Semi Auto Training Manual

Semi Auto Handgun Training Manual

Production Date 2/22/2022

Learning to shoot a semi auto handgun can be placed into two categories

1. Semi auto Handgun operation 2. Semi auto shooting skills Handgun Operation

1. Basic operation skills • Disassemble for clean and identify major operating parts • Cleaning tips • Reassemble and check for operation • Identify Handgun function levers as applicable • Loading and unloading • Grip • Slide operation

• Loading from a slide forward condition • Loading from a slide back condition • Empty loaded gun and make safe • Recognize and clear failure to fire malfunction

2. Function levers Include • Safeties •

Chamber loaded indicators Slide lock back and release

• • • •

Magazine release

Loaded chamber indicator De-cocker if applicable

3. Semi Auto Grip

• Two handed Grip • One handed Grip

• Weaver stance slide grip • Isosceles stance Slide grip • Limp wrist crip

4. Trigger system

• Identify type and operation • Double / single action

• Double action only • Single action only • Striker Fired

5. Basic Semi Auto Malfunction The Failure to fire is: • Magazine not locked • Slide not locked

• Round in chamber did not fire • No round in chamber • Handgun not gripped correctly

The Failure to fire Immediate Action Drill ( I. A. D. ) (For single action or double action semi-automatics) 1. Tap Magazine 2. Rack Slide 3. Try to Shoot

6. Ammunition

Semi-Auto Is Ammo Operated • Cartridge discharge recoil moves slide back to extract the round and cock the gun • Return spring pulls slide forward to pick round from magazine, chamber round and lock slide. • Test firing new self-defense ammo is important to assure proper operation of the gun • Shoot a box or two to check reliability Important cartridge Considerations • Cartridge length

• Shape of projectile • Velocity and energy • Weight of bullet

The Fundamentals of Marksmanship 1. The fundamentals of marksmanship are: Aiming - hold control - trigger control - breath control - follow-through 2. The elements of a good shooting position are: Consistency - Balance – Support - natural aiming area - comfort 1 and 2 above are also known as the 6 fundamentals of shooting. (1) Stance (2) Grip

(3) Sight alignment (4) Trigger Control (5) Breath Control (6) Follow Through

Document Videos

Shooters body 45 degrees to target

Strong arm pushed out straight

Weak arm bent at elbow and pulled straight back to avoid pulling handgun off alignment

The weaver Stance

D. Tuck support side arm in and pull against strong hand

C. Push strong side straight out to the target

A. Stand 45 degrees to the target with strong side leg froward.

Isosceles Natural/ Neutral shooting position

Stand facing the target with your feet about shoulder with apart. Fig A Push forward at the shoulder and knees to maintain balance Fig B Grip the handgun and push straight out to form an isosceles triangle. Bring the handgun up to your sight alignment height. Place the vertical center of the target so it centered with your body and aligns with the apex of the triangle (the handgun) Fig C. Place the horizontal center of the target with the height of the handgun position. Fig D. When you push the handgun straight forward at eye level it should be at the center of the target

Fig B

Fig A

Fig C

Fig D

The Natural and Neutral Shooting Position

Target

Front Sight

Rear Sight

Eye

Side View

Arms pushed forward in the natural and neutral position.

Overhead View

Shooter

Semi auto Handgun Slide Operation

Weaver Stance Grip

The Weaver Stance claw slide Grip - rear view

The Weaver Stance Pistol Grip

&OLFN SLFWXUH WR YLHZ VKRUW YLGHR

The Weaver Stance claw slide Grip

A semi auto handgun that allows a three finger grip will provide better grip control.

The handgun should be placed in the shooting hand straight with the arm and used as a natural extension of the arm.

A handgun with a natural pointing grip will allow you to be able to grip the gun with your trigger finger parallel to the slid. This creates the ability to point and shoot when the use of the gun sites may not be possible.

Overhead view of the natural pointing strong hand grip

Overhead view of the two handed grip

For a two-handed grip the weak hand thumb should be under the strong hand with both under the slide.

The strong hand should be pushed up under the the dovetail of the slide. Allowing the strong hand grip to be placed above the dovetail can result in "SLIDE BITE" . Slide bite is when the corner of the slide comes back over your hand a rips a gash in the top your hand.

Trigger finger placement Selecting the Handgun to fit your hand will have a direct impact on how well you will shoot the gun. Just like shoes you buy a pair to fit your feet for the way you will use the shoe.

Place the handgun in your strong hand and align it as a natural extension of your arm.

The trigger finger should be able to be placed on the trigger midway between the end of the finger and the first joint. The goal is to pull the trigger straight back into your grip hand. See Fig A below

Figure B usually results when the handgun trigger distance is too short, and the shooter will place the trigger finger too far across the trigger creating a pull off center to the right to the right.

Figure C c an result when the trigger distance is to long and the trigger can only be reached by the tip of the finger causing the handgun to be pulled to the left.

Fig A

Fig C

Fig B

Fig A

Fig B

Fig C

Pistol Correction Chart (Left Hand)

Pistol Correction Chart (Right Hand)

Handgun Shooting Fundamentals Terms and Facts

FUNDAMENTAL STATEMENT To achieve accuracy in pistol shooting, a person must: Align the sights properly on the target and cause the hammer to fall without disturbing that alignment. 1. Gun Stability/Accuracy • Area shooting (caution regarding target fixation) • Natural wobble • Triggerpull will influence accuracymorethan natural wobble 2. Sight Facts and Terms

• Raise the rear sight - raises the point of impact • Lower the rear sight - Lowers the point o f impact

• Move rear right to Right - Move s the point o f impact to the right • Move rear sight to Left - Moves the point o f impact to the left 3. Eye distance and sight

• The closer the more possible error • The farther the less possible error • Try to keep distance close to the same

• The longer the distance between the sights, the better the accuracy 4. Sight Alignment - The correct alignment of the front blade in the rear notch 5. Sight Picture - What you should see: rear sight, front sight, and target 6. Focus On The Front Sight - It is not possible to focus on all three: Rear sight, front sight, and target. Front sight should be in CLEAR FOCUS -Target should be slightly blurry and rear sights the same. 7. Sight Acquisition - Bringing the sights into correct alignment the correct way- bring front blade down into rear notch 8. Target Acquisition • Identify target • B ring gun into field of vision 12

• PU front sight • Align w/rear

9

3

Errors in shooting when shots hit in areas 1-12

Target Analysis

17

Muscle Memory Skills Shooting involves the repetitive practice of skills to create the muscle memory needed to complete have complete command of the process. For the beginner you start with the basics of the fundamentals of shooting to be we grounded in the how to operate and shoot a handgun safely and place shots on the target each time you fire the handgun. You will be developing a muscle memory habit that after a while will become an automatic process. Therefore, it is critical that you practice each step required to pick up the handgun, firing the shot and returning it to the bench. Each time you pick the handgun up to shot, start at the beginning the process and repeat every step needed to bring the handgun to the shooing position and fire the shot. Remember- Keep you finger of the trigger until ready to shoot. That means when moving the handgun to and from the shooting position FINGER OF THE TRIGGER AND OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD.

The muscle memory habits you develop are what you will use in future training and actual self-defense. The two things that will affect your shooting skills are 1. Experience and 2. Training. At the beginning new shooters have little of both.

How to place your shots on the target the first time and every time you shoot. Align the center of your body with the center of the target. With the handgun held in both hands push your hand out to form an isosceles triangle. Form a line between your eye the target. Bring the handgun up to that line and align the front sight with the rear and place it on the center of the target. Place your center of the target at eye level. Align the center of your body with the center of the target. You now will have achieved vertical and horizontal alignment.

Shooting 97

%$6,& )81'$0(17$/6 - classdiscussion 6WDQFH

*ULS 7ULJJHU &RQWURO 6LJKW $OLJQPHQW %UHDWK &RQWURO )ROORZ WKURXJK 67$1&( • %RG\ 3RVLWLRQ • 1DWXUDO 3RLQW RI $LP • W\SHV RI 6WDQFHV $ ,VRVFHOHV % :HDYHU *5,3 • 6LQJOH 'RXEOH $FWLRQ

2

1

Isoseles or Natural point of aim

:HDYHU VWDQFH

• )LUP EXW QRW WHQVH • )LQJHU 3ODFHPHQW • *ULSV IRU JULSSLQJ 7ULJJHU IRU VKRRWLQJ • 2QH +DQG 7ZR +DQG 75,**(5 &21752/

3. Semi auto grip

4. Revolver grip

• )LQJHU RII WULJJHU RXWVLGH RI WULJJHU JXDUG XQWLO RQ WDUJHW • &RQWLQXRXV VPRRWK VWHDG\ SXOO WR EUDNH NHHS ILQJHU RQ WULJJHU • 6PRRWK &\FOH • 'RQ¶W DQWLFLSDWH VKRW JRLQJ RII • )ROORZ WKURXJK PDLQWDLQ SRVLWLRQ 6,*+7 $/,*10(17 • 'RPLQDWH H\H • )URQW DQG UHDU VLJKWV • (\H GLVWDQFH IURP UHDU VLJKW FKDQJHV DFFXUDF\ • 6KRZ SURSHU DOLJQPHQW • )RFXV RQ IURQW VLJKW • $OLJQ JXQ ZLWK H\H VLJKW • 6KRXOG VHH KDPPHU LQ ILHOG RI YLVLRQ 6,*+7 3,&785( • 5HDU VLJKW IURQW VLJKW WDUJHW

5

0RYH WKH UHDU VLJKWV LQ GLUHFWLRQ \RX ZDQW WR PRYH VKRW SODFHPHQW ,I WKH JURXSLQJ LV KLJK DQG WR WKH ULJKW 0RYH WKH UHDU VLJKWV GRZQ DQG WR WKH OHIW

• )RFXV RQ IURQW VLJKW • 7DUJHW VOLJKWO\ EOXUU\ • &DQQRW IRFXV RQ WKUHH GLVWDQFHV DW VDPH WLPH • 5HDU VLJKW VOLJKWO\ EOXUU\

T y y

6LJKW $GMXVWPHQW

0RYH WKH UHDU VLJKW LQ WKH VDPH GLUHFWLRQ \RX ZDQW WR PRYH

◄◄◄◄◄

WKH VKRW SODFH PHQW

5HDU VLJKW DGMXVWPHQW

Handgun Training Specialists

+$1'*81 6+227,1* )81'$0(17$/6 7KH SURFHVV RI XVLQJ WKH VLJKWV WR KLW WKH WDUJHW

$LP SRLQW 7KH GLUHFW OLQH EHWZHHQ \RXU H\H DQG WKH H[SHFWHG EXOOHW LPSDFW RQ WKH WDUJHW :KHUH \RX ZDQW WR KLW WKH WDUJHW

7DUJHW

Eye

6LJKW $OLJQPHQW )URQW VLJKW DOLJQHG ZLWK WKH UHDU VLJKW

3

7DUJHW

6LJKW 3LFWXUH

2

1

5HDU VLJKW

)URQW 6LJKW

r -

7

I I I I

I I I I

7KH H\H ZRUNV OLNH D FDPHUD

0DLQ IRFDO SRLQW

5HDG\ WR VKRRW

4

Handgun Training Specialists

Initial and Recurrent Training

SSDT ACC-U-Check Target

Name____________________

Target Number and Distance_______________

Rounds Fired.___ Handgun______ Ammunition ______

Date _________

Location_______

Shooting skill 100

Sights aligned on the target

••

••

•• ♦

♦• ♦ • • • • ♦

• •

•

I I \

\

\

\

Handgun Training Specialists 248- 309 - 9579

+$1'*81 6+227,1* )81'$0(17$/6

6LJKW $OLJQPHQW

&RUUHFW 6LJKW $OLJQPHQW

6KRW ZLOO KLW ORZ

)RFXV RQ WKH IURQW VLJKW HYHQ LI LW PHDQV \RXU WDUJHW LV EOXUU\

6KRW ZLOO KLW KLJK

6KRW ZLOO KLW ULJKW

6KRW ZLOO KLW OHIW

I I

)URQW VLJKW FDQQRW EH EO UU\ WR SURSHUO\ DOLJQ VLJKWV

+DQGJXQ 7UDLQLQJ 6SHFLDOLVWV

Topic - Shooting Range Environment Check in procedures • Safety Equipment • Eye and Ear Protection • Clothing • Range Rules Shooting Booth Rules • General rules

• Shoot from benched position in booth only • Gun goes to and from booth bench in box Range Distractions • Gun discharge blast • Gun recoil • Misfire of firearm

• Unintentional discharge of firearm • Fired cartridge ejection direction • Other Shooters

• Background noise • Next booth shooters

W> ŽƵƌƐĞ ŽĨ ĨŝƌĞ ^ŚŽŽƚŝŶŐ WŽƐŝƚŝŽŶƐ

Ϯ ŚĂŶĚ /ƐŽƐĐĞůĞƐ ͬŶĞƵƚƌĂů ƐŚŽŽƚŝŶŐ ƉŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ Žƌ tĞĂǀĞƌ ^ƚĂŶĐĞ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŽĨ ĨŝƌĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ W> ĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚ dŚĞ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚ ǁŝůů ĨŝƌĞ Ă ŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ŽĨ ϲϬ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ dĂƌŐĞƚ ƐŝnjĞ͗ ϴ͘ϱ dž ϭϭ ŝŶĐŚĞƐ ; ƐĞĞ ŽƵƌ ĂĐĐͲƵͲĐŚĞĐŬ ƚĂƌŐĞƚͿ 'ŽĂů͗ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞ ƐĂǀĞ ŚĂŶĚŐƵŶ ŽƉĞƌĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůŝĂďůĞ ƐŚŽƚ ƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚ͘ ůů ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ĨŝƌĞĚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ Śŝƚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďůĂĐŬ ďŽĂƌĚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ͘ ƐĞĞ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ ďĞůŽǁ WůĂĐĞ Ă ŶĞǁ ƚĂƌŐĞƚ Ăƚ ĞĂĐŚ ƐƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ĨŝƌĞ - Course requires a minimum of 5 targets Stage 1 (2) hands and using sights Target at 15 ft 12 rounds (6X2) Stage 2 (2) hands and using sights Target at 21 ft 12 rounds (6X2) Stage 3 First shot proficiency and accuracy Target at 21 ft 12 rounds fired one at a time (6X2) Goal: find your best reaction time to shoot, hit the target on the first shot fired. Start from the bench position with your hands at your sides. Pick up the handgun and fire one shot at your optimum safe speed. Start slow and be aware of safe operation at all times. Do not compromise safety !!

Stage 4 3RLQW 6KRRWLQJ 0HWKRG DQG 6KRXW FRPPDQGV Target at 10 ft 12 rounds fired (3X 4) Both eyes open 8VLQJ WKH WDUJHW DV PDLQ UHIHUHQFH SRLQW QRW WKH IURQW VLJKW Stage 5. 6WURQJ KDQG RQO\ GULOO Using your strong hand only fire 2 groups of six shots

7DUJHW DW IHHW URXQGV ;

At some time try to achieve the skill of placing all your shots in the center of the large circle on the target. That will mean you are shooting at the center of center mass and less likely to miss. Remember most people on ly carry the ammunition in their handgun thats it!

Semi Auto Shooting Skill Evaluation Course of Fire The shooter will start with four targets and fifty rounds of ammunition on the shooting bench. The shooter will show proficiency in the following: 1. "best use practices" regarding safe handgun operation that include but are not limited to - • Slide Forward Load • Slide Locked back load • Unloaded a loaded handgun and make it safe. 2. Recognize and recover from the following basic fail to operate / fail to fire scenarios. • Missfire • Hangfire • Squib Load Phase one: The Building Block Technique – Effective, and efficient shooting skill development Rounds required: 15 Target placed at 15 feet Here you will learn the fundamental of shooting and muscle memory each time the gun is

loaded fired. Procedure : Load one round and fire one

Load two and Fire Two Load Three and Three Load four and Fire Four Load five and Fire Student: All shooting start form the bench position with hands at your side. The Process: • Load gun and place on bench • Hands at your sides • On command pick up gun with two hands and shoot • Reload and return to the bench • Repeat process loading one addition round each time

Phase Two: Load from a slide locked back condition • Target at 15 ft • Rounds Required: 12 • Load 6 and fire 6 • Reload 6 and fire 6 Phase two: load from a slide forward condition • Target at 15 ft • Rounds Required: 12 • Load 6 and fire 6 • Reload 6 and fire 6 Phase three: Unload a loaded handgun and make safe • Target at 21 ft • Rounds Required: 12 Load 6 and fire 6 • Reload 5 and fire 5

Semi Auto Handgun Shooting Skill and Operation Assessment Name_____________________________ Date________________________________ Handgun______________________________

Handgun Operation Safety and Handling Loading and Reloading

------------------------------- ---------------------------------

• Slide forward ---------------------------------------------- • Slide Back -------------------------------------------------- • Unloading a loaded handgun ------------------------- • Magazine operation ------------------------------------- • Loaded Handgun Safety and Ready Check --------- • Slide operation -------------------------------------------- • Limp Wrist --------------------------------------------------- • Use of Safeties and De-cockers ------------------------- Shooting Skills Fundamentals of Shooting • Stance --------------------------------------------------------- • Grip ------------------------------------------------------------ • Trigger control --------------------------------------------- • Sight alignment --------------------------------------------- • Breath Control -------------------------------------------- • Follow through ---------------------------------------------

Handgun Training Specialists

Basic Shooting Positions • 2 hand Isosceles /neutral shooting position --------- • Weaver ------------------------------------------------------- • reflex point shooting --------------------------------------- • Strong hand -------------------------------------------------- • Weak hand --------------------------------------------------- • Close quarters -----------------------------------------------

T ransition Shooting Skill Development Method The Proven Four Step Program to Shooting Success

The transition and learning curve from a new shooter to the proficient use of a typical self-defense semi auto handgun can be done safely and efficiently with our Four Step Training Program. Learning to shoot a handgun is a muscle memory process that will form a repeatable habit on how a person learns to operate andshoot a handgun. A person will repeat what they have learned . If the person has developed bad or possible dangerous muscle memory habits it is hard to correct t hem. It is critical to the learning process the new shooterepeat each step in the proper order required to operate andshoot a specific handgun. Divide and conquer : Each step is divided into a specific process that can be identified and learned without overloading the student with multiple tasks. An important part of our four-step training process is to assure the safety of training , develop skills without fear and create the confiden ce the student will needto operate on his/her own. The steps are completed in a logical order, with each building on the previous skill. Step one s tarts with using a Glock 9mm Laser Shot handgun to develop the six fundamentals of shooting and the required muscle memory skills. In step two we use a .22 caliber handgun that allows the shooter to practice the

fundamental swith a live fire gun that has minimal recoil and muzzl e blast. In Step Three we use a 38 special revolver to address 3 important topics :

1. Dry fire trigger control practice 2. Center fire firepowe rhandgun management

3. Shooter Flinching (s hooter reaction to the discharge of a typical center fire handgun. (9mm and .38 special) . Here you will learn the use of “snap caps” as a safe and effective training aide. 4. In Step Four the student will transition toa typical self-defense semi auto handgun. For this we can use our class handgun, the clock 19, 9mm or the students own gun.

Completion Goals: The student should be able to operate and shoot a semi auto handgun in a typical shooting range environment without the aid of instructor s upport.

Range Shooting Skill P rocess - applying the process

Step One: Develop the fundamentals of shooting with a laser handgun training. Training Device: Glock Laser Handgun The student will use a clock laser handgun to learn and demonstrate the two fundamentals of handgun shooting.

Glock Laser handgun Video

1. The NRA fundamentals of marksmanship are: Aiming, breath control, hold control, trigger control and follow- through

2 .The NRA's elements of a good shooting position: Consistency, balance, support, natural aiming area and comfort.

1 and 2 above are also known as the 6 fundamentals of shooting.

( 1) Stance (2) Grip (3) Sight alignment (4) Trigger Control (5) Breath Control (6) Follow Through

Step 2. Develop live fire shooting skills with a handgun that creates minimal recoil and muzzle blast noise . Training Device: Ruger .22 semi auto handgun Target placed at 15 ft. Ammunition required: 25 rounds

Ruger Mark 3 .22 semi auto video

The shooter will start with the gun on the bench and hands at their sides. The goal is to always start from the beginning of the shooting process and repeat it over 4 times.

Step 3. Center Fire Handgun Transition Handgun: 6 shot .38 special S& W Revolver

4-inch barrel 3 finger grips

S&W .38 special trigger control video

Ammunition required: 15 rounds Target at 15 ft.

Goal: Learn to manage the more powerful centerfire self-defense handgun cartridge. Common issues that new shooter will probably encounter are flinching caused by recoil and muzzle blast, and the strength to pull a double action trigger. Center fire handguns such as the 9mm and .38 caliber produce considerable recoil and muscle blast when fired. This can easily produce a flinching reaction by new shooters. Flinching is anticipating the recoil and muscle blast of powerful self-defense guns. The use of .38 revolver with the dryfire and ball and dummy training method is a time-tested method to self-defense caliber handgun shooting. One of the reasons we flinch is that our brains just aren't accustomed to recoil and muzzle blast Rapid fire can exacerbate this problem, and the increased noise and pressure from multiple shots in quick succession can easily throw you off and cause a flinch response to start creeping in. Flinch anticipation management. Step 4. Semi Auto Handgun

Glock 19 – 9mm Semi auto

A semi auto with a striker fired double action trigger. Great semi auto for a new shooter Easy to learn to operate and shoot. Chamber loaded indicator. 15 round magazine with loaded round indicators.

Glock 19 Handgun Operation Video

See inside operation

Shooting Skill Accessories • Save Time and Money and Learn More • Maintain and improve current skills. • Learn new skills. • Reduce costs. Ammunition and Firearms are all but impossible to find. But that should not keep the handgun owner from training.

Snap Caps: Protects the firing pin system during dry fire practice. Practice loading and unloading. Used to help identify shooting errors such as flinching. Used in fail to fire drills. Used in “ball and dummy” drills.

Training options used to improve handgun operation and shooting skills

Practice muscle memory skills, such as grip, drawing from a holster and trigger finger control.

Glock (Sirt MFG) Handgun

Practice all the fundaments of shooting at home or in the range. “Laser bullets” are inexpensive and you never run out of ammo.

Use snap caps for semi auto practice A Protects the firing pin system during dry fire practice B. Practice loading and unloading handgun C. Are used to help identify handgun shooting errors such as flinching and trigger pull errors D. Are used to practice fail to fire drills. E. Are used in place of live rounds to practice handgun operation in a non-range environment

the use of a laser on a semi auto will help show the shooter the shot placement vs where you aimed

With the revolver snap caps are used to practice 1. Handgun Operation 2. Loading and unloading 3. Dry fire practice 4. Ball and Dummy drills to detect and help correct flinching.