Final weekend I had the chance to take Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise (2-day). I’ve been an acolyte of the gauge for fairly a while. I attended a class with Tim and Ashton a pair years in the past, however this was my first time getting the excellent news immediately from Rob and Matt Haught. Quick-story: it is a shotgun class par excellence. If you wish to enhance your capabilities with the shotgun, practice with Sym-Tac. Learn on for the main points!
Disclaimer: I paid full value, out-of-pocket for Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise as a result of it has been on my wishlist for a very long time. Journey, ammo, and course price had been on my time and my dime. This overview was not coordinated in any approach, nor do I’ve a monetary relationship with the Haughts or Sym-Tac. The ideas listed below are mine and mine alone.
Sym-Tac Shotgun Expertise
Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun abilities has been on my short-list of courses for a very long time. Sadly their courses appear to promote out shortly! This 12 months my long-time buddy Neil was battling insomnia one evening and seen a category had opened up in Xenia, OH, about an hour from his home. He signed up instantly and shot me a textual content. This was his second time taking the category – a really sturdy endorsement – in order quickly as I noticed his message, I signed up. Journey being the hidden price of coaching courses, with the ability to stick with Neil and keep away from the price of a lodge was vastly useful.
The category was held on the Xenia Police vary. Lon Etchison (Lon posted a wonderful overview of the category HERE) was a pupil and the vary host. Lon is a kind of uncommon cops who’s a phenomenally good shooter, competitor, and man who trains. Funded by drug bust cash, cops within the native space have a variety facility that hosts a number of the nation’s high trainers, together with the Haughts, Tom Givens, and loads of others. Lon additionally instructed me that seven of his division’s firearms instructors are Rangemaster-certified. It’s superior to know there are some small departments which can be extremely well-trained. I really want all of them had been!
The vary facility was very accommodating. The air-conditioned classroom had loos close by, in addition to a cool place to eat lunch. The vary was preferrred for 2 relays of shooters, so particular due to Lon for internet hosting the category. The category began out with a security temporary, teacher introductions, then we hit the vary.
Instructors and College students
The instructors for the category had been Rob and Matt Haught and Bob Medford. Rob Haught has a really spectacular resume, having spent a lot of years as a high-level pistol competitor on Group Beretta. Rob has additionally had a 30+ year-long profession in regulation enforcement. Moreover, he developed and taught a shotgun program to a top-tier federal workforce for a few years. He has additionally taught quite a few different LE companies, army outfits, and hundreds of armed Residents.
Rob’s son, Matt is spectacular in his personal proper. First, he’s a critical aggressive pistol, two-gun, and safari rifle shooter. He’s additionally a critical pupil, having skilled with the likes of Hackahtorne, Givens, and lots of others. Matt can be an impressive teacher. He impressed everybody by memorizing their names by lunch on day one. Matt additionally instructed me one thing you’ll virtually by no means hear an teacher say:
Strive it and it doesn’t work, return to what you’re used to.
Matt and Rob had been accompanied by Sym-Tac senior teacher Bob Medford. Bob is a retired WV State Trooper with a deep effectively of data and glorious teacher presence. Although Rob and Matt’s names are on the category, Bob work simply as laborious, was simply nearly as good an teacher, and is a hell of a pleasant man!
The scholars within the class had been equally spectacular. There have been a lot of firearms instructors from different faculties. The biggest contingent was from Gunset, an Ohio-based coaching firm with some very gifted shooters. Zach from Apache Options was there, in addition to a few instructors from TDI and one from Midwest Capturing Middle. There could also be one or two others I’m failing to say and if that’s the case, I apologize. General this was probably the most competent teams of scholars I’ve skilled with anyplace, and the instructors pointed this out repeatedly.
Let’s get into the category. I’m going to say most matters coated however consider me, studying about it’s no substitute for doing it!
Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise Day 1
The vary day began with a dialogue of the push-pull method. For those who’re unfamiliar with the method it includes pulling the gun towards the shoulder with the sturdy hand, and pushing (laborious!) towards it with the assist hand. Think about attempting to “stretch the gun,” as Rob instructed us. This has the impact of dampening recoil and muzzle rise considerably. For those who haven’t skilled this method, it’s a game-changer. It tames recoil and can drastically enhance your relationship with the shotgun.
We labored a lot of “push-pull improvement drills,” firing one round at a time as much as 5 rounds at a time. Subsequent we discovered Sym-Tac’s two prepared positions: a high-ready referred to as out of doors prepared and a low-ready referred to as the close-quarters prepared. We broke for lunch round 12, then got here again able to shoot some extra.
After lunch we obtained into pivots and turns. As Rob stated, “we reside in a 360-degree world.” We practiced 90-degree turns to the left and proper, and 180s to the rear, turning each left and proper. We started shifting ahead and backward on the vary. This was adopted by shifting laterally, left-to-right and right-to-left, firing on command.
Subsequent, we obtained into reloading the shotgun. Coated had been emergency reloads, going over and below the receiver, and “violin loading.” We ended the day with a drill referred to as the “Scoot, Shoot, and Load Boogie.” I’ll allow you to determine that one out by taking a category!
Day 1 Spherical Rely: 180
Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise Day 2
Day two started with some lecture about zones of employment for the shotgun. Subsequent, we jumped right into a warm-up. The very first thing we did was Rob Haught’s College Drill – a 25-round apply session to get essentially the most out of a field of birdshot. I’ll clarify extra on the College Drill in a bit, and possibly do a video on it quickly. After the warmup we had been taught the “CQB Approach” or “short-stocking.” This method permits you to collapse the shotgun down and make it a shorter weapon.
I had been uncovered to this method by means of Fortunate Gunner’s video (as I believe many shooters have been) and Tim & Ashton’s class, however actually refined it in school. One key level that I used to be lacking was to thrust the gun ahead towards the goal upon firing. Matt instructed me to, “bayonet ’em with buckshot” and this analogy actually made sense. The remainder of the morning was spent on using the CQB Approach in varied different iterations, together with turning and shifting. After lunch we ran the Shotgun Expertise Gauge – extra on that within the subsequent part.
After the Expertise Gauge, the afternoon was taken up with patterning and a few “superior” materials. I at all times get fairly enthusiastic about patterning for some motive. A number of college students did demo runs of a pair totally different buckshot masses and Matt and Rob supplied perception. The superior stuff…effectively, that’s kind of course dependent, so I’ll not go into it right here. Towards the tip of the day we shot the Haught College Drill with buckshot. The final occasion was a man-on-man occasion that I did very effectively in, making it to the next-to-last spherical earlier than Lon sat me down.
Day 2 Spherical Rely: 165 (together with 25 buck/5 slugs), 345 whole
The Shotgun Expertise Gauge
One of many occasions I used to be most wanting ahead to on the class was the Shotgun Expertise Gauge. The shotgun abilities gauge is a check of shotgunning prowess designed by the Haughts. It includes two IDPA targets: one at three yards and one at ten. It requires 5 slugs. On the buzzer the shooter fires one spherical from the short-stock place on the three-yard goal. From there, the shooter fires three rounds on the physique of the 10-yard goal. The gun runs dry and the shooter conducts an emergency (chamber) reload, then shoots a head shot to the 10-yard goal.
Shooters managing a clear run can earn a coin by taking pictures the Shotgun Expertise Gauge below a prescribed par time. The par for a pump shotgun is 6 seconds and the par for a semi-auto is 5 seconds. Matt stated that something below 10 seconds represents a “pretty proficient” shooter, below 7.5 is “actually strong,” and below 6/5 represents “grasp or skilled stage of talent.”
You guys have seen me shoot the Expertise Gauge on video earlier than, however taking pictures it on video isn’t the identical as taking pictures it below the stress of the clock and different college students watching. I used to be curious how I might do. Seems I did fairly effectively, taking pictures a clear run with my pump gun in 5.48 seconds and incomes Sym-Tac Coin #11. Nobody else within the class earned a coin, however a variety of guys got here actually shut. And following on to my earlier assertion in regards to the high quality of scholars, Matt stated that general the scholars on this class had been collectively a few second quicker on the Shotgun Expertise Gauge than most courses.
Shotguns & Tools
I do know everybody studying this will likely be within the weapons. The breakdown is fairly easy. Of seventeen college students, 14 used Berettas. Many of the Beretta shotguns had been 1301s, however there was an A300 or two within the crowd. Moreover, I consider all the autoloaders had been outfitted with optics. There have been quite a lot of Aimpoints, Holosuns, and one Trijicon SRO. No matter platform the Magpul SGA inventory was on virtually each gun.
The remaining three shotguns on the road had been pumps, and all had been 870s. One shooter (Bob) had an Aimpoint on his 870, however the different two had been utilizing iron sights. Many shooters introduced pumps as backups. One – a 20″ Mossberg Maverick if I’m not mistaken – made it as much as the road when the shooter’s Beretta went down, however autoloaders dominated virtually 5-to-1.
My shotgun was my circa 2008 Scattergun Applied sciences/Wilson Fight 870 which I just lately (and legally) transformed to a short-barreled shotgun. A number of the modifications to this gun embrace ghost-ring sights, a one-shot journal tube extension, and an OD-green Armor-Tuff end. At present it’s carrying a closely modified Streamlight TL-Racker forend. Although the Streamlight is cumbersome and doesn’t can help you optimize push-pull, the I discover the Surefire DSF-870 forend far too heavy, cumbersome, and complex. The search continues for an excellent pump shotgun forend/lighting answer.
Ammunition Carriage
Shotguns are hungry beasts. One piece of equipment that was practically common-to-all was the shotgun card. For those who aren’t acquainted, these Velcro-backed playing cards carry spare ammo in elastic loops. As soon as depleted they are often stripped away and a brand new, full one positioned on the gun. Velcro playing cards from ESSTAC and Vang Comp had been about equally cut up, and one shooter had shotgun playing cards from Browncoat Tactical. I’ve used ESSTAC playing cards for a number of years, however will likely be switching to Vang Comp Shotgun Playing cards to any extent further.
Although costlier, these playing cards have some actual benefits. The elastic is far thicker. It retains its type effectively, making loading the provider itself simpler. It holds shotshells securely however releases them when wanted. the Vang Comp card additionally does a superb job of staying flat when full…principally. I will likely be investing in just a few of those as quickly as they’re again in inventory. A number of Beretta guys had been operating the Aridus Industries QD-C aluminum sidesaddle, a purposeful equal to tender shotgun playing cards.
I discovered a pair different ammo carriage tips. First, a fanny pack can maintain a variety of shotgun shells and they are often accessed actually shortly. The shotgun shell belt additionally works very well. I at all times thought these had been sort of gimmicky (why would you want that many shotshells?), however now I’m just about offered. You want that many since you drop shells when below stress. Matt says deal with your shotgun shells like popcorn: deliver loads and in the event you drop some, depart ’em on the ground. The shell belt will also be shortly donned above an obligation belt making it actually useful for regulation enforcement officers. The one they advocate is the 25-round Heavy Responsibility Shotshell Belt from Wilderness Tactical.
Malfunctions
Beretta shotguns skilled fairly just a few malfunctions – far more than I anticipated to see. Many of those had been operator induced, however some the place not. Close to the tip of Day 1, one shooter needed to swap out his Beretta for a backup pump gun as a result of the firing pin would no strike the primer. This was decided to be the fault of carbon within the firing pin channel. A pair different shooters additionally had mild primer strikes. One shooter was stunned when Matt walked up holding his charging deal with. It had damaged off, unbeknownst to the shooter, and fallen to the bottom.
The shotgun has fed our households, patrolled out streets, defended our properties, and fought our wars for over 100 years. ~ Rob Haught
Operator malfunctions with the 1301 had been extra widespread. These principally occurred when reloading. A seemingly widespread difficulty appears to be the shooter’s hand impeding the charging deal with when releasing the bolt. This leads to a bolt that isn’t absolutely seated and a click on as an alternative of a bang. Once more, that is operator-induced, however it was exceptionally widespread, particularly below stress.
One factor I like a few pump shotgun is that there’s not an entire lot to go improper. That stated, I did have one malfunction – the primary I’ve ever had with an 870. I had a shell that stayed within the chamber after I racked the shotgun. It simply was pried out and life went on, however this might be a horrible malfunction in a defensive state of affairs. Moreover, I wasn’t proof against operator-error, and short-stroked my gun a pair occasions. To my information neither of the opposite two 870 shooters had mechanical points with their weapons.
What Did I Study at Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise?
I discovered lots. Web stuff is nice, however first-hand instruction within the push-pull and CQB methods are completely invaluable.The category supplied loads of reps to solidify abilities. The most effective items of data given was the Sym-Tac College Drill: a 25-round apply session to maintain you tuned up on the gauge. The college drill solely requires a field of birdshot and about 5 minutes of you vary time. I plan on doing this at the least month-to-month for the following 12 months or so.
Each shot you fireplace is a separate occasion, with a separate sight image, separate push-pull, separate set off press! ~ Rob Haught
The college drill is as follows:
- 5 rounds of a single shot from out of doors prepared or CQB prepared,
- 5 rounds of two pictures (10 rounds whole)
- 5 rounds “click on,” emergency/chamber load 1, shoot 1
- 5 rounds single shot utilizing CQB method
Most significantly, I gained a excessive diploma of confidence in my shotgun and capabilities with it. When everybody started un-casing weapons, I instructed my buddy Neil, “I really feel like I’m displaying as much as a pistol class with a single-action revolver.” By the tip of the category I used to be completely proud of my pump-gun. Not solely did I earn a coin, I made it to the next-to-last bracket of the ultimate man-on-man showdown. This consists of getting actually fortunate and beating Adam from Aridus Industries – a feat I’m significantly pleased with as a result of that dude is so rattling good! The larger, extra common lesson might be one thing alongside the traces of: the gun issues a lot lower than the person. For those who’re prepared to place the work in, you could be formidable with absolutely anything.
Closing Ideas
Whilst LE forsakes the scattergun for the carbine, the shotgun is experiencing a little bit of a resurgence. Savvy armed Residents are shortly realizing the virtues of the gauge as a fight-stopper. Frankly, there isn’t a different generally accessible gun that releases a lot energy with a single pull of the set off that’s remotely appropriate for house protection. Many LEOs (once more, like Lon) both by no means let the shotgun go, or are warming as much as it as soon as once more.
It’s not laborious to hit that concentrate on with a shotgun at this vary…however it’s actual simple to overlook! ~ Rob Haught
Nonetheless, myths in regards to the shotgun persist, and they’re many. “All you must do is rack it and the dangerous guys will go operating.” Or how about, “simply level and shoot – you don’t need to intention!” And naturally, “the shotgun kicks like a mule!” There’s maybe a kernel of reality in a few of these, however in the event you’re going to provide a shotgun, you’d higher be ready to make use of it. For those who’re ready to make use of it, you’d be finest served understanding learn how to use it effectively. And in the event you’re going to make use of it effectively…for that you simply’re going to wish coaching.
There are some top-notch shotgun instructors on the market, and probably the greatest is Sym-Tac Consulting Shotgun Expertise. It covers every part it’s good to know to run a defensive shotgun. The push-pull method, reloading, prepared positions, turning and shifting, and the CQB Approach: grasp these methods and you may be extremely efficient with the shotgun. I like to recommend this class with out reservation.
