Hard Task Training - the alternative in the Czech Republic

08/03/2020By Redaktion

Gewehr Hard Task Kurse On Tour

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Never heard of Hard Task Training? Neither have we, but our loyal reader "Willy Wurm" happened to learn about this shooting instructor in the Czech Republic and has already completed several courses there by lucky coincidence. Today he shares his impressions with us, so stay tuned:

Let me start from the beginning. After various courses with various instructors and a catastrophic experience in Poland (safety angles should be larger than 3°), I booked an AR15 course again in 2015 with a local provider. Training location Oleško near Litoměřice/Leitmeritz in northwest Czech Republic. Close to the border, easily accessible by transport, and affordable hotels nearby were crucial criteria.

Arrived full of anticipation, I found the well-marked shooting range immediately and waited in the parking lot next to some shot-up but neatly parked car wrecks. The arriving Czechs greeted friendly and got ready. Except for those who already got out of the car with a weapon in holster. After some Germans, Belgians, and Austrians remained, we, the last eight, had to find out that our booked provider was unavailable. However, the course will be conducted by an experienced trainer from Hard Task (HT).

And here began my first positive impression, besides very good English and good demeanor, all subsequent instructions were precise, clear, and very polite. Since we had a lot of time - the German provider had scheduled 16 instead of the usual 8 hours for the HT "Rifle 1" course he had purchased - we also learned a lot about the company, the shooting range, and the "Hard Task Ranger" club (HTR). There was no time for this on real HT courses, as shooting was the priority. From this point on, Hard Task became part of my annual training plan.

Basic information

The founder Zdeněk Charvát, an ex-police officer and ex-contractor, founded his company in 2012. Since then, he and former colleagues have been training private individuals. All Hard Task instructors have at least experience from police operations, most of them in special units of the Prague police, or from the military. The majority have experiences from Iraq or Afghanistan.

The area in Oleško has been used as a military shooting range for a long time, originally Czechoslovakian, then German, after 1945 again by the Czech army and now privately by HT.

Due to the shared history, German and Austrian participants are closely watched. Anyone who stands out or reacts excessively is kicked out. Immediately and without discussion! Supporters of the "good old days of 1938-45" are not welcome here and are expelled from the premises.

The facility

The shooting range itself is divided into several areas, the "clubhouse," which besides a well-equipped training room, also offers proper toilets and showers. If you stay for several days, you can also sleep on field beds in the common room for a small donation. HT also offers to store their brought weapons (free of charge) in the safe during a multi-day stay.

Currently, there are three shooting ranges in Oleško that are completed and intensively used. However, HT now has several training locations that correspond to the course contents. For German eyes, the range may seem unusual, ultimately a sand pit in the forest. But sufficiently safe, and upon closer inspection, there are tables and chairs for material breaks and pre- and post-training discussions. In pure shooting courses, the instruction takes place on the track, in any weather.

On the 300m range, there is a container with steel targets, barricades, and everything the shooter's target should be. Also, rubber mats can be found here, as in some exercises, the gun must be placed on the ground. To prevent it from landing in the sand, appropriate mats are distributed.

Range 1: 300m, fully accessible, targets used were previously mobile disks or steel poppers.
Range 2: 25m, 270° bullet trap fully accessible. Mobile target carriers. Covered shelter for equipment. Barricades and design possibilities with barrels, tires, and others.
Range 3: 50m, I have not used this one yet, so I cannot provide precise details.

Noticeably on all ranges, I never had to collect my casings anywhere. A tip for those going there for the first time: knee pads or good sturdy pants are very useful.

Organization

Everything on the Homepage is clear and well-structured. Prices can be displayed in Czech crowns, dollars, and euros and are very pleasant. For course bookings, there is a proper shopping system where an invoice is also stored. For all external participants, Hard Task sends an English-language invitation (if requested, also with the note that magazines with a capacity of more than 20 rounds are required). I have always transferred the payment, but I have also observed that cash payment was made before the start of the course. Here, colleagues were asked to bring the money in cash and in CZK.

I do not want to leave out a very personal experience: I had booked and paid for a course in March 2020. But since the border was closed due to Corona, I could not (and did not want to) travel. A short email and the money was back in my account. No: "But we have a course on this and that ..." but a nice email expressing regret, understanding, and looking forward to seeing me again at some point.

Unlike German courses, it is mandatory to sign yourself into a list before the start. Here, the number of the European Firearms Pass or the valid weapon license and ID card must also be provided. For simplicity, I now have both on a piece of paper in my pocket. This saves me from rummaging around in the rain with the original documents.

Then a safety briefing limited to the essential takes place. All instructors are TCCC trained, and some also teach accordingly. After the last shot, there is a detailed debriefing. Here, the trainers ask for feedback. Real feedback, clear and even negative feedback is welcomed. With Milos, I could see that between two courses he implemented and adjusted based on feedback (excellent!).

Overall, all Hard Task courses are perfectly planned. It doesn't matter which instructor leads the course, the exercises and tasks are always the same. This applies to ammunition consumption as well. For example, I attended "Rifle 3" with different instructors and shot the exact same number of rounds by noon.

As described on the website, the courses build on each other. Whether a "Tier 1," an introductory course for the average gun user, is useful, is up to each individual to decide. For me, it was an experience, where I learned something new and different with both long guns and handguns. In particular, malfunction clearing is a topic. Clearing strong hand, weak hand, and type 1 or 2 malfunctions from any position automatically is a skill to be mastered.

On various occasions, course participants are improved, and a real experience is integrated. One of my defining examples was "One-handed shooting." Here, as the general teaching indicates, I clenched the free hand into a fist and brought it to the chest. I was promptly cited as a bad example and it was explained: "We always shoot two-handed whenever possible. If one hand is unavailable, the second is either broken or occupied." Therefore, the unused hand hangs, without tensing the shoulder, loosely down. Logic, but usually taught differently.

For all courses, it was asked in advance if a "non-Czech" was present. The instructor then appointed a bear guide for this person. In other words, a course participant who took them by the hand, translated the general content, and also found friendly words during breaks. Additionally, the HT instructor, always gave commands in bilingual (even for just one German participant). Fortunately, there were also some Czechs who spoke German. That was of course nice and more entertaining, but real luck and it doesn't always happen immediately, sometimes buddies need time to warm up to each other.