Tom Jones has finished the first week of his 365 Days of Training. Quite a week it’s been, starting with a pre-test to set a skill baseline using the F.A.S.T., IDPA Classifier, and Hackathorn Standards; then two days of Aim Fast, Hit Fast; followed by a dedicated bullseye session and quite a bit of dry fire.
How dedicated is Tom? Even though he’s in another country for a while, he brought his holster and a red gun (plastic facsimile) to practice his draws and other techniques.
And you know what? He’s reporting real benefits from that practice.
You can follow Tom’s one-year mission day by day at jones.pistol-training.com.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
I’ve often thought that a redgun/bluegun might be a good tool for helping new shooters make the “what to carry”, “how to carry”, or “carry/not carry” decisons. Practicing the daily routine with an inert replica would be safer for all involved, and might lead to better choices.
There might be an opportunity there for an innovative store/training facility: Rent someone a redgun and holster for a month, with the rental being credited toward a subsequent gun or holster purchase.
Great idea peter. Mail order holster library with matching gun.
Then again I would say most but certainly not all gun shops or holster companies really care about sales not the ordeal of finding the tool and carry method that is just right for an individual.
I would say the 380 rage is really driven by this lack of proper advice for something larger: it really doesnt take much clever thought (or an wasting an insane amount of money on holsters) to conceal a pocket 380.
However, there is one question. Assuming you dont whip it out and point it at anyone, is it legal everywhere in the US to carry a blue/orange/red gun a) concealed, b) open, c) printing but still concealed.
When I was on the road I wold take my “blue gun” and use it to practice draws and press outs.
It really does keep you in tune.
Thank you Todd for posting Tom’s journal entries here and for your comments on his site.
I posted on his journal site about the use of the red gun, which I’ll ask here too. How do you feel about it’s use for press out/draw and do you feel there’s a difference between the red and blue versions in terms of training? I believe the blue one is weighted to replicate the real one? Does that matter? Would you always use the real gun over the blue/red unless you could not for some reason? I realize the trigger for dry firing is important………..but the red/blue could be used just about anywhere for draw/press out work it seems.
Prdator- did you choose the blue over the red one for any reason? I’m glad to read that you felt it helped you.
Thank you both,
Chrisitan
Christian — The blue guns are available in both weighted and un-weighted variants. The red guns are (AFAIK) only available as un-weighted. I would have preferred a weighted blue gun, but the red one was easier for me to acquire under the time constraints I was faced with.
Having said that, I’ve found the red gun to be a pretty good substitute for working on my drawstroke in the absence of a real gun. Of course the proof will in be timing live fire drills, but right now I’m very confident that my red gun dry practice was worthwhile.
Given the option though, I’d pick a real gun every time.
Just a reminder, folks: There is an ongoing thread at FirearmsTrainingAndTactics.com for folks who want to ask Tom questions or discuss the 365 Days of Training.
Off-topic, but wanted to thank you for the target pasters you gave me out at NRA on Sunday. Really appreciate it.
AA — No problem, dude. 8)
Now he needs to take Krav Maga. After a while integrate his Red gun/holster drawing and shooting techniques with KM practice. Just make sure his gear is real street gear, concealment real street concealment.
First he needs to practice punching, elbowing, kneeing, etc… a bag (and do it HARD) and then draw his weapon. Once he is used to doing that on command, then while he is punching on the bag others attack him with grabs or attempted punches.
Later have him stand in the middle, eyes closed, while others serially attack him with pads, or grabs and he uses SD techniques to fend off the attacks. BUT sometimes they pull a knife or gun, or multiple attackers, and he has to draw on them.
Believe me, this type of training works!
And yep, I do this kind of thing!!