TCA Tactical Week 6 - Pistol Level 2

 TCA Tactical Week at Bratislava in Slovakia: The penultimate day has begun and today we will focus on the Pistol Level 2 course. As soon as we arrive at the parking lot, we notice it's the weekend, because TCA is actually holding two courses on the same day. There is also a Sniper course running in parallel, so upon arrival, participants split into their respective groups.

Tactical magazine change is the first task. We gather back in a group. I join my German colleagues again, as I get the translation here. Gabriel explains the grip technique and what matters. How and when to perform the magazine change, what to check if necessary. It is demonstrated clearly and then practiced in dry runs. The magazine change is reinforced and repeated in live fire, so that this movement sits flawlessly with all participants.

Next, we move on to clearing stoppages. There are three variations: either no shot is fired while the slide is forward. Then the familiar Tap-Rack-Bang principle is used. Or the slide is locked back and the magazine must be removed to clear the stoppage. In the third variation, the slide itself is jammed and cannot be easily cycled. Here Gabriel also teaches us the correct way to clear this, even though such an error rarely occurs.

To simulate stoppages, we pick up empty casings from the floor. These are randomly loaded under the correct ammunition in the magazine. The ensuing drill requires reacting accordingly to clear the stoppage.

We were fortunate or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it, to be affected by the third type of stoppage. Thanks to Gabriel's demonstrated technique, we were able to clear it immediately. The other participants had a similar experience, even though they were only affected by the first or second type of stoppage.

A short break followed and the instructors put up new targets. Contact from different directions is now to be learned.

Similar to what I already know from the rifle course, one must react to the threat here and pay attention to which foot to step with first. It is explained and demonstrated again to all participants, even with a second instructor as a threat, to have a visual understanding. In the subsequent drill, Gabriel gives the direction and the practicing shooter acts on the target.

While one group shoots, the other reloads the magazines, creating a nice cycle. We look enviously at the German colleagues, where one has a practical Loading Tool to spare the fingers and be a bit faster while loading.

Lunch break comes early, so we escape the midday sun. On our way back, I briefly check in on the Sniper course, as there is also great interest in it. These courses are held repeatedly and teach shooting at longer distances from scratch.

After lunch, we continue shooting in movement in what feels like 40-degree heat. To start, forward and backward movement while shooting is practiced. A brief dry run familiarizes one with it and the instructors provide feedback again on how best to take steps and shift weight.

In the sharp shot, everyone pays close attention to their steps and tries to place the shots correctly so that everything goes as best as possible. Depending on the distance to the target, you also have to adjust the shooting frequency here. After all, it is easier to aim at a target directly in front of you than when standing ten meters away.

During the lunch break, the familiar barricades were set up again. Different versions, each with its own cutouts. Participants practice this in dry-fire practice, following Gabriel's instructions. Meanwhile, the photo was taken, so you don't need to worry about our safety.

If you have a red dot sight on the pistol, like us, you also need to pay attention to the distance between the sight and the barrel axis. This is less critical for iron sights, but the shooter should still adjust the gun and body to the respective opening. Sharp shooting is done from each barricade version, so that there is the greatest possible training effect here as well.

Once again, there are additional challenges to break out of the routine. This forces you to break any patterns you may have developed and adapt to the influences. And let's be honest: we just find it cool to do shooting exercises while a smoke grenade is being detonated and the target is partially obscured by fumes.

While participants finish drinking the next bottle of water, the instructors set up wall coverings again, and left and right, standing and kneeling, shots are fired past them. Always pay attention to where your feet are placed and how you shift your center of gravity for aiming. By the way, steel was used as the target for barricade and cover shooting. So with each hit, there is a pretty satisfying clang. Definitely a rewarding highlight!

The barricade shooting is no less stressful, so an instructor is present at each barricade giving additional tasks. In your head, you need to pay attention to other tasks and instructions while shooting, which also provides mental training. The afternoon goes by very quickly again, although we would have liked to enjoy it a little longer. Luckily, tomorrow we continue with Pistol Level 3, so we can keep learning!

THE TACTICAL WEEK at TCA

TACTICAL COMBAT ACADEMY online

SPARTANAT at the Tactical Week of TCA

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK - The Preparation

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK 1 - Assault Rifle Level 1

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK 2 - Assault Rifle Level 2

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK 3 - Assault Rifle Level 3

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK 4 - Our Instructors

– TCA TACTICAL WEEK 5 - Pistol Level 1