Subject: ASAA Combat Master Certification Course, Handgun
Author: JPAIGE at ARINC2 <jpaige@alum.mit.edu>
Date: 9/10/96 12:16 PM
Well, the 4-day course is over! 16 people (candidates) attended and
no one achieved the 360 points to pass. The highest score was a 354.
I think that I was third highest with a 323. Is the test passable?
Yes, but you have to be almost perfect, i.e. no misses (I had 10, at
-5 each), no late shots (I had none), no hits on hostages (I had one),
no procedurals (I had none), and no overtime weapons handling
penalties (I had one). Good hits were worth 5 point, peripheral hits
(hits on target but outside scoring area; for torso shots, hits had to
be below neck; for head shots, hits had to be above the neck) were
worth 2 pts. There were 5 point penalties for each miss, late shot,
or procedural error. Could I have passed? Yes, if my presentation
was more consistent. (With the tips I got from Chuck Taylor and the 4
other Masters that assisted Chuck, my presentation WILL be more
consistent next time!!) I cannot wait for the retest!!!
All weapon presentations were from the holster. The test was as
follows:
STANDARD EXERCISES: 2 shots on torso (a 13" x 11" scoring area);
perform each once. Total of 80 pts.
1. 1 meter (m), Speed Rock, 1.0 second (sec)
2. 1 m, Step Back, 1.0 sec
3. 3 m, 1.0 sec
4. 7 m, 1.3 sec
5. 10 m, 1.7 sec
6. 15 m, 2.2 sec
7. 25 m, 2.7 sec
8. 50 m, 6.0 sec
I had a peripheral hit at 10 m (I was not clean out of the
holster) and a miss at 50 m (the miss was in the groin
area); -8 pts
SINGLES (Presentations): 1 shot on torso; perform each a total of
five times. Total of 25 pts.
9. 7 m, 1.0 sec
I cleaned this stage.
PIVOTS and TURNS: 1 shot on torso; perform each a total of five
times. Total of 75 pts.
10. 90 degree pivot to the right, 1.0 sec
11. 90 degree pivot to the left, 1.0 sec
12. 180 degree turn, 1.2 sec
I had problems coming out of my holster clean my first 4
presentations. This resulted in 2 peripheral hits; -6 pts
MULTIPLE TARGETS: 1 shot on each as listed. All shot from 5 m.
Total of 45 pts. Targets are 1 m apart center to center.
13. 2 targets, 1.2 sec
14. 3 targets, 1.5 sec
15. 4 targets, 1.8 sec
I salivate at any fast shooting multiple target scenario.
This is normally my bread and butter. The key is the first
hit (do it quickly); also the gun should never stop moving.
I did not pick up the front sight on the first target on
run 15. One peripheral hit; -3 pts
HEAD SHOTS: 1 shot per command. Total of 45 pts.
16. 5 m, 1.0 sec. Perform a total of 4 times.
17. 7 m, 1.2 sec. Perform a total of 5 times.
I had been performing terribly with my head shots the
previous 3 days. My problem was my presentation. At these
speeds it was not "brisk" enough. So, I spent the first
evening making my movements faster, but consistent. This
caused me to be faster for day 2, but my sight picture was
not consistent. So I spent the 2nd evening, obtaining a
more consistent sight picture. By day three, I felt that my
initial purchase on the stocks was not consistent enough and
I felt that I was not obtaining an adequate sight picture
quick enough, so that night, I ironed those out. Now mind
you, I was a pretty good shot going into the course,
shooting comfortably at Taylor's Advanced Level, as was
everyone else. As a matter of fact, head shots had been no
problem. I actually welcomed them. NOW in 3 days, I had
completely overhauled my presentation. On the day of the
test, I practiced presentations every opportunity I got, to
reinforce muscle memory. The key is to take an extra .1 sec
to verify sight picture, and then squeeze the trigger.
To make a long story short, for run 16, I put 3 shots in 2
holes, and 1 shot 1 inch below the 3" x 4" head scoring
area; -3 pts
For run 17, I completely lost the front sight; 4 misses (2
to the right, about 3" to the right of the right ear; 1 over
the top of the head; 1 in the throat); -20 pts !!!
I was now at -40 pts, which meant that I had to clean the
rest of the runs. This was within my capabilities !!!
AMBIDEXTROUS SHOOTING: 1 shot on each target. Total of 30 pts.
Time limit 6.0 sec. Perform once.
18. 7 m; candidate draws, fires 1 round at each of 3 targets,
speed loads, transfers gun to weak hand, then fires 1 more shot
at each target weak hand unsupported.
Another bread and butter scenario for me! During the 3 days
of instruction, I had fired a shot over the target while
transferring to my weak hand, recuperated from the AD, and
still made the time AND the shots. I had also had the slide
not lock open on the speed load (initially, my weak hand thumb
rode the side of the slide, sometimes inadvertently resting on
the slide stop; I changed this the first evening, by adopting
Taylor's "Thumbs up" purchase). This required me to manually
rack the slide so that I did not get a procedural. No
problem!! I made the time AND the shots. (Fortunately, I am
blessed with extremely fast gun handling skills; ask Chuck and
his staff.) Well, you get the idea.
Well, I got a peripheral hit on the last target with my weak
hand; -3 pts !!!
I was out of the running. At this point, there were only 2
people left who could qualify.
HOSTAGE SITUATIONS: 1 shot on each. Perform each a total of 5
times. Shot from 7 m. Total of 50 pts. Time limit: 1.2 sec
each.
19. Head shot on felon past left side of hostage's head. Perform
a total of 5 times.
20. Head shot on felon past right side of hostages head. Perform
a total of 5 times.
This stage starts separating the Masters from everyone else,
if anyone else is left. By this time everyone is tired and
highly stressed, to put it mildly.
Well, I center punched the hostage's head my first shot.
Chuck Taylor laughed and said, "Great shot, but the hostage
is the center target." I laughed and said "Oh?"
I recovered and put 3 shots in the head and 1 shot to the
left of the head; on the right side, I put 3 in and 2 shots
to the right of the head; -20 pts
Also, another candidate dropped out. Now there was only one
left who could pass.
TARGETS AT ODD ANGLES: 60% obscured by cover. 1 shot each. Shot
from 7 m. Perform each a total of five times. Total of 50 pts.
Time Limit: 1.2 sec each.
21. Target looking around right side of cover.
22. Target looking around left side of cover.
During the 3 days prior to the test, I used this exercise to
practice head shots; I would normally put three to the torso
and 2 to the head. For the test, I tried all torso hits. I
had 1 peripheral hit on the left and 2 on the right; -9 pts
This completed the shooting portion of the test. I had amassed
penalties of 72 pts, for a raw score of 328. If my misses were
peripherals in all but the Standard Exercises, I would have had a
raw score of 352. This still would not have been good enough.
After the debriefing, we were told that one had to clean the
Standard Exercises to pass. That would have put me at 360! All
it would have taken was a more consistent presentation and better
trigger control!!!
Next was the weapon handling phase.
SPEED LOADING; NO SHOOTING. LOADING ONLY. Deduct 5 pts for each
overtime. Perform a total of five times. 1.5 seconds each.
Possible total deduction of 25 pts from shooting score.
Weapon handling, no problem. I can normally do a speed load
in 1.0-1.2 sec. However, I went too fast on the first run
and could not find the magazine well in time. The next 4
runs were clean; -5 pts
Also, the last candidate had 3 overtimes (His magazines
would not drop free). No there were none!
TACTICAL LOADING. NO SHOOTING. LOADING ONLY. Deduct 5 pts for
each overtime. Perform a total of five times. 4.0 seconds each.
Possible total deduction of 25 pts from shooting score.
I can do tactical reloads in 3.0-3.5 sec, with my eyes
closed (literally)!! I cleaned this.
MALFUNCTION CLEARANCE DRILLS. NO SHOOTING. CLEARANCE DRILLS
ONLY. Deduct 5 pts for each overtime. Perform a total of five
times within time limits listed below. Possible total deduction
of 75 pts from shooting score.
A. Position One (Failure to Fire): 1.0 sec
B. Position Two (Failure to Eject): 1.0 sec
C. Position Three (Feedway Stoppage): 4.0 sec
The solution for Positions One and Two are the same: Tap,
flip, rack. No problems; no deductions. The solution to
Position Three is more involved: identify the stoppage
(look); lock back the slide; strip out the magazine; rack
the slide 3 times, or until stoppage is removed; insert
fresh magazine; rack slide; back to "point". Again, I
typically do this in 3.2-3.5 sec. No problems; no
deductions.
There you have it. There was a possible total of 400 pts. You needed
360 pts (90%) to pass. The penalties were as follows:
5 pts will be deducted from candidates score for each occurrence
of the following offenses:
A. Premature start/"creeping"
B. Overtime shot. If caused by a malfunction and candidate
properly clears it, no penalty will be assessed.
C. Hit on hostage or object designated as cover.
D. Overtime speed load, tactical load or malfunction
clearance.
Needless to say, the entire experience was exhausting, and physically
and emotionally draining highly stressful. It normally takes a couple
of weeks to recover. I can see now why Law Enforcement are routinely
put on Administrative Leave after a deadly force/life and death
encounter.
I learned a tremendous amount from the course, both mentally and
technically. I also now know what it takes to be an ASAA Combat
Handgun Master. My hat off to the 12 who currently have that
certification. I should hopefully be joining your ranks soon!
Joe
P.S. You also need the right attitude!!!!
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