What Is It?
This exercise will prepare you to identify your target in order to determine if it is a threat. Then to look beyond it and ensure that you are not going to accidently shoot someone else if you were to miss or if the bullet were to go through your target.
Of course this is standard safety procedure for firing a weapon, however, it is hard to remember that when you are under stress. Including this as part of your training will help develop that muscle memory and form the habit so that when you react without thinking under stress, you're body will automatically (hopefully) do what you've trained it to.
You should do this exercise (with the pistol and rifle) at both the 10 and 15 yard mark.
Facing Backwards
When training for reflexive fire while facing away from your target, I recommend that you twist around and take a knee (see video above at 3:55.) It is faster to put eyes on your target and it makes you a harder target in return.
Rifle Reload
Looking back through the course, I realized that I hadn't covered reloading with a rifle very well. So I'm going to touch on that for just a little bit (see video above at 5:00.)
Don't Kick Your Mag
There are a lot of high speed videos where you've got the instructor kicking the magazine out of the rifle so that they can reload quickly. I've go to admit that it is cool looking.... and I've done it.
The problem is that it is harder to hold onto that mag during the middle of a firefight when I've just thrown it away from me.
Furthermore, training this way build muscle memory. So what happens when you mistakenly think the mag is empty because the weapon went "click" and you chunk it away from you on reflex? What if it was actually a jam? Now you've lost 1/2 a mag of ammo.
Before Reloading
If your rifle doesn't fire, look at the chamber first to make sure that it isn't just jammed. Then depress the mag, grab it with your other hand and put it back in its pouch. It isn't as fancy, but if you practice, can be just as fast as flinging it across the room.
Don't Slap Your Rifle
This is another faulty tacticool reload method that a lot of people use. I used to do this myself and got teased when I was training with the SEALS. It is Hollywood happy horse crap.
Use your thumb. Why? You're more likely to hit it every time. Not only is that method more reliable, but every time you hit your rifle, you're messing up your optics. Which is a big problem if accuracy matters to you at all.
Rifle Take-Aways
Contrary to common belief it is actually easier to take a rifle from someone than a pistol. Even if they have it on a sling. In fact, it is better if it is on a sling, because then you can take the rifle and strangle them with the sling by twisting the rifle. (See video above at 9:40.)
What Now?
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