Not quite a stupid question if you think about it

[BrassMonkey]

So we are always talking about, what if this, and what if that. Recently, a thread about a guy with no night sites and trouble at nighttime.

So the question is this, is there any point to trining while sleepy? Say, stay up all night(or two), and go shooting at a range while supervised? Point being to see how you react/behave in reference to the act of shooting a firearm, and maybe even stress or live fire scenarios?

Perhaps some kind of half awake IPDA?

Yes, it could be dangerous, or perhaps I am an idiot, but I think under the right circumstances, it could have a nenefit of some value, maybe it could save your child from your hazy rain of lead one day? Hrmmmm?

[yerasimos]

Interesting concept . . .

I am not a sleep scientist, but I believe that the type of fatigue experienced after 36-48 hours of wakefulness may not be the same type of "fatigue" experienced when being rousted from dreamy sleep at 3am.

I suggest simulating a home defense scenario with Airsoft guns, having trusted friends or spouse wake you from sleep, then hustle you to engage either paper targets or force-on-force live opponents. The force-on-force option would require safety gear worn by all participants; you would not have to sleep with the gear on; the "safety officer" could help you into the gear and escort you quickly to the shooting scenario before you get to 100% or drink a caffeinated beverage.

I think this would be help you learn most of what you are after while sidestepping the liabilities and logistical problems associated with trying to do this with real firearms and ammunition.

JM2CW, take it or leave it.

[seamusTX]

So the question is this, is there any point to trining while sleepy? Say, stay up all night(or two), and go shooting at a range while supervised?

Try that with video games or ping-pong.

Here's something you could do if you want a test without endangering anyone: Arrange with a like-minded friend to call you on your cell phone (which you keep on your headboard) at a random time in the middle of the night, a couple of weeks down the road. When you wake up, you have to put on and tie your shoes before you answer the phone, or call him back if the call has gone to voice mail.

- Jim

[pbandjelly]

I feel like the adrenalin from "popping" out of bed will awaken you sufficiently. maybe not enough to solve complex algebraic word problems (if Train A leaves the station at 60mph, how much money did you waste on a bus pass in 2003, when you coulda rode the bus...), but I'm sure you could determine the difference betwen Lil Jr and Crawley McBadguy.

but I hear your point. I'm just not trying to make it through Heck Week of Seal training.

[jbirds1210]

Perhaps some kind of half awake IPDA?

I know more of a few of us here have accomplished this with our work schedules!

Seriously.....the sleep deprived range trip sounds dangerous! The video game idea sounds like a great idea.

[BrassMonkey]

better then the backyard though :-D

The only video game I play is Guitar Hero II. Man, it is addictive. I don;t have a memory card though so I can;t turn the system off... Wound up putting it on a battery backup so I don't lose my place :-D

[bburgi]

I agree with the adrenaline thing - have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night to a threatening situation (or at least one you perceived to be threatening)? You're adrenaline pumps so hard, all your senses are alert, and it's difficult to get BACK to sleep.

[Thane]

I know that I can still shoot if I'm "excessively fatigued." The night before the shooting portion of my CHL test (it was spread out over four days - 3 classroom, 1 range), I pulled an all-nighter. I went to bed, but couldn't sleep, and so got NO rest. I had gotten little sleep the previous night as well.

I shot a 246/250, with no sleep in about 40 hours, using a Rock Island .45 with tiny "GI-style" sights. Granted, I threw a flyer that lost me two points at three yards...

Shooting after having just woken up... I've never had occasion to find out how accurate I'll be, and I hope to never require THAT particular skill. However, the drills mentioned above (waking up suddenly and performing a motor-skills task like tying shoes or duking it out with Airsoft) sound interesting

[Venus Pax]

My husband awakened me a few nights ago b/c he absolutely KNEW someone was in the house. (It turned out that he merged a dream w/ reality.) When you perceive a threat you wake up very quickly.

[TxFire]

I have found (quiet regularly) that I can be awakened from a very nice sleep and be thrust into activity that requires thought, coordination, and motor skills and at times be adrenaline pumping. This is my job. Most of the time I find I waken quickly and am fully functional and able to percieve whats going on quite well. There are those groggy times, but I am also not reacting to a threat or percieved threat. Fight or Flight response is there for just this type of response.

[Fourman]

I have had plenty of training with this. I was with the local FD for a few years and have had to wake up from a nice sleep to have to (most at the same time):

1- Get dressed and possible bunker up
2- Listen to dispatch as to what type of call it is
3- Figure who needs to go and do I need support
4- What truck
5- Where the heck to go (sometimes the hardest of all from deep sleep)

All this has to be done in 3 minutes or less, most of the time under 2. It was fun to watch the new guys/gals, but then again we all have to start somewhere.

Brian