What are your favorite rifle drills?

hunter64 said:
I have been looking for one in the Edmonton area and so far to no avail. I am going to keep asking around and maybe someone knows where or if there is a course out here somewhere.
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Contact Earl Green at Phase Line Green Tactical. Earl is an excellent instructor and if you get enough people together he will travel to you.

http://www.phaselinegreentactical.ca/
 
Steve Janes said:
Big_Red,....
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Apology accepted.

To clarify, I'm only talking about following the target to the ground and scanning after engaging all available targets. If there is more than one target, transition to it and engage, repeat as necessary. Afterwards scan and assess. Then top up your bang sticks if required. If you have a buddy with you, take turns doing this while the other guy continues to scan.
 
Big_Red said:
Apology accepted.

To clarify, I'm only talking about following the target to the ground and scanning after engaging all available targets. If there is more than one target, transition to it and engage, repeat as necessary. Afterwards scan and assess. Then top up your bang sticks if required. If you have a buddy with you, take turns doing this while the other guy continues to scan.
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Ahhh Ic Ic, I was hoping that was what you meant but wasn't sure ye'know. It's hard to tell what people mean sometimes when there describing physical actions with typed sentences. Thank you very much for the advice. I will be incorporating this into my drills accordingly.
 
Although you both obviously realize this, I figure I will throw in a small point just for future readers in case they don't understand the point of topping up. As has been stated it's muscle memory, if you always practice going until the gun runs dry then that is what would happen in a stress situation. You'd run it dry, and then have that moment of "OH :bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug:". But if you practice always topping up right away that is how you will do it when SHTF. Same goes for if you're at a range and can do transitions (assuming you're close to the target, otherwise emergency reload). You follow the target down (after engaging ALL targets) do your scan and assess, (my preference) load up a fresh pistol mag putting the partial back on my belt (still has ammo in it), holster, then bring up my primary fresh mag and another quick scan and assess. If your range has rules, or shooting partners are uncomfortable then you can clear your firearms after that. But don't get in the habit of ending on a dry gun.

I will state it again, I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence here. Just figured I would put out a rough explanation in case someone reads this thread and wonders why you should top up.
 
It is simple.
Always drop the mag and get the rifle reloaded.
If you have the time to safely recover the mag then do so.
Retaining and recovering mags is of a far lower priority than staying alive.

If you accept that retaining mags only adds seconds to a reload (that should only take seconds) you are training to be well behind the curve.
 
Gunnerlove said:
It is simple.
Always drop the mag and get the rifle reloaded.
If you have the time to safely recover the mag then do so.
Retaining and recovering mags is of a far lower priority than staying alive.

If you accept that retaining mags only adds seconds to a reload (that should only take seconds) you are training to be well behind the curve.
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I would never suggest that retaining or recovering a magazine should take higher priority than staying alive. But I would suggest that retaining your mags (Especially when you don't have a military to issue/resupply more) is a priority to maintaining your combat effectiveness, and maintaining combat effectiveness, is a priority to staying alive.

I do understand your point though, and as I think I said earlier, there are certainly times when I do NOT retain my mags, a true emergency reload would be one of those times I suppose. In truth, I practice mag changes a lot (like, rifle empty, new mag in, hit bolt release, rock and roll) but I haven't actually practiced a true "Emergency Reload" (where as a result of a FTF you physically have to manipulate the bolt) more than 10-20 times.

I will definitely try some more drills that involve ditching them right away and see how much faster I can get. For the most part however, unless the scenario requires the utmost speed, I will continue to train to retain my mags, there part of my rifle.
 
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Steve Janes said:
I would never suggest that retaining or recovering a magazine should take higher priority than staying alive. But I would suggest that retaining your mags (Especially when you don't have a military to issue/resupply more) is a priority to maintaining your combat effectiveness, and maintaining combat effectiveness, is a priority to staying alive.

I do understand your point though, and as I think I said earlier, there are certainly times when I do NOT retain my mags, a true emergency reload would be one of those times I suppose. In truth, I practice mag changes a lot (like, rifle empty, new mag in, hit bolt release, rock and roll) but I haven't actually practiced a true "Emergency Reload" (where as a result of a FTF you physically have to manipulate the bolt) more than 10-20 times.

I will definitely try some more drills that involve ditching them right away and see how much faster I can get. For the most part however, unless the scenario requires the utmost speed, I will continue to train to retain my mags, there part of my rifle.
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Basically unless you have adequate time, distance, and cover. Ditch the mag and forget about retention.
 
Big_Red said:
Ditch your mag on an emergency reload to get the weapon back up. You can pick them up the mags later.
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This one's for you Big_Red (and others who suggested ditching mags) Thanks for the advice.


and some more nine hole just for fun, this time with the old black special


Edit: Another Snow day!!! YAY
 
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Steve Janes said:
This one's for you Big_Red (and others who suggested ditching mags) Thanks for the advice.
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Looks good and consistent, I would try to do it while moving, from other position like kneeling, prone and other non standard position.

It was amazing to me how fast we fell apart on weapon manipulation once I introduced movement and communication to our training.
 
Miraclejoe said:
Looks good and consistent, I would try to do it while moving, from other position like kneeling, prone and other non standard position.

It was amazing to me how fast we fell apart on weapon manipulation once I introduced movement and communication to our training.
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Communication and team work is something we are just staring to explore. So far we have done mostly individual drills, but there is more team work planned to come. We have done some 2 man contact drills but have some much more extensive ones planned for sometime soon.

As far as mag changes on the move and mag changes from other positions, I agree, and the extent of the drills we have done have called for A LOT of mag changes in A LOT of different positions, including while on the move/run, just not in this particular video. It's all the practice we've done while on the move, or kneeling, or in otherwise awkward positions that makes it so fast and instinctual while standing still. There's always room for improvement though.
 
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