One of the common issues I hear when recommending various shooting schools is the expense. Not only is the cost of the school alone prohibitive, but when you add in the cost of travel, lodging, and ammunition, it more than breaks the common-man’s budget.

For those of us tightening our belts during these tough economic times but still want to learn how to shoot and defend those we love, there are options.

DVDs

When it comes to learning something as technical as shooting, nothing replaces the watchful eye and careful instruction of an experienced instructor.

However, if this option is not available, instruction through some well-produced videos can be quite affective — especially if you’ve had training and experience in the basics.

Given the large amount of videos out there, quality and thoroughness of a teaching methodology haven’t always been available.

This has all changed with some of the newer players on the multi-media firearms training scene. Here is a listing of the top video series that I think are excellent for learning:

Magpul Dynamics

Magpul Industries, known for their innovative accessories for firearms, has an excellent training division called Magpul Dynamics which is headed by a phenomenal instructor by the name of Chris Costa.

Within the last few years, Chris and Magpul Dynamics have put together an incredible set of instructional DVDs that are extremely thorough and provide the highest level of production quality I’ve seen with regards to firearms training.

Here is a current listing of videos that Magpul Dynamics Offers:

• Magpul Dynamics Art of the Dynamic Handgun
  

  This 4-disc set features over seven hours of actual live fire class instruction that guides the student from the fundamentals of handgun operation, to problem solving, and through complex real-life scenarios. This progression from basic to advanced weapon manipulation pushes students of all skill levels to their failure points.

• Art Of Tactical Carbine, Volumn 1
  

  This 4-disc series covers not only the basic fundamentals and “how to” aspects of the carbine but also the “mindset” required to employ a carbine effectively in dynamic stress situations.

• Art of the Tactical Carbine Volume 2
  

  This 4-disc set takes carbine operation to the next level. An informative and exhilarating Dynamic Carbine class that focuses on pushing your failure points and finding the perfect balance between speed and accuracy.

  Using advanced shooters from the firearms industry, law enforcement SWAT, and military special operations, this DVD set will show that no matter what level of the game you’re in, you always have the ability to excel.

• Art of the Dynamic Shotgun
  

  The Art of the Dynamic Shotgun features over five hours of actual live fire class instruction and additional instructional material.

  This 3-disc instructional set progresses quickly as it covers the fundamentals of shotgun manipulation, pattering, weapon’s configurations, action types, ammo management, and real life complex scenarios for the Home Defender, Law Enforcement Officer, Military Operator, and Competitor.

• The Art of the Precision Rifle
  

  The Art of the Precision Rifle features nearly ten hours of actual live fire class instruction and additional instructional material on five DVDs.

  This extensive instruction covers the fundamentals and “how to” aspects of long range shooting, advanced techniques and formulas, military and law enforcement sniping, precision shooting gear, and the sniper mindset.

Panteao Productions

Panteao Productions is the new kid on the block when it comes to multi-media based firearms instruction. Similar to the Magpul Dynamics line of instruction, they are making excellent quality, high production-value, extremely thorough firearms instruction.

In Panteao’s case, they have enlisted an ever growing cadre of the top names in the firearms training industry.

Here’s an example list of Panteao’s growing number of DVDs:

	Adaptive Handgun w/ Travis Haley: Adaptive, efficient and effective. Special Operations Veteran Travis Haley delivers a modern handgun fighting program for military, government contractors, law enforcement officers, responsible armed citizens and competitors built around mindset and skill. Fundamental mechanics are broken down to granular levels, demonstrated and explained, giving students a deeper understanding of what the body does under stress. Bringing together knowledge, skill and survivability to find and overcome failure points, building true problem solvers that can react to dynamic situations.
	Adaptive Carbine w/ Travis Haley: Former Special Operations Veteran Travis Haley guides the beginner or advanced shooter on how to build a shooting platform – not only in the physical sense, but more importantly in the mental sense. Travis breaks down the basic fundamentals and incorporates mindset methodologies that allow you the opportunity to justify them for your shooting lifestyle.
	Analysis of the Survival Mindset w/ Louis Awerbuck: Join Louis Awerbuck for a one-on-one training session on the Analysis of the Survival Mindset. Louis Awerbuck is the owner and lead instructor of the Yavapai Firearms Academy. Louis served in 1 Special Services Battalion in the South African Defence Force. He was employed by Colonel Jeff Cooper at the original Gunsite Ranch as Chief Rangemaster, attaining the title of Shooting Master. With this video, Louis will review the biochemistry of a fight, shooting problems, shooter movements, training on the range versus a real fight, types of targets, sighted and unsighted fire, and more. This course will give you a reality check when it comes to training for and surviving a gunfight as only Louis Awerbuck can show.
	Home Defense w/ Massad Ayoob: Are you prepared to defend yourself and your loved ones in your home? Join Massad Ayoob as he reviews the techniques for home defense. Ayoob has been writing for gun magazines since 1971. He has been an expert witness for the courts in weapons and homicide cases for over 30 years, and a sworn part-time police officer for 36 years. In this video, Ayoob covers topics like hardening your home’s perimeter, lighting, firearms and ammo selection, safe rooms, family member roles, getting help, and the myths of home defense.
	Shotgun Operator w/ Bill Jeans: Join Bill Jeans for a one-on-one training session in his Shotgun Operator course. Bill is the owner-operator of Morrigan Consulting, a tactical weapons training and consulting business in operation since 1998. For over seven years Bill was the Operations Manager and Chief Rangemaster for Gunsite, the world-renowned school founded by Jeff Cooper. With Shotgun Operator, you will learn about shotgun choices and options, ammo selection, wall penetration, shotgun handling, reloads, patterning with buckshot, shooting with slugs, multiple targets, pivots and turns, transitioning to a handgun, shooting with movement, combat mindset, and the shotgun standards.
	Reactive Pistol Shooting w/ Bill Rogers: We take you to the Rogers Shooting School in Ellijay, GA for a one-on-one private training session with Bill Rogers. Bill is a former FBI Agent. He invented the first Kydex Holster in 1972. He started the Rogers Holster Company in 1973, purchased by Safariland in 1985. To this day he continues to develop cutting edge technologies for the shooting industry. Bill developed a training program and a high speed moving target system. The program replicates the minimal amount of time a shooter will have to successfully neutralize an adversary. Now you can learn how to successfully engage moving targets rapidly and accurately right from your home.
	Tac Pistol Operator w/ Paul Howe: We take you to the CSAT (Combat Shooting and Tactics) training facility in Nacogdoches, TX for a one-on-one private training session with Paul Howe. Paul is a high-risk training instructor that served 20 years in the US Army, ten of those in Special Operations. He served as a Tactical Team Leader and Senior Instructor while assigned to Army Special Operations. During his tour in special operations he was involved in several combat actions. One of the most notable was the battle of Mogadishu that was later portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down. Now you can learn pistol handling techniques from Paul right from your home. You will review the weapon system, stance and grip, holster positioning, reloads, loading/unloading, kneeling, transitions, and key shooting drills that culminate to shooting the CSAT pistol standards. You also get an honest and frank discussion with Paul Howe on leadership, training, and the combat mindset that is applicable to the military, law enforcement, and civilian sector.
	Tac Rifle Operator w/ Paul Howe: We take you to the CSAT (Combat Shooting and Tactics) training facility in Nacogdoches, TX for a one-on-one private training session with Paul Howe. Paul is a high-risk training instructor that served 20 years in the US Army, ten of those in Special Operations. He served as a Tactical Team Leader and Senior Instructor while assigned to Army Special Operations. During his tour in special operations he was involved in several combat actions. One of the most notable was the battle of Mogadishu that was later portrayed in the motion picture Black Hawk Down. Now you can learn rifle handling techniques from Paul right from your home. You will review equipment check list, proper grip, dry firing, tac reload, zeroing your rifle, shooting from kneeling, shooting from prone, loading/unloading, transitions, multiple key shooting drills that culminate to shooting the CSAT rifle standards, and weapon maintenance. You also get an honest and frank discussion with Paul Howe on leadership, training, and the combat mindset that is applicable to the military, law enforcement, and civilian sector.
	360 Degree Pistol Skill, Vols 1 & 2 w/ Dave Harrington: With the 360 Degree Pistol Skill program, you get a comprehensive one-on-one pistol training session with Dave Harrington. Dave is a retired senior weapons instructor from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. 360 Degree Pistol Skill will help you develop the technical knowledge for shooting a semi-automatic pistol. Volume Two takes you to the next step with an extensive group of drills. They include position SUL, high security position, FBI low ready, the proximity drill, Iron Cross drill, Siebel drill, and more. With 360 Degree Pistol Skill, you will learn the tactics and tactical use of the pistol to fight effectively.
	Building World Class Pistol Skills w/ Bob Vogel: Here is an opportunity to get one-on-one training from Robert Vogel, a world class shooter and National Champion in both IDPA and USPSA. In Building World Class Pistol Skills, you will get tips and advice from Robert to help you improve your handgun shooting ability in an easy to follow step by step approach. Robert covers topics like accuracy, proper grip, hand strength, trigger finger isolation, stance, strong hand/weak hand stance, the draw, eye dominance, dry fire, balancing accuracy and speed, shooting from awkward positions, shooting focus, and much more. Whether you’re new to competitive shooting or a seasoned shooter, this video will help you to improve upon your skill set.

Online Streaming

Panteao Productions has become the pioneer of this form of multi-media distribution, and I can definitely see that this will become a very popular medium as time goes on.

The great thing about the online streaming option is that you have access to all of their videos (which are constantly growing) at a low price of about $18/mo or a yearly membership for $150.

As a customer and member of Panteo’s monthly online subscription service, I want to stress how great their videos are. They are packed full with a ton of information from some of the top names in the industry.

If you’re interested in checking them out, go to Panteo Productions to learn more.

Airsoft

Airsoft is a growing sport in which participants shoot round, plastic pellets from replica firearms.

I know that many people associate Airsoft as either a bunch of adolescent kids playing “shoot-em-up” or older guys trying to be military wannabes (and believe me, there is a lot of this), however Airsoft is in fact a great training tool.

Before you laugh it off as some kids sport, keep in mind many law enforcement units, military, and even competitive shooters train with Airsoft (see here for an article showing how military units are using Airsoft for their pre-deployment training).

Like any sport, the range of quality and performance of the various guns you can buy is quite dramatic.

From the low end you can go to your local Walmart and pick up a basic plastic $20 gun that will fire only one pellet per engagement (cocking the slide back and spring loading it), or you can purchase the high-end variety that look, feel, weigh, and practically cost as much as the real thing. These tend to be gas driven, have realistic “blow-back” action, and are extremely accurate at short ranges.

Some of the criticisms that people have with Airsoft as a training tool is that they don’t really give you much in the way of felt recoil and their report is very minimal so an element of realism is lost.

While this is true, on the flip side those who support Airsoft as an effective tool for self-defense training argue that in almost all life-or-death encounters, you’ll experience a body alarm response (adrenaline dump) in which the body experiences auditory exclusion (no weapon report or voice commands are heard), as well as a loss of fine motor skill and increase in gross motor skill (little is felt in the way of recoil).

So the argument is, as far as realism is concerned, the lack of felt recoil and of auditory report in Airsoft trainers is largely irrelevant.

If you have the money to pay for all the ammunition you need you probably wouldn’t be reading this article, however, if cost is an issue and training is important to you, Airsoft is a safe, effective, and (compared to the ammunition costs of real firearms) dirt cheap form of firearms training.

The Appleseed Project

A little over a year ago I had the opportunity to attend an excellent civilian marksmanship program called the Appleseed Project. It’s mission: “to teach every American about our shared heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills”.

The Appleseed Project is a nationwide event that is inspired by the riflemen of the American Revolution. Back in revolutionary times, the rifleman found his ranks among common, average, every-day citizens. These were farmers and craftsman, not career soldiers. However, many of these “commoners” could shoot a man-size target out to 500 yards with iron sights, using a standard rifle, and surplus ammo.

This traditional “Rifleman’s Quarter Mile”, as it was called, is what the Appleseed Project enables (without scopes using only iron sights!), with the hope that you’ll pass this skill on to future generations.

This event was one of the finest firearms training courses I’ve been to (you can read my review here ) and I highly recommend it.

The cost of the two-day event is $70, which if you look at other comparable training out there it is extremely inexpensive.

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute is a highly respected and well-known firearms training school that has gotten some rave reviews by civilians and professional shooters.

The instruction is “taught by seasoned and professional law enforcement, military, and private citizen instructors to levels that far exceed law enforcement and military standards, without any boot camp mentality or drill instructors attitudes.”

Although the standard 4-day courses are a hefty $2000, the reason I’m including this in this article is that you can purchase a certificate that is good for one of their 2 or 4-day courses for only $100 from eBay. Here are some examples.

Sound like a scam? I thought so too, but in actuality these are legit. The catch is, these certificates are only good for a one-time redemption for first-time students. After that, Front Sight knows that a great number of first-time students will want to upgrade to a life-time membership and that’s where they make their money.

Although it’s a marketing ploy, it’s a excellent chance to get some excellent training at a very cheap price.

Wrapping it Up

I hope after this post you guys now have some options available to you to get some great firearms training at a fraction of the cost.

If you know of some other options/schools that I may have left out be sure to comment. I’ll update this article with those additions.

For you reloaders out there, a company called Hallam Inc. has come out with a new twist on the tracer round: a non-pyrotechnic, safe for the range, tracer “sticker” called Glow Ammo.

The actual Glow Ammo “sticker” is a plastic-like disc that is applied to the bottom of a bullet before it is loaded into the casing and pressed.

When the round is fired, the heat from the gunpowder’s explosion causes that little disk to glow a bright red giving you an effective tracer round.

Glow Ammo Reviews

Having scoured the web for reviews on Glow Ammo, the consensus appears to be the following:

The Good

• They actually work: Most reviewers have stated that the actual results are very impressive and are more noticeable in person than the videos capture.
• They are only visible from the shooters perspective: In a combat or self-defense situation, this would have some obvious tactical advantages if the person your shooting at can’t trace the round back to you but you can to them.
• Work well as a training aid: These can be helpful to provide instant feedback as to where your shooting. In my opinion (I realize this is a relative statement), given there price, this wouldn’t be too cost effective.
• They are non-pyrotechnic: Unlike true tracer rounds, with Glow Ammo there is no combustion taking place. This makes it safe to use in areas otherwise off-limits to pyrotechnic tracers.

The Bad

• They are expensive: At $50 dollars per box of 255, this will add an extra .20 cents per round! Although if you compare them with the price of actual tracers, they are quite cheap. I guess, it depends on your intended use. I can see these as pretty effective in a low-light hunting or self-defense situation where the expense far outweighs the benefit.
• They don’t work in the day time: Both the manufacturer and users state that they are not effective during normal daylight hours. The best time to use them is dawn and dusk (or in a dimly lit indoor range).
• The adhesive isn’t always reliable: Some users have complained that the adhesive on the discs isn’t always reliable causing the tracers to peel off mid-flight. Since there were many others who did not have this issue, perhaps it was due to user error (not pressing them on hard enough) or the type or cleanliness of the bullet’s surface.

Example Videos

The founders of BAM Airsoft who are both competitive ranked shooters in IPSC (pronounced “ip sic”) have developed a whole set of IPSC and IDPA style targets which have been designed specifically for practical shooting training with airsoft pistols and can be set up in the convenience of your home.

According to BAM, with a quality blow-back style airsoft pistol, airsoft training can effectively supplement actual real-gun training with some amazing results!

I know what you’re thinking. How can you train for IPSC, IDPA, or defensive handgun when airsoft pistols are only reliably accurate out to 7 yards (and that’s pushing it some cases) and the mininum target distance in IPSC and many scenario-based practical shooting training is greater than that? Well, the key has to do with perspective and sight picture.

For example a scaled-down version of a larger target will look the same in the gun’s sight picture if the larger target is placed at a specific distance further away than the smaller scaled-down version.

Given this phenomenon, BAM has developed scaled-down versions of IPSC and IDPA targets that when placed at specific distances represent what you would actually see when viewing the actual targets through the sight picture of your pistol. For a video showing how size and perspective work with these targets check out this one from BAM Airsoft (email subscribers may need to click on this link here):

The obvious major difference between airsoft and real pistol shooting is the lack of strong recoil (so sight tracking would be different). Despite this, it is still an excellent form of training that saves money, is convenient since various practical shooting courses can be set up in the comfort of your home/garage, and it’s just plane fun. And did I mention? It beats being relegated to only dull dry-firing practice.

Recommended Airsoft Pistols

If your interested in trying your hand at some home-based airsoft pistol training, here are some of the BAM Airsoft recommended airsoft pistols recommended for their accuracy and quality (BAM also sells these and can customize them according to your needs):

	Tokyo Marui HI-CAPA 5.1 Tokyo Marui is, according to BAM, the “best out of the box airsofts” available. Very accurate and with a boat load of aftermarkets available, the sky’s the limit as for however you want to trick them out.
	Tokyo Marui HI-CAPA 4.3
	KWA M1911 MKI PTP
	KWA M1911 MKIII PTP

BAM Airsoft in Action

Here are some more videos showing the BAM guys doing what they love best (again, email subscribers may not see these so be sure to click on the article):

The Girandoni is a late 18th Century .46 caliber 20 shot repeating air rifle. It was used in the Napoleonic wars and at least one managed to find its way into the hands of the Lewis and Clark.

Although the curator does exaggerate a bit with his geography (United States is not larger than half of North America…I think he forgot about the Canadians ) it’s nonetheless a great presentation.

Now if I can just get one with a rail system, thermal scope, and collapsing butt stock I’d be happy…(kidding guys, I’m kidding)

Check it out: (email readers will need to click on the title to be directed back to the blog)

To rectify this, there have been a number of manufacturers that have come up with magnetic-type holsters that you can install in strategic, concealed parts of your home (or business) allowing you to place your firearm in whatever room you happen to be in at the time. Some of these magnetic holsters (like the “FAST” holster) goes for upwards of $30 a pop. Why pay this when you can make one yourself that costs around $6 and takes about 5 minutes of your time to put together? Here’s the process:

How to Make a Magnetic Holster

What You’ll Need

• 3 Ceramic Block Magnets (available at most hardware stores)
• Wood Paint Stirrer (a wooden ruler works fine too)
• 1″ diameter Shrink Tubing (available at some hardware stores or automotive stores). You’ll want about 8″ in length (this can be two pieces of commonly sold 4″ as well).

Assembling the Magnetic Holster

	Step 1: Lay out the magnets. You’ll want to place the three magnets on the paint stirrer close enough together that side-by-side they can fit within the front and rear sight (for vertical hanging).
	Step 2: Slide Shrink Tubing over Magnets and Wood: Next, slide your shrink tubing over the magnets and wood (overlap the tubing if you have two 4″ pieces) leaving about 3/4″ of tubing on either side.
	Step 3: Heat the Shrink Tubing: Now using a candle, torch, or heatgun, heat up the tubing until it completely contracts around the wood and magnets.
	Step 4: Drill Holes and Cut to Length: Using a wood drill, drill a small hole on either side of the magnets and cut off the excess wood.

That’s it! Pretty easy huh? Now just install them wherever you think appropriate in your home or business. Here’s some examples:

Some Examples on Where to Install the Magnetic Holsters

*A quick note on safety: These magnetic holsters can be installed pretty much anywhere you think is appropriate, safe, and easily accessible. If you have small children in the home, I recommend only placing your gun on one of the magnetic holsters when you are in the room (ie watching a movie, working etc.). Guns should definitely NOT be left unattended around the house attached to these types of holsters when there are little, curious hands about. Also be mindful of local laws.

In a Closet

In this picture you can see my Walther PPK can be attached to this type of holster just as easily as my Glock.

Under a Table

Storing your firearm under a coffee table or workbench makes your firearm easily accessible while you’re working or watching television. In this picture you can see it hanging in a vertical position.

Beside your Bed

It’s a good idea to keep your firearm close by while sleeping.

Video Example

Also, check out this quick video I put together showing how easy it is to grab and store a firearm with one of these holsters:

Resources

Many thanks to SafeArmsReview for the inspiration behind this idea!

At first glimpse I thought it was going to be some anti-government militia movement, but after looking into it a bit more and actually attending an event myself, I realized it’s quite the opposite. Although there is a bit of a libertarian “don’t-tread-on-me” theme (which I’m perfectly fine with btw), no present-day politics are discussed, and there is no anti-government rhetoric. In a nutshell, the Appleseed Project is a mix of marksmanship and history. It’s mission: “to teach every American about our shared heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills”.

Taught by a cadre of volunteer instructors (who are chosen from former Appleseed graduates), the Appleseed Project is a nationwide event that is inspired by the riflemen of the American Revolution. Back in revolutionary times, the rifleman found his ranks among common, average, every-day citizens. These were farmers and craftsman, not career soldiers. However, many of these “commoners” could shoot a man-size target out to 500 yards with iron sights, using a standard rifle, and surplus ammo. This traditional “Rifleman’s Quarter Mile”, as it was called, is what the Appleseed Project enables (without scopes using only iron sights!), with the hope that you’ll pass this skill on to future generations.

Here’s a breakdown of the two-day event:

Appleseed Event: Day 1

Day 1 began bright and early at 8:30 AM. After a cursory overview of the coming weekend, as well as a thorough discussion into range protocol and safety, we are immediately thrown on the line to begin shooting targets out to 25 meters. This they do for two reasons: one, they want to see where everyone is as far as shooting ability goes, and two, they want you to be able to see just how much you’ll improve with just two days of training.

Learning the Fundamentals

After that first humbling experience (I did horrible), they began teaching the fundamentals of shooting: Natural Point of Aim, Sight Alignment, Front-Sight Focus, Bone on Bone technique, Trigger Control, Respiratory Pause, Follow Through etc. Similar to the Military, they use a crawl-walk-run approach by teaching a few principles at a time and then allowing you to practice, at which point a few more principles are added.

Throughout the first half of the day the instructors had continued to build upon our knowledge. We were taught how to properly use a sling for shooting stability (instead of just using it to carry your rifle), how to shoot from the standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone positions, and how to transition from one position to the next. We are also taught how to sight in our rifles and apply the MOA ( Minute of Angle) standard to adjust for range.

Since my Appleseed had around 20 people, there was a good instructor-to-student ratio which allowed for a lot of personal attention and critiquing.

The Appleseed AQT

We are also introduced to Appleseed’s version of the US Army Alternate “C” course, called the AQT, with targets scaled at 25 meters. The Army Qualification Test (shown at left with a quarter on the lower left target to show how small targets are) consists of 4 stages of decreasingly-scaled silhouettes representing 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards. Here’s the course:

• 10 rounds standing, firing on a silhouette representing a man-sized target at  100 yards (for a maximum score of 50 points)
• 10 rounds transitioning from a standing to sitting or kneeling position, including a mag change, firing on two silhouettes representing man-sized targets at 200 yards (for a maximum score of 50 points)
• 10 rounds transitioning from sitting/kneeling to prone, firing on 3 silhouettes representing man-sized targets at 300 yards (for a maximum score of 50 points) and…
• 10 rounds lying prone, firing on 4 silhouettes representing man-sized targets at 400 yards for a maximum score of 100 points (at 25 meters these things are super tiny!).

The qualification is as follows:

• Unqualified: under 125
• Marksman: 125-169
• Sharpshooter: 170-209
• Expert [Rifleman]: 210 or more

This course will be what’s used to qualify as a “Rifleman” by obtaining a score of 210 out of a possible 250 points. If you do so, you’ll earn the coveted rifleman’s badge as well as an opportunity to come back as an instructor-in-training.

A Lesson in History

After that heavy diet of training and shooting, we broke for a late lunch.  We gathered as a group and as we ate one of the instructors related to us the events leading up to the American Revolution: the signal from The Old North Church, the Revere and Dawes rides that woke up the American populace, and the shots fired at Lexington and Concord.  

Although I grew up in the Boston area where this all began, I never heard these stories in the watered-down version given by the public schools here. It’s a shame since many of these stories define the sacrifice those early Americans gave and were at the heart of the events leading up to the American Revolution.

In Search of a Rifleman

After lunch we fired course after course of the AQT. As mentioned earlier, those who score a 210 or higher on the course earn the Rifleman badge. Out of all of us, only one of our group earned this award. Surprisingly it wasn’t any of the adult guys (one of them being active military). It was a 12-year old girl! What a humbling experience that was! (It made me feel a little bit better when I found out she was a competitive shooter) But hey, that’s what makes this event so great, it’s open to all, young and old, male and female.

By the end of the day many of us came quite far. As you already know, I didn’t make Rifleman. But how did I do? Well, I started the day not even qualifying (scoring an 84) and by the end of the day I made Sharpshooter with a score of 186 — still a ways off of scoring expert (Rifleman) but pleased nonetheless.

To close out the first day, the instructors covered Meriam’s Corner, “Where the Revolutionary War really began…” It was there we learned that for the first time Americans, who had no direct connection to towns that had just been invaded, attacked, and looted, opened fire on British troops in support of other American militiamen. And thus began the fight for freedom…

Appleseed Event: Day 2

Unfortunately due to family needs, I was unable to stay for Day 2. But to give you an example of what Day 2 is about, I thought I’d make a quick note here.

Day 2 begins with a quick review of what’s taught in Day 1. Questions are asked and techniques are refined. Day 2 is also where attendees graduate from the 25 yard range and move on to the long range. Depending on the range that is hosting the event this may be from 100 yards upwards of 400+ yards.

I was surprised to learn that the same principles and shooting results transfer from the 25-meter range to the longer range. If you can hit the equivalent of a man-sized target at 300 yards on the 25-meter range you can actually hit it at 300 yards on the long-range (after any necessary sight adjustment of course). And again this is all with iron sights!

Parting Thoughts

All-in-all, the Appleseed event was amazing. The instruction is top rate and for a fraction of the cost of other marksmanship courses, you not only learn how to shoot but how to shoot well. Even former military guys are very impressed with the quality of instruction saying that they did not receive that kind of training in the Army.

As far as the price goes, it can’t be beat. Women and youth (under 21) are free and since the program is run entirely by volunteers, you get passionate people and excellent instruction at only $45 if you’re attending only one day or $70 for the entire weekend.

For more information on an Appleseed in your area, be sure to check out The Appleseed Project. You won’t be dissapointed.

With its realistic controls, elevation, atmospheric conditions, and scenery this simulation is as close as you can get to practicing in the field all in the comfort of your home and all without wasting a single round of ammunition!

Here are some of the subjects you will learn and practice in the simulator:

• MilDot ranging and use
• effects of elevation
• effects of windage and how to adjust for it
• minute of angle/milliradian applications
• how to use a range card
• how to engage moving targets
• exterior ballistics
• and more…

The Long Range Shooting Simulator depicts a variety of sample backgrounds in ranging, wind estimation, and mil dot use with simulated ranges out to 1000 yards. There are also options for .223, .264 .308, .338, 300 Win Mag, and .50cal caliber weapons with their associated ballistic behaviors.

Keep in mind that this is not a sales pitch. I do not get any compensation for recommending this to my readers. It’s really an excellent product that can give you a solid foundation in long-range shooting and has found favor in many law enforcement and military circles. It’s also recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).

As of this writing, the Long Range Shooting Simulator costs $44. You may think it’s a bit steep, but if you consider the cost of ammunition, gasoline to the shooting range, cost of admittance to the shooting range (or even finding a 1000 yard range), as well as practicing with rifles in the caliber of your choice, this program is quite inexpensive.

As a final note, I realize that a computer simulation is no substitute for actual time in the field however, it’s an excellent training tool for keeping your range estimation, hold-off, and moving target engagement skills sharp when you cannot make it out to the range.

22 CB Cap long (left), 22 CB Cap short (right)

Well short of using a suppressor (silencer) which may not be legal in your area, there is a super quiet round available for your rifle that you may not be aware of. It’s called the 22 CB Cap (short for “conical ball cap”).

While not as powerful or accurate over long range as the 22LR round, it is still powerful enough to take small game such as rabbit or squirrel and provides the added advantage of being no louder than a pellet gun (and perhaps even less so). The reason for its silence is due to its minute propellant charge (in many cases it’s just the primer with no gunpowder) which results in a low muzzle velocity of around 700 ft/s (subsonic).

The advantages of this kind of round in a serious survival situation (urban or wilderness) are obvious. With a report no louder than a pellet gun, the .22 CB Cap round gives you the benefit of being able to easily take smaller game — even in a congested urban area — without anyone the wiser (Pigeon anyone? yummy…). It also allows for target practice without bothering the pesky neighbors.

One of the main disadvantages of the .22 CB Cap is that it won’t cycle most semi-automatic firearms. Since the round doesn’t provide enough power to cycle the bolt, each round must be fed manually, one at a time. Despite this major disadvantage I still highly recommend adding a box or two of .22 CB Cap to your store (and some for your second tier kit while your at it) when silence is of primary importance.

• It’s super reliable: Whether you’re in an environment that is sandy, cold, hot, dry, or humid the 10/22 can take the stress and keep on shooting. I’ve shot Ruger 10/22s that haven’t been cleaned for over a decade with regular use and it still fires not only reliably but accurately as well.
• They are cheap: For under $250 you can get yourself a brand-new rifle and for under $200 you can get a great used one.
• The ammo is dirt cheap: From a price perspective, the cost of 22LR ammunition is almost negligible. Even in the current high-demand environment you can get a box of 550 rounds for around $13! No other ammo can compare.
• The ammo is light: My bug-out bag contains a box of 550 rounds of 22LR ammunition which is a considerable amount of ammunition and a negligible amount of weight. All very important when mobility is key.
• They are relatively quiet: When shooting the 22 LR it sounds more like a glorified BB gun then a rifle. This can be a huge advantage if you need a meal and don’t want to attract attention (I also love the crossbow for this reason…more on that in another post). If you want even less sound then be sure to purchase subsonic rounds (these are a bit more expensive).
• They’re very accurate: If you’re shooting within 100 yards, the 22L rifle is extremely accurate. Perfect for small game.
• They’re easy to store and maintain: Most 22 LR rifles (like the Ruger 10/22) are very easy to maintain and when broken down they can fit into a bug-out bag without a problem.

Let me reiterate that I do not recommend the 10/22 or any 22 LR rifle as a home defense weapon. For that purpose, there are far better options available like a shotgun, pistol, or larger-caliber semi-auto carbine like an AR-15 or AK.

But with that said, I wouldn’t trade my 10/22 for any other firearm when caught out in the wilds. So what are you waiting for? Go out and get yourself one!