http://www.shootsmarttx.com/
http://www.fortworthfirearmstraining.com/ar-15/

This will be a running AAR of the Shoot Smart Texas (north west Fort Worth by Alliance airport and Cabela's) AR 15 classes. I will be taking all 3 levels of their training for the rifle (and probably the night shoot also) and report back on how I felt the course was ran and the quality of the training.

Level 1- 2 July 2012 run time was from 1830 to about 2200. :words:

Level 1 is setup for shooters with little to no experience with the AR15 platform. The first part of the class is classroom time and takes about an hour to get though. Here they cover the most basic stuff with the AR platform. Starting with the nomenclature of various parts of the rifle, moving on to disassembly, reassembly, and lube points. From there they move on to discuss the various type of sights that are in use, irons, scopes, red dots, and holo sights as well as various sling setups and how they work, and proper sight alignment, trigger control ,ect.

From there they move onto performing reloads and general manual of arms with the platform. They split the class into two groups and have them perform reload drills and trigger manipulations explaining trigger reset and trigger control, then they go over malfunctions and how to clear them.

I did feel that there were some things that could have been practiced more and clarified a bit more (mainly in weapons manipulations/reloads/and malf. clearing) but we're dealing with a 3ish hour time frame to get everyone trained to a basic level and get some range time in before time runs out.

Out on the range the drills were simple enough that the guys who were just starting out but people who had been shooting for a bit such as myself and a few others weren't bored with the class. We made good use of the 100 rounds you need for this course (bring a little extra just in case) and performed some good drills with good feedback from the two instructors there. Most of the drills seemed to be focused on getting you used to handling the weapon in a way that most people aren't used to handling them (i.e. outside of the square range environment) and also getting them used to getting the weapon reloaded and back in the fight or if you had one clearing a malf.

This is a short range course. The max range on the indoor range is 25 meters/yards I think. It seems as though they focus on short range self defense distances that most civilians are likely to encounter but we'll see how levels 2 and 3 play out.

My final thoughts on the lvl 1 course- Worth the money especially if you have little to no experience with the AR platform. This group does require you to start with lvl 1 and work your way up but even for experienced shooters who have to run the Lvl 1 too it's a good refresher if you haven't shot in a while or even if you have you won't be bored with it once you get out on the range. The classroom portion is kinda eh but it doesn't last long (maybe an hour or so) and then you get out on the range. They emphasize that there are tons of ways to setup and run an AR and there is no one right answer or setup to run.

Lvl 2 review (coming soon)

LVL 2 Review

This course covers the same amount of time.  We were there from 1800 to just after 2200.  I did run a head cam for the range portion as well as shot some video of Jewmadbro.

The first part of the night was again in the classroom.  They cover safety again at the start of the class after a brief overview of what the goals of the night are.

The classroom portion pretty much picks up where the lvl 1 classroom session left off.  Seems logical enough.  The only things they really cover again is safety and speed reloads.  One thing I did like about the classroom session this time was they covered clearing of malfunctions in more depth.  I usually teach a different method than they teach but their method for clearing malf. works too.  Again they teach A way not THE way.  

They move on to teach pivots and facing movements, and proper lateral movement as well as shooting while moving at a basic level which is appropriate for the level that a student should be at after doing Level 1.

We moved out onto the range after all that and again touching on safety before moving out.  

First drill of the night was controlled pairs as in the first night.  After a few standard frontal control pairs to warm everyone up they began doing pivots/facing movements after "threat" command was called.  This helps you get used to moving into position yet getting there in a nice stable stance at the same time.  Everyone was safe doing this and the two instructors were watching folks really closely, ensuring everyone was on safe between drills, and no one was getting flagged.

Second Drill was the 1 thru 5 drill.  Start on target 1 with 1 shot target 2 with 2 shots target 3 with 3 then back the other way to 4 and 5 shots.  We ran this drill in Level one but the targets were right next to eachother for level 2 they spaced them out two targets a piece which means you are engaging them almost all the way across the range front.

Next drill was shootin from various kneeling positions.  This definatly got some folks out of their comfort zone as this is not a normal position that most folks shoot from on the square range.  This is very helpful at the beginer level if you are going to continue with firearms training because you have to get used to getting into postions that would normally be uncomftrable and that you would never use.









Next up was a barricade drill both strong and support sides.  Most folks never do this stuff if they don't do any training.  It makes you think a little more when you have to think about keeping all your parts behind cover especially when shoot on the straight edge.  The instructors were good about informing people they needed to "cover" to keep their fleshy parts behind cover as much as possible.











After that we moved onto shooting on the move/lateral movement.  They setup two barricades and had you move from one to the other then back again performing a speed reload one time.  The instructors stayed tight on yor six to make sure you weren't going to fall or move too far forward or backward.  

The instructors demoing the drill








Jewmadbro had to clear a Malfunction (double feed I think) he was really smooth and quick on that one.


That was pretty much it for the night.

I felt that it was money well spent on the lvl 2 especially since the course takes place during the week after work so you don't have to take time off to attend like other courses you also won't have to break the bank to buy ammo to go out there.

The instructors for both levels (same guys both times) have been top notch and professional and open to answer any questions or take suggestions and work with you if you have a werid or different gear setup.

Are there things I'd teach differently?  Probably but that's because I come from a different background and have been though other courses, and again like I said in the previous review and this one they teach A way not THE way.  

Any questions feel free to ask I typed this up in kind of a hurry since I have to go to work in an hour.  I'll answer as best I can.