Malfunction drill idea

[reckoner]

I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this, but I thought I'd see what you guys think.

So I've spent a lot of time doing the old drill where I have someone load a mag for me with some snap caps mixed in so that I need to randomly tap/rack/bang (or assess). But even though the snap caps are in there randomly, I'm always sort of expecting that the next round will be a snap cap. Also, I've always done this drill at a typical indoor shooting range where it's a very static environment. So, I feel like this drill isn't really preparing me to clear a malfunction in any sort of real-life stressful situation.

So I was thinking, what if I did this same drill, but instead of at the range, I did it during an IDPA match or something similar, where there's so much other crap to worry about that I wouldn't be able to anticipate a snap cap coming up? It'd hurt my score, but score isn't really my priority.

What do guys think? Have any of you tried this? Think it'd be worth trying out?

[sirgiles]

i'd be scratching my head if i see you do this during an IDPA match... but sure, whatever floats your boat.
you may be better off just doing this in an "action pistol class".

[G-forceJunkie]

If your shooting IDPA to better yourself, as opposed to playing the game, go for it. As for mags, if you know where your snap cap is, you need more mags. Load up 10 or so with the snap cap in different locations. Toss them all in you shooting bag. Pull them out as you need them. I shot IDPA for a few years as training, not game playing. Tell the RO if your doing something out of the norm, they should be cool with it if your not doing anything unsafe. One big example, is if strings of fire are designed so you end with a empty pistol. It makes it easy for them to "clear the line." I told them BS, I'm not training myself to just stop when my pistol goes dry! Thats an EMERGENCY!!! GET THE EFFING GUN BACK IN THE ACTION NOW!!! is what should be going off in your brain if your not shooting "the game." Just tell the RO's your going to ALWAYS reload if your pistol goes dry, even if your stage if finished. Then unload and show clear. The stage if finished when YOU say you are done shooting, not when the last target falls. If you want to burn time getting back to cover and reloading, do it, your not playing the game. Just tell the RO's so they dont freek out. I went from IDPA state champ in Expert SSP to the bottom of the pack when i stopped "playing the game" but that was fine with my as my tactics and defensive mindset improved.

[Distro]

If your shooting IDPA to better yourself, as opposed to playing the game, go for it. As for mags, if you know where your snap cap is, you need more mags. Load up 10 or so with the snap cap in different locations. Toss them all in you shooting bag. Pull them out as you need them. [...]

What I gathered from his post is no matter the amount of mags he is always anticipating the next round to be the snap cap, since he knows he is doing the drill, which in turn defeats the purpose. Doing the the snap cap in competition allows for the variable that he might actually forget he ever loaded it and would come as a spur of the moment malfunction.

[reckoner]

What I gathered from his post is no matter the amount of mags he is always anticipating the next round to be the snap cap, since he knows he is doing the drill, which in turn defeats the purpose. Doing the the snap cap in competition allows for the variable that he might actually forget he ever loaded it and would come as a spur of the moment malfunction.

Pretty much.

Although, I could always use more mags.

[MossbergMan]

I think that's a great idea. I'd limit the malfunctions to one or two per stage. It's more realistic than to have a multiple malfunctions per string or stage. Also it may delay the stage looking for the snap caps. Don't use the cheap all plastic dummies. They can stick in a hot chamber and then you pull the plastic rim off the round and you have to pound the dang thing out.
I use trainers from LE targets. They come with a nickle case and colored plastic bullet. I've assembled my own and drilled the case through so it could not hold any powder, but I've lost those because they blend in with all the other brass. But you're on to a great training idea for surprize gun problems to fix on the fly.

[JTROKS]

Think about engaging the targets and not the drill. It is excellent that you're training for malfunction drills, but if you are more focused on the malfunction clearing and anticipating the drill then you're missing the target. My advice is keep using the snap caps for malfunction drills, just concentrate on target acquisition and engagement.

[CAL.BAR]

Have a friend or other shooter load the snap cap in one of the mags for you so you don't know which it is.

[reckoner]

Think about engaging the targets and not the drill. It is excellent that you're training for malfunction drills, but if you are more focused on the malfunction clearing and anticipating the drill then you're missing the target. My advice is keep using the snap caps for malfunction drills, just concentrate on target acquisition and engagement.

I try to do this in theory, but in reality, in a static environment it's always in the back of my head that I'm doing a tap/rack/bang drill. I figure that doing this drill during a more dynamic environment will really force me to only think about engaging the targets.

[ZombieTactics]

Anything to mix it up a bit is worthwhile.

[JTROKS]

I try to do this in theory, but in reality, in a static environment it's always in the back of my head that I'm doing a tap/rack/bang drill. I figure that doing this drill during a more dynamic environment will really force me to only think about engaging the targets.

The only problem when doing a malfunction drill like that in an IDPA or USPSA club match is the RO will more than likely stop you for a possible squib load, unless you inform him of your program. Then you're back to square one again, anticipating the malfunction drill. BUT what if you have a real life squib that send's the bullet halfway down the barrel and the RO lets you complete your TRB drill and KABOOM! Just what if?

There was a cop that I was shooting with that had the worst case of flinching. I made it look like I chambered a round in his weapon and handed it to him on safe. He flinched as he dropped the hammer like he always does, but did the TRB in a blink of an eye. That's when I realize that he's been trained or been training to quickly clear the malfunction, but he is lacking in keeping his gun on target. Focus on the shooting portion.