Wednesday, July 30, 2014

CCLSC Loves New Shooters

Welcome new members Michele and Hollie!  I am so glad that you joined us this week and hope that you received some good tips and information to become better shooters!

Michele shooting the M&P Shield - Nice flash!
Hollie shooting her M&P 9mm.  Working on her grip.

Monday August 11 at 4:30 pm is our next practice at Tacti-Cool Guns & Gear. Let me know if you are planning to attend.  Another reminder will go out again as we get closer, as well as on the day of practice.

CCLSC now has its own Facebook page!  If you are using Facebook I encourage you to “like”
 our page and help spread the word of what we do with your friends and family. If you don’t use Facebook, you can still view our page at the link to the right.

If you have been following us on Facebook, you will already know that I spent this last weekend certifying as an NRA Instructor for Personal Protection Inside the Home.  This two day training had a ton of excellent information and I acquired new skills to add to my tool box of defensive shooting solutions.  Feel free to ask questions, I would be happy to talk with you about the class.


Love loading!
Kanani showing off just a bit, dual weilding
two shields at once.  Not an effective way
of shooting but very cinematic.

Mentoring is one of the best benefits for new shooters - two of our
experienced shooters, Shellie and Julie helping out new member Michele.
 
Back from vacation, Erin puts her sights on target.

I always encourage our members to try new things.
Well, there isn't a lack of new handguns or rifles to try
at CCLSC.  Here, Julie shoots an AK47 pistol.

CCLSC shot after practice!
Left to right -
Back: Kanani, Hollie, and Julie. Front: Shellie, Erin and Michele.
Tip of the week: Training versus Practice – I am taking a little break from my SA (situational awareness) soapbox to share with you the differences between Training and Practice.  Training is defined as the acquisition of a certain skill or learning a new skill.  Practice however is the repetition of something (usually one’s training) in order to get better or improve one’s performance.  Both are necessary for improving your shooting skills. Put simply, Women’s 101 and Advanced Pistol are both training classes, while CCLSC Monday’s are practice. Practice is essential to reinforcing your training.  You will need to practice what you have been trained to do so that you can perfect those skills – Perfect practice makes perfect.  Practice will also increase your muscle memory so you can perform those same skills under stress and pressure.
If you would like any extra help to perfect your shooting during practice, let me know and I am happy help.  Monday’s are also a great place to get extra feedback on your shooting.

Lastly, the Austin Sure Shots publish a quarterly magazine and put a call out to the ladies’ shooting clubs across the county to feature in their next issue.  So, I submitted CCLSC’s information.  The Austin Sure Shots are a women’s shooting club in you guess it, Austin Texas.  They offer training in shooting, self-defense as well as general information about shooting and guns in general.  There is a lot of good information each quarter in their online magazine.  They also feature a section for Training in every edition.  Take a look at their website – http://www.sureshotsmagazine.com/

Sure Shots are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/austinsureshots 

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Tip of the Week: Personal Security

We have been focusing on situational awareness over the last few months and how it applies in different situations.  This week's link discusses situational awareness, proxemics and personal security.
Determining the proximity of a threat and how to gauge distance as part of your personal security, helps you avoid an aggressor.


Much of dealing with a potential issue, is avoiding an issue in the first place. Planning your escape route is next on the list to getting away from a threat.  There is some great information in the article.  In short, the author is going to help explain how you can be prepared and perceptive without being paranoid.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Advanced Squared - Day One

CCLSC recently secured some space to do some additional training over the next few months.  With limited local training available, CCLSC decided to work together with local oil company PCEC and our sponsor Tacti-Cool to pilot some advanced training.  Hence "Advanced Advanced" was born.

To participate, CCLSC members must have completed the Advanced Pistol class at Tacti-Cool and be able to demonstrate several key skills that will form the core of our training.  Proficiency in drawing from a holster, reloads, malfunctions and basics in rifle shooting.

Our first meet up focused on a basic review of qualification, shooting from behind a barrier on both the right and left hand sides, basic reloads, tactical reloads, cover versus concealment, follow up shots and multiple targets. Rifle drills included shooting from behind a barrier, follow up shots, optics/red dot sights, and multiple targets.

Shellie and Kanani running pistol drills.

Getting started with safety briefing and instructions for the next drill

Nicole shooting rifle.

Ali practicing the drill, while Kanani waits her turn.

Kanani shooting from behind a barrier.


Shellie working on her rifle drills with multiple targets.

Shellie working on her pistol drills -
shooting from behind a barrier.

Kanani waiting for "go ahead" from Matt.

Ali, shooting her pistol from behind the barrier.

Nicole, taking her target down from behind the barrier.

Kanani, peering out from behind the barrier and
taking her target down.


Ali, Nicole and Kanani enjoying themselves.

Matt giving reviewing rifle basics, while Flood oversees the instruction.

Kanani getting additional instructions for the drill.

Ali shooting rifle from behind the barrier.

Kanani shooting the rifle drill.

CCLSC getting ready to unload their rifles the "old fashioned way".

CCLSC arsenal.

A little downrange camera action.

Shellie and Nicole watch as Ali shoots her rifle drill with multiple targets.

That's so CCLSC!
From left to right: Ali, Matt, Shellie, Kanani, Flood and Nicole

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Ladies' Night

This week's practice we worked on clearing malfunctions with emphasis on not knowing that was the "test".  We are slowly working towards shooting under stress.  As was noted during my "test", when you're at the range you're more sensitive to the conditions of your firearm.  However, when you are in a fight for your life, you won't have the fine motor skills to process that kind of information.  So, we need to always assume a malfunction and "slap and rack".  A good lesson to be reminded of.

Kanani shooting her Springfield 1911.

Erin preparing to send some lead downrange.


Ladies' Night at Tacti-Cool Gun's & Gear - rarely does this
happen during practice, but when it does it's awesome!

Nicole and Shellie smiling for the camera.


CCLSC officially has a Facebook Page!  You can find us on Facebook at CCLSC.  Like us and tell your friends to do the same.  I will be using Facebook as an additional vehicle to keep in contact with all of you, post pictures from our events and practices and share general firearm news/information.  You do not need a Facebook account to view our CCLSC page.  And don’t forget, we also have a blog, where you can view information about CCLSC.


Tip of the week: Pay Attention or Pay the Price – It’s a short one, and straight to the point.  Pay attention.  Previous articles have been helping us gather information and create a baseline to become better aware of our surroundings.  At the end of the article is a set of questions to ask yourself and help you begin mentally preparing yourself to respond to most situations.  “Being hard and dangerous won't do you a bit of good if you never see it coming.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself.


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Mindset Is Your Most Important Defensive Tool

This week at CCLSC we were able to think outside the box about mindset and our training.  We had a good discussion of our options available to us and being better prepared in a defensive situation.  As we approach the start of Women’s 101 and Advanced Pistol we want to be prepared to learn both how and when to shoot – without hesitation.  Without regular training and practice the natural response is to hesitate in any emergency. We certainly cannot predict every situation or the exact parameters of any or all emergencies; however, we can decide right now what we would do if anything does happen.


Julie and Matt discussing mindset.
Ali and Matt discussing mindset.



Tip of the week: Are you a soft target? - At the start of this year, I read a lot of information on topics ranging from the OODA loop, situational awareness, mindset and how to prepare for your families’ safety.  The article chosen is a good starting point that can work for everyone, regardless of your shooting status.  Read it, reply back if you want to discuss it and I think if this is all you implement in your day to day routine, you will be better off.

Have an excellent 4th of July weekend - stay safe.