Category Archives: Training

Reviews, Training

Modern Samurai Project 2-Day Red Dot “Day 2” AAR (Poly80 Edition)

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I am going to start this blog post off with a rather obvious, but still important statement:

“Factory pistols with red dots or red dot cuts on the slide may be the hotness, but they are not new.”

I say that because, well, it’s true. The first one I’m aware of, the FN FNX-45, was released in 2012, and it still took another three years for Chuck Pressburg (nee “Roland”) on Primary and Secondary to popularize the concept enough to start gaining mass market appeal (with an after-market milled slide by ATEi, ironically).

I say this because the training situation for them has really lagged. Until about 2017, when Modern Samurai Project started offering classes, I’m not even sure there was a class for red dot pistols outside of Gabe Suarez’s (no comment there). Yes, you had USPSA GM-level shooters doing training on Open guns – but those are a somewhat different beast than the Carry Optics pistols we’re talking about, both in terms of the gun itself and the way it’s carried rig-wise. I was fortunate enough to take the second day of MSP’s “2-Day Red Dot” on Sunday, and I want to share my (really great!) experiences. More after the break.

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Training

FPF Training Knife Skills for Concealed Carry Class AAR

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As discussed previously, I like to take a training class every month so as to always be learning new stuff and sharpening my skills. I pay special attention to opportunities to train with visiting instructors, especially on subjects I don’t know anything about. You can therefore imagine how excited I was that my schedule lined up with FPF Training bringing in Greg Ellifritz to run his Knife Skills for Concealed Carry Class.

I don’t know anything about knives. I mean, I got my Whittling Chip card as a Cub Scout, and I’ve done some kitchen work with one. But using one to defend myself in lieu of, or in conjunction with, a firearm? Absolutely nothing. It seemed like a good thing to learn, so it was off to class I went. The rest of the AAR is after the break!

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Reviews, Training

Green Ops Defensive Carbine I Clinic AAR (IDF Colt Commando Edition)

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Continuing my tradition of running my guns hard and Israeli-style, I was very happy to kick off the new year with the Green Ops Defensive Carbine I Clinic this past Sunday. This was the third time I’ve taken this particular class, and I can say that each and every time, I’ve learned something new.

This time around, I decided to go with my IDF Colt Commando carbine clone. Yes, that’s right… I went with a plain-old AR-15 for once. Read on for my impressions of the class!

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Thoughts, Training

Being a good student – and how instructors can help.

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When I was listening to the Primary and Secondary podcast, there was a really good discussion of “how to be a good student” from the perspective of the trainers, along with an accompanying discussion on the forum. I’ve done a lot of training lately, and I thought I’d do my own take on it. To me, there’s two big categories here: prep before class, and what you do at class.

Prep before class has a few subcategories:

  • Mental
  • Supplies for physical needs
  • Clothing
  • “Gear”
  • Gun-related stuff

But what you do at class, and even after class, is important, too… and instructors, that’s you, too.

Continue reading Being a good student – and how instructors can help. →

Reviews, Training

Green Ops Defensive Pistol I Clinic AAR (G34 Edition)

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This is an after-action review of the Green Ops Defensive Pistol I Clinic that was held on December 9 (6:00 PM – 10:30 PM) at the NRA HQ range. I think some people are going to find that odd. “But, Jew-with-a-Gun, you just took that back in October! What’s the point?”

The point is, remarkably, quite simple: if advanced shooting is just advanced application of the fundamentals, then pretty much anything you do to further master those fundamentals is going to have positive downstream effects when you’re shooting at a higher-level. The trick is having instructors who can keep pushing you on those fundamentals beyond a basic level, and the Green Ops guys are top-notch for that.

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Reviews, Training

FPF Training Home Defense Shotgun Class AAR (AGR-870 edition)

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I’ve been enjoying quite a lot of high quality training this year, but have wanted to see what the other quality instructors in the area have been offering. One thing I’ve never done before is take a shotgun class, so I was very interested in the Home Defense Shotgun class that Tim Chandler and FPF Training offer. Tim has been on the Primary and Secondary podcast, and enjoys an amazing reputation for his courses.

I was fortunate enough to be able to get in to it, and have an AAR for you… more after the break!

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Reviews, Training

Green Ops Defensive Pistol I Clinic AAR (Polymer80 Roland Special Edition)

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As mentioned in my last AAR, I’ve been trying to really push myself in training this year… the goal has been one class a month, which requires a bit of fiscal and time management. But it’s really worth it. Dry-firing every day can get you fast, but having someone experienced to give you immediate feedback on your technique is SO helpful.

With that in mind, I’m very pleased to give my readers another AAR on a Green Ops class: the defensive pistol I clinic. I’m typing this the morning after; a bit sore, but happy with the class and what it taught me. I always like to say this up front, so… this is an excellent class, and if you’re in the DC area, it’s absolutely worth taking. At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, Green Ops delivers every time.

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Reviews, Training

Green Ops Defensive Carbine Clinic AAR (Galil Edition)

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Shanah tovah!

So, I have been less active posting to the blog because I’ve been buying less and doing more. This is not a bad state of affairs, but can admittedly be on the boring side of things if you’re the reader of an Israeli firearms blog! (It also didn’t help that IWI hasn’t released any of their new guns yet… so much for release dates.)

One of the things I’ve been doing more of is training. Training is a tough commitment, but I’m in a place in my life where I’m finally in condition to do more of it, and I’ve been trying to make a priority of it. Finding good trainers is hard – most of them seem content to do CCW courses and “your first gun!” classes. There’s nothing wrong with those, but when you want more advanced training, you’re either looking harder or traveling.

I am very pleased to say that Green Ops in northern Virginia is one of those real-deal advanced training providers, and they’re worth every penny you throw their way. I’ve taken a number of courses with them, and this after-action review is for their Defensive Carbine Clinic.

Continue reading Green Ops Defensive Carbine Clinic AAR (Galil Edition) →