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Archive | Tactics and Training

New Training Plates from Appalachian Training

By on March 15, 2014 in Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

Appalachian Training is the go to place for armor so it should come as no surprise that they just introduced what may be the best non-ballistic training plates that you can easily purchase. I say that it may be the best for one reason – weight.

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These new plates are made from dense plastic. They replicate the shape, size, and curvature of a typical SAPI plate. Most importantly, they also replicate the weight of a standard plate. These weigh in at 6.5 pounds each which is heavier than most training plates on the market and very close to the weight of actual plates.

The new training plates are available in medium and large sizes. They are sold in pairs. Check them out at Appalachian Training.

L.A.S.R. – Laser Activated Shot Reporter

By on March 13, 2014 in Tactics and Training

Laser training aids like those from Next Level Training can be an effective training and demonstration tool because of the enhanced feedback that they provide over regular dry fire practice. However, that feedback is fleeting. The laser indicator flashes only briefly and it provides no way to retain the feedback for analysis at a later time. That is where Laser Activated Shot Recorder or LASR comes in.

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LASR is software that works on a Windows PC in conjunction with a webcam to capture your laser “hits” and display them on a virtual version of your target. The information about your speed and accuracy can be retained and used to track progress over time. LASR has various shot timing functions and can be used to track hits on multiple targets and multiple shooters. It basically gives you the tools you need to turn dry fire practice into something that is repeatable and reproducible.

This is definitely an interesting training tool that seems to have a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see what people are able to do with it.

Check out LASR.

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Sharpen Your Red Dot

By on March 5, 2014 in Guns, Tactics and Training

I have written before about how the aiming dots on some Aimpoints don’t always look very crisp to my eyes. Yet, I continue to use them because they are clearly the best red dot site on the market. The Aimpoint Micros (T-1 and H-1) in particular appear more like a starburst than a dot to me. This makes accurate shot placement challenging especially as the distance from the target increases. I continue to use them in spite of all that because of their amazing combination of compact size, light weight, long battery life, and extreme durability. Well, that and I have a work-around.

Aimpoint Micro

I am certain that it is not unique or original to me but I have found a simple work-around for the issue that works very well for me. I simply look at the aiming dot through the small aperture of the rear sight when precision is needed. Looking through the small aperture makes the dot in an Aimpoint appear perfectly round and crisp and it also seems to bring the target into the same plane allowing both the dot and the target to be relatively crisp. There is obviously some principle of light or vision at play here that is beyond my ability to explain. Go try it now and you will see what I mean. I’ll wait…

This isn’t a perfect fix and it isn’t for every situation. It might require some adjustments to your carbine and may not be for everyone.

When to Look Through the Rear Aperture

This is obviously not a technique that is applicable to all situations. I find that there is really no need to do it until distances extend beyond 100 yards. You certainly would not want to spend time finding your sight picture through the small aperture if you are engaging a bank of targets that are just 25 yards away. There is really no need to because even if the dot is slightly misshapen to your eye, it still probably offers an acceptable level of refinement for this task.

To be clear, I am not advocating that you always look through the rear sight when using an Aimpoint. The approach that works for me is simple: I look through the rear sight only when time allows and/or the accuracy requirement of the shot requires it.

Aimpoint Multiple Models

How to Configure Your Carbine

I am not sure there is a hard and fast way that your carbine must be configured for this to work though I have found that there are probably some best practices. For instance, I don’t think it is a good idea to have to deploy a folding rear sight in order to look through the small aperture. This is doubly true for sights that do not deploy with the small aperture in place. I keep my rear sight in the up position to avoid this.

I find that I prefer a lower 1/3 co-witness setup in general but it also happens to be well suited to this technique. It allows me to easily look over my deployed rear sight while maintaining a normal cheek weld when the need for speed is more pressing than the need for a sharp, crisp aiming point. When I need that crisp aiming point, I simply press my eye down to the iron sight.

I should probably also note that I still keep both eyes open when using this technique. I find that my brain can switch to the clearer view through the rear aperture fairly intuitively. This principle should be easy for those who are already used to using magnified optics with both eyes open.

Wrap Up

I want to reiterate again that I am not advocating always looking through the rear sight when using an Aimpoint and I am not saying that it is necessary to look through the sights to use an Aimpoint (this misinformation seems to come up time to time). This is simply a technique that works for me when the specific set of circumstances that allow it arise. Try it sometime.

TacStrike Backyard Memories Targets

By on February 17, 2014 in Guns, Tactics and Training

I always seem to have training goals to meet or products to test when I am on the range. It is easy for me to forget that shooting can be really, really fun. It is especially fun when you get your family or new shooters involved. TacStrike makes targets for people like you and me who have goals to accomplish on the range but, now, they also make targets for those who just want to have fun and make memories.

tacstrike shepherds hook

The Backyard Memories Targets line is designed to be fun, safe, durable, affordable, and right at home on backyard range. There will be an entire line of these targets eventually but the first offering is the Shepherd’s Hook Hanging Steel Targets which is designed to be hung from something that many families already have in their yard. The target slips onto a steel shepherd’s hook which is often used to hang bird feeders or flower pots.

This target is made from A36 steel and can handle .22LR and most handgun rounds at a distance of 10 yards or more. It is available in a number of sizes and multi-packs for as little as $14.

Check out the new TacStrike Backyard Memories Targets.

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