Benny, the leader of the showroom, also took Pistol 1 two weeks back. Here is what he responded with!
1. What is your prior firearm experience? Mostly shotgun and rifle shooting and never delved into handguns on the same level that I did Saturday in class.
2. What firearm/setup were you shooting? Walther PDP 4″ with TLR-7 in a Trex Arms Ragnarok holster in a mid-ride safari land belt holster OWB with the QLS fork system on a Nexbelt.
3. What did you hope to learn going into this class? How to improve my pistol fundamentals and learn some different ways to shoot.
4. What was your biggest takeaway from the class? Grip and drawing from the holster to form my grip better
5. What area did you improve the most? my grip and how to effectively draw
6. Is there anything you thought you would learn but did not? No
7. What did you think of Shane’s teaching style? What about Pete and Bryan? Shane is probably one of the most chill dudes that I’ve been able to learn from in any field and made the experience short and memorable. Pete was fast on picking out pointers for small errors on how to improve. Bryan made the experience personal the way he and Shane would bounce info off each other gave it more of a conversation feel
8. Are you interested in taking the Pistol 2 class? next year and in the summer, it was freezing this weekend
9. How did you feel shooting Shane’s shoot 2 standards? shooting his standard made me realize how far I have to go
10. What’s next for you? more classes at impact with Shane
Not all of us at AIM go shoot every chance we have, some of us shoot randomly and some are not old enough to even own a pistol. This past week one of those things changed and Jon turned 21 and bought his first pistol to carry. Jon jumped right into the mix and took a class with Shane Cardwell at Impact Shooting Center with the help of Bryan and Pete from AIM. I tossed Jon the usual questions to see how he felt after taking the class.
1. What is your prior firearm experience? Some recreational shooting once or twice a year for the past 10+ years
2. What firearm/setup were you shooting? Sig P365-XMACRO
3. What did you hope to learn going into this class?
Basics, technique, and general info
4. What was your biggest takeaway from the class?
My biggest takeaway was the reshaping of my outlook on shooting a pistol. Most of the techniques and instruction that I have assumed or been taught throughout my life were inherently causing problems with my performance. I gained a new goal of completing various standards and becoming better.
5. What area did you improve the most?
I significantly improved my grip, arm position, and red dot usage.
6. Is there anything you thought you would learn but did not?
Not specifically
7. What did you think of Shane’s teaching style? What about Pete and Bryan?
I felt as if I learned something from all 3 instructors. The teaching style made for a relaxing, yet educational and fun class.
8. Are you interested in taking the AIWB class?
I took pistol 1 & 2 over the weekend so when AIWB comes back next year I will take that for sure.
9. How did you feel shooting Shane’s shoot 2 standards?
I really enjoyed them and will definitely be working towards passing them.
10. What’s next for you?
The Impact AIWB class next year.
I am fairly new to shooting other than recreationally once a year for the past decade. I made the decision to take my shooting performance seriously and sign up for pistol 1 & 2 at Impact Shooting Center this past weekend. I went into the class with open expectations, but not expecting the level of instruction that I received. I was somewhat ambivalent about signing up for these classes, but after taking them I could not be more satisfied with my experience.
Day one was definitely the most influential class for me. Almost everything that I had assumed or been taught throughout my life was causing problems with my performance. I quickly began to see just how much grip and positioning affect my shooting performance. The class was very hands-on and allowed for an ample amount of one-on-one instruction. Shane was very easy to get along with and made all of us feel like a group of friends at the range.
The methods that he uses to “teach” are very advantageous and instrumental. He was careful to point out that the methods he was teaching were “a way, not the way.” Going into a class led by someone like Shane, you expect a level of arrogance and to be looked down on, but this was the exact opposite. Our class ranged from myself, who was a new shooter, to someone who had taken 75+ classes. We were all treated equally and given the same amount of instruction that was tailored to our individual performance and needs. We were lucky enough to have two great assistant instructors: Bryan & Pete of AIM Surplus. They were both just as helpful and instructive as Shane. They each offered a unique perspective that summed to my personal benefit.
Day two was a real step up in terms of shooting. For the first time ever, I was able to complete various drills that involved moving and shooting. I specifically enjoyed the stage that the instructors set up where we were able to move and shoot through obstacles and varying distances. This entire class felt very hands-on and involved a lot of shooting, movement, and personal coaching. At the end of each class, Shane allows everyone to shoot his standards. The level of improvement I saw in my own performance was significant. My speed and accuracy had already been significantly impacted by what I had learned.
At the end of the two-day class, I was sad that it was over but very satisfied with what I had learned. The first thing that crossed my mind at the end of day two was “when is the next class I can sign up for.” Taking these classes was the best decision that I’ve made for my own growth and safety. I recommend these classes to anyone who wants to improve their own shooting performance. This is the type of class that you can take whether you have never shot a gun, or if you have been shooting for your entire life.
The amount of knowledge and technique I took away from these classes is unmeasurable. This is only the first class of many that I will be taking with Shane Cardwell at Impact Shooting Center
Unfortunately, another “common sense” gun law was passed. Oregon Measure 114 changes things in a big way. Oregon law currently allows a person over the age of 18 to acquire firearms (federal law requires age 21 for some handgun purchases), seller/ transferor must request a criminal background check. The measure requires a permit from local law enforcement to acquire a firearm; a person must pay a fee, submit a photo ID, submit fingerprints, complete approved safety training, pass a criminal background check, and not be prohibited from possessing firearms. An issuing officer may deny a permit to a person believed to be a danger to themself or others.
With this passed, a permit will be issued within 30 days, and remain valid for 5 years. Permit denials will be appealable.
When purchasing a firearm you must present a permit, and pass the background check to acquire a firearm. The State Police creates/ maintains a permit/ firearm database.
Magazines over 10 rounds, or readily modifiable to exceed 10 rounds, are now prohibited; except for current owners /inheritors with exceptions to Law Enforcement and the Military.
All of this makes the buying process more complicated and time-consuming for law-abiding citizens and not really doing anything to stop bad people from getting guns.
The Glock MOS system got first dibs on the Holosun SCS optic, well now you M&P guys who do not want to run plates have a solid direct mount option.
The SCS-MP2-GR (Solar Charging Sight) fits the Smith & Wesson M&P-M2.0 full size, 9mm & 40S&W handguns (will not fit 1.0 or Shield models). It is designed to attach directly to the slide without an adapter plate and uses Holosun’s solar charging system with multi-directional light sensors to automatically adjust brightness in dynamic situations. The SCS can potentially operate indefinitely using an internal, rechargeable 20,000-hour power reserve meaning under even moderate exposure to bright light, you will never need to change batteries again. The SCS also includes an intensity override function which locks the optic into a high brightness mode for 30 minutes and a low power indicator, which will signal if charging is needed upon system start-up. Additionally, you get the Multi-Reticle System (MRS) displays a 32MOA Circle or a 2MOA dot or both. An awesome option for a quality optic.
Some people will not love that it is a green dot, I personally love a green dot. My eyes pick it up faster than red. Holosun has stepped it up big time with its optic options, great for the industry and maybe force others to innovate and/or lower prices!
We should get some in soon, pay attention to our emails, social media, or website! Come check them out when we get them and see what you think!
Wanna see what a master-class shooter brings with him to the range? Maybe something in here could be the difference between your shooting career taking off and fizzling out… ok probably not but it will show you Pete has a little bit of everything you could possibly need. Check it out!
The last class of the year for most of us took place this last weekend. Going into it I was excited to learn more about the 1911/2011 platform but I was also kinda bleh and ready for a little break from shooting so much. I am so glad this class happened when it did. It was one of the best classes I have ever been fortunate enough to be a part of. I don’t think the class is the right description to use, the workshop is more appropriate.
I have had amazing classes with Donovan from Point1 Tactics, Scott from Modern Samurai, Gabe White, and Shane Cardwell. This Class with AJ Zito was amazing and right there with my favorite classes. The delivery of information is not like a normal class. Like I said before, it is more of a workshop. No coaching or instructor mode here, it was more like: hey your buddy is one of the best in the 1911 game, he’s going to hang out and shoot with you and tell you why your gun does what it does, how it does that, why it will do that and what you can do to make it perform better and keep it laid back the entire time. No stress of shooting to perform, aside from your own ego and being able to destroy the ego of a friend with better shooting and trash talk.
I want to do a full synopsis of the class but I do not want people to have spoilers, you need to take this class for yourself. So instead here is what AJ has listed in the class description. Now due to the weather, our format was a little different than this but we really only did not go over the one-handed shooting.
In most classes, I learn a thing or two or head into it with a couple things I want to take home. I also really look forward to shooting standards or for a patch or test. Personally, I shoot better when the pressure is on. A perfect example in this class: I shoot an M&P 99.9 percent of the time. My draw to shot is around .89-95 consistently, my best is around .75ish and if I focus on control and “take my time” I am around 1.15. With my Staccato, this is not the case, the beaver tail, the way it is shaped, the weight, and lots of different factors limit how fast I can actually get that thing out of the holster and get a shot off. I have never been better than 1.3 with 2011. This weekend when it came time to perform in front of the class with everyone watching I was able to do 1.05 clean dead center of the A zone. Not the fastest in class but it was my personal record. It also showed me I can make a couple tweaks and get into the sub-second range for sure.
The shooting is always fun, the best part of the class aside from AJ’s way of teaching was the classroom mechanical portion. We got to learn what makes a 1911 work, why it works the way it does, how to take care of it, how to not break it, and much more. This whole section of the class was something I would pay to take without any shooting involved. The 1911 is complicated but at the same time is not. Taking apart a firearm can be intimidating, even more so when you get to the 2500-dollar-plus world. I consider myself very capable of working on firearms because I enjoy learning how something works and getting my hands on it. I like making a firearm mine, dialing it in to make me shoot better.
I wish you readers could have been in the class, it was so much fun. Tons of great info, tons of great shooting, and tons of people having some sort of lightbulb-on moments where something just clicked. I think every single person in the class came out not just as a better 1911 guy but a better shooter as well. 2 for 1! I look forward to AJ coming around again and also trying to convince my wife I need to take his armorers class.
Stay tuned for some 10 questions with a couple guys from the class!
Master Class in USPSA. Black Belt Patch holder. 3x Impact Shoot Two winner. Shipping Wizard. Pete is just a jack of all trades. For this edition, we decided to take a look at his range bag and hopefully find something that either Josh Vance stole, or any kind of item to give us an edge on becoming better shooters.
Continuing our monthly drill series with the AIM Surplus target, we present to you Version 1.3
Draw from concealment at 7 yards.
1 round into each 2-inch square
perform slide lock reload
4 rounds into the B8 in under 6 seconds.
Sub 6 seconds, send us footage with your clean target, show that you are 7 yards, and show the timer and we will send you something pretty sweet. Could be a shirt, could be a patch, could be an autographed 8×10 of Josh Vance for you to use as a target. Only one way to find out.
Check it out!
-Cano
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