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Greetings NW Firearms folk (et. al) I decided to post this review of the Four-day Tactical Shotgun class because I couldn't find any recent reviews. This review will be done on a day-by-day basis as I complete each day in the class. I'm not going to go into detail about things one needs to know if they've never been to Front Sight. There's plenty of info out there on that subject.
Rather, this will be in regard to the shotgun class only.
Day 1
As I started this class on a Monday, the total class population wasn't as large as if it had started on a Friday. After checking in, going through firearm and ammo inspection, we sat through the morning intro video and signed release forms. (Just FYI, when bringing your firearm and ammo for inspection, they require that you bring a full box of your birdshot, buckshot, and slugs).
We then proceeded to our assigned range, stowed our shotguns on the rack, met our instructors, and spent quite a while on administrative things. Our lead instructor then went into housekeeping issues regarding things like loading and unloading, stances, basic operation of pumps and semi-auto's, and the ready positions, ie: Ready Position, High Ready Position, and Field Ready Position.
We then proceeded to the range where we dry-practiced all the things we had just been taught. When were comfortable with these, we then proceeded to live-fire drills making sure that we practiced good safety at all times. As with all the other classes at Front Sight, we ran these drills in relays with our partners watching out for us at all times to make critiques and do safety checks.
We then proceeded to after-actions drills, learning about situational awareness, and what to do AFTER shots have been fired. This is mostly to break the students of tunnel vision that may occur after a self-defense shooting.
More drills, more shooting, and then we started in on port loading and taking shots. Honestly I don't even remember at what point we broke for lunch, but everyone was ready for a break.
After lunch we started in on shooting from kneeling, sitting, and prone position. Although this was part of the curriculum, our lead instructor emphasized that shooting from position (other than standing) with a shotgun is almost irrelevant. I happen to disagree with him on this issue, but that's just me. We used just three slugs to shoot once from these three positions. (Or was this when we broke for lunch?).
At any rate, the afternoon consisted of more drills, more shooting, and everyone getting tired. By the end of the day we had expended 80 rounds of birdshot, and three slugs.
I'd like to talk about some equipment issues now. There were some reviews online of what to bring with you for the shotgun class. I'm not going in to detail, only things that you may be curious about:
1) Shell pouch- necessary. You will go through a crap-ton of shells over the course of the class, and having some sort of shell bag will be of huge benefit for administrative reloads.
2) Shell caddy for shotgun- Necessary? No. Useful? Yes. I bought a Mesa Tactical shell caddie for my Benelli, and I found that it made indexing rounds right into the magazine tube quite easy.
3) Belt mounted shell caddy/carrier- Necessary? No. Useful? Yes. I bought two of the California Competition four round caddy's, and I think it would have been better to have the six rounders, although they were hard to come by online. They also make it easy to grab shells and index them to the mag tube.
4) Sling- necessary. You have to have one on your shotgun for the class. I would not recommend one of those cheap Uncle Mikes slings that you loop over the barrel and the comb of the stock.
5) Nike Dry Fit UV Solar Sleeves- Not necessary but VERY useful! I like wearing t-shirts. I got these solar sleeves to wear over my arms so I didn't have to slather sunblock all over my arms every day, and I love them!
I'll wrap it up here as I'm whipped- more tomorrow!
Rather, this will be in regard to the shotgun class only.
Day 1
As I started this class on a Monday, the total class population wasn't as large as if it had started on a Friday. After checking in, going through firearm and ammo inspection, we sat through the morning intro video and signed release forms. (Just FYI, when bringing your firearm and ammo for inspection, they require that you bring a full box of your birdshot, buckshot, and slugs).
We then proceeded to our assigned range, stowed our shotguns on the rack, met our instructors, and spent quite a while on administrative things. Our lead instructor then went into housekeeping issues regarding things like loading and unloading, stances, basic operation of pumps and semi-auto's, and the ready positions, ie: Ready Position, High Ready Position, and Field Ready Position.
We then proceeded to the range where we dry-practiced all the things we had just been taught. When were comfortable with these, we then proceeded to live-fire drills making sure that we practiced good safety at all times. As with all the other classes at Front Sight, we ran these drills in relays with our partners watching out for us at all times to make critiques and do safety checks.
We then proceeded to after-actions drills, learning about situational awareness, and what to do AFTER shots have been fired. This is mostly to break the students of tunnel vision that may occur after a self-defense shooting.
More drills, more shooting, and then we started in on port loading and taking shots. Honestly I don't even remember at what point we broke for lunch, but everyone was ready for a break.
After lunch we started in on shooting from kneeling, sitting, and prone position. Although this was part of the curriculum, our lead instructor emphasized that shooting from position (other than standing) with a shotgun is almost irrelevant. I happen to disagree with him on this issue, but that's just me. We used just three slugs to shoot once from these three positions. (Or was this when we broke for lunch?).
At any rate, the afternoon consisted of more drills, more shooting, and everyone getting tired. By the end of the day we had expended 80 rounds of birdshot, and three slugs.
I'd like to talk about some equipment issues now. There were some reviews online of what to bring with you for the shotgun class. I'm not going in to detail, only things that you may be curious about:
1) Shell pouch- necessary. You will go through a crap-ton of shells over the course of the class, and having some sort of shell bag will be of huge benefit for administrative reloads.
2) Shell caddy for shotgun- Necessary? No. Useful? Yes. I bought a Mesa Tactical shell caddie for my Benelli, and I found that it made indexing rounds right into the magazine tube quite easy.
3) Belt mounted shell caddy/carrier- Necessary? No. Useful? Yes. I bought two of the California Competition four round caddy's, and I think it would have been better to have the six rounders, although they were hard to come by online. They also make it easy to grab shells and index them to the mag tube.
4) Sling- necessary. You have to have one on your shotgun for the class. I would not recommend one of those cheap Uncle Mikes slings that you loop over the barrel and the comb of the stock.
5) Nike Dry Fit UV Solar Sleeves- Not necessary but VERY useful! I like wearing t-shirts. I got these solar sleeves to wear over my arms so I didn't have to slather sunblock all over my arms every day, and I love them!
I'll wrap it up here as I'm whipped- more tomorrow!
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