30Aug04

Hot Ranges

We've been running hot pistol ranges for many years now, and the concept is

widely accepted among professional trainers. Most domestic police departments now accept hot ranges as standard, and, as I've mentioned in the past, hot pistol ranges are now even making their way into military training, at least within the USMC. But, what about rifle training? Should we be running hot rifle ranges too? I've been doing it for the last ten years, but many trainers are reluctant. Here are the issues:

Pistols are carried in holsters. Modern holsters, both duty and concealed, are designed so that the trigger, indeed the entire trigger guard, is continuously protected as the gun is carried. In addition, the direction of the muzzle is also controlled, as the pistol is held rigidly in place. Most of us agree that a holstered pistol is a "safe" pistol. Magazines can even be exchanged, in relative safety, so long as the pistol remains holstered.

Secondly, most pistols don't have manual safety levers or buttons, b ecause "safety" is built into the trigger itself. Trigger-cocking pistols have triggers that must be moved rearward at least a half inch under at least six pounds of continuous pressure in order for the weapon to discharge. With that kind of trigger, most of us think that the addition of a manual safety would constitute a pointless redundancy, particularly on a weapon that is supposed to be carried in a high state of readiness. Only pistols that have short, light triggers, such as the 1911, need a manual safety.

Rifles, on the other hand, are not carried rigidly in holsters. Rather, they are slung over the shoulder or neck (muzzle down), with the muzzle under some, but far from absolute, control. As the weapon is thus carried, triggers and trigger guards are not covered or protected in any particular way, and rifle triggers are light and short. Generally, rearward movement of only a few millimeters and pressure of no more that five pounds is necessary for a discharge. Accordingly, all rifles have manual safety levers or buttons. Military rifles have manual safety levers designed to be operated quickly. As rifles are slung and carried, it is surely possible for buttons, snaps, and other articles of clothing to inadvertently enter the trigger guard and put rearward pressure on the trigger, all without knowledge, much less the intent, of the operator.

So, can we safely carry loaded rifles during training sessions, slung, with the manual safety "on?" I believe we can, but, a better answer is that we really have no choice. If we expect soldiers and Marines to do this when they are deployed, we must do it in training. I strongly believe that Students must be acclimated BEFORE they deploy!

I train my students to keep the manual safety "on," checking it frequently, any time the weapon is slung. When the weapon is mounted, the manual safety is pushed "off" as soon as the stock touches the shoulder. So long as the weapon is being held and in a firing position, the safety remains "off," even when the student is moving. Trigger finger, of course, remains in register until sights on target, and the shooter has decided to fire. During breaks , all rifles (and pistols) remain loaded.

I know everyone is afraid of training accidents, but look. We're having accidents now, on "cold" ranges. We're also having accidents in Country, among soldiers and Marines who have never been taught how to handle, much less LIVE WITH, continuously loaded guns!

In any event, we're now here at Camp Pendleton, CA, and tomorrow we're starting an Urban Rifle Program, here with young Marines about to deploy, an d we're going to run the range hot. Ought to be interesting!

/John

30Aug04

Cannon Fodder!

"Things are going from bad to worse here in California. We have gotten word that the guard force is standardizing on Sig Pistols, but the Army and the civilian contractor are only going to buy six. They can never leave the post and are going to be handed from guard to guard at shift change. There will be no opportunity to practice or qualify with these weapons. No single person is going to be responsible for maintenance. When I asked how they were going to transition officers that have been carrying Glocks or Berettas, the Army officer looked puzzled and replied, 'a pistol is a pistol. If we go up to threat level bravo, and increase the amount of guards on duty, we won't have enough guns. Pistols are going to be carried with empty chambers. The load is 9mm ball.

Never fear, however, if the bad guys attack we will be able to drive across the base, find a supervisor, sign out a shotgun, go to a different location, sign out ammunition, and then return to the fight. We also had an 'orientation to action' meeting and discussed the best method of stopping a truck with a handgun. I'm not making this up!"

Comment: My advice to this person is to quit his job immediately. He and his colleagues are obviously little more than cannon fodder in the eyes of the Army and the contractor. This really stinks, but it is all too common.

/John