Ramblings – Push to Failure, Let It Go, Duck!!!

 

I’ve got a couple of odds and ends to chat about this morning that simply do not deserve a “full post”, yet for a new shooter – I think they may be of value.

Push To Failure

I did a post a number of months ago about training to the point of failure. You can read it here. While that post dealt with Systems Failure and Physical Failure, you can also hone the point to a specific area of interest. For today – draw and first hit.

I started my Monday with a little LaserLyte training. 50 draws – all from concealment. I did them in 5-round groups.

Goals: 80% hit rate and sub-two second par time. The first four rounds looked like this:

1: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.79, Hit rate 80%

2: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.85, Hit rate 100%

3: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.77, Hit rate 100%

4: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.80, Hit rate 80%

Notice a pattern?? I am “comfortable” with this draw stroke – all average times within a couple hundredths of each other. Next one I try to “push it” a bit.

5: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.63, Hit rate 100%

What does “push it” mean? Much more focal point shooting approach. Focused entirely on the threat, driving hard but I engaged as soon as I was “aligned” with the threat. It picked me up nearly 2-tenths of a second. Could be important some day. So, let’s drive harder!

6: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.60, Hit rate 80%

Second time through nearly the same, but the hit rate dropped to my limit.

Drawing more on Focal Point shooting, full extension. This is single hand, the arm is extended fully extended and I am focused on the threat.

7: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.80, Hit rate 100%

Traded a bit of time – back to my 2-handed times. No gain here either way.

Switching to 3/4-Hip Focal Point Shooting – one hand, arm is 3/4-extended, focused on the threat – and again pushing for speed.

8: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.74, Hit rate 60%

This actually cost me accuracy with little improvement is speed.

Finally, for the last two rounds I went back to 2-hand, full extension, Focal Point shooting and driving the draw hard and driving to the threat.

9: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.62, Hit rate 100%

10: Ave. for 5 draws – 1.58, Hit rate 100%

What’s the point? A couple. First hits win. Period. This is a balance of speed and accuracy. You gain nothing if you miss and you lose if you are slow. The best way to improve – Push to Failure. This LaserLyte dry-fire training is a solid way to do that. (No – I’m NOT a rep, don’t get a “noogie” from them, I just think it’s good training.)

25 – 50 draws, Every Day! You’ll be a better warrior.

Let It Go

Friends and business acquaintances are concerned, to say the very least, what course our country will take over the next 4 years. If they are any indication – selling on Wall Street will be an absolute monster through the end of the year. All taking capital gains and either holding cash or investing in metals, land, cheap real estate – it’s going to be a brutal end-of-year.

I was invited to an evening meeting with a local business owner that is just sharing his concerns and has a fondness for silver. My friend asked me to join the meeting to help comfort his wife. He has real interest in divesting some – and she’s OK with it as well – but wants things to stay “within reason”. I think I was acting as the “control rod” in their family “nuclear reactor”. Not a good position to be in with friends, but I love these two with all my heart so off I went. Ms. B had to work, so couldn’t come.

Won’t go over his thoughts, reason and such but IMHO they were sound and his thoughts of 10-15% of investments should be in metals – he likes silver – wasn’t particularly off the mark. My friend’s wife, once hearing the reasoning, also realized that it was probably prudent to make some kind of move for some amount of their portfolio – both for financial reasons and family sensibilities. She made her decision – and “let it go”.

Ms. B arrived home from work and was curious about what I heard/thought about the fellow and the meeting. So, I shared the whole enchilada. And . . . . I saw tears begin to flow. “I just wish this would all go away . . .” she said after a long, hard hospital shift and listening to a different slant on fears we both have had for a couple of years. And . . . . I “let it go”. It’s a topic we have talked to death, we’ve taken action that is simply moving slowly but will pick up with time, and we’ve agreed to “get small” as quickly as possible. There’s no reason to dwell and rehash and grumble . . . . If you find you and your wife/husband/friends is this situation. Once you are clear – just DO IT and then “let it go”.

DUCK!!!

Same fellow we met is also a gun collector with a capital “C”. Once he found out I was a trainer and carried he whips up his pant leg, draws his LC9 and shows off its laser. “You got one of these??” I tamped down my heart rate, checked to make sure everyone was clear of the muzzle and said I did and I carried every day. He grounded his weapon and said “Wait I minute, I gotta show you guys this!” In a few moments he returns with a tac-rifle case, unzips it and hauls out a Rock River arms AR-15, EOTech holographic sight, forward grip with built integrated laser and flashlight and flip up sights. Magazine is in . . . . bolt is forward. Again – tamping down the heart rate as my friend picks up the weapon, tries to figure out how to turn on the EOTech and switch on the flashlight – as his wife returns form the little girls room and is promptly muzzled.

My “military voice” appeared out of nowhere . . . . honest, I swear!!

DROP THE MAGAZINE!!!

LOCK THE BOLT BACK!!

I must admit to an interesting look from the three other folks in the room – as my orders were promptly obeyed. (Honestly, the tone of my voice left little room for anything else – heavy sigh.)

Gratefully, the mag was empty and the chamber a well.

Please. When carrying concealed – don’t show your “piece”. IMNSHO, people shouldn’t know if you are carrying. If they can tell, change your gear/position/weapon so they can’t. And one of the ways you can make sure you weapon doesn’t go bang unexpectedly is to leave the damn thing in your holster unless your life, the life of your family or your friends is under threat. As for explaining the whole AR-15 deal – honestly if I need to . . . . sell your guns . . . . please . . . .