Basic Tactical Carbine

**TonyF** · April 25th, 2008, 09:03 AM

he F.I.R.E. Institute has four slots left for "Basic Tactical Carbine," June 6, 7 and 8, at the Pitcarin-Monroeville Sportsman's Club outside Pittsburgh, PA The course description follows:

----Friday June 6 through Sunday June 8, 2008

This course is designed as a first-level of formal instruction for law enforcement and civilian personnel who wish to attain a greater level of competence in the use of auto-loading carbines (AR-15, M-1 Carbine, Kalashnikov variants). It affords 23 hours of instruction over three days. Topics which will be covered are:

1) Gun Handling With Your System: Proper manipulation and handling of rifles; correct procedure to clear jams and stoppages; idiosyncrasies of AR-15/M-16/M-4 carbines (and their clones).

2) Mind set and the psychology of armed conflict.

3) Stance and Basic firing positions: Including introduction to tactical employment of them.

4) Fundamentals of tactical movement when employing a carbine. “Square Range” exercises and one tactical simulation exercise are part of the course.

5) Problems of trajectory, zeroing and sighting the AR I5, as compared to other types of carbine.

6) Characteristics, tactical advantages and limitations of carbines as personal defense weapons. This includes research data on external ballistics and wound ballistics, a review of the types of ammunition available, and tactical advantages/disadvantages of the .223 and .30 Cal. cartridges.

7) Review of current Pa. law on the use of deadly force. (Provided by an attorney.)

Cost: $385. ($355 for members of the host club). Includes instruction, range fees, range supplies and written materials. Students to provide their own ammunition, personal gear and meals.

Course format: Lectures (approximately 5 hrs.), and live-fire exercises (approximately 18 hrs.). There will be one run through a tactical simulator and one objective skills test at the conclusion of the course. Each student will need a minimum of 750 rounds of “ball” ammunition, knee and elbow pads.

Instructor: Peter Georgiades. Mr. Georgiades is an experienced teacher and lecturer (Carnegie-Mellon University and National Law Center, G.W. University), and has authored numerous articles on personal firearms tactics and technique. He is a graduate of the Gunsite Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Certification Course, Marksman's Enterprise 3 day instructor courses for both carbine and pistol, and the Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" course (among others), and founded the Penna. Firearms Development Corporation training program in 1996. He is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection) and the State of Arizona (CCW Instructor Certificate No. 8769268), and is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), Having trained extensively with some of the foremost firearms instructors in the U.S., he has been teaching firearms and firearms tactics courses since 1996. He is ranked NiDan (2nd Dan) in Judo. Range assistance is provided by experienced range officers and NRA certified instructors. More information can be found at www.fireinstitute.org

Class size: Enrollment will be limited to EIGHT students.

Prerequisites: None. It is, however, expected students will have a basic familiarity with rifles. All participants must be 18 years of age. Proof of no criminal history is required.

There is certain equipment which is REQUIRED in this course. One may not proceed without the following:

• Ear protection and Eye protection. Eye protection must be clear if there is a night shoot.

• Cap or hat with baseball-style bill. This is to prevent ejected brass from your or another shooter's rifle from falling between your eyewear and your eye, burning you. It is important gear.

• Firearm, clean and zeroed.

• At least two magazines. We prefer you have three, in case one malfunctions during the course. For reasons which will become apparent during the course, 20-round magazines are preferable to 30-round magazines in non-military applications, but either will work fine in the course.

• Knee and elbow pads. The inexpensive kind worn by skateboarders, or pads worn by carpenters and carpet layers are sufficient.

• Magazine holster or pouch which is worn on your belt, on your support ("weak hand") side. BDU pockets and M-16 pouches will get you through, but do not work very well.

• 750 Rounds of "Ball" Ammunition. We recommend students use one brand of ammunition throughout the course. Different brands and loads of ammunition will significantly affect the “zero” of AR-15’s, and may distract or confuse you in a course such as this. We also suggest students avoid the very cheapest ammunition and reloads. While “match grade” ammunition is unnecessary (and would be a waste of money), your investment of time and money in this course does justify the use of reasonably consistent ammunition. No incendiary, tracer or M-855 ("penetrator") rounds are permitted.

• A carry strap ("sling"). We run a “hot” range, and rifles must be slung unless they are racked, grounded or in the shooter's hand on line. Any strap or sling which allows the rifle to be carried muzzle up or muzzle down is fine. No slings which hold the muzzle in a horizontal position while being carried (M-60 style) are permitted.

• At least one flashlight, and CLEAR eye protection for the night shoot. It is not necessary to purchase an expensive tactical light for this course; bring what you have. At the end of the course you will have a better idea of which of the lights currently on the market are worth purchasing.

• A ground cloth, shooting mat or other cover (such as an old blanket), to cover the ground or concrete shooting pads upon which you will be periodically sitting or lying.

• Sight-adjustment tool for iron sights on your particular rifle. (These are available at gun shows or mail order for between $5 and $25, depending upon the type.)

There is other equipment that is not required, but which we believe will enhance your experience of the course. We therefore recommend you bring the following:

• Optic or sight. Optics are optional - iron sights are fine. If you do use an optic, it should be of a low-power type (e.g., red-dot or less than 4 X magnification). High-power scopes will not work well.

• Soft drinks or water to drink while down on the range. There is no water on the range itself, and the Club house is too far to run back and forth. No alcohol of any kind is to be consumed within eight hours of the start of any course session or at any time during the course.

• Back-up rifle or Complete bolt assembly. A second rifle is a good idea, if you own or can borrow one. Firearms do break, and we cannot stop the course to make repairs. Even if we had time, parts may not be available, and many repairs cannot be accomplished in the field. If you do not have a second rifle, a complete bolt assembly will enable you to swap bolts in the AR-style rifles, as a 60 second repair to most rifle malfunctions.

• Binoculars, any size or power.

• Camera. Many people find it helpful to photograph shooting positions, or take pictures for fun.

• Gloves (either shooting gloves or light work gloves).