Jason Falla discusses the importance of competition shooting and its value to tactical training.
I just finished assisting with the conduct of the Warrior Competition at KASOTC, Amman Jordan. We ran 4 days of competition with competitors from various Special Operations Units around the world. At each stage of competition the teams started with weapons unloaded to mitigate any safety issues.
Not realistic, right? These competitions and drills are seldom about tactics, just speed and accuracy. Shooting. Tactics are trained at other times and do come together during drills.
This is a stress course for time, shooting paper. The shooters only needed to move to the shooting position, engage targets, engage safety catch, move to the next shooting position and so on. Safety is a big consideration when conducting even basic courses of fire.
Don’t over think it!
– Jason Falla, Redback One
This course of fire is readily adaptable to tactical trainees and competitive shooting events. All successful shooters need to manage speed and accuracy. Tactical shooters that are able to will be better able to think and react in a real world environment.
Managing Speed & Accuracy
Firearm User Network 
JCT
Dec 26, 2013 @ 14:34:35
1. “Precise and accurate” UP CLOSE shooting with an AR means compensating for the elevated sights relative to the barrel. The Albuquerque PD patrol rifle course calls for a head shot at 7 yards, then eventually moving back to 100 yds. Trust me, if your AR sights are set at “point of aim” impact at 7 yds, a 100 yard shot will end up in the next county.
2. The tactics of using a back-up pistol and calling for cover, etc. is GOOD training.
3. Note the shooter “scans” the area after his shoot is complete. The idea is good; but I believe the manner in which it is accomplished is bad. Scan not with your body, but with your eyes. If a threat is seen, move the barrel to the threat. I first learned this in my shotgun speed drill where targets are engaged from the outside in, alternating sides. The lesson is: Don’t “scan” with eyes and barrel together; doing so causes over-swing requiring you to pass the target and return. Instead, scan (mainly) with the eyes, then, if/when a threat is seen, move the barrel to the threat.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Dec 26, 2013 @ 14:45:00
1. Very true. A common flaw I see with tactical types is ignorance what can be done at further distances. Personnel become overly focused on shooting inside room distances to the point of never learning to hit targets across the street and beyond.
Learning fundamentals and zeroes needed to hit targets at 50 yards with handguns and a few hundred yards with long guns won’t hamper your ability to shoot close in.
2. Sure. We also do that at some competitive events, but don’t tell anybody.
3. >> The idea is good; but I believe the manner in which it is accomplished is bad.
Tactical types eschew competition for failing to be tactical enough, yet they can’t agree among themselves as to what the ideal tactics are.
Of course, the reason for that is: There is no one ideal tactic. Different environments and situations dictate different tactics. That’s why I espouse focusing on solid fundamentals because they ALWAYS apply.
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