AK group shoot/ local training group

[d90king]

Originally Posted by SigMan1980

Synergy and d90king,

I'm not questioning your qualifications at all, just curious as to whether you guys are AK enthusiasts sharing your knowledge or professional instructors? I have read through a lot of your posts, both obviously very knowledgable and willing to help others (and have a lot of nice toys too!). Either way, I'm in!!!

I won't speak for Snergy... Myself, I am a firearms enthusiast overall with a passion for both the AK platform, AR platform and 1911's. I started learning firearms in 8th grade at Ga Military College and have continued to learn since that time. I have shot tens of thousands of rounds through various platforms and trained with other high caliber shooters. I have about 50 hours of training with Larry Vickers and another 30 hours scheduled in Oct. (Pistol/Carbine II).

Next year my training goals are 4 classes 80-100 hours. On the list for next year are Vickers, Magpul, Viking Tactical (Lamb) and EAG(Rogers). I am hoping that Vickers and Hackathorn do another low light class.

I am somebody that believes strongly in proper training. My plans are to take 4 classes a year so that my skills stay sharp. I have learned that if you just take a class and don't utilize the skills taught you will lose them. I have noticed it personally as I have been doing a lot of rifle shooting that my handgun skills have suffered...

I am NOT AN INSTRUCTOR and I make no claims to be one. I am however someone with a good base of knowledge and proper fundamentals. I am comfortable with my abilities to pass on to others what I have been taught. I am easy to work with so it should be a good day for all. You can ask dc or Tootie, I have a way of making people comfortable and have a way of pushing them outside their comfort zone without them even knowing it...

Hopefully this answers your questions...

[SigMan1980]

Originally Posted by d90king

I won't speak for Snergy... Myself, I am a firearms enthusiast overall with a passion for both the AK platform, AR platform and 1911's. I started learning firearms in 8th grade at Ga Military College and have continued to learn since that time. I have shot tens of thousands of rounds through various platforms and trained with other high caliber shooters. I have about 50 hours of training with Larry Vickers and another 30 hours scheduled in Oct. (Pistol/Carbine II).

Next year my training goals are 4 classes 80-100 hours. On the list for next year are Vickers, Magpul, Viking Tactical (Lamb) and EAG(Rogers). I am hoping that Vickers and Hackathorn do another low light class.

I am somebody that believes strongly in proper training. My plans are to take 4 classes a year so that my skills stay sharp. I have learned that if you just take a class and don't utilize the skills taught you will lose them. I have noticed it personally as I have been doing a lot of rifle shooting that my handgun skills have suffered...

I am NOT AN INSTRUCTOR and I make no claims to be one. I am however someone with a good base of knowledge and proper fundamentals. I am comfortable with my abilities to pass on to others what I have been taught. I am easy to work with so it should be a good day for all. You can ask dc or Tootie, I have a way of making people comfortable and have a way of pushing them outside their comfort zone without them even knowing it...

Hopefully this answers your questions...

Absolutely does, and I thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge! I especially liked your answer earlier to TonyF regarding the "tone" of the class. Sounds like a perfect fit for me and for a lot of other guys I have taked to in my same situation. A professional, high intensity class would be both intimidating and, I bet, frustrating for a guy like me (and the other students/instructors!) who has a some AK shooting experience at the range, but more in the "rifle" capacity raher than tactical tool capacity. I would love to begin to build my skill set as I have chosen the AK as my "just in case" platform. Thanks again for trying to get something like this together!!

[d90king]

As a side note to this thread... I would like to limit the size of this to 8-12 shooters (not including myself and Synergy). If it gets bigger than that it will be difficult to pair people up for team drills and I don't want it to be so big that confusion is added to the mix. Safety is my number one concern. I am not comfortable with a large group that will be difficult to manage.

We can have additional training/shoots in the future but I think we should limit the size of the group so that everybody walks away with some new stuff and nobody gets lost in the crowd.

[synergy]

Originally Posted by SigMan1980

Synergy and d90king,

I'm not questioning your qualifications at all, just curious as to whether you guys are AK enthusiasts sharing your knowledge or professional instructors? I have read through a lot of your posts, both obviously very knowledgable and willing to help others (and have a lot of nice toys too!). Either way, I'm in!!!

You should!

Neither of us are "professional" anythings, when it comes to firearms.

My experiences thus far include working as a Range Officer on a busy range for a few years, taking 4 pistol courses with a local training company, helping out as an assistant for 3 of those 4 classes (beginner pistol - concealed carry), I shoot IDPA about expert class (almost master class when I've been practicing for a while and working at it), and having about 4 years previous experience as a guide/instructor for outdoor stuff (whitewater paddling, rock and ice climbing, backpacking, etc).

Working as a RO for a while, I got to meet a lot of folks who'd learned a lot of things, from a lot of places. We'd have the chance to run the range by ourselves at times...getting to practice a lot of shooting on the move and different stress drills, this made a huge difference in my shooting.

I'm still a recovering college student, so traveling to classes isn't in my budget these days, like I wish it was. Luckily I've got a good group of friends that are passionate about training, and willing to share what they've learned with me. My good buddy (H) is a training junkie, and getting into teaching himself...so he freely runs us through a mini-version of classes when he gets back. As a result, I've been exposed (second hand) to the course material of InSights pistol and rifle classes, Paul Howe's carbine material, Vickers' pistol material. I got a chance to practice most of that stuff at work, show some of it to shooters still trying to figure out "a way"....and see what I thought worked best, and what didn't. Other friends of mine showed me some stuff from different school they went to, too.

Drawing from these different schools, you start to see a lot of commonality between material. A lot of stuff once you master with a handgun, you'll pickup fast with a carbine.

Fundamentals are the really what you need to have dialed. The finer points are all debated by people with may more real world experience that I want to have...but it's safe to say that even within the pro's...they're skinning the cat differently.

If you look at MagPul's training approach, versus Paul Howe's, versus's Kyle Lamb's....they're all BTDT guys, but non of them reload the carbine the same way, even. Non of them grip the carbine with their support hand the same, either (other than just being far out on their handguards).

We'll demo what we've learned so far...and have a shot timer there for you to see the differences in different thing d90king or I might do differently, or for folks to test a new technique out with. We're not pro's, were not trying to be them, either. This is just a get-together where we're gonna share what we've learned so far, and try to present it in an orderly way. Hopefully we'll all learn some new drills to take home, see some of our bad habits get exposed while other watch us shoot, and see what happens to some techniques when you introduce a little competition.

d90king and I are just willing to step back and keep an eye on things, and share material with those who are interested. As he already stated, safety is priority #1...so safe gun handling is a must. If you can't be safe, you won't be shooting with us. That said, just because d90king and I are willing to help teach some material, and run you through some drills...doesn't mean WE are now responsible for your safety. We'll be doing everything with safety in mind, but ultimately you are still responsible for you.

That said, I can't wait to get out there with you guys and shoot some stuff. d90king and I are gonna start getting this ironed out....soon.

[308man]

I would be interested. Sounds like a fun time.Date? time?

[synergy]

Originally Posted by 308man

I would be interested. Sounds like a fun time.Date? time?

TBA.... I think d90 needs to see what is possible at his range, first.

Details will follow when we have a better idea.

[RaisedByWolves]

Barring a stupid amount of overtime like what put me off the last GTG, Im in. Their talking about 12hr days soon though.....



Anyway, I think Transition drills should part of this and if done right its not any more unsafe than anything else. Just run people through several times with flagged guns and be sure to run them through their round count and fire on an empty chamber to signal the transition.


.

[d90king]

Originally Posted by RaisedByWolves

Barring a stupid amount of overtime like what put me off the last GTG, Im in. Their talking about 12hr days soon though.....



Anyway, I think Transition drills should part of this and if done right its not any more unsafe than anything else. Just run people through several times with flagged guns and be sure to run them through their round count and fire on an empty chamber to signal the transition.


.

I agree... For the safety aspect I have decided that each individual will run the drill solo instead of on a "firing line". The transition will come when you hear click instead of bang. You will then transition to your secondary weapon for a follow up shot. With a proper sling and the proper technique it can easily be done in a safe manner.

Hope you can make it, your input would be great to have at the shoot.

[PennsyPlinker]

Originally Posted by synergy

The trigger slap is easy to fix...and different stocks are available.

My crappy Romanian (well, my buddies actually, which he has left in my care) runs just fine. I kinda like crappy AK's... Maybe it's like liking the GI type 1911's, I dunno.

I'm glad to see this. Any time I see an AK thread I wonder when the WASR bashing will start. I have a Romanian WASR-10 that is pretty near 100% for going bang, although I gussied it up with some better furniture, since I could not abide the smell of hot grease cooking out of the plywood stock. I would be interested in attending if I have the date open.

[Mtbkski]

May be a bit of a drive, but you can count on me being there short of something drastic happening.

It will help me to get myself psychologically prepared to attend a "real class".

I must admit, and already told another member this, that I would feel intimidated to go to a Vickers Class. I know you go to learn, but I really don't want to look like a total Newbie when I attend my first class.

I look forward to any and all tips that you can pass my way and I understand it isn't a formal class, just friends passing good tips to each other.

It will give me something to work on till we see if the rumors are true about that "AK Class In The Spring Around Monroeville.".