a one day format at a discounted price from what a normal class would cost. As it continued to grow we opened it up to ANYONE who is interested in coming out and learning some skills and just seeing what it is that we do and meet some new people with the same interests. So even if you are not an alum of one of my classes you are welcome to come join us!

And then Massad Ayoob's Article in The Armory Life....https://www.thearmorylife.com/pin-shoot-2024-a-radical-new-approach/ By Massad Ayoob The seven June days of The Pin Shoot in Central Lake, Michigan once again saw Springfield Armory as the main sponsor. As usual, there were events for pistol and revolver, for carbines in both rifle and pistol calibers, and for shotguns with both buckshot and slugs. The author uses Springfield Armory 1911 .45 pistols for both Stock Gun and Pin Gun each year. Image: Gail Pepin Hand cannons your choice? One event is the Dennis Reichard Memorial Big Push, in which three bowling pins have to be blasted 14 feet down a steel trough. Ultra-powerful revolvers are the guns of choice there. [Want to learn more about this fun competition? Read Ayoob’s article on the Pin Shoot.] On the opposite end of the handgun power scale, among the many optional events was more than one tailored for double-stack 9mm pistols. This year, there were way more options for 9mm fans, and for some perspective that warrants a bit of history. Looking Back Founder Richard Davis began the match in the days when most cops carried revolvers and preferred magnums or .45 autos when allowed. Richard’s theme was borrowed from his friend Jeff Cooper: DVC. The motto stood for Diligence, Celeritas, Vis, which translated to “accuracy, speed, and power.” Springfield Armory, which returned as a sponsor of the 2024 Pin Shoot, has sponsored the event for many years. Image: Gail Pepin Richard’s original target array was five heavy wooden bowling pins that had to be blasted three feet back off a table and onto the ground to stop the timekeepers’ stopwatches. The game demanded accuracy to hit the pin in the center (or it would spin or just tip over, requiring more shots); speed, because whoever cleared their tables the fastest won; and power to blast them completely back with just one shot. Felipe Campos and his daughter Sara with the optic-equipped Hellcats they won for second place in the two-person team event. Image: Gail Pepin However, some of his police customers complained that they couldn’t compete with their department-issued 9mm pistols, which were becoming increasingly popular in law enforcement. For them, Richard created the Nine Pin Tip-Over side event: the shooter with the “hi-cap” nine would face nine pins, and only had to knock them over to stop the clock. Shortly after the late, great Second Chance Shoot, that ran from the mid-1970s to the near end of the 1990’s, was re-introduced as The Pin Shoot in 2017, host Matt Davis — the founder’s son — assembled a small think tank of veteran pin-shooters as a sounding board for ideas for improvement. 9mm brass flies as the shooter races the pin array 25 feet away. Note the bright-colored “hostage pins” that must be avoided. Image: Gail Pepin One of those is Patrick Sweeney, gun writer and competitive shooter extraordinaire. In 2022, he suggested a new event. Patrick wrote to the group, “The 9mm is much more popular than .45. Most new shooters are likely to have a 9mm, but not a .45. New shooters could shoot the 9 Mil Main as their one and only Main, and then go to the optionals.” As a test, at the 2023 Pin Shoot a Main Event category for 9mm pistols was created: eight rounds only in the gun, and five white pins on the table as targets. If one of the colorful “hostage pins” among them was tipped over, there would be a severe penalty. The target pins were set farther back on the table to make it easier for 9mm bullets to take them completely off, because that would be required in the new event to be called Stock Minor. The experiment proved popular, and the stage was set for 2024 to become “The Year of the 9mm” at the Pin Shoot. The Year of the Nine The year 2024 saw five events in which a 9mm fan could successfully compete. There was Stock Minor, described above, with five target pins. The old Nine Pin Tip-Over had morphed into the “9X12” event: a dozen pins, but in 2024 they had to be knocked completely off the table, again being set a bit farther toward the back of the table to compensate for 9mm momentum — or lack thereof. Richard Hupp selected this Springfield Hellcat as his prize for winning the Stock Minor event. Image: Gail Pepin PCC, or Pistol Caliber Carbine, Main had proven popular with 9mm being the all-but-unanimous choice of caliber. Here again, the 2024 rules required them to be set farther back on the table. The PCC shooter could shoot five-pin arrays in PCC Main, and could also face a similar array if he or she entered a person-on-person PCC Shootoff. Finally, there was a PCC Optional event, “Carbine Mayhem,” in which 13 pins had to be blown completely off the table. Results Most who tried 115- and 124-gr. ball found it insufficient or spotty at best for taking the pins off; momentum is the name of the pin-moving game. The 147-gr. bullet weight was recommended by the sponsors, and some had better luck with it than others. Personally, I found 127-gr. +P+ Winchester loads to be more decisive than 147-gr. subsonic. Gun writer Patrick Sweeney was largely responsible for the creation of the Stock Minor event. He was 2024’s overall winner in both Stock Gun and Pin Gun. Here he selects one of his prizes: a Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy. A valuable perspective comes from a master instructor and shooter trying pins for the first time in 2024. His name is Randy Harris, and he wrote of his experience on the excellent pistol-forum.com: “I shot Minor Stock for my first event… Mike shot CCW… Unfortunately, while last year you just had to knock the pins down, this year — even in the minor caliber events — you had to knock the pins completely off the table. Uh oh …. We did not get that memo…So neither of our times, while not terrible, were not exactly spectacular since we were completely under-armed for moving bowling pins off the tables. Knock them down? No problem. Knock them off? That involved more shooting than one round per pin which in this game is what you are trying to accomplish. Oh well at least it was fun…” Veteran pin shooter and master gunsmith Ned Christiansen with the Springfield Armory pistol he built for his wife to shoot. Image: Gail Pepin You can say one thing for 9mm: it can be run fast. Brandon Schwenke won Carbine Mayhem with 13 pins off the table in four seconds flat. He captured the PCC Main title as well, with 15.8 seconds to clear five five-pin tables. In pistol competition, 9X12’s winning time was Jess Christensen’s 6.20 second run. But what of the Stock Minor event? Richard Hupp captured that with five tables cleared in 21.5 seconds. And therein lies a tale: He did it with his eight-shot revolver, loaded with full power .357 Magnum rounds. You see, while Stock Minor was created for 9x19mm Parabellum pistols, the rules didn’t say you had to shoot one. Randy Harris learned this and said that next year he’d shoot Stock Minor with the same Springfield Trophy Match 1911 .45 ACP he used in the regular events. Conclusion Whatever your favorite gun flavor, I hope to be there the second week in June of 2025, and hope to meet you there. And thank you again to Springfield Armory for helping make this happen. The Pin Shoot has always been a family-friendly event. Many contestants turn it into a family vacation. Image: Gail Pepin

Passing along a couple of pieces written about the Pin Shoot 2024. I wrote one and then Massad Ayoob wrote the other that mentions me in it..... https://www.natchezss.com/blog/pin-shoot-the-premier-precision-shooting-event-for-gun-enthusiasts and https://www.thearmorylife.com/pin-shoot-2024-a-radical-new-approach/ Pin Shoot 2024: The Premier Precision Shooting Event for Gun Enthusiasts Randy Harris25/06/2024 Arrival and Background On Monday, June 3rd, I made the pilgrimage to Central Lake, Michigan, to shoot The Pin Shoot. This event was previously known as the Second Chance Pin Shoot in years past, and I had wanted to attend this since I first read about it in Shooting Times Handgun Quarterly magazine back in 1988. By the time I was old enough and in a position to be able to go, the event was no longer held. However, when they started holding the event again in 2016, my friend Mike Swisher and I decided we were going to go, and we finally made it this year. Event Explanation A little explanation of the event is for those not familiar with it. The match runs from Saturday to Thursday. There are two classes of shooters: Ordinary Standard Shooter (OSS) and Master Blaster. OSS is what you are classified as until you win an event or finish 2nd in two events, and then you move up to Master Blaster. This way, the people who have been pin shooting and winning since the 1980s are not directly competing with the folks who have never shot this before. Then there are six “5 Pin Main Events” where you shoot six tables of five pins with some "hostage" pins interspersed among the pins. Main Events and Side Matches The main events are Stock Gun (standard iron sight pistols), Stock Minor (iron sight pistols in "minor calibers”), Pin Gun (can have a compensator), Space Gun (can have an optic and a compensator), CCW (barrel 4" or less and allows optics), and PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbines allows optics, comps, or suppressors), along with an assortment of side matches, shoot-offs, and team events. In fact, there are so many events that it was a little overwhelming for us two Pin Shoot newbies. We have shot plenty of competitions in different disciplines (we have both won IDPA State titles in our respective divisions) but nothing quite like this. The ladies who handle the scheduling and getting the shooters ready must be saints for being able to herd cats and deal with all the moving parts. First Day Challenges We arrived at the range on Tuesday afternoon and went to the registration desk to get our shooting times for the events. To our great surprise (and panic?), they scheduled us for about 15 minutes after we got there, even though we did not know exactly where to go or what to do, and there was no time for us to get the new shooter orientation. Oh well … if you are going to get wet, you might as well jump in the deep end of the pool first. I shot Minor Stock for my first event using a full-size iron-sighted Sig 320 and Speer Lawman 147gr 9mm. Mike shot CCW using his carry gun, Sig 365X Macro, and Fiocchi 115 9mm. Unfortunately, while last year you just had to knock the pins down, this year - even in the minor caliber events - you had to knock the pins completely off the table. Uh oh …. We did not get that memo. Pizza Party and Meeting Richard Davis Tuesday night, they held a pizza party for the shooters at The Side Door Saloon, a local bar. Mike and I snagged a table and awaited the pizza to be brought out. Soon after we got our table, an older woman came to our table and essentially deposited an older gentleman wearing a Pin Shoot t-shirt at our table and then went on her way. As he talked and told stories, I realized that was Richard Davis, the guy who founded Second Chance Body Armor and the Pin Shoot. He acts as the Master of Ceremonies for the match, asking trivia questions between shooting runs, and calling the match. So, we sat with him for the evening and were regaled with far-ranging stories from adventures in Las Vegas to the history of the Pin Shoot event, how he had gotten prizes for the prize table in years past, and how he helped Massad Ayoob write “Hit the White Part”. Second Day Events The next day, we rolled to the range, and I shot the .22 Pin Head side event (7 pin heads 5 yards away with 10 rounds in your pistol). I shot my suppressed Ruger MK II, which of course picked the absolute most inopportune time to malfunction. After that, we prepared to shoot the Stock Gun main event. For this one, I shot a Springfield Armory Trophy Match pistol loaded with Federal TSJ 230gr .45 ACP. In this event, you have five pins per table plus two hostage pins that you do not want to shoot or knock down. You start with eight rounds loaded in the gun, but reload capacity is unlimited. For the Stock Gun event, the .45 took the pins off the tables easily enough that I did not have to reload on any of the strings of fire, unlike in the Minor Stock and CCW events. If I remember correctly, Mike shot a Ruger 1911 in the Stock event. Afterwards, I shot the CCW event, and unfortunately, the 9mm did not do any better on Wednesday than it had on Tuesday, and I had a lackluster finish in the event. For dinner, we hit Outback, and then I got to watch the Boston Celtics win game 3 of the NBA finals. Final Day and Awards Thursday rolled around, and it was time for my Shotgun and 9x12 side events. The shotgun event was three tables of eight pins each, and 9x12 was three tables of 12 pins with three hostage pins spread out between them per table. Shotgun capacity was eight max in the gun, and FULL POWER buckshot is the medicine of choice. For the shotgun, I used a borrowed Benelli M2 that I did not get to fire until my first string of fire on the shooting line. It was about that time that I also realized that due to the way they are crimped, only six Rio Buckshot shells would fit in the magazine tube! Fortunately, the gun’s owner had also given me some Winchester 00 Buck, and I ended up having to load five Rio and two Winchester in the tube and a Rio in the chamber to get eight in the gun. It is always something. Knowing I had to beat 3.60 seconds for the eight pins, I went as fast as I could but caught a few unlucky breaks with some fast runs being undone by a rebellious pin here and there refusing to leave the table. This game does involve a degree of luck as pins falling off the top shelf can fall onto a lower shelf, and your time does not stop until the last pin hits the ground. A 4.90 was the best clean score I was able to manage, which was nowhere near the 3.60 I needed to hit to be competitive. After shooting 72 rounds of full power buck, it was time for the 9x12 side match. My 9x12 runs were still not terrible but were noncompetitive due to the inability of 9mm to convey enough momentum to quickly clear the tables. If I had known about the rule change before I left home, I would’ve been running my Glock 35 with 180 grain ammo and a 22-round mag for the 9x12 event. After a BBQ food truck dinner at the range, the awards ceremony took place. I had ended up 3rd in the OSS class in the Stock Gun event and ended up winning a gift certificate for Magna Porting a pistol or revolver. I also got my old copy of "Hit the White Part" (the book about pin shooting co-authored by Massad Ayoob and Richard Davis) autographed and got a pic with Mas and Rich. I also got Richard to autograph my copy of "Pin Shooting- A Complete Guide" by Mitchell Ota, for which Davis had also written the forward. Final Thoughts So how did I feel it went? Great. Mike and I had a great time, and we marked this off our bucket list. This is arguably the most fun shooting event (other than maybe cowboy action) that I have shot. While I did not finish as well as I had hoped, there is only so much that you can do if you are shooting 9mm and the game requires you to blow bowling pins all the way off the table. I was happy to have a 3rd place finish in the Stock Gun event, but I missed my goal of making the Master Blaster classification. Maybe next year…

Coming up THIS WEEKEND !!!

TWO WEEKS TO GO ON THIS ONE !

This one is coming up THIS WEEKEND !!!

I and 3 of my students were on the After Action Project Episode 107 Bringing a Gun to a Knife Fight with Randy Harris of Harris Combative Strategies. Give it a listen ! https://firearmsradio.net/aap-107/

Subject: PISTOL DRILLS AND SHOTGUN SKILLS ! Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: The Ridge Shooting Range 11534 US Hwy 27, Dayton, TN 37321 DATE : Saturday June 29 2024 Time: 9:00 to 3:30pm EASTERN Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/june-29-shotgun-and-pistol-tngaal-training-group-dayton-tn-tickets-927523396447?aff=ebdsoporgprofile Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 What you need to bring: Pistol and at least 2 spare pistol magazines and at least 100 rounds of pistol ammo. ALSO need a shotgun and 50 rounds of birdshot and 25 rounds of buckshot. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. We will break for lunch and go somewhere within a few minutes of the range but you are welcome to stay at the range and eat if you want to bring your lunch. We will be shooting some challenging warm up drills and then several short pistol qualification courses. I will also keep records of these for future reference and use . This will serve to get your shooting prowess on record by a third party in case it is ever needed in the future in some legal matter. This is also something your church might like to have for their records if you are a member of a church security team. We will then work on the primary skills you need to operate the most efficient weapon available for close quarter encounters- the shotgun. As far as the courts are concerned if it isn’t documented it didn’t happen so this is an opportunity to get some official scores on paper in case you ever need them . Not only that but it will be a good day of shooting some somewhat challenging and well known courses of fire. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy”. And just a final reminder EVERYONE is welcome ! The TN/GA/AL Training Group started as a way for alumni of classes taught by Randy Harris to get together and stay current on skills and get some coaching in a one day format at a discounted price from what a normal class would cost. As it continued to grow we opened it up to ANYONE who is interested in coming out and learning some skills and just seeing what it is that we do and meet some new people with the same interests. So even if you are not an alum of one of my classes you are welcome to come join us!

Yes absolutely! We ALL need work in some area or another and events like this are a “soft entry” into the training world where you can see where you are right now and what you need to work on and I can help you to formulate a plan to get to where you want to be. Come on out and join us !

Subject: HOW QUALIFIED ARE YOU ? Instructor: Randy Harris - https://harriscombative.com/randys-bio/ Location: Windrock Shooting Range - 720 Windrock Rd, Oliver Springs, TN 37840 http://www.windrockshootingrange.com/ DATE : Saturday July 13 2024 Time: 12:30 PM EASTERN time – 4:30PM EASTERN time Price: $80 Payments can be made through Eventbrite or by by cash or check or Electronic payment by paypal or venmo (Use Friends and Family option or add 3% if you pay it as a Goods and Service) ) or by credit card (contact Randy by phone 423 827 9133 or by email at randy@harriscombative.com for CC payment). This will also be listed on Eventbrite if you prefer to sign up there but you can save the Eventbrite fees and tax that they charge by paying me directly. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-13-how-qualified-are-you-tngaal-training-group-oliver-springs-tn-tickets-920852142547?aff=ebdsoporgprofile Paypal – cruelhandluke2000@yahoo.com Venmo – www.venmo.com/Randy-Harris-47 What you need to bring: Pistol, at least 2 spare pistol magazines and at least 150 rounds of pistol ammo. Revolvers are welcome if you want to party like it is 1899. Eye Protection and ear protection, weather appropriate clothing, snacks and drinks. We will be shooting some challenging warm up drills and then several Federal , State and local LE type qualification course. I will also keep records of these for future reference and use . This will serve to get your shooting prowess on record by a third party in case it is ever needed in the future in some legal matter. This is also something your church might like to have for their records if you are a member of a church security team. As far as the courts are concerned if it isn’t documented it didn’t happen so this is an opportunity to get some official scores on paper in case you ever need them . Not only that but it will be a good day of shooting some somewhat challenging and well known courses of fire. This is an EXCELLENT chance to bring someone you know who might need a “reality check” on where their skills actually are. We all know people who are gun owners who keep threatening to get some training. The training days (especially the pistol qual day) are a great way to get them into that and show them what is possible with some directed practice and see where they REALLY are at their present skill level. And it is a good chance to get to meet people with the same interests that don’t think you are “crazy”. And just a final reminder EVERYONE is welcome ! The TN/GA/AL Training Group started as a way for alumni of classes taught by Randy Harris to get together and stay current on skills and get some coaching in a one day format at a discounted price from what a normal class would cost. As it continued to grow we opened it up to ANYONE who is interested in coming out and learning some skills and just seeing what it is that we do and meet some new people with the same interests. So even if you are not an alum of one of my classes you are welcome to come join us!