on November 21, 2009 10:52 PM
I've got a nice collection of welts from KR Training's AT-5: Force on Force Clinic.
The class uses Airsoft replica guns which fire a small plastic pellet at fairly low velocity compared to an actual pistol, but they have enough "oomp" to hurt. They leave a nice bloody blister and welt where you get hit. (I should have worn something heavier like most of the class did.)
The first scenario I did involved a simulated gas station. I got out to pay, walked up to the register and a guy comes in and yells "EVERYBODY DOWN" with a gun drawn. I drew and got some marginal hits to his gut, but only took one shot to the upper arm in return before he went back out the door. I'd give it a "C" grade.
There was another scenario where you're walking through an area with a lot of simulated cover and have to get to the "exit". Everyone had a different scenario, some harder than others. I managed to use the cover and avoid the confrontation, which involved two guys arguing over something. I'd give it a "B+" because I couldn't find the exit, but didn't get killed.
The third scenario was done at night. You're leaving a simulated store, and some guy comes up to you and starts engaging you in conversation. I kept walking and trying to keep my distance, and he finally left. In the situation you already have a flashlight out so I scanned up ahead and found another guy with a gun. Once I lit him up he used his flashlight as well. I dropped the stuff I was carrying, took a big step, drew and shot. I managed to get two good hits to the vitals and not get shot in the process, so I'd give that an "A".
Besides that there were a number of drills against other class members. They were very informative, but painful at times. I think I got hit on the hands at least a dozen times, on the chest about as much, arms, legs, neck, and even took two to the top of my head which really frickin' hurt.
Some of what I learned:
It's a lot easier to hit moving people than you might think. In one drill I was shooting "gangsta" style with gun held horizontally in my right hand and just nailing my opponent in the face repeatedly. (Which is actually the least painful place to get hit thanks to the mask.)
Cover is your friend.
When shots are coming your way it's very hard to focus on getting a sight picture, but also at the distances in the class, I still did ok without using the sights for every shot.
It's hard to get good shots with a light shined in your eyes.
Getting of the X is important, but you're still going to get hit. Hopefully if it ever happens in real life you won't be getting attacked by some of the marksman in our class, as everyone was pretty good. Related to that, don't stop if you get hit. Keep fighting, going for cover, etc. You ain't dead till you're dead.
Roughly 80% of the shots I took probably weren't immediately life threatening. It's hard to say for sure of course, but only 3 of the chest shots were in the heart/lung area. The head shots that I took were mostly during some drills where the bad guy pretty much just has to stand there and shoot 1 shot per second. It's easier being the bad guy in that situation. When things got heated I don't think I got shot in the head again.
Wear more clothing next time. Leather jackets seemed to work pretty well.
The class uses Airsoft replica guns which fire a small plastic pellet at fairly low velocity compared to an actual pistol, but they have enough "oomp" to hurt. They leave a nice bloody blister and welt where you get hit. (I should have worn something heavier like most of the class did.)
The first scenario I did involved a simulated gas station. I got out to pay, walked up to the register and a guy comes in and yells "EVERYBODY DOWN" with a gun drawn. I drew and got some marginal hits to his gut, but only took one shot to the upper arm in return before he went back out the door. I'd give it a "C" grade.
There was another scenario where you're walking through an area with a lot of simulated cover and have to get to the "exit". Everyone had a different scenario, some harder than others. I managed to use the cover and avoid the confrontation, which involved two guys arguing over something. I'd give it a "B+" because I couldn't find the exit, but didn't get killed.
The third scenario was done at night. You're leaving a simulated store, and some guy comes up to you and starts engaging you in conversation. I kept walking and trying to keep my distance, and he finally left. In the situation you already have a flashlight out so I scanned up ahead and found another guy with a gun. Once I lit him up he used his flashlight as well. I dropped the stuff I was carrying, took a big step, drew and shot. I managed to get two good hits to the vitals and not get shot in the process, so I'd give that an "A".
Besides that there were a number of drills against other class members. They were very informative, but painful at times. I think I got hit on the hands at least a dozen times, on the chest about as much, arms, legs, neck, and even took two to the top of my head which really frickin' hurt.
Some of what I learned:
It's a lot easier to hit moving people than you might think. In one drill I was shooting "gangsta" style with gun held horizontally in my right hand and just nailing my opponent in the face repeatedly. (Which is actually the least painful place to get hit thanks to the mask.)
Cover is your friend.
When shots are coming your way it's very hard to focus on getting a sight picture, but also at the distances in the class, I still did ok without using the sights for every shot.
It's hard to get good shots with a light shined in your eyes.
Getting of the X is important, but you're still going to get hit. Hopefully if it ever happens in real life you won't be getting attacked by some of the marksman in our class, as everyone was pretty good. Related to that, don't stop if you get hit. Keep fighting, going for cover, etc. You ain't dead till you're dead.
Roughly 80% of the shots I took probably weren't immediately life threatening. It's hard to say for sure of course, but only 3 of the chest shots were in the heart/lung area. The head shots that I took were mostly during some drills where the bad guy pretty much just has to stand there and shoot 1 shot per second. It's easier being the bad guy in that situation. When things got heated I don't think I got shot in the head again.
Wear more clothing next time. Leather jackets seemed to work pretty well.
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