We have just added our Precision Rifle class to our Training Department.  It is amazing how fast this segment of our business is taking off.  The latest news is that our Precision Instructor has been selected for NRA Law Enforcement Sniper Instructor School.  This is a great honor and we are extremely excited and proud of him.

If you are interested in maximizing the potential of your long range shooting abilities, our one day class is for you.  We will teach you the fundamentals of precision shooting and help you grow as a shooter. You will come away with everything you need to begin your quest to hitting that elusive 1,000 yard target.

The class is a one day class at one of our private ranges.  Class size is limited to 2 unless you schedule a special private class.  You will get lots of hands on instruction by one of the best instructors around.

By the way, we just picked up our second Law Enforcement Agency who have chosen us to keep their guys up to date.  If you want to schedule a class or have questions about the class email us.

It isn’t often that you run across a double feed malfunction when shooting your favorite pistol.  When you do, they can be a bear to clear if you don’t follow some simple steps to get your gun up and running.

Description:  A double feed is when you have one round in the chamber and another round is released from the magazine in order to feed.  Now you have two rounds trying to get into one chamber.

How does it happen?  You put one round in the chamber manually with the slide locked back, and then inserted the magazine and released the slide.  Or, you had round not fully seat in the chamber and didn’t fully extract it with a power stroke of the slide.  When you pulled back the slide, it didn’t get rid of the round and released another from the magazine to feed.

Get it cleared!  Step one: Lock the slide to the rear.  Step 2:  Dump the magazine.  Step3:  Rack, Rack, Rack the slide.  Step 4:  Lock it to the rear and visually inspect the chamber to make sure there is not anything left.  Step5:  Insert new mag and release the slide.

There are several things to consider with this type of malfunction that might save your life if you are ever presented with this scenario in real life.  First, carry a gun with a slide lock.  This past weekend one of our students had a double feed with a Walther 380 that didn’t have a slide lock.  He couldn’t get the malfunction cleared because he had to hold the slide back, release and strip the magazine all at the same time.  I was able to clear it for him, but it was much more difficult.

Second, carry a spare mag if you run an semi-auto.  Many of our police readers know that you get a little lazy off duty and just go with the mag in the gun.  Life is much easier if you have a spare mag for this type of malfunction.  In fact, life is just easier with a spare mag.  It will fix most of your issues.

Finally, practice this malfunction with dummy rounds.  Load a dummy round manually in the chamber while the slide is locked back and then insert your mag and release another dummy round.  Practice clearing it with the above procedure.  You will find that if it ever happens you will be better prepared.

Many of you, no doubt, are interested in protecting your family so you have made the decision to become proficient with your handgun.  If you practice this lifestyle let me tell you what I think is the foundation of any system you employ while out on the street.

You might think it is a particular firearm.  We assume you have chosen a quality firearm of your preference.  If you like it, and it works for you then you already have that covered.

You might think of it as the holster you choose.  Many of our readers ask what we like to use.  The truth of it is, we use quality kydex and leather from a variety of makers whenever they suit our purposes.

The foundation of any carry system is your belt.  It makes no difference if you have the fastest draw in Tombstone, and you firearm is the best.  A belt holds it all together.

It’s often funny to me that we spend upwards of $500 on a firearm, but go to Walmart for our belts.  If you are carrying off duty or as a citizen, a belt keeps the foundation stable.  The last thing you want as an off duty cop is for the bad guys to see you printing through a jacket.  A flimsy belt will not allow your holster to keep the firearm close to your body. Gun belts are sturdy and made specifically for the task.

Take some time to look over the following links of belt manufacturers.  You will find many styles and price points.  Even the cheapest gun belt is better than any belt you will get at the mall.

Bianchi

Galco

Milt Sparks

Wild Bill’s

There are three different types of Misfires that can happen when you are training.  Each one is a little different in your response.  Be sure to understand them so that you can respond appropriately.

1. Misfire-This is a cartridge that doesn’t ignite when the primer is struck.  If you think about it this way it might help: It misses the opportunity to fire.  In all my years of shooting I have seen this one quite frequently it cheap rimfire ammo, but I personally have only experienced one rifle round that was a misfire.  Oddly enough that happened this week while testing.
2. Hangfire-A hangfire is a delayed ignition of the propellant that causes the cartridge to fire after it should have gone off.  The proper response for hangfires is to wait 30 seconds while the gun is pointed downrange and then remove the faulty cartridge.  Think of it like this: It hangs around then decides to leave.  While this does happen, I have never had hangfire.
3. Squib-A squib load goes off under less than normal pressure leaving the bullet lodged in the barrel.  This one is potentially dangerous if you don’t remove the obstruction from the bore.  If you chamber another round and shoot it could blow your barrel.  You will generally know a squib load because they are softer sounding than all the other rounds you have been shooting.  While a normal round may sound like a BANG, a squib will be a pop.  Often the slide will not cycle and you will have the spent case still in the breach.  Field strip your pistol and use a cleaning rod or a dowel rod to remove the bullet from breach to muzzle.  I have never had a squib load, but one of shooting buddies had about 4 one day at the range.  He had gotten a little hurried while reloading and didn’t add powder to several cartridges.

Knowing and understanding these misfires will help you clean up any ignition problems you run into at the range.

Many of you are familiar with IDPA, but for those of you who are not it is the International Defensive Pistol Association.  Shooters must shoot basically factory guns that can only be modified lightly.  Magazines are loaded to 10 rounds maximum and you shoot with a concealment garment.  In short, it is about as fun as gets.  Being in Nashville, we have the luxury of shooting IDPA almost every week at a different match.  If you are looking for a Nashville match, check out the Music City Tactical Shooters.  These are great guys who run solid matches.

One of the great questions that exists is whether or not IDPA is simply a game or whether is actually good for training.  I think the answer is actually YES!

IDPA is a game.  There are rules, points, and timers.  You are shooting made up courses of fire that may or may not ever happen.  You are competing against a clock and your fellow competitors.  If you don’t think so go watch the bantering that takes place between friends at these matches.

No doubt some of the rules are argued about in the “tactical” community.  A word about such community is in order.  Just because you read it in an internet forum doesn’t make it true or tactical.  There are plenty of places to get tactical advice, but keyboard commandos are not who you want to listen to.  Get some training.  But I digress.

The rules can be argued about, but they work for the game, while being generally sound practice for your private world.  Remember that at the end of the day you are participating in a competition.

However, IDPA does give you some training.  It teaches you to shoot faster and more accurately.  You must remember stage protocol, reloading your firearm different ways, shooting from cover, and it gives you a little pressure.  Nothing like having 40 of your new best friends watching you flub a stage.

I encourage all you to check out some form of competition in the next few months.  You will discover quickly that it will be a wonderful learning experience.  Check the rigs people are using.  Check out their shooting styles and learn as much as possible.  Above all, have a great time enjoying your sport while getting better.

For the month of July if you sign up 2 friends you can attend the TN Handgun Permit Class for 1/2 price ($55).  If you sign up 4 friends you come free.  Not a bad way to get some solid training is it?  All you have to do is know some people.  Keep the money for yourself or discount everyone’s training in your group.  The choice is yours.

p.s. we won’t tell anyone what you do.

We have had good response to the Mossy Creek Training launch.  Right now we have classes scheduled on July 2, 10 and 17.  We have also had some inquiries for the Women’s only classes.  Look for them in August and September.  If you need a class date, we only need a few people to have one, so email us wiith a date that works and gets some friends together and we will have a class.

We are so excited about the opportunity to offer the Handgun Permit class in Nashville next month.  July is looking to be very busy for the Training section.  I wanted to remind some of our female readers about the opportunity they have to train in a women’s only environment and whythat is so beneficial. 

1. No stupid questions.  There is no such thing as a stupid question, but sometimes we feel like our questions are stupid if the crowd we are in already has a solid base of knowledge.  This might make us hesitant to ask something.  Not so in a women’s only class.  It is a given with our instructors that everyone is starting at the beginning.  You are free to ask anything you need. 
2. No macho junk.  We are not training the army.  We are training citizens.  We don’t conduct classes like boot camp.  No one is going to yell at you or insult you. 
3. Camaraderie.  Shooting is a great sport to be involved with.  It is actually something to be enjoyed by you and your friends.  We will introduce you to hobby that might end up saving you or your family’s lives. 

If you don’t have any equipment we have it all.  We will rent you a firearm, provide the ammo, and show you how to use it.  We will also put you in a position to purchase a firearm that is right for you.  If you have any reservations feel free to email us and ask any questions (remember no stupid questions,), and set up a class date for you and several of the girls.  We will answer your questions and get you ready to start shooting.

If you have been considering obtaining a TN Handgun Permit you are required to take a class that is at least 8 hours long that will cover some of the basic fundamentals of shooting  and safety as well as give you a basic understanding of TN laws pertaining to the handgun permit.  You may be thinking that the course is worthless because you are already a great shooter, have knowledge of the laws because you found them on the internet, and have a full understanding of the responsibilities being a handgun permit holder.

I want to encourage you to revisit all 3 of those assumptions.  Are you familiar with the liability that TN places on each bullet that leaves your firearm?  Have you no room to improve by revisiting the fundamentals?  One of my favorite things to do is to take “good shooters” to an IDPA match and let them discover a dynamic world that isn’t shooting cans on the back 40.  It can be humbling.  We all need to be reminded of the fundamentals as we progress.

At our handgun permit class you will be challenged to improve your general knowledge of firearms use, nomenclature and function.  You will be taught by competition shooters, sworn law enforcement and even a FBI certified firearms instructor who regularly qualifies the marksman for a TN law enforcement agency.  All of our instructors bring something to the table that will help you become a better shooter.

Don’t blow off the class as something to go through.  These classes will build a solid base if you are a new shooter and help the seasoned shooter refocus on fundamentals and marksmanship.  In the end it might be 8 hours that saves your life and livelihood.

If you are looking for a course to satisfy the TN requirements to get your Handgun Permit you can sign up now for courses that are starting in July.  We have 3 dates available right now; July 2, 10, and 17.  The cost of the course is $110 which includes training materials and the NRA Basic Pistol book which is an incredible reference.

I believe that we have put together one of the most professional, well qualified cadre of instructors in Middle TN.  If you are in the Nashville area, we hope that you will choose to train with us.  We promise that you will leave a safer, better shooter when the class is finished.  If you are looking for a cookie cutter class to pass you through, you need not apply.  This is a serious course that will take at least 8 hours.

Space is available, but it is limited.  We intentionally limit our classes, so check out the Training Page for more info and sign ups.  We look forward to working with you.