Cruel Hand Luke

July 20-21, 2013 ADVANCED RIFLE GUNFIGHTING Louisville, Kentucky Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450 Advanced Rifle Gunfighting is the most advanced level rifle training available outside of Special Operations schools. This class will consist of all new material and take your rifle fighting skills, both as a firearm and as an alternative force tool, far beyond what you would think possible. Not for Beginners. Students must own the basic combat rifle skill-set and be in reasonable physical condition for this class. If in doubt, attend the introductory class scheduled immediately before. This class will leave you gasping for air with a red-hot smoking rifle barrel.   DURATION: 2 Days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM PREREQUISITES: Students must have attended an Intermediate SI rifle class (Or instructor approval)   AMMUNITION: RIFLE: Approx. 500 rounds (Minimum) PISTOL: Approx. 100 rounds (Minimum)   YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape)   REQUIREMENTS: A Military pattern rifle, (3) magazines and any ancillary rifle gear. Pistol, holster, pistol magazines, eye and ear protection. Note: Chest Rig/Tactical Vests are not allowed with CCW Holsters.  If you wish to use a Chest Rig or a Tactical Vest, use a vest mounted holster or a thigh holster.   LOCATION: Knob Creek Range 690 Ritchey Lane West Point, KY 40177 502-819-8515 Web: http://www.machinegunshoot.com/ World Famous Knob Creek Range!   DIRECTIONS TO RANGE: Coming North from TN * Head north on I-65 N * Take exit 117 for KY-44 toward Mt. Washington/Shepherdsville * Turn left at KY-44 W/E 4th Street * Continue to follow KY-44 W * Destination will be on the left - 12.4 miles Coming South from IN * Head south on I-65 S toward exit 125 * Take exit 125 to merge onto KY-841 W/Gene Snyder Fwy * Take exit 1 for US-31W/US-60 toward Fort Knox/Louisville * Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Fort Knox * Turn left at US-60 W * Turn left at KY-44 E/Stites Station Road * Continue to follow KY-44 E * Destination will be on the right NEARBY HOTELS: Jameson Inn Airport 6515 Signature Drive Louisville, KY 40213 502-968-4100 Comfort Suites Airport 6535 Paramount Park Drive Louisville, KY 40213 502-964-0740   CLOSEST AIRPORT: Louisville International (SDF)  

I kind of guessed that from your avatar..... :pleased:

As Prag mentioned, shooting the "car stages" were my favorite too.   Of course the stage shooting FROM the car was fun, but I also liked the other one where you simply turned and engaged the 2 targets who "approached while you were working on the car".   I'm one of those weirdos who actually prefer simple, quick ,realistic stages where you might engage 1 or 2 or MAYBE 3 guys instead of the "Rescue the President from the embassy that is under attack" stages where you have 9 targets and multiple rooms...... I'm not saying they should ALL be single target stages, but those are a bit more realistic.

For that matter, under IDPA rules I cannot even compete carrying my pistol the way I do in everyday life. AIWB (Appendix IWB) is not allowed so when I shoot IDPA matches I have to run my gun in a position that is not even how I carry it... same with my mag pouch. I wear it in front of my hip not behind it so I have to readjust that too to be in compliance with the rules....   But that is OK....I just have to work around it. I still shoot with a closed front cover garment (like I carry)  from an IWB holster (like I carry) , I just run it and my mag pouch around to where it is IDPA legal. I'd rather roll the way I do on the street, but that is not IDPA legal....but that is OK....since it is a game. 

Well I guess as long as no one ELSE can move behind cover then it is still an even playing field....which is what they strive for...in a game...And no matter how "more" tactical IDPA is than IPSC it is still ...just a game. And games have rules.     IDPA is a test of one's shooting and gun handling ability under the stress of a timer and peer witness set in the backdrop of somewhat realistic shooting problems where you carry guns the same way that some people carry them on the street. That is all it is. The difference between it and any other game are simply the rules.    Is IDPA truly "tactical"? No. Is it "training"? No...but sadly some do not know the difference and use it as such. Again , it is a test of accuracy and gun handling skills in a setting that somewhat replicates some possible street scenarios.    So I just look at as whether I'm able to solve the problem that has been set forth faster than the other competitors....with no illusions that what we are doing is how I would REALLY do it on the street. SOME stages can come close but most do not.   The stages that run like ...."You are standing at the ATM machine....at buzzer turn to your right and engage the metal knockdown target 6 yards away without hitting the NO shoot at 4 yards"....are far more realistic than any 18 shot  9 target stage. But it is still not "real" as no one moves or shoots back and running away (which is a viable answer most of the time on the street) is never an option.    So I guess what I'm saying is that since I just look at the matches as a fun break from more realistic training pursuits I do not feel the sense of anger that some do over some of the seemingly arbitrary rules. I get that it is a game and as such as long as EVERYONE has to deal with the same arbitrary rules then it is "even" for everyone and still a test of shooting and gun handling skills. 

Price is $450. 

ONE week to go!!!!   We still have room in this class if anyone was still on the fence about signing up!

I guess I'm kind of ambivalent to the whole "flat footed reload". If that is the rule then I will follow it when I play the game. But from a purely tactical standpoint moving from cover with a partially loaded gun is not a wise decision.   If you shoot the BGs in your bedroom and run your gun half empty are you REALLY going to leave cover of the bedroom, and move out into the unknown and up the hallway looking for other possible bad guys while performing a reload?   Or are you going to top off your pistol BEFORE you leave the known area?   I don't know about you but I'm topping off before I leave.   Are there IDPA match specific exceptions? Sure there COULD be (like you have to engage targets around left side and then right side of a wall). If you are still behind cover of the wall is it acceptable to reload while feet are moving behind that wall? You are not really "advancing" you are still behind cover......So if the rule is applied evenly for everyone and EVERYONE can move feet to reload while STILL behind cover OR EVERYONE has to stand still while doing a proactive reload then it is still EVEN and LEVEL for everyone.   The rule has not changed as far as I know. Thta is how it was before...right?  And if you shoot to slide lock out in the open you CAN start reloading on the way to cover. So I don't really see the big deal. It is not USPSA. It is a different game. As long as EVERYONE has to follow the rules equally it really does not matter to me all that much. 

Suarez International Close Range Gunfighting   Back by popular demand, Randy Harris will be in Tunica, Mississippi in August offering the flagship course of the Suarez International catalog! Don't miss this rare opportunity in the Mid South area! October 19-20 2013 CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHTING Tunica, Mississippi Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450 This is our flagship course and goes as far as you can safely go on a square range with live-fire pistols. The dynamic curriculum surpasses the traditional handgun methods commonly taught in most institutions and focuses of the use of the pistol in aggressive close range applications likely in individual civilian street encounters. The class begins with a tune-up of the fundamentals, then we progress quickly to new skills such as Proactive and Reactive Manipulations, Shooting While Moving Off The X, Reality-Based Multiple Hostiles Engagement, 360 degree CQB Movement, Danger-Close Fighting, Bilateral Shooting, 360 degree After Action Assessment Methods, and Integrating the Flashlight and Other Tools into the Firing Platform. This is the life-saving material that is often ignored in many other programs. In two days, you will receive more information than most armed professionals ever get! We must point out that THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR THE NOVICE SHOOTER. If you have not received basic instruction, or have a question about your skill level, please call us first.   DURATION: 2 days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM PREREQUISITES: NONE AMMUNITION: Approximately 500 rounds (Minimum) YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS: Modern Defensive Pistol, holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt, 3 Magazines and Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection, and ear protection)   LOCATION: The Willows at Harrahs 13615 Old Highway 61 North Robinsonville, MS 38664 662-357-3154 http://www.harrahstunica.com/     DIRECTIONS TO RANGE: From Memphis International Airport Exit the airport heading west on Winchester. Go west on Winchester to 3rd St. (Hwy 61). Turn left on Hwy 61. Go to Harrah's Casino Pkwy N, turn right. Then, turn right onto Celebration Blvd , Harrah's Tunica will be at the end of Celebration Blvd. Distance: 26.9mi Time: 32 minutes (approx.) Map of compound: http://www.harrahstunica.com/images/...ap_Area_4c.pdf     NEARBY HOTELS: Harrah's Casino and Hotel 13615 Old Highway 61 North Robinsonville, MS 38664 1-800-WIN-4-WIN http://www.harrahstunica.com/ America's Best Value Inn 4250 Casino Center Drive Tunica, MS 38664 662-363-0011 Cottage Inn 4325 Casino Center Drive Tunica, MS 38664 662-363-2900 CLOSEST AIRPORT:   NOTES: The class will be held at the Harrah's Casino and Hotel's new rifle range.RV parking is also available. For more info and to register for this class.....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/oct19-2013-close-range-gunfighting-tunica-ms.aspx

I was not at this match in question so this is not directed at them, but I have seen more than one match where little things get changed from one squad to another because no one caught the obvious problem with the way the stage might have been originally designed before the squads started shooting.   That is why I like to be there for the RO walk through if I can be. I just have a knack for seeing the unintended consequences of stage design.  But this is club level, not sanctioned matches I'm talking about. And it is not just specific to IDPA....I've seen the same thing in SASS matches. DQs suck but in the grand scheme of things it is not the end of the world.   I missed finishing 1st overall at a club level  match one time because of "faulty" instructions I received as to whether a metal target was an "opponent" or just a "stop plate".   The instructions were to shoot all the "bad guy" IDPA targets, drag the dummy behind cover from them and then shoot the stop plate" to stop the clock.   The instructions said it was a "stop plate" not a"bad guy", "adversary", "opponent", etc.   I even asked for clarification on whether it was to be viewed as a "Bad guy" or as just a stop plate and was told "it is just a plate". Yet I got a procedural on that stage for not dragging the dummy far enough behind cover so that it was not exposed to the plate....... While the dummy was 100% behind cover from ALL the paper "bad guy" IDPA targets it was still exposed to the "stop plate". I asked that if it was NOT a BG and JUST a plate how it could "hurt" the dummy....they looked very confused and after a minute said well....you have to have it all the way behind cover.....   I pointed out that from the vantage point of the paper it WAS behind cover....   I then reminded them they said it was a just a plate and as such was not a BG...   But they insisted it was supposed to be COMPLETELY behind cover, not just behind cover from the "bad guy" targets so  I took a procedural and finished 2nd by about 2 seconds ....I think they were embarrassed that they had given ambiguous instructions that I was able to use to not have to drag the dummy as far as they did -about 5 feet less-....but I was following their instructions. They pretty much said ..."well that is what we TOLD you but not what we MEANT" (?????) ..... I think they also realized that they needed to do a better job of reconciling the INTENT of the stage and the written stage instructions.    Moral of the story....club level matches are just that ....club level matches.... and not every contingency is always planned for and the intent and the wording of stage instructions are not always congruent. All you can really do is smile and say "O.K." and realize that it is not the end of the world. 

Thanks guys.   Just a reminder , this one is coming up in about 3 weeks. If you know how to shoot and are looking for a class that teaches you to FIGHT with a pistol this is it. While we do cover marksmanship in this class it is not "bullseye marksmanship" it is what might be referred to as "combat marksmanship". Standing perfectly still and shooting small groups on a bullseye makes you no more ready to win a reactive gunfight than just punching a heavy bag makes you ready for a boxing match against the heavy weight champ.     We cover the key skill sets you need to master.....    Get Off the X Get your gun out Hit what you aim at as fast as you can and as accurately as you need to Clear malfunctions QUICKLY and NON DIAGNOSTICALLY Reload your pistol both proactively (preferred) and reactively (if you have to)    Then we plug those skills into dealing with the adversary before during and after the fight, dealing with multiple assailants, use of cover, mindset, ballistics/ stopping power/stopping placement , one handed shooting, integrating hands/knife/ gun skills, lowlight/ use of flashlight,(both for shooting and as an impact tool) , and many other subjects.    This is a full 2 days of building life saving skills and preparing you to deal with violent encounter. Come on out and train with us. You'll be glad you did. 

You could even wear a pin with a suit at things like an NRA banquet or other function where you might not be wearing a hat or a vest.....just a thought.....

And possible inciting a riot.....

Good idea Spiffy. You can put a pin on a vest, a hat, a shirt or cowboy clothes too. The pin might be the way to go on this.....

EXACTLY. (not the obama part).   I have always contended that the head unjury was due to either to him being hit from behind, or from him hitting his head as he went down.   The grass stains tell me that the grounded part of the fight was likely NOT on pavement UNLESS it was at the edge of pavement and ONLY his head and shoulders were on the pavement and the rest of his body was in the grass.   But frankly it DOES NOT MATTER whether he was getting punched in the face laying on pavement or laying on the ground because EITHER is deadly force in that situation. If the pressure is vertical and you are pinned against the ground and cannot get out of it then you are likely to be unconscious soon. So even if it was not bounced off pavement multiple times it was still struck, most likely from behind which leads me to belive Martin hit him first and did it when his back was turned....   And if the fall caused the injury then Martin STILL CAUSED an injury that combined with the continued assault would have led any reasonable person to conclude that they were in real imminent risk of grave bodily injury or death. Unarmed people kill people every day and teenagers kill people just as dead as 40 year olds do....so stop looking at it as an "unarmed child murdered by a wannabe cop" and look at whether the fight even had to happen (BOTH could have disengaged) and whether Z was in reasonable fear of grave bodily injury or death. If so then the law is pretty clear and WHY he was not charged initially.

IF Zimmerman approached and accosted Martin with gun in hand and did not ID himself and Martin tried to defend himself then Zimmerman should likely get convicted....   IF Zimmerman approached , ID'd himself and asked what Martin was doing and then was in the process of leaving when Martin attacked him from behind then Zimmerman should be acquitted....   It largely hinges on WHY Martin ended up in a scuffle with Zman. If it was in order to defend himself from a stranger pointing a gun at him then that is one thing.....if it was in order to " teach him a lesson" then that is something entirely different.    From the evidence seen so far and knowing what I DO know about physical confrontation at 5 feet and less, the head wounds on the BACK of Zimmermans head , and the grass stains on the BACK of Zimmerman's clothing are pretty consistent with him being attacked and knocked down or taken to the ground and then mounted.   If Martin was in the process of working the ol' "ground and pound" the Zman would have been reasonably in fear of his life. Unfortunately Zman did not have better hand to hand skills because if he did he possibly could have bettered his position and either reversed it or escaped without ever going for the gun.I'll bet Z would give everything he has ever had to have spent more time working on hand to hand skills before that night......   So what happened and WHY is that important?   Did Z approach Martin with gun in hand yelling at him? Or did Z approach and ID himself as neighborhood watch and calmly and politely ask who Martin was and where he was going?    Did Martin ID himself and Z apologize and turn to go?    Did Martin ID himself but then start berating Z who began to back away?   Did Martin tell Z to go "F" himself and when he turned to get away Martin attacked him?    Did Z  pull his gun during the "interview" stage and then Martin was offended/insulted enough to try to take it away?   Did Martin SEE Z's gun and was offended/insulted/enraged enough to try to take it from him?    Did Martin rush Zman and take him down and Z then pulled his gun as he was going down?    Did Zman try to disengage and while backing away did Martin knock Zman down , stun him, mount Zman and start punching him causing Z to pull his pistol to respond before he was knocked unconscious?   Did Zman turn to leave and Martin hit Zman from behind, knock Zman down , stun him, mount Zman and start punching him causing Z to pull his pistol to respond before he was knocked unconscious?     Or did Martin knock him down, mount him and then feel the gun and try to take the gun from Zman?   We may never know for SURE, but we will probably see from the evidence that this was not a case of Zman running up and just "gunning down" Martin like many are trying to portray this.    If Z was waving his gun around and Martin was in fear of injury or death and then closed with Z and tried to disarm him then I'm good with Z being convicted.    If Z was trying to disengage and was rushed (and especially if he was hit from behind) , then mounted and beaten then a REASONABLE person would be in LEGITIMATE fear of crippling injury or death. If THAT is what happened then Z should be acquitted. A 17 year old can beat you to death just as easy as an 18 year old......and dead is dead...no matter what the age of the assailant.    So depending on EXACTLY what happened you could get different verdicts...and if the evidence supports the verdict...I'm OK which ever way it goes. 

A patch would be good. A small one that could be "velcroed" to a hat or put on a vest. That way if you shoot some match that does not require a vest you can put it on your hat or anywhere you have a place to put a velcro patch. 

  So then even if they find him NOT GUILTY will you agree that justice has been served ?

Yes. That is why I said it is the way to go...   As far as I know , for a long time they were the ONLY private school in TN whose instructor class certification qualified to get you certified as a TN HCP instructor. There may be others now, but Rangemaster has been for a long time.    I've done both the NRA instructor class and the Rangemaster class and there is truly NO comparison. The Rangemaster instructor class is a more thorough class. 

Basically the state wants to know that you know how to shoot and how to teach and that SOMEONE that they accept as qualified to teach that has certified that you are good to go. Most people teaching HCP classes are already NRA certified and they simply submit those certifications. But the NRA instructor classes are few and far between sometimes.    The least time consuming way to get a certification that the state of Tennessee accepts is take  the Rangemaster Instructor Development class.....    http://www.rangemaster.com/classes/handgun-classes/firearms-instructor-certification-course.html   and then send in your paperwork (That Tom provides for you) to the state. The next one is in Memphis at Rangemaster Aug 2-4 2013. That is a Friday -Sunday.   Pretty simple. Now does that mean you will after 3 days go from a novice to a steely eyed gunman and master instructor? No. And it is possible to not pass the class. You will have to perform. There is both a written and range test. But this class WILL make you a better instructor (and a better shooter). And it not only teaches you how to shoot, but teaches you how to teach...something some  instructors out there know little about.....   I do not work for Rangemaster and I have no financial incentive from recommending this class , but I have taken both this class and the Advanced Instructor class (I did the 1st one that was by invitation only at the time).  It is well worth it.  

Wow...thanks Prag. I really appreciate that. 

Maybe? I can't say for sure yet but......... maybe. 

I was in group 3 and I agree, some excellent shooting for sure.   Anyone know when the scores will be posted?

Just a quick reminder that this class is getting closer......

  Same here. With work and teaching so much the last few years I do not get a lot of free time to go shoot many matches any more. So I was happy to be free this weekend. It was good seeing an old friend (and meeting some new ones). I was a little rusty, but still functional. Shooting is shooting but match shooting and defensive shooting do have some differences. I enjoyed discussing with Prag the differences in how a stage might be shot if there were real bullets going both directions and how that might change the strategy. I also enjoyed being in the same squad with Jason Edwards and getting to watch him attack each stage. That man can shoot.    The stages were interesting and well thought out in my opinion. I especially liked the car stages. That is something that is VERY realistc.There is high probability of having to deal with criminal assault while either in or around your car and there are not a lot of opportunities for normal folks to engage targets from inside a vehicle at their local range. That may have been my favorite stage.   As far as the actual running of the match, a big hats off to the ORSA folks (and the folks from Cleveland) who ran the stages. Things went smoothly and quickly. We really appreciate the work you guys put in.   Looking forward to doing it again next year (assuming I'm not teaching that weekend).