"Tactical" Range Traning or Courses?

[aermotor]

I'm wanting to get more into practically applying my shooting; instead of just shooting from bench or standing at the range, it would be nice to be able to run a "course" and put things to practice.

Start outside a structure, perhaps engage on the way to it at 50 yards, run to it then inside, clear a few rooms with targets, perhaps transition to pistol etc etc... something that gets the blood pumping and adrenaline going.

I don't really have any experience with things like this but would like to get some "real world" practical exercises in without having it cost and arm and a leg, and have it be fun and educational. Does anyone know of something/some place like this in the LA area? Perhaps someone has a plot of land in the mountains somewhere, seems like something like this could be constructed with not too much effort. I will build for access haha!

Any help would be get, thanks everyone!

[The Director]

Check out this thread

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=193594&highlight=blackwater+carbine+course

It was brought to my attention yesterday. I guess a bunch of us got together to do the Blackwater Carbine course in San Diego. Towards the end is the report, photos and some videos of the event.

I'm definitely in if we do another. This sort of training is priceless and after a lifetime of stationary range shooting I want to do something more active and realistic.

[SuperSet]

The LA area has some excellent training opportunities, including the mentioned USTC/Blackwater center and ITTS at Angeles. Once you've attended and built some core fundamentals, you can start attending competition pistol or 3-Gun to reinforce and test those fundamentals. I'd do that before thinking about clearing buildings.

[Black Majik]

Time to get into USPSA or IDPA. Jojo's JV Dynamics match in Norco has a shoot house they open up every once in a while.

[esskay]

I would echo SuperSet's advice, if your shooting experience has all been bench & standing at the range, ideal would be to start with basic courses to build your fundamentals before you start shooting competition.

FTA based out of Raahauges has various types of classes, and some may include an evolution in the small "shoot house" structure there (mine had one). Solid instruction, I attended an advanced shotgun class which I found to be a little on the basic side -- but that might have been because of the composition of the students, most of whom had carried over from the previous day's basic shotgun course and were not very experienced.

That shoot house is the same one referenced above and is used primarily by FTA. Occasionally Jojo's match might have a stage in it, and sometimes SSA steel madness has a stage in it. Probably not more than a few times a year.

[dirtnap]

try this place

http://www.civilianarmstraining.com/

I've gone through some of the classes there and they are fun, and provide you with a chance to move around. Best of all it's dirt cheap! If you buy a ticket for the lvl 1 class at one of the crossroads shows it's only 30.00 for a full 8 hour day. Try that first, then see if you want to spend the hundreds at a Blackwater, etc facility.

I go back for the lvl 2 class now and then just for the fun of it, it's about as much as a whole day at the range(less actually) and you get to do all kinds of maneuvers. It really is the best way to spend 50.00 and 400 rounds of ammo.

[aermotor]

Now that looks excellent. Looks like classes are $100 which is a good price and the facilities look nice. Thanks others as well.

[lawaia]

I've been to a couple Civilian Arms Training courses. For the money they are good, but do not even come close to Blackwater (USTC).

You will definitely get what you pay for.

[Buck'emDown78]

Anytime you want to run around with a firearm, its going to cost you an arm and a leg. All your premiere gunfighting schools in Southern California are really expensive but worth every penny.

Those $100 courses at local gun ranges are ok if you are still in a basic introductory phase of shooting. They are more than boring, static, and basic. Like lawaia says, you get what you pay for. I would rather save that money from a few courses and take a real class from Suarez, ITTS, OPS, TFTT, etc. Those are the ones where you can run around and clear houses in their more advanced classes. And more than usual, those $100 classes are run by CCW instructors, range instructors, range owners, NRA instructors, etc. Nothing wrong with that, but if I'm going to shell out money for a class, I would want to take it from instructors who have been there done that. Almost all premier schools are run by current or ex-LE or military, more than usual, special forces or from elite units such as SWAT. If you go to any of those schools mentioned, you will be learning from the best, people who shoot and have been shot at in real combat situations.

[aceventura]

Time to get into USPSA or IDPA. Jojo's JV Dynamics match in Norco has a shoot house they open up every once in a while.

I second that idea. Go to CATS class and get the basics of drawing from a holster in a safe supervised enviroment, Then go shoot a local match. I have shot at the JV Dynamics match and they were very helpful to new shooters. I would let them know you are new to shooting matches when you check in. They even have loaner mag pouches. Your blood will be pumping after you shoot one of thier stages. I shoot IDPA at Prado shooting park and if you are new they give you a first time guy brief just before you start. Shoot both USPSA and IDPA and see what you think. They both have great people that will help you out. JUST DO IT!!!

[HCz]

Civilian Arms Training is ok, but I'd say you need to build up on top of that. They are not the best, but not the worst either. If you want to do room clearing tactics, you need to take several classes before you get there. Such classes are quite a different dynamics than the plain square range, and requires higher sense of awareness.

Since you are in LA, I'd recommend ITTS up in the Angeles range. I am very impressed with the courses provided and Scott Reitz knows his stuff. Another school I'd recommned is Firearms Training Associates. They are in Norco/Cornoa area, and Bill Murphy has a good reputation.

[neanyoe]

Magpul Dynamics Carbine

[Diabolus]

I've taken courses at TFTT and can't say enough good things about their program. Both Max Joseph and Jason Van Bunker have an innate ability to instruct their students while making it a very enjoyable learning environment.

https://www.tftt.com

[JBBenson]

Anybody know about a "combat" range like in the Magnum Force movie?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AorLP3VHLdw

Starts about 2:30

Does such ranges exist? Pretty cool.

[Serpentine]

Magpul Dynamics Carbine

+1 on Magpul Dynamics. It doesn't get better than Force Recon Marines and ex Blackhawk instructors with multiple tours. Seriously, all others pale in comparison. Best training value out there.

Contact magpul.com, or myself to schedule. Magpul has done several classes at our range in San Jose, not to mention a long list of LE, SWAT, and Military on the resume (LAPD SWAT was this last weekend).

If there is enough interest (20 participants minimum), we can schedule off-list-private.

Classes book fast, so if interested, email me direct to get on the list for the 2010 schedule.

barry@guncanyon.com




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