Cool Training Design, But See If You Can Spot The Errors With This Course

I came across these videos while researching techniques for pistols in traditional settings (workplaces, home, etc.).  Denver Defense came out with a series of videos showing participants completing a “fire and move” round.

The first video is taken from, obviously, first person perspective.  It’s really cool that these videos are shot this way because we’re able to follow along and see what this guy is doing.

But watch all three in succession and notice a trend form… (Don’t worry, they’re all 30 seconds or less)

First off, bravo to the people running the course.  They’re trying to make a course that’s challenging and applicable versus just standing on a firing line and punching paper targets.

I really like this non-traditional style of shooting because it definitely applies more to practical application rather than just practicing marksmanship.

Gun safety is important and it’s adhered to throughout.  Dynamic magazine reloading (move, shoot, move, shoot) is utilized and that’s also good.  Target acquisition, target prioritization, movement… All the pieces of the puzzle are there.

Here’s where I think it falls apart (and it’s in no way the fault of the trainers or the program): office walls or similar don’t provide any cover.

Those walls are for concealment purposes only.  A regular 9mm full metal jacket will slice right through dry wall without so much as a hiccup.  Let’s not even pretend that a .40 S&W JHP+P wouldn’t do the same plus some.  More over, someone running this course may switch to this training in a live fire situation.  They’re using cubicle walls to make the course and that’s awesome — but if this is a workplace scenario, you shouldn’t be keeping your head above the walls unless you’re popping up to recon the area.

The old saying goes, “I’m up, they see me, I’m down.”

By the time a person says this phrase, he should have popped up, moved, and then gone back to the ground or behind cover.

Also, if you’re reloading — stay behind cover or at least remain concealed.  If you walk out into a hallway to engage bad guys and you’re reloading, they’re going to turn you into a pin cushion.

And lastly: if you have the option of engaging multiple targets at once, definitely minimize your silhouette.  If they can, they will return fire and there’s no guarantee “two center mass” will do the trick.