How do you train?

[T-Wayne]

I will be picking up my first Rohrbaugh next week - got a great deal on a distress sale of a fairly new .380.  Since shot placement is so important in SD, and the Rohrbaughs are meant to be carried often and shot just a little, I was wondering how most of you train with your pups.

The best instructor I ever had would put us through the following routine at the beginning of every monthly training session: Shoot a mag in Weaver or Iso (our choice), then repeat with strong hand only, weak hand only, and then repeat the entire routine standing on only one foot then on the other (to simulate being off balance).  Finally, we had to shoot one mag while moving.  (Talk about being humbled by the lack of one’s ability to hit a target!)

His point being that the BG will chose his attack at a moment that is opportune for him – not for us – and the chance that we will be able to adopt a secure 2-handed, well balanced stance during a panicked moment of SD shooting could be slim to none.  

He has since moved to another state, but the routine has been ingrained in my training, although now that I can shoot only at a public range, I no longer practice shooting on the move.  So how do you guys train?  – Thanks in advance.

[Aglifter]

I don't know about shooting on one foot - shooting from awkward positions makes sense (I dabble in USPSA, and practicing transitions and draws, and shooting around obstacles sounds pretty similar.)

Now, w. the Pup...  The gun is accurate, but I don't know that there's really enough of a grip to it to worry all that much about precise shooting.  IMO, its best use is so close up that you can't miss, and there's no point in using sights.  

I would think the best things to practice w. the pup would be very close quarter shooting, shooting from retention, etc.  

If nothing else, I just don't see how anyone, aside from a handful of the really gifted, would ever be able to obtain a good enough sight picture to use it much beyond 7 yards.  

Maybe get an OWB holster for it, and shoot it in some IDPA stages - I don't think a whole match would really be feasible, unless they were all v. short distances, but some stages would work.  

[T-Wayne]

Thanks for the reply.  I realize that I have to change my mind set as well as my practice routine.  A mouse gun is not the tactical weapon that my Les Baer .45 was... or even my wonderful 9mm EMP is.  

I rarely practiced point and shoot before.  That will change.  

Do you routinely practice single handed shooting as well as 2-handed?

[yankee2500]

My practice with the pup involves more point and shoot at close range than stance, proper sight picture, correct grip etc.
  My thought is it will be a close encounter of the fast kind, practice drawing from whatever carry method you use and point and shoot. I don't believe many of us will be involved in a shoot out at the OK Corral with the pup, nor would you want to be.
   I have hostage targets that I practice on for kicks making head shots on the BG with a proper stance and two hand hold.

[AmmoToad]

Point and shoot, both eyes open...shoot from hip if your range allows.  I would not practice quick draw and shoot at a public range though, you can practice quick draw at home with a gun you verifed at least three times to be empty.  If you can get to where you hit a paper plate at 5-7 yards, pointing and shooting...then you are more than ready.  Just know that in the heat of battle, the fog creeps in, practice often so that it becomes instinct.  

[Richard S]

T-Wayne:

If I have not previously welcomed you to the Forum, I do so now.

With regard to how I train, I have a range run by the U. S. Forest Service nearby for the use of which I purchase an annual permit. It costs only about $30.00 for the annual permit or $2.00 per day (honor system) if no annual permit is obtained. With the annual permit comes a plastic tag to hang on the rear-view mirror of a vehicle in case a Forest Ranger or TWRA Officer stops by the area.

The range has four lanes available for practice with stations at 25, 50, 100, and 150 yards. Users need to supply their own targets and mounting clips.

There is rarely anyone else present whenever I stop by for practice. I just set up my targets, go through my drills, police up the area, and go on my way.

If you live near one of the National Forests you might want to see if there is a range in your area.

[T-Wayne]

Thank you, Richard... and thanks to all who have welcomed me to this forum.  I have now finished reading almost every post and I feel lucky to have found and joined this group.