Front Sight - Def. Handgun This Weekend!

[jrtf83]

Hi All,

Going to my first Frontsight course this weekend. Doing the 4-day Defensive Handgun with my brother in law. To say the least, we are SUPER stoked.

Going through that "What am I forgetting to bring?" stage right now.

Handgun, ammo, holster, mags, mag holsters, speedloader, eye/earpro, flashlight, weaponlight...

Anything else you'd recommend?

Anybody else going this weekend?

Do you really have to be there at 6:30 the first day to sign in? (staying in Vegas and not looking forward to up at 5:30am...)


Thanks much!

[c.j.]

I'm heading out there soon and have been compiling my own 'what to bring' list. Unfortunately, they've removed any night shooting from the 4-day course (it's really their basic intro course designed to get beginners and more advanced alike up to the same speed by the end of it) as a predecessor for their more advanced courses, so bring the lights, but I wouldn't expect to actually use them in the class.

Extras on my list are:
Band-aids (lots of reports about how raw hands get with this much manipulation)
Gatorade mix and a camelback bottle to mix it in
Weather considerations (rainjacket, windproof stuff...they had 50 MPH winds out there last week, layers, sunscreen)
Concealing garment (vest/shirt/jacket) for day 3 and 4
Hand sanitizer (port-a-potties and I'm not sure about what they provide for cleaning)

[AAShooter]

I always bring a comfortable folding chair . . . just in case I prefer to use it. Personally I don't find their range chairs to comfortable.

You have no need for a weapon light for the class.

[Chief-7700]

http://www.frontsight.com/gun-safety-tips/

Current weather forecast for Pahrump NV temps in the high 80's for this week end.

[jrtf83]

Well I'm back and I've got to say it was a really eye-opening experience. Learned a LOT but also learned how much I still have to learn!

Weather was nice, but a bit on the warm side. My brother-in-law's concealment garment was a black zip up sweatshirt, not the best idea on a hot day out there, so think about that when packing.

I didn't have any real problem with the chairs, (they're just metal folding chairs, so i could see how one could have a problem).

As was mentioned in this thread, no more night shooting in the 4 day course was a bummer, as the majority of gunfights happen at night, if i'm not mistaken.

In the end, I learned a TON and missed shooting graduate by ONE FREAKING SHOT! Rather frustrating, but oh well. I'll go back for the 2-day skill builder next time and get it then!

[Chief-7700]

Which Range were you on? I was on IA.

[jrtf83]

Right on chief! We shoulda met up. I was over at 1c. I had Mike and Paul as instructors who were both great.

Somehow we got put into a class with almost all returning students, and there were some REALLY good shooters, which was a bit intimidating at first, but I think it pushed both of us to be better.

On the last day, when we were on the long ranges, we were next to a class with a female instructor and they were pretty rough. I don't think a single one of them cleared the type 3 malfunction before the buzzer.

We had a number of guys shoot DG, and I'd say almost half the class graduate.

[Chief-7700]

Monday we were on R-12. Range Master Bill Monroe with Jeff Tucker and Scott Bendick.
Did you shoot the lawyer with the cell phone in the sim house?

[jrtf83]

I did not. I ran it pretty slowly, probably should have sped it up, but oh well. I delayed quite a while on the guy way down the hallway as he was holding a "grenade" that looked like a police badge to me. (Apparently the target was originally a cop with a badge that they drew a grenade over.) I also missed one of my pair on the crouching guy on the right.

You?

I did however pop the hostage in the head-to-head drill.

[Chief-7700]

I did not. I ran it pretty slowly, probably should have sped it up, but oh well. I delayed quite a while on the guy way down the hallway as he was holding a "grenade" that looked like a police badge to me. (Apparently the target was originally a cop with a badge that they drew a grenade over.) I also missed one of my pair on the crouching guy on the right.

You?

I did however pop the hostage in the head-to-head drill.

Shot the simulator clean all the bad guys died.
The head to head won the first round. Made a mistake of not loading the 1911 with 9 rounds, had to surrender the TRP for a brown room trip. Walked back to the range and was told your shooting in the semi finals. Had to do a emergency reload and was beat by a few nano seconds. Bill Monroe just shook his head and said "You got to feed that 1911 and make it happy"

[c.j.]

So, anything you wished you had brought that you didn't? I'm heading out in a couple weeks.

[Chief-7700]

More light colored tee-shirts.
Start drinking water two days before you go and keep drinking water while at Front Sight
Make sure that your fingernails are cut short.
Remove any sharp edges on you gun, because your hands will find them.

[jrtf83]

Definitely light colored tee-shirts, especially if you're going when it'll be warm. Sunscreen as well.

If your weapon has ANY rough/sharp bits, gloves are a good idea, as many in our class were rather cut up by the end with all the weapon manipulation. I was lucky, as my USP is rather ergonomic.

Note that "SERPA-style" holsters are not allowed. This is talking about those with a button you have to press to disengage the retention. You can disable this on your holster, but definitely weird walking around with zero retention at all, i was worried my weapon might fall out, but it didn't.

Don't worry too much, and don't spend too much time playing "what did i forget?". So long as you have weapon, holster, mags, mag pouch and sturdy belt, you'll get through just fine. You can also rent/buy/borrow anything you've forgotten.

Have a great time and learn a bunch!

[sacto929]

Note that "SERPA-style" holsters are not allowed. This is talking about those with a button you have to press to disengage the retention...

What do you mean by not allowed? When I was there in October, at least half the class had Blackhawk serpa holsters. It's just another thing that you need to learn regarding presentation of your weapon. I understand no thigh rigs, but this seems odd to say the least....

In fact, they were selling SERPA holsters in the Pro Shop in October, so this is definitely odd.

[AAShooter]

http://www.frontsight.com/FirearmTraining/front-sight.asp?Letter=I

Might want to read latest incident report (events 9-11):

http://www.frontsight.com/SafetyReports.asp?Action=ShowSingle&ID=5

It is worth reviewing incident reports and learn from common mistakes.