Extolling the virtues of proper and regular training...

[Peter Franks]

I attended Front Sight Firearms Training Institute for the second time
this month for a 2-day basic (practical) rifle class. Instruction was
excellent, skills and techniques are invaluable. I've nothing but good
to say about Front Sight, I've attended various classes over 80 times
during the past 10 years. I'm a lifetime member.

What I've found, regardless of the class, is that competent training and
regular re-training is a /must/. Firearms handling is a perishable
skill, and individual 'practice' will only get you so far. You need
regular instructor-lead training, not only to learn new skills and
techniques, but to observe and correct bad (and especially unsafe)
techniques.

I encourage all to regularly participate in training from a competent
instructor or school. Find an instructor/school that can /clearly and
logically/ explain why the technique(s) they are teaching are best for
the intended purpose. Techniques for speed/competition may NOT be the
same as those intended for self defense. Know what your intent is, and
what the point is of the instruction. If it is mixed (i.e. both
competition and self-defense, or they flat-out don't know (the
difference)), look elsewhere. Bad habits are HARD HARD HARD to break,
learn them right from the beginning.

I've heard good things about Gunsite. I've heard good things about
Thunder Ranch. I've personally experienced Front Sight and only have
good things to say about it. I know that there are naysayers and
trash-talkers about each of these, and the many other venues available,
saying that theirs is best and all the rest is trash. Whatever, educate
yourself and make an informed decision. I'd like to visit Gunsite and
Thunder Ranch, if time/$$ presents itself, but in the meantime I can't
personally comment on them. I can, however, comment on Front Sight. If
you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask, more than happy to
answer. I'm not here to sell Front Sight (you can buy a membership from
me, or them, or get it somewhere else, or whatever you want), but I do
recommend that you at least check it out before passing judgement.

Regardless, get competent training somewhere, and retrain often. We've
all heard it before (tongue in cheek for conservatives): vote early,
vote often. I consider the equivalent for us to be: train early, train
often.

Have a nice day.

-pf

[Frank]

On 1/22/2020 2:04 PM, Peter Franks wrote:
# I attended Front Sight Firearms Training Institute for the second time
# this month for a 2-day basic (practical) rifle class. Instruction was
# excellent, skills and techniques are invaluable. I've nothing but good
# to say about Front Sight, I've attended various classes over 80 times
# during the past 10 years. I'm a lifetime member.
#
# What I've found, regardless of the class, is that competent training and
# regular re-training is a /must/. Firearms handling is a perishable
# skill, and individual 'practice' will only get you so far. You need
# regular instructor-lead training, not only to learn new skills and
# techniques, but to observe and correct bad (and especially unsafe)
# techniques.
#
# I encourage all to regularly participate in training from a competent
# instructor or school. Find an instructor/school that can /clearly and
# logically/ explain why the technique(s) they are teaching are best for
# the intended purpose. Techniques for speed/competition may NOT be the
# same as those intended for self defense. Know what your intent is, and
# what the point is of the instruction. If it is mixed (i.e. both
# competition and self-defense, or they flat-out don't know (the
# difference)), look elsewhere. Bad habits are HARD HARD HARD to break,
# learn them right from the beginning.
#
# I've heard good things about Gunsite. I've heard good things about
# Thunder Ranch. I've personally experienced Front Sight and only have
# good things to say about it. I know that there are naysayers and
# trash-talkers about each of these, and the many other venues available,
# saying that theirs is best and all the rest is trash. Whatever, educate
# yourself and make an informed decision. I'd like to visit Gunsite and
# Thunder Ranch, if time/$$ presents itself, but in the meantime I can't
# personally comment on them. I can, however, comment on Front Sight. If
# you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask, more than happy to
# answer. I'm not here to sell Front Sight (you can buy a membership from
# me, or them, or get it somewhere else, or whatever you want), but I do
# recommend that you at least check it out before passing judgement.
#
# Regardless, get competent training somewhere, and retrain often. We've
# all heard it before (tongue in cheek for conservatives): vote early,
# vote often. I consider the equivalent for us to be: train early, train
# often.

Most of us old timers just picked up a gun and started shooting.
Years ago I took a practical pistol course at the club I belonged to and
found that the women attending shot better than the men. It was because
the men had been shooting and developing bad habits but the women there
were starting from scratch. Initial training is important.