Jasper, AL AAR - March 21-22 Two-Day Pistol Clinic

[AnthonyB]

  After an unusually cold start to the week, we had beautiful weather and five shooters for the first pistol event of the year in Jasper, AL!  Scarlett returned from TN for the event, but first-timer Brad won the driving distance award with a trip from VA.  Other first-timers Fred, Al, and Brant joined us from across the state.  And nothing makes a shoot boss happier than everyone being early!


Happy Shooters!

  UpACreek travelled from GA to present the First Strike and then the line commands after we briefed safety rules and brought pistols to the line.  The shooters were very quickly ready for the Hits Count target and did very well, with Brant hitting Major Pitcairn's button!


Brant


First Strike


UpACreek with Line Commands
 
The shooters soaked up the instruction and divided into two relays to practice what they had learned.


Relay I


Relay II

  We were back to shooting after a break for lunch and the Second Strike and the shooters were soon ready for the first PQT of the day.  UpACreek scored the targets while the shooters listened to the Third Strike, and then it was back to drills and another PQT.  All the shooters improved over the course of the day and the Hits Count target showed the results.


Al


Fred and Brad

  Sunday morning started with a great story about Hezekiah Wyman from Tennessee Hangfire, then we were back on the line for a review and another Hits Count target.  Brad and Scarlett both hit the button, with Brad one shot away from clearing the target! 

  Instructors then gave the shooters ten minutes to practice whatever they wanted from Saturday's instruction.  That seemed to be a great warm-up for everyone and is something to continue in shoots going forward.     


Practice what you like!

  We shot another PQT with everyone continuing to improve.  No one scored Pistoleer™, but all agreed they had benefitted greatly from the instruction and practice.  The guys were sorry to see Scarlett leave after lunch but were secretly relieved; she had been shooting the highest PQT scores on all weekend long!

  The tired shooters came back after lunch for the Ball and Dummy drill and all agreed that coaching was a great way to internalize all the instruction.


Fred and Brad


Al and Brant

  With everyone having long distances to travel, the shooters decided to shoot the Whitlock Drill and then the final hits count of the day.  Everyone enjoyed the chance to shoot different pistols, and Brant quickly realized the advantages of a reflex sight, easily beating the groups from his stock Ruger MK IV with three different pistols.  A final Hits Count target revealed the shooters wisdom in calling it a day, and all expressed interest in coming back again! 
 

 
 

[Roswell]

Looks like an awesome event! 

[21Bravo]

I attended the event.  I appreciated the strict safety protocols and emphasis on fundamental marksmanship.  While I didn't qualify, I did make noticeable improvements over the course of instruction.

I think I would have benefited from a few more drills on the basics, as, after many years of rifle shooting, I am rather new to pistols.

The instructors were clearly knowledgeable and professional.  And, speaking as a collegiate history instructor, they all told their respective history lessons quite well.

[AnthonyB]

I attended the event.  I appreciated the strict safety protocols and emphasis on fundamental marksmanship.  While I didn't qualify, I did make noticeable improvements over the course of instruction.

I think I would have benefited from a few more drills on the basics, as, after many years of rifle shooting, I am rather new to pistols.

The instructors were clearly knowledgeable and professional.  And, speaking as a collegiate history instructor, they all told their respective history lessons quite well.

21Bravo,
  Thank you very much for the feedback!  We are always trying to improve our instruction, and this is a great place to share ideas to make the program better for everyone.

  Were there any particular drills you would have liked more time to practice?  Anything we did where you thought the time could have been better used elsewhere?

  Thanks for the kudos on the history.  I tell people we are a history organization fixing marksmanship problems, but the American heritage of liberty is really what we are really about!

I hope to see you on the line again soon! 
 

[21Bravo]

I think, for a first-timer perhaps more than a returning shooter, some of the immediate-action drills, ball-and-dummy, and basic mechanics would help.  I noticed that I had some problems in those areas with a pistol that I didn't have with a rifle.  In moments of "stress" I tended to revert to earlier training, which wasn't always right with a pistol. 

I think giving us some time to work on what we self-identified as a weakness was good.