TRAINING WITH KL STRATEGIC (12): HOME TRAINING

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In the last part of this article series, I would like to focus on the various options for home and self-training. For most shooters, home training is the only way to maintain a continuous training routine.

Visiting the club training once or twice a month may be sufficient for some legislators to demonstrate adequate routine in handling firearms. However, this is by no means enough to truly learn, train, and maintain stress-resistant effectiveness and efficiency. Often, there is a lack of time and, frequently, money to train weekly or even more frequently with live ammunition; furthermore, many clubs and ranges simply do not allow a comprehensive training in firearm handling due to a limited view. Unfortunately, the focus is often placed too much on simply operating a firearm or complying with unnecessary regulations, rather than taking advantage of the legal (and also sports-regulatory) possibilities. Even though sports regulations may dictate disciplines, training is not limited to these disciplines. Every activity involving a firearm is covered by every sports regulation and is legally allowed. The only restrictions (in Germany) are combat shooting and defense shooting for civilians.

Nevertheless, magazine capacities are often not utilized, opportunities are missed, and basic activities are simply overlooked. However, demographic development shows that this is no longer desired. Dynamic disciplines and comprehensive firearms training are gaining popularity. The recruitment problem in traditional shooting sports is self-inflicted, as the obvious signs of the times have not only not been interpreted but also not understood.

But back to the topic: For those who ambitiously want to indulge in modern firearms handling, there are only two options:

• To have your own shooting range or to invest almost as much money and time to regularly visit a shooting range
• Home training

Since our hobby or passion already consumes enough money, most of us have to weigh where we can achieve maximum success without having to invest unnecessary additional money.

A structured and well-thought-out home training offers a very elegant solution. However, if you do not have the opportunity to train so comprehensively, every minute of regular home training offers more success than simply going to the range on weekends and shooting 5 rounds. Taking your weapon(s) out of the safe and conducting a few minutes of dry training can be quickly realized - no travel time, no waiting time, and above all, it can be done multiple times a day if desired.

The market has also recognized this and offers a multitude of possibilities through various providers to conduct home training with fun and joy, but above all effectively.

Why Home Training, actually?

"He who stops getting better stops being good!” - this basic wisdom probably has eternal validity. What we do not practice regularly, we forget, unless it is basic functions of the body. So, everything we learn, we can also forget. Especially in firearms handling, the part of forgetting is often very high. In order to counteract this, the legislator in Germany requires us to train regularly 18 times a year at regular intervals. This may satisfy the legislator as proof of regular firearms handling, but if one also has even a minimal demand for safe handling even in "stressful" situations (e.g. competitions), then it quickly becomes clear that it requires much more effort than just 18 appointments. Now you have the option of attending every training session of the club, unit, or station, which leads to a significant time and financial burden, or you can use alternatives. These alternatives can be found in home training. Here you have the advantage of practicing various aspects and processes independently, undisturbed, and for as long as you want. With a small financial outlay, you can create multiple possibilities for effective training and use them whenever and however you want. In this way, thousands of necessary repetitions for muscle memory, the acclimatization to a new weapon or equipment, the optimization of processes, etc. can be implemented cost-effectively and easily. Just as reprogramming is possible, so is the retention of movement sequences, as well as combining with exercises for specific fitness building/maintenance. Therefore, not only from a cost perspective, but also from a biomechanical perspective, the justification of home training can be conclusively demonstrated.

Possibilities of Home Training

Just a few years ago, the possibilities for home training were very limited. This has significantly changed in the meantime. New developments from various providers as well as innovations from new market participants have revolutionized the battle for the home market. As end consumers, we benefit from this, not only because the range of products has significantly increased, but also because systems that were previously unaffordable for private users are now available at affordable prices.

In addition, there are now pocket-sized systems that are in no way inferior in performance and scope to more expensive systems from large manufacturers for the law enforcement market, or even surpass them.

In addition to the classic Dryfire Practice - i.e. dry training - the market offers various systems for controlled training of individual aspects of the shooting process, as well as for complex processes up to simulated training of dynamic situations and action training. All these possibilities are relatively cost-effective, and offer various possibilities for analyzing one's own technique or behavior. The range extends from self-analysis of muzzle movement during trigger pull with a laser insert/SIRT weapon to automatic, complex analyses of trigger behavior, grip, and stance.

The use of Airsoft or CO2 weapons is no longer just for "hobby warriors", but is increasingly finding its way into professional training and education. Personally, I am a big fan of these training devices because they are equal to the originals in terms of handling, processes, and feel.

However, it should be noted that regardless of the form of home training one uses, honesty towards oneself and objective analysis are essential. You can either ask another person to pay attention to certain aspects, or use modern technology (e.g. a smartphone camera) to film yourself while training and then evaluate it.

Let's take a closer look at some home training options:

Dryfire Practice

Dryfire practice involves using the original weapons without ammunition. Processes up to the first shot are carried out. For those who are concerned about the "wear and tear" of their firing pin spring, dummy rounds can also be used. However, this can also be done completely without dummies, without fearing damage to the weapon. This training form is suitable for:

• Grip training
• Trigger training
• Sight alignment training
• Process training
  • Stance
  • Grip
  • Drawing
  • Presentation
  • Trigger control
  • Reloading tasks
  • Malfunction clearance

Dryfire practice offers the possibility to train individual aspects, as well as entire processes almost cost-neutral. Especially fine details of the movement sequences can be observed and practiced very well, without the disturbing influences of the shot. From adopting and holding the body posture/shooting position, to the first shot, every aspect can be practiced and trained during dryfire practice. For this reason, I use this form of training, for example, as an introduction in my courses, in order to not only demonstrate the training possibilities but above all to securely convey and practice the desired processes without using ammunition.

The best thing about this form of home training is that it requires nothing more than your weapon(s) and a few minutes of time. Even if the practice time is only 5 minutes, it is still better than not practicing at all. Therefore, an effective process training can be quickly achieved; open the gun safe, take the gun, and get started. And within a short time, it's 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, and so on.

It is important to note that even during short practice sessions, one must practice with concentration and control before developing small errors due to carelessness. This involves self-monitoring and self-discipline, which should be a matter of course for targeted training.

Laser Cartridges/Laser Weapons

The range of laser cartridges and laser weapons has significantly expanded in recent years. The classic insert lasers as sighting lasers have been further developed and adapted for training. There are now various providers (SureStrike, Simway, IMarksman, etc.) offering insert systems with pulse-indicated lasers; this means that the laser is triggered by the firing pin like a shot. As a consistent development from this, there are SIRT or RedGuns. These training weapons trigger a laser with the "shot" and - depending on the version - correspond in feel and handling to the live firearms. Although previously only available for the law enforcement market, these weapons can now also be purchased by civilians.

While SIRT weapons are distributed by various providers, RedGuns are usually only available directly from the gun manufacturers.

Regardless of which system you want to use, the training principle and goals are always similar: recognizing and evaluating muzzle movement, as well as quickly acquiring the target. What was previously used - and still is today - for sighting, i.e. aligning the sight with the target point, is now used to recognize and analyze movements in the shooting process. The projected laser point is very suitable as an aid. However, it is important to pay attention to what you buy. There are inexpensive manufacturers whose lasers in the insert sleeve are not correctly aligned. This means that the laser is not centered in the barrel, especially in long guns, causing the laser to emit not parallel to the bore axis, but against the inside of the barrel, weakening and reflecting the beam, so that in the worst case the light no longer exits the barrel.

Laser cartridges with pulse generation have another application: home shooting ranges.

Shooting Ranges

When thinking of shooting ranges, one automatically envisions these multimillion-dollar shooting ranges; however, the market has been offering systems for home training for a few years - of course, not with live ammunition, but even using simulation ammunition.

Home shooting cinemas are usually based on the use of laser/IR impulses. What was previously seen as an expensive gimmick and relatively immature has now developed into an offering that provides opportunities for every budget. From individually customizable components to complete systems, there is something for every price range.

Basically, what is needed is a computer/laptop with appropriate software, a beamer with a projection screen, and a laser cartridge or light-impulse-emitting training weapon. Depending on the manufacturer, you can put together a suitable package or use a complete system. Manufacturers like IMarksman or SureStrike offer both individual components and complete packages. These can be found in various price ranges, such as Simway with and without training weapons.

Thus, an effective home training with your own weapon is possible for just a few hundred euros.

Here, you can train everything from simple exercises to complex dynamic situations, often including virtual magazine capacities, introducing malfunctions, and timer functions. The ability to create your own targets, exercises, environments, and even action trainings for official applications is another enhancement for personalizing home training.

Many providers now even allow the use of airsoft/CO2 weapons, which simulate a gunshot and recoil. This makes the training even more realistic. Special home shooting cinemas for all types of air guns (e.g. AirCine) have been available on the market in a mature state for some time. Therefore, if you want to use your existing air guns instead of laser simulation, you can do so with systems that work based on sound impulse.

The use of both long and short firearms in parallel is now standard, as well as displaying and evaluating hits.

Even in the field of software, the market now offers free open-source software tailored to specific systems; e.g. ShootOffapp (www.shootoffapp.com) in combination with SureStrike Laser Ammo (www.laser-ammo.com).

These shooting cinemas are suitable for all types of home training:

• Training individual aspects of the shooting process
• Process training
• Action training
• Dynamic training
• Training various sports disciplines up to trap/skeet
• Hunting training
• etc.

Naturally, these facilities can also be used for hobby-oriented recreation and leisure activities, as they usually offer "shooting games" and competitions, etc.

The particularly interesting feature of these systems is the ability to combine them with other training elements and systems, as the "real" firearms handling can be implemented one-to-one, apart from the "live" shot.

MantisX

The MantisX firearms training system is currently unique worldwide. This system analyzes the behavior of the shooter before, during, and after the shot based on data from a position sensor attached to the weapon. It evaluates this behavior and provides various data as a processed analysis result in real-time in the free app.

This type of shot analysis was previously only available for the law enforcement market at a corresponding price and space requirement.

For about 2 years now, this system has been on the market and is continuously being developed and expanded by the manufacturers.

This system of sensor and app analyzes even the smallest movements of the gun before, during, and after the shot. These movements are processed and output as a percentage rating of the shot, as well as graphical representations of muzzle movement, movement intensity during trigger pull, and follow-through. A timer function with time analysis of the individual shots is another feature of this app.