Examining training opportunities – finding value and meeting objectives

As someone who takes a lot of classes and teaches a lot, I spend quite a bit of time around the range. With some of the training craziness that has shown up on YouTube recently, I thought I’d share my personal litmus test on examining techniques that you pick up at classes and from your shooting buddies.

All men are naturally race car drivers and porn stars. So we tend to rate a course, or technique by the number of rounds fired. “I shot 2400 rounds in two days, but I’m not sure what we did?” Some of the best classes I have been to I didn’t shoot a lot, but the concentration in making the shots was brutal. So, how then can we examine a course or technique if it isn’t by round count?

Obviously, you should do research in selecting a course that suits your needs and is recommended by like minded folks.

Bruce Gray helps students meet training objectives in Massachusetts

First, can I perform this safely? Any technique that requires you to break any safety rule in the name of “realism” or my personal favorite “stress inoculation” should be avoided at all costs. Some people will disagree, however, I kinda put that in the same category of shooting my bullet proof vest to make sure it works. Not all that smart.

Next comes, is the technique logical? I have found that a common sense approach to training works well. If it doesn’t make sense, and your spidey senses begin to tingle, it is probably for good reason.

Next up, can the instructor explain why you should do/use the technique? Being a good instructor is more than being a good shooter. The most frustrated I have ever been in a course is the whole “Cause I said so” answer. If you can’t satisfy this answer, you should take a long hard look at one and two.

Finally, can the instructor perform the technique? The old adage, “Those that can, do, those that can’t, teach” doesn’t hold water in the firearms community. I’ve heard some instructors say that they won’t demo in front of their students as not to “intimidate” them. Horsehockey.

Sometimes demo-ing is the only way to make the light come on with some students, and it lends credibility to the instructor. I am really wary of any instructor that won’t demo something on request. Obviously, you don’t have to live fire everything, but how can an instructor set expectations for the student body, when he can’t even perform the feat himself?

In this day and age, it costs a fortune in ammo alone to take a course. I have found that asking these questions have served me pretty well over the last few years. Hope it helps you as well.