Some machines are higher performance than others.Today's class set the bar way way up there.
Benenglish, JimBobKelley, Midnightyell, and TheRealTDawg are machines!!!
I got mine online, Amazon to be exact, not very many places have it in retail but you can get good prices online... Like no more expensive than normal cleaning and lube solutions if not cheaper lol.I will have to give it a try. Where do you get it?
Today was awesome! In my opinion you could not have had a more perfect August day to take an outdoor pistol class. Overcast and a slight breeze. I hope the weather is just as nice tomorrow for everyone like it was for us today. I look forward to the next class.
I recommend Hoffner's. He's good people.I will have to give it a try. Where do you get it?
I got mine online, Amazon to be exact, not very many places have it in retail but you can get good prices online... Like no more expensive than normal cleaning and lube solutions if not cheaper lol.
I recommend Hoffner's. He's good people.
Heres the mfg's page for TX vendors.
FrogLube Dealer List - Texas
-1822)
I've messed a bit with Frog Lube, def good stuff. I have to admit, AaronP220 showed me some stuff even better than that called Brian Enos Slide Glide. When I re-up on some oil/lube/grease, that's what I plan on buying.
I've messed a bit with Frog Lube, def good stuff. I have to admit, AaronP220 showed me some stuff even better than that called Brian Enos Slide Glide. When I re-up on some oil/lube/grease, that's what I plan on buying.
I usually carry a tube in my range bag, if anyone wants to check it out.
Champion Firearms in College Station carries it...
In regards to this, Chris helped me tremendously in identifying the root causes of my inaccuracies - I mean some stuff so small I didn't even know I was doing it - and I began to show a good bit of improvement over the course of the day. I'm a lot more confident in my abilities and can't wait until I can practice some more.I could make the 18th or 19th work.
I'm concerned my level of proficiency with pistols is probably a good bit below the rest of the group.
The class today was exemplary and I feel compelled to post a few thoughts.
Without being explicit on this point, Chris clearly acknowledges that he's a student and that we're all on a continuum of learning. He's further along that most of us and can mostly teach but he's not above learning in the process.
I can't stress too strongly the importance of this mindset in an instructor. Know-it-alls can't teach. They don't know it all and even if they know *almost* everything, they let their egos get in the way of efficiently sharing that knowledge.
Chris, on the other hand, knows plenty enough to teach but never takes up residence on some plane of existence unattainable by mere mortals. He responded to questions without hesitation and was perfectly willing to place the particular technique under discussion into a broader context of principles, whether those principles had to do with simple mechanics or some other aspect of shooting. He was, in other words, willing to adapt to the needs of the students and capable of recognizing when such adaptation was necessary, when he needed to re-state in different words or re-demonstrate to make something clear. Instructors who are caught up in their own egos such that their way is the only way are often unable to teach when their way doesn't click with a student; Chris had no such problems.
Examples? I've been a dedicated Weaver shooter for over 30 years when service pistols are in play. Chris made it clear that would not fly in this class. However, he didn't just lay down the law. When he recognized that I was wedded to Weaver and needed more convincing, it was clear that he changed his spiel on the fly, adding context and detail regarding why his way was better. I can still defend Weaver; it has a couple of undeniable advantages, especially for someone older, less strong, and less flexible such as myself. I was distinctly uncomfortable with the straight isosceles stance enforced during the class. But he did such a good job of explaining the conceptual underpinnings and then providing instructions on the details that I was willing to cooperate. I benefited greatly from that.
Second example and a personal pet peeve when this is screwed up - Range commands, including corrections, were clear and appropriate at all times. This applies to both content and tone. On two occasions, he had to correct bad form on my part, the sorts of bad form that lead to safety problems. There were no histrionics, just straightforward, concise corrections followed by positive reinforcement when the situations were corrected. Some instructors throw hissy fits over small things in order to establish their dominance and embarrass students as a way of correcting them; there was none of that here. It's never necessary and Chris clearly recognizes that. Thus, what I like to call a "casual but careful" atmosphere was established where people were diligent enough to be safe but relaxed enough to learn. That's a tough line to walk where firearms are concerned and he did it well.
Steve's role in the class should not be undervalued. He provided a wonderful foil to Chris when needed. He efficiently stepped in with demos. He noted when a re-statement of something needed to be made and provided it with a sufficiently different emphasis that, on several occasions, I was able to better and more quickly understand what was going on. They make a great team.
Like all thing crafted by man, the class wasn't perfect. The facilities were an interesting mix. In some ways, it's wonderful. You feel like you're in the middle of wide-open spaces, yet there's a restroom nearby. In only one way were the facilities inadequate; the berm is too small. Chris realizes it and has already scheduled the additional materials to fix that problem. After that, bikini models serving pitchers of iced sweet tea would be a nice addition but I can't think of anything more that's really needed to teach a class. It's possible to spend literally millions on bells and whistles for a range. I hope Chris is sharp enough (and I think he is) to resist the temptation to add too much artificial stage design infrastructure and, instead, keeps his attention on what counts - connecting with the students and providing the personalized training that meets their needs.
On a crass, commercial note, I'm a retiree. For ~30 years, I worked at one place that sent me to hundreds of classes and spent at least a million dollars training me. (I've also taught dozens of classes, just as a point of reference.) I'm acutely aware of what good training costs and how, sometimes, very costly training can be utterly worthless. Todays class represented a better value-for-money proposition than 99% of those classes.
I'm a better shooter than I was a day ago. My thanks to Chris, Steve, and my classmates for making that happen.
Are you going to Houston range day Aug 25? I think I am going to make it there and I would like to see what it's like.
...Steve's role in the class should not be undervalued. He provided a wonderful foil to Chris when needed. He efficiently stepped in with demos. He noted when a re-statement of something needed to be made and provided it with a sufficiently different emphasis that, on several occasions, I was able to better and more quickly understand what was going on. They make a great team...
...I'm a better shooter than I was a day ago. My thanks to Chris, Steve, and my classmates for making that happen...
i see what you did there lolThanks for the heads up on that.
As far as dying your pit bull burnt orange, I don't know about that. I think the maroon/red color will be just fine.