- Location
- Keswick, Ontario
COURSE: OSTS Tactical Carbine Course
LOCATION: Grenville Gun Club
WEATHER: Sun, heavy rain, wind, trees snow and high humidity. The Gods were tempted but there were no operators hit by lighting
OBJECTIVES: Beginner/Basic Level Familiarization and Training on Assault Rifle
Arrived at the range at 0730. Others arrived shortly after. Introduced ourselves and loaded tritiums truck to drive gear to the line.
No fire until 9AM allowed ample time for safety brief. 4 firearms safety rules were covered and Instructor gave a backgrounder on his skills and experience and outlined his training plan for the day.
Targets were set up training commenced. Starting from 7 we ran through some basic drills to make sure of our respective zeros and ensure we had a basic grasp of hold off, which would become more critical as the days training progressed. This drill was run out to the 25, and also covered fire and movement.
Various shooting positions were covered, including kneeling, double kneeling, left and right knee, half and paddy squat as well as prone. All positions were covered again in relation to cover/concealment.
We worked on the fundamentals of trigger control and sight picture by progressively moving away from the targets, then moving close and picking up the speed. Hammers and taps were explored, and the tempo picked up. Stress was introduced by having operators change through the stances while listening to the word of command for target numbers and rounds to be delivered.
We broke for lunch and scarfed pizza and pop. More than one operator had to rethink mass quantities of pizza as tritium pulled out the plastic range barrels.
There was a short (and refreshing) break as the Gods started crying at our mastery of the basics.
We reconvened and the 4 safety factors were covered again. HEads were put back in the game.
Positions and triggers control were combined in the box drill. More stress was added as the operators were run though the drill individually with peer observation.
This was followed by an IPSC style course of fire where operators were presented with 6 targets and two pieces of over/concealment. Operators were instructed to figure out how to best engage the targets as quickly as possible. Stress was induced as shot timer was brought into play.
After all operators shot, range cleanup commenced and the training day ended.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:
I had a great time at this course. It was a course full of firsts for me. It was my first course running my VZ, and my first course running an EOTech. I found both to be more up to the task than I was.
I missed queues on breathing, and was WAY over thinking my hold offs as I wasn't used to the EOTech reticule, tho I believe with a few thousand rounds and the drills I learned at this course I can shrink my grouping and maintain (or increase) my shot rate.
I noticed my groupings opening up later in the day as fatigue set in. I have just switched from the magwell grip to the long foregard grip recently and my left arm needs work to hold the rifle out that far. I do find it much more stable in the standing a squat, but in kneeling I still revert to the magwell grip.
The Instructors experience was obvious. Right off the bat I felt comfortable with him leading the course as I could see he possessed the one key skill I require from any instructor I do live fire training with. He can tell if people are f**k ups right off the bat and adjust accordingly. He is an excellent judge of character and individual skill and comfort level and that allows for a class to be pushed as far as they can be safely, which maximized training time and allowed a basic course to progress through to more advanced material.
My fellow operators were top notch. A wide skill level was represented. On many courses I have attended the rookie will often stand out as his or her toolbox is mostly empty and only has one tool in it, an open mind. Nicholas ran his VZ skillfully and had a concentration level I admired. My other classmates were very switched on as groupings proved. Except for the big stinky guy next to me how kept complaining about there not being enough rain. Stoopid Infantry.
The facilities made me green with envy. Beautiful facility.
AAR ENDS
LOCATION: Grenville Gun Club
WEATHER: Sun, heavy rain, wind, trees snow and high humidity. The Gods were tempted but there were no operators hit by lighting
OBJECTIVES: Beginner/Basic Level Familiarization and Training on Assault Rifle
Arrived at the range at 0730. Others arrived shortly after. Introduced ourselves and loaded tritiums truck to drive gear to the line.
No fire until 9AM allowed ample time for safety brief. 4 firearms safety rules were covered and Instructor gave a backgrounder on his skills and experience and outlined his training plan for the day.
Targets were set up training commenced. Starting from 7 we ran through some basic drills to make sure of our respective zeros and ensure we had a basic grasp of hold off, which would become more critical as the days training progressed. This drill was run out to the 25, and also covered fire and movement.
Various shooting positions were covered, including kneeling, double kneeling, left and right knee, half and paddy squat as well as prone. All positions were covered again in relation to cover/concealment.
We worked on the fundamentals of trigger control and sight picture by progressively moving away from the targets, then moving close and picking up the speed. Hammers and taps were explored, and the tempo picked up. Stress was introduced by having operators change through the stances while listening to the word of command for target numbers and rounds to be delivered.
We broke for lunch and scarfed pizza and pop. More than one operator had to rethink mass quantities of pizza as tritium pulled out the plastic range barrels.
There was a short (and refreshing) break as the Gods started crying at our mastery of the basics.
We reconvened and the 4 safety factors were covered again. HEads were put back in the game.
Positions and triggers control were combined in the box drill. More stress was added as the operators were run though the drill individually with peer observation.
This was followed by an IPSC style course of fire where operators were presented with 6 targets and two pieces of over/concealment. Operators were instructed to figure out how to best engage the targets as quickly as possible. Stress was induced as shot timer was brought into play.
After all operators shot, range cleanup commenced and the training day ended.
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS:
I had a great time at this course. It was a course full of firsts for me. It was my first course running my VZ, and my first course running an EOTech. I found both to be more up to the task than I was.
I missed queues on breathing, and was WAY over thinking my hold offs as I wasn't used to the EOTech reticule, tho I believe with a few thousand rounds and the drills I learned at this course I can shrink my grouping and maintain (or increase) my shot rate.
I noticed my groupings opening up later in the day as fatigue set in. I have just switched from the magwell grip to the long foregard grip recently and my left arm needs work to hold the rifle out that far. I do find it much more stable in the standing a squat, but in kneeling I still revert to the magwell grip.
The Instructors experience was obvious. Right off the bat I felt comfortable with him leading the course as I could see he possessed the one key skill I require from any instructor I do live fire training with. He can tell if people are f**k ups right off the bat and adjust accordingly. He is an excellent judge of character and individual skill and comfort level and that allows for a class to be pushed as far as they can be safely, which maximized training time and allowed a basic course to progress through to more advanced material.
My fellow operators were top notch. A wide skill level was represented. On many courses I have attended the rookie will often stand out as his or her toolbox is mostly empty and only has one tool in it, an open mind. Nicholas ran his VZ skillfully and had a concentration level I admired. My other classmates were very switched on as groupings proved. Except for the big stinky guy next to me how kept complaining about there not being enough rain. Stoopid Infantry.
The facilities made me green with envy. Beautiful facility.
AAR ENDS
