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Shootrite Firearms review
9/19/2011 9:45:24 AM
I spent last Thursday and Friday in a two day tutorial at Shootrite near Guntersville, AL. I had been discussing this with some friends for over a year and no one would actually schedule anything. So, having been trained by Tiger McKee years ago, and even participating in training at other sites with him, I scheduled this outing for a group of friends. Initially, we had wanted to do a day of pistol and a day of carbine, but, as I suspected, once the uninitiated had a taste of just how much they didn't know about pistol, the clear desire was to continue day two on pistol training, and the carbine section was dropped altogether. To his credit, Tiger never flinched and plowed ahead with the pistol training.
This was not exactly the Defensive Handgun class that Shootrite offers several times per year. Tiger tailored the training to the level of the participants and threw in some real extras on day 2 that would not have normally been available.
Since there were several newbs involved, we started with firearms safety and fighting mindset in the classroom. We then moved to the range for work on presentation of the pistol, accuracy drills, verbal compliance and situational awareness. As the day wore on we worked on empty reloads, shot placement, nondiagnostic malfunction clearance and we tested the limits of our individual speed vs. accuracy. The new wrinkle on day 2 was movement. We ran similar drills from day one but with lateral movement on presentation, when shooting and clearing malfunctions. This then translated into the concept of creating distance from the the threat, so again we worked the drills moving backward. The day wrapped up with moving targets and the incorporation of a wicked remote control target.
Having trained with Tiger off an on for over a decade, I can't begin to tell you how impressive this little class was. His teaching style has been distilled to a perfect pace of learning that balances teaching, demonstration and repetitions. There is no BS. Tiger teaches how to run a weapon and then how to incorporate that weapon into a fighting mindset and use the information to defend yourself. Each subject or technique seems to flow seamlessly into the next. And just for reference, I've also trained with Smith, Givens, Suarez and others in the past, so there is a reasonable basis for comparison.
Overall, I ran a pretty good amount of ammo. I didn't take an exact count but I would estimate in the neighborhood of 500 rounds. That being said, i could have shot a lot more. For my own personal tastes and goals, when I train, the overriding thought is to 'go slower, shoot less.' I like to really concentrate on technique rather than create a sloppy hailstorm of bullets. And this was my first training with a Glock (I'm usually a 1911 man), and Tiger knew my level of training but was able to tweak my technique such that I was more comfortable with the Glock platform very quickly.
So I highly recommend that anyone looking for top-notch training in the Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee areas (or beyond) to visit Shootrite for training. I have never regretted a minute or a dollar spent training with Tiger McKee.
This was not exactly the Defensive Handgun class that Shootrite offers several times per year. Tiger tailored the training to the level of the participants and threw in some real extras on day 2 that would not have normally been available.
Since there were several newbs involved, we started with firearms safety and fighting mindset in the classroom. We then moved to the range for work on presentation of the pistol, accuracy drills, verbal compliance and situational awareness. As the day wore on we worked on empty reloads, shot placement, nondiagnostic malfunction clearance and we tested the limits of our individual speed vs. accuracy. The new wrinkle on day 2 was movement. We ran similar drills from day one but with lateral movement on presentation, when shooting and clearing malfunctions. This then translated into the concept of creating distance from the the threat, so again we worked the drills moving backward. The day wrapped up with moving targets and the incorporation of a wicked remote control target.
Having trained with Tiger off an on for over a decade, I can't begin to tell you how impressive this little class was. His teaching style has been distilled to a perfect pace of learning that balances teaching, demonstration and repetitions. There is no BS. Tiger teaches how to run a weapon and then how to incorporate that weapon into a fighting mindset and use the information to defend yourself. Each subject or technique seems to flow seamlessly into the next. And just for reference, I've also trained with Smith, Givens, Suarez and others in the past, so there is a reasonable basis for comparison.
Overall, I ran a pretty good amount of ammo. I didn't take an exact count but I would estimate in the neighborhood of 500 rounds. That being said, i could have shot a lot more. For my own personal tastes and goals, when I train, the overriding thought is to 'go slower, shoot less.' I like to really concentrate on technique rather than create a sloppy hailstorm of bullets. And this was my first training with a Glock (I'm usually a 1911 man), and Tiger knew my level of training but was able to tweak my technique such that I was more comfortable with the Glock platform very quickly.
So I highly recommend that anyone looking for top-notch training in the Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee areas (or beyond) to visit Shootrite for training. I have never regretted a minute or a dollar spent training with Tiger McKee.
9/20/2011 12:04:52 AM
I agree completely. I've taken classes from Clint Smith, Tom Givens, Louis Awerbuck, Tactical Response - Tiger provides absolute top shelf instruction.
I've taken several of Tiger's classes as well as the private tutorial, and it is an extremely enlightening experience. Money very well spent.
I've taken several of Tiger's classes as well as the private tutorial, and it is an extremely enlightening experience. Money very well spent.
9/20/2011 3:19:42 AM
I have taken classes from Tiger at his old location and new location since the 90s. I have taken classes as a "warm up" for deployments. I have taken many classes via military and several other shooting schools, Tiger is top nouch and I would recommend him to anyone. Well worth the time and money.
9/20/2011 9:43:02 AM
Any way to bounce a copy of this to the Hometown forum? I'm not sure that everyone is aware of this great resource right in our own back yard.
9/20/2011 5:34:48 PM
I agree completely that Tiger is top notch. He hosted and assisted Clint Smith in two classes I took in the last several years. He was "spot on" and very helpful. I look forward to training w/him in the future.
9/22/2011 1:20:57 AM
Originally Posted By TWIRE:
Any way to bounce a copy of this to the Hometown forum? I'm not sure that everyone is aware of this great resource right in our own back yard.
Any way to bounce a copy of this to the Hometown forum? I'm not sure that everyone is aware of this great resource right in our own back yard.
I started a thread containing the link to this thread.
9/22/2011 9:20:09 AM
The wife and I have both taken his Defensive Handgun class, at different times. The wife had the added bonus of taking the class in the rain 
We were both very pleased with the quality of instruction.
We were both very pleased with the quality of instruction.
9/22/2011 11:42:52 AM
Thanks TonyF
9/22/2011 5:51:32 PM
Thanks for posting over in hometown.
Would love to do his pistol/carbine course one day as well.
Would love to do his pistol/carbine course one day as well.
9/26/2011 12:26:43 AM
What did two days of private instruction set you back, per-person? I have a colleague or two who have been asking me about some instruction.
9/26/2011 11:26:55 PM
Two hundred per person per day. Plus any food, ammo, etc.
9/27/2011 3:57:08 AM
Originally Posted By TWIRE:
Two hundred per person per day. Plus any food, ammo, etc.
Two hundred per person per day. Plus any food, ammo, etc.
Thanks!
