Paisan

Thanks Chances. I did see that one while searching, but TAC 1 would not meet the requirements. Likin'  TAC 2, though. Have you taken classes there?

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Hi folks,   I am seeking some training within a 3 hour drive of Chattanooga in the next 30 days. It cannot be too basic, as it is continuing ed for one of my instructor certs. It can be pistol, carbine, or shotgun. A weekend course is highly preferred, as I have just used up the better part of a week of vacation time for 2 classes that were canceled at the last minute by a local instructor this week.   I am aware of Tactical Response's classes - and I may end up there - but am seeking other options also. Ideally, this would be 16 hours on a Saturday & Sunday with an ammo requirement in the 500 - 750 round neighborhood and a fee of $450 or less. There, piece of cake, right?   Thanks!

Firearms + on Middle Valley road is open and offering:   Winchester bulk 22 bricks @ $69.99   Baggied 22 LR @ 150 for $30.00   $599.00 Glock 17s   Just what this area needed. I mean, Academy is over 6 miles away! And SW is at least 12!

Will you take $150.00? I just bought 4 cases of 7.62 X 39 for $89.00 each, so I'm a little short on cash...

  G19 is the best of the breed. Not an opinion- objective fact. Really. End of discussion. :pleased:

Ever find something you had stashed away and forgotten about? Great feeling, huh? Yesterday, I was cleaning / re-organizing my gun-stuff room when I found a footlocker half full of Federal 12 Ga 00 buck - much in full cartons, but all still in neat 5 round boxes! It made me very happy. Now if I could only find a couple of cases of slugs. I'm always running low on slugs.

  Kershaws make you buy ZTs, leading you to then seek out Rick Hinderer at shows in an attempt to win a shot at buying the rare and fabled XM-18! This behavior gets spendy.   Really like my Cryo and can't wait for a Cryo 2. Lot's of people will be getting Cryo 2s for Christmas this year if the supply allows.

The ACR is a great idea poorly executed. And ridiculously priced in it's current incarnation. Why in God's name did Bushmaster end up with it, Magpul? Rhetorical question,

I don't know about requirements for the local school, are they looking for licensed volunteers?   I train for a contract security organization, so I don't train individuals, but getting a license is pretty straightforward.   Go to the TN Dept of Commerce & Insurance, Private Protection Division and scroll through the list of trainers for one in your area. You will take a class and shoot an EASY qualification score on the range. The trainer will provide you with the paperwork you will need. Send it - along with your app fee, fingerprints, passport photos and statement regarding any and all arrests EVER - then give it 6 weeks or so. Unlike an UNarmed guard, you cannot work on an application.   In TN, the license belongs to the individual, not the security company.

  I do act in that capacity as part of my job.

  I've purchased several handguns from them (TN resident), They send a guy down to the pawn shop with you within a few minutes. My last purchase was an LE G19 (3 mags) brand new for $398.00 about a year ago. I'm not a cop, but I've got an armed guard license and that qualifies for officer pricing.

Sig Mosquitos have a well-earned reputation as junk guns. My buddy HAD to have one, even though I warned him of all the negative reviews I had heard and read. SAid Buddy (Hi Mike!) learned the hard way that he had bought a very finicky, ugly jam-O-matic. Sold it for a loss after 6 months of frustration.

OK, OK - it's Herter's, but it's available and affordable. 

Concealed. Always.

Spot on, Spots! Hear, Hear!

I had the pleasure of attending Randy Harris' Close Range Gunfighting class on the weekend of March 23rd-24th. The class was held at a beautiful piece of property on Sand Mtn. My thanks to the property owner and his son. The son had obviously worked with Randy Harris several times before and was a huge help in keeping things running smoothly during the rainy weekend we were there.   This class is billed as an intermediate-level course, and it is at least that. We performed a lot of stuff that I have previously seen only at "advanced" classes. Long story short - this was an excellent 2 days of training.   I don't post here much, and I believe it helps a reader to have some idea of a reviewer's level of experience to help them decide how much weight to give the reviewer's opinion. Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a decent hand with a gun. I did some cool stuff in the USAF 3 decades or so ago. I have attended many operator level classes and hold NRA Law Enforcement instructor certs in handgun, shotgun, select fire, tactical handgun, and tactical shooting, as well as a few other non-NRA instructor certifications. A few years ago - before a life-changing motorcycle accident - I was lead firearms instructor for a pretty high profile federal facility. All this is to say that I didn't walk into this class all googly-eyed. Old and busted - but not googly-eyed.   We began the morning of day 1 by covering the basics of weapon safety, range safety, and other fundamentals. We quickly progressed to a series of drills where we paired up and did some reaction-time work. This was FAR better than the usual "action is faster than reaction, so mind your reactionary gap." We also performed some one-on-one drills to establish the bio-mechanical advantages of certain positions over other positions. The old interview stance was quickly dismissed, and you had seen for yourself why.   I can't stress enough the value of Randy Harris' teaching style. He not only tells you, he shows you and lets you experience and internalize the concept he is teaching. He also doesn't beat things to death. He introduces a new technique or idea, has you perform it, answers questions, then moves on - incorporating that new material into future drills. There is no time to do 50 - 100 repetitions of a feedway malfunction clearance during a 16 hour course. Randy is experienced enough that he "sees everything", but he has a low-key, humorous way of dealing with things that seems to keep everyone at ease.   Style is great, but if it is not coupled with a high degree of competence, you are not getting your money's worth. Early on, it was clear that Randy operated on another plane from us mere mortals. Spooky fast draws and A zone hits while point-shooting (no sights) were casually done. Often. On one occasion, Randy placed a coin on top of his strong hand at waist level. On command, he drew from concealment (an IWB holster no less) and dry-fired. The tink of the coin came well after the click of the trigger.   Brief lectures and just the right amount of stories germane to what we were doing punctuated the drills over the next day and a half. Getting moving - OFF THE "X"! - was job 1. By the end of day 2, we were busting off the x,  drawing and hitting multiple (3) attackers while hauling ass. We drilled on surprise attacks from the rear and both sides. We engaged at grappling distance, working our way around the target, driving contact distance shots into our "attacker". We occasionally reset with accuracy work by ringing steel at 30+ yards to remind us that you can't miss fast enough to win.   Put me down for a very satisfied trainee. I WILL be attending more Of Randy Harris' classes in the future. The course material was very good on its own, but the quality of instruction is what really puts this class over the top.

Good on the guy for defending himself. Decent news coverage also. I find myself wondering where the bullets ended up - and glad none of them ended up in a bystander. Got a chuckle out of the interviewee who expressed surprise at "(someone) getting mugged in the Walmart parking lot" - a place Randy Harris recently mentioned being analogous to a watering hole on the Serengeti plain.

But do they support it enough to override. OR does the Governor give them political cover to say "Well. we tried"?

I'm in! Can't wait for the 23rd. The AARs on this class have been excellent.

Not nearly enough, but:   A bunch of operator-level courses going back to USAF in the early 80s   NRA Law Enforcement Instructor for Handgun/Shotgun, Tactical Pistol, Patrol Rifle, Select Fire, Tactical Shooting   Proactive Training Instructor courses for Handgun, Shotgun,Carbine   All are current. I plan to take some Suarez courses real soon.

Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Take warm headgear and a couple changes of socks. Bring low water weight calorie dense food and lots of it. Keep your sleeping bag bone dry. Split wet sticks to expose dry wood. Other poster mentioned dryer lint. Also petroleum jelly . and find dry tinder and kindling on underside of down trees. Warm liquids are a big plus. Keep gear DRY. Enjoy.

Hear, Hear! Well said. I found myself clapping to the video.