That was the intensive shooting course at EDELWEISS

We participated in the Intensive Shooting Course at EDELWEISS ADVENTURE and want to share our impressions with you. In short, this course covers the contents of up to six EDELWEISS courses. Sounds exhausting, and it kind of is.

Our group consisted of experienced shooters, professional gun carriers, and some very new shooters, creating a good mix where a lot of different knowledge could be exchanged. As a reference, you can expect to use about 100 rounds of ammunition per half day.

First (Half) Day

Now, let's take it chronologically. The first day starts after lunch and is rather relaxed. For those who have experience with pistols, the content serves as a good review of the basics. You can never practice the basics enough. The primary goal throughout the course is to aim for precision shots. We have to admit, the first shots were not quite where we wanted them to be.

The day ended with the "First Shot Drill." This involves drawing the pistol from the holster on command or beep of the shot timer and taking a shot at a 10 m target on an A4 oval. The objective is to do this as quickly as possible but safely. The Edelweiss standard to be achieved at the end is a maximum of two seconds. It was quite an experience, as we were quite far from the targeted 2 seconds and hitting an A4 sheet can be surprisingly difficult.

Second Day

New day, new luck. It starts at 09:00, with magazine changes (tactical and forced). Then, some movement comes into play, specifically different shooting positions. First kneeling, then the various variants of the prone position with a pistol.

Hitting the target from a prone position is always unfamiliar and somehow feels strange. Then we moved on to utilizing and using cover, of course, with the shooting positions learned previously. Crouching behind cover on the ground is also always something to get used to.

After a well-deserved lunch break, attention was given to inhibitions and how to overcome them. Another important foundation that should be practiced more often.

Then it got dynamic as we moved on to shooting after movement and while moving. Many shooters who were not as experienced were challenged here, but the trainer always ensured safety and intervened early to prevent critical situations. An exhausting and educational day comes to an end.

Third Day

We started right off with the First Shot Drill, with varying success. It was better than on day one, but three hits were still missing the target. What's more challenging than shooting with a pistol? Right, shooting one-handed with a pistol. The whole morning focused on shooting with one arm, both strong and weak-hand shooting. This included one-handed loading and reloading as well as one-handed malfunction drills. Everyone got to know their equipment and weapon better again. Everyone was looking forward to the lunch break, as the course did not pass by without a trace.

After the break, there was some "relaxation" in the classroom. The basics of "CQB" were explained here. Theory is nice, but practice makes everything clearer, so off to the kill house. The afternoon was full of movement through the house and alternating scenarios. Everyone quickly realized that CQB is very, very difficult and should be avoided when alone.

Fourth (Half) Day

The last day can vary from course to course, depending on the group's strength. We were a good group, so there was no need for repetition, and we continued with the topic of "Low Light." But first, the morning's last First Shot. Just over two seconds, but we definitely need to practice hitting the target more.

Shooting in poor and eventually no light is always challenging. One shoots one-handed while using the second hand to hold and operate a flashlight. The target still needs to be hit. Quite demanding, but after the course so far, not really a problem anymore.

At lunchtime, the Intensive Shooting Course was already over. Everyone went home feeling like they could definitely shoot better than on the first day. And everyone knows what topics still need to be worked on.

Final Thoughts

The Intensive Shooting Course lives up to its name, as it was truly intense. Even we, who would consider ourselves experienced shooters, still took away some valuable lessons. There was nothing new in terms of content, but applying it always reveals training gaps. A major point is the precision shot at 10m and beyond, which should definitely be practiced more. The prone position also feels very strange and shooting from behind barricades should also be practiced more.

Overall, in our opinion, this course is very worthwhile. Those who attend this course with an open mindset can definitely benefit from it. All six individual courses by EDELWEISS are covered at the core of the course.

The intensive package is not only available to Austrians, but participants from Germany or Switzerland are always welcome as well. You can find all further information and the course itself HERE directly from EDELWEISS.

EDELWEISS ADVENTURE on the internet.