LittleGun wrote:Another malfunction drill we use is this: Students place their guns on a table. Students turn their backs while the instructor sabotages each pistol with some kind of malfunction. A student steps forward, picks up each gun and fires. If it doesn't fire, he must fix the malfunction and get it to fire.
Just a quick sidebar story. John Farnam uses a variant of this drill in his advanced course. I've run it with him several times, and I hate it.
John conducts this after dark, as part of the night session that includes flashlight work. At least six guns are placed on the table (usually two tables going simultaneously). The handguns are selected mainly on type of action, to get as broad a mix as possible (we typically see revolvers in the class only as BUGs, so they've never been in the mix in my experience). The instructors "sabotage" most of the guns in some way; I say "most" because every once in a while one is left properly functioning to keep us on our toes.
The kicker is that it's dark; not dusk, dark. Starlight and, if you're very lucky, some moonlight. A steel target (so we can tell when a hit is achieved; did I mention it's dark?) is set up at a modest distance, probably 20 feet, but it isn't easy to see...nor are the guns even after you walk up to the table for your turn.
The simple mission is to pick up the first gun, move off the "X" to the side of the table, achieve two hits on target (gotta get the hits), move back, replace the gun and pick up the next. Repeat. The only other rule is that you have to attempt to fire the gun as is; in other words, you can't perform a preemptive tap-rack without first attempting to fire. To apply additional pressure, you're on the clock from first round fired until two hits are achieved from all the guns on the table.
To get a decent time, you have to concentrate on the hits. I've seen one instance where a 92FS was set up with two good-to-go rounds, but when the student had a miss and had to try a make-up shot, he found that the next few rounds were all Snap Caps and required remediation. And until you run this, you may think you have a decent knowledge of major types of auto-loading pistols, but when you have to work at speed and mostly by feel because you can't stop to bring the gun up close to your face in the dark to see what kind it is...well, it's humbling.
The most amazing run I've seen was by Gregg Garrett, of Comp-Tac. He was assisting with the class and Farman "volunteered" him to show how it should be done. He stayed back with us, chatting, as the table was set up, so I know he didn't have any advanced info about what guns were on the table or in what condition; and he wasn't wearing nightvision goggles.
But it may as well have been under bright noonday sun, the guns may as well have all come from Gregg's personal collection, and he may as well have set-up the malfunctions in each pistol himself. Several seconds, it was all over. The class was silent for a moment before an appreciative round of applause. I remain
very impressed.
I admit I don't often practice stoppage reduction with my BUG...