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I spent last Saturday down near Lebanon Oregon at the Oregon Firearms Academy (OFA) for the Defensive Handgun 2 (DH2) class. The DH2 class is based on concealed carry, so we were encouraged to keep everything covered during training. This way the skill set learned is more applicable to those of us who carry concealed.
Range Training
We began the day with a brief review of the skills learned in our DH1 class. This included safety issues, the various reloads, presenting a gun from a concealed holster, and clearing malfunctions. We were encouraged to mix their trainer rounds in with our live ammunition. This would give us practice for clearing malfunctions while stressed. (By the end of the day, my hands were roughed up from regularly going through the tap-rack-boom drill, but I had it down pat.) From there, the class became more and more advanced as the day went on. Some of my favorite drills included firing from a kneeling position with hands in the air, firing on moving targets while on the move, team communication, and room clearing.
Situational training
Throughout the day, the instructors would remove one student at a time to go through a special course they set up. In the first course, they armed me with an airsoft pistol and protective gear. They described my real world situation and released me into the training area. The situation was very normal, but things got exciting in a hurry. Other instructors were waiting for me and acted out a real world situation where my ability to think on my feet was really tested. I died during the first training situation. Those instructors are sneaky! (Shawn, Im talking about you!) Anyway, it really made me think about what I could do and what I should do in the real world.
The second course was live-fire when we had to go through a building they had set up. For this drill, an instructor was right behind me to help me apply the room clearing techniques I learned earlier. Engaging targets during the room clearing was an eye opening experience. Again, it gave me some things to think about.
Overall
One of my favorite things about OFA is the group of instructors they have. All of them are extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, helpful, and enthusiastic. Throughout the training, there were several OFA red shirts coaching and correcting as they walked up and down the line. Their advice was always helpful and specific.
When I finished my DH1 course last year, I told my wife how much I had learned and how many bad habits I broke. This year, I found myself telling my wife about how much new stuff I learned that had never occurred to me before.
I strongly recommend OFA to anyone who carries concealed or to anyone who just wants to improve their shooting performance. Their training is well worth the cost and time.
Range Training
We began the day with a brief review of the skills learned in our DH1 class. This included safety issues, the various reloads, presenting a gun from a concealed holster, and clearing malfunctions. We were encouraged to mix their trainer rounds in with our live ammunition. This would give us practice for clearing malfunctions while stressed. (By the end of the day, my hands were roughed up from regularly going through the tap-rack-boom drill, but I had it down pat.) From there, the class became more and more advanced as the day went on. Some of my favorite drills included firing from a kneeling position with hands in the air, firing on moving targets while on the move, team communication, and room clearing.
Situational training
Throughout the day, the instructors would remove one student at a time to go through a special course they set up. In the first course, they armed me with an airsoft pistol and protective gear. They described my real world situation and released me into the training area. The situation was very normal, but things got exciting in a hurry. Other instructors were waiting for me and acted out a real world situation where my ability to think on my feet was really tested. I died during the first training situation. Those instructors are sneaky! (Shawn, Im talking about you!) Anyway, it really made me think about what I could do and what I should do in the real world.
The second course was live-fire when we had to go through a building they had set up. For this drill, an instructor was right behind me to help me apply the room clearing techniques I learned earlier. Engaging targets during the room clearing was an eye opening experience. Again, it gave me some things to think about.
Overall
One of my favorite things about OFA is the group of instructors they have. All of them are extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, helpful, and enthusiastic. Throughout the training, there were several OFA red shirts coaching and correcting as they walked up and down the line. Their advice was always helpful and specific.
When I finished my DH1 course last year, I told my wife how much I had learned and how many bad habits I broke. This year, I found myself telling my wife about how much new stuff I learned that had never occurred to me before.
I strongly recommend OFA to anyone who carries concealed or to anyone who just wants to improve their shooting performance. Their training is well worth the cost and time.
And don't get me started on advanced handgun tactics or Extreme....... :woot:
