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Monthly
Lecture: 07-2004
By: Skip Gochenour
19 June
2004
The overall theme of this years event was “Reading the
Environment” & most stages required the shooter to make decisions based on
environmental factors that were present. The comments below are the results of
observations made by “Team” judges & ROs during the recently completed
NTI. They are not specific to all
practitioners but merely reflect observations made during the 4 day event.
Stage 10 (Pinned Down)
-Some practitioners were reluctant to move from 1 position
of cover to another to enhance their ability to get a clear shot.
-Practitioners did not realize the need to perform a
“failure drill” to neutralize certain targets.
-Long range shooting (50-75 yards) needs practice.
-Friendly bystander targets were occasionally hit.
-Simulated weapons (AK rifles & RPGs) were not
recognized as being threats.
-Some practitioners neutralized threat targets with no
priority as to the threat displayed.
Stage 5 (Psst—Hey Buddy)
-Some practitioners did not recognize the “blood” as a
threat indicator.
-Some practitioners did not recognize the walled chimney
as a possible “bullet trap” when engaging the hostile.
-A few shooters carried the prop (Pizza box) into the
stage rather than discard it early-on.
-Only 2 shooters used the prop shotgun in the closet.
-Hits on the running target were generally low &
ineffective.
-Shooters covered their “friend” & the “no shoot”
target outside the rear of the house with the muzzle of the gun while
interrogating them.
-The shoot target to the left at the rear of the building
was frequently not observed.
Stage 7 (Tactical Exercises)
-Two shooters attempted to shoot the retention drill with
empty chambers.
-The left no-shoot target (LEO) was occasionally hit.
-Practitioners with high capacity magazines were lax in
bringing their weapons to full capacity between strings of fire.
-Approximately 14 shooters did not make a full 360 degree
scan.
-Several practitioners performed a speed reload during the
induced malfunction rather than doing a T-R-B.
-Hits were generally low (beltline area) on the paper
targets.
-Nine shooters defeated the steel “failure drill” target
with 2 rounds.
-The average number of rounds to defeat the steel “failure
drill” target was 4.8.
-The greatest number of rounds required to defeat it was
21.
-The fastest time to perform the T-R-B during the “DTI
Dance” was 1.72 seconds & the fastest time to perform a speed reload was
2.99 seconds. Both were accomplished by
the same individual.
Stage 8 (The Old L House)
-Practitioners shot friendly targets (in the shower &
closet) without positively identifying them.
Little remorse was shown.
-Few shooters cleared outside the windows.
-One individual failed to ID the image in the bedroom
mirror & shot it.
-Only 1 individual picked up shoot target weapons as he
encountered them.
-Shooters failed to use the crack between the bedroom
frame & door to engage the target behind it.
-Shooting accuracy could have been much better.
Stage 6 (Uncle Hersh’s Cabin)
-Several practitioners were unable to effectively operate
the shotgun.
-Practitioners stood in the rear doorway rather than
seeking cover.
-Several shooters missed seeing the low left target
outside the rear door.
- Ammo management was a big problem. Most did not have a clue as to the ammo
being fired.
-Some practitioners got separated from their ammo by
utilizing an ammo drop point.
-During ammo changes and reloading many did not use the
safety of the dark room and partitions.
-Verbal compliance was much better this year than previous
years.
-Shooters missed engaging a target on several occasions
thus had long exposures.
-Only one practitioner shot the innocent.
Stage 9 (Miller Enterprises)
-Shooters reloaded without using cover.
-Numerous practitioners were slow to neutralize the
“suicide bomber”.
ATSA Village
-During after-action interrogation by the “Sheriff”,
practitioners tended to talk too much.
-Few individuals attempted to aid the injured.
-Individuals were slow to react to a situation.
-Shooters remained on the scene to observe “domestic altercations”
rather than exit to call “law enforcement”.
-Practitioners failed to assist others to escape the area.
-Individuals did not have a “plan” when confronted by a
role-player.
-Practitioners backed into corners during confrontations
rather than moving to escape.
-Early responses during an altercation tended to be more
effective that late responses.
-Several individuals used role-players as “cover”.
-During large-scale altercations, squad leadership
vanished and practitioners tended to take care of only themselves.
-Long guns used by role-players were much more
identifiable than handguns.
-Practitioners did not “read” exit signs.
ATSA
STUDY DAY GROUP SHOOTING EXERCISES
By
Skip Gochenour
June 19,
2004
Pit: 1
Purpose: To allow the Practitioner to understand the
importance of precise sight adjustment and trigger management.
Process: Using a seated, sandbag rest position, the
Practitioner will engage 6” steel reactive targets at 50 yds.
The Practitioner should
demonstrate that his pistol sights are regulated so as to allow projectile
impact to coincide with the top dead center of the front sight.
The Practitioner should
demonstrate his ability to mange the trigger in a fashion that will allow for
precise shooting.
The Practitioner should practice
visually following the front sight as the pistol operates through its complete
cycle and returns to its position of rest.
Process 2: The Practitioner will demonstrate the
capacity to hit 12”x12” steel plates at 50 yds using a free-style position.
Pit: 2
Purpose: To allow the Practitioner to practice
weapons deployment on demand, accurate delivery of shots and speed of response.
Process: Two Practitioners place themselves side by
side at 10 yds from a dueling tree.
Each Practitioner begins with 3 disks on his side of the tree. Each Practitioner begins with 5 rounds in
his weapon. One Practitioner will
initiate the draw sequence, the other Practitioner will respond. Each Practitioner will attempt to knock as
many of his disks to the other side of the tree as possible. When each has exhausted his ammunition
supply, the side with the least number of disks wins.
The initiator is chosen by a
flip of the coin. After the first
string, the initiator is alternated until four strings are completed. If there is a tie after four strings, a 5th
string will be used to break the tie. A
coin flip will determine the initiator for the 5th string.
Winners of respective strings
will continue to bout-out against other winners until an overall winner is
determined.
The overall winner will receive
an NTI hat.
Pit: 3
Purpose: To allow the Practitioner to practice using
various “sight views” to determine the degree of trigger finesse required to
make the shot required.
Process: A standard IPSC target is used. Two rows of 3 dots are placed along the
approximate “C” zones of each side of the target. The lower right dot is 11/2” in diameter. The remaining 5 dotes are 3”.
Strings are comprised of 10
rounds on each dot. All shots from each
string are fired at speed, which allows the Practitioner to place a minimum of
9 rounds in the respective dot.
String 1: 3yds.
Engage the 11/2” dot.
String 2: 5 yds.
Engage the lower left 3” dot.
String 3: 7yds.
Engage the middle left dot.
String 4: 10yds.
Engage the middle right dot.
String 5: 15 yds.
Engage the upper left dot.
String 6: 20 yds.
Engage the upper right dot.
String 7: 25 yds.
Engage the head.
Pit: 4
Purpose: To allow
the Practitioner to practice the various “sight views” required to make
effective shots on a target.
Process: Using IPSC targets with armed cartoon
characters attached and the ATSA strike zone on the reverse side, Practitioners
will “stitch” the strike zone, using the form of aimed fire appropriate to
execute the drill at speed. The first
shot will strike the target at approximately the waist level with follow-up
shots moving up the body to the ocular window.
String 1: 3yds.
Target focus, transitioning to aimed focus as the ocular window is
reached.
String 2: 5yds.
Aimed focus, using the back of the gun and hand and transitioning to the
sights as the ocular window is reached.
String 3: 7yds.
Aimed focus, using the rear of the slide and transitioning to the front
sight as the ocular window is reached.
String 4: 10yds.
Aimed focus, using the window of the rear sight and transitioning to the
front sight as the ocular window is reached.
String 5: 15 yds.
Using sighted fire, stitch the target from the waist to the ocular
window.
Pit: The Plate Rack
Range
Purpose: To allow the Practitioner the practice aimed
fire, slide lock reloads and presentations on demand.
Process: Two Practitioners stand side by side at
10yds. distance from the rack of 6 plates.
Each Practitioner begins with 2 rounds in his pistol. Each Practitioner will have a full reload on
his belt. Initiation will be the
beginning of presentation by one of the Practitioners. The other Practitioner will respond on
demand. The Practitioner on the right
will engage targets from right to left.
The Practitioner on the left will engage targets from left to
right. The winner will be the
Practitioner who knocks down the 4th plate.
Each set of Practitioners will
have four strings of fire. The original
initiator will be selected by a flip of the coin. The initiator will alternate between the pair of
Practitioners. If there is a tie at the
end of 4 runs, a fifth run will occur to break the tie. The initiator for the 5th run
will be selected by a flip of the coin.
Winners of each set will bout
out against one another until an overall winner is determined. The overall winner will receive a NTI hat.