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Culpeper, Virginia Range Day: August 23 or 24

cREbralFIX

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All,

Team Ruthless has offered to open their Culpeper, VA range up for a range day on August 23, 2008.

We can do whatever we want: some training, general shooting, IPSC/IDPA/polite society-type stuff, or whatever you can think of. The range is approximately 30 yards in length and is very wide.

If you have an idea for an activity, post it. We can have multiple activities over the course of the day.

The cost for the day is $25. That gets us 9-5 to do all the tactical mall ninja drive-by practice we want!

Please contact me if you are interested. I need at least 10 people to run this.
 

Paragon

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Can you provide some details on what is going to go on this day? I'm interested, but would like a bit more info.
 

cREbralFIX

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We're still working out the agenda. If you have something you want to do, please post it.
 

cREbralFIX

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Yeah, we can do some training.

I just took a point shooting class that had some really cool close range stuff.

I'll be working on the agenda this week. I wanted to get some input from attendees first. I have a few requests.
 

Paragon

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I am interested as well. I wouldn't mind seeing some point shooting. I'd like to see some practical courses of fire, along the lines of things that could happen and how to properly employ a carried weapon (either from concealment or from open carry). I'm pretty open to just about anything, though.

Also, I used to be a range instructor in the USMC, and wouldn't mind helping out in that aspect as well.
 

cREbralFIX

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The range day is August 23.

Agenda (times are fluid):

0900: Administrative stuff, Safety Review
0930: Combative Shooting Review
1200: Lunch
1300: Introduction to Dynamic Movement
1400: Putting it together
1500: Running & Gunning with rifles and pistols
1700: Summary and Range Clean-up

We'll also do some open shooting so people can try other guns and such.


***

Stuff you'll need to bring:

2 or more IDPA-type cardboard targets (or cardboard cut to 18-24" wide by 24-36" high)
Paper targets that you want to shoot
Masking tape
Water
Food (though we could go to lunch)
Folding chair
Pen and notepad


If you have it:
Blue/Airsoft/training gun and a holster

***

If you wish to sign-up, please PM or email me.
 

useful_idiot

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I attended this range day yesterday and it was FANTASTIC!!! I'll post more details later. It was a lot of fun. I learned lots of new skills...heck, I'm going to the range today to practice!!!

chuck
 

cREbralFIX

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Sounds like Walmart and Winchester are going to make out on 45 ACP ammo purchases from useful_idiot!
 

ufcfanvt

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I wasn't able to go, but this range is pretty exciting. I've been there before it was finished. If you live withing 80 miles, it's definitely worth the trip!
 

useful_idiot

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I attended the range day on Saturday 8/23 south of Culpeper, VA offered by Team Ruthless at a private range.

First, let me get the superlatives out of the way: This was the single best self-defense training I have attended. OK...so it was also my first, but, hey, I'm just sayin'. Oh, and I have a tendency to go on and on...so, there it is.

The skills we practiced were applicable to real-life situations which may require defensive use of a firearm. As this was a practice day we did not have much lecture or review printed material. The short introductory discussion covered basic principles of defensive shooting. The day was training for how to deal with close, middle and longer distance threats with and without movement. For purposes of the day's training "long" distance was considered 10 yards and most of the drills were inside 5 yards.

Most participants brought Glocks. The instructor used a glock. I brought a Sig 229 in .40 S&W that I hadn't spent much time with. Suffice it say I'm a lot better with it today than I was before the class. Bring at least four mags to minimize time reloading...more if they are single stack.

We began with straightforward drills on the "Dot Torture" sheet. The sheet had 9-10 colored circles about 2 inches in diameter. The first drill was simple, draw, aim and put five shots into the first dot from about 5 yards. The drills progressed to draw and shoot one shot at two dots, shooting one handed, weak handed and at varied distances. All the drills were live draw and reload during drill as necessary emphasizing quick and smooth reload by feel while maintaining eyes on target at all times.

We then moved on to shooting from the combat crouch and point shooting. I hadn't done any point shooting, but the name says it all. You focus on the a point on the target, point the gun and shoot multiple shots. We learned the "combat crouch" and started with crouching one and two handed aimed shots, then shooting without lining up the sights, then shooting at shoulder level, then chest level, then waist level.

You can't line up the sights when shooting below shoulder level. The method is to focus on a single point on the target and shoot. The objective is to train yourself to automatically walk the successive shots onto the point of focus while shooting rapidly. If you focus intensely on a single point (button, etc.) on the chest you have a much better chance of landing a hit than if you are thinking you just want to hit the center mass. All of this occurred prior to lunch and consumed 200-300 rounds.

We had a break for lunch. The best idea is to bring everything you want for the day with you. Lot's of Water in an ice chest, Gatorade, lunch, snack. You will spend most of the day in the sun so max sunscreen & hat. It was in the mid 80s Saturday and standing in the sun was plenty hot. And bring a chair.

After lunch we began doing more dynamic drills. We practiced shooting to the left or right of the direction we were facing. The instructor made an appropriate emphasis on safety since it would be easy to paint the person next to you when drawing from the right shooting to the left.

We proceeded to drills that included movement toward or away from the target. Moving toward the target in a crouched walk while shooting with one or both hands after an initial diagonal step. Later we pacticed a zigzag walk toward the target while shooting and starting close to the target then moving away while firing.

That is by no means a complete recounting of the day. We took some time in the afternoon for free shooting. Some folks brought rifles they wanted to practice with or sight in. I brought mine, but elected take some time in the shade then practice with some additional pistols I brought. Overall, I shot about 500 rounds for the day.

Thank you cREbralFIX for a great day at the range and a great learning experience. I enjoyed meeting you and the other board members. Oh, and don't forget to bring your brass magnet for cleanup!!

:cool:
 
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