Phazer
.338 Win Mag
I recently completed the 6/13/20 Defensive Shotgun course with Onsight Firearms Training (OFT). As always, Ben was an excellent instructor. The initial safety briefing was exactly the same as in all of the other OFT courses. Although this could be considered boring, it is absolutely necessary and reassuring. It proves that OFT emphasizes safety. I always like this since I do not usually know most of the other students in the course and it is good to know that everyone is at least briefed on safety protocols.
I've taken two other shotgun courses with OFT. I always learn something new. During this course, Ben spent some time discussing appropriate shotgun loads for home defense. When I purchased my first shotguns in 2013, I knew very little about firearms and even less about ammunition. I brought some of my purchased-for-defense buckshot to the course. Ben had us fire a single round of our buckshot at a fresh paper sheet from 10 yards. I fired my #4 buckshot and had about an ~10" group. Ben then tossed me a round of Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot. I fired that into the top portion of the target and saw a 3" group. I was impressed. That simple demonstration showed me that I really need to upgrade my self defense loads.
We went through shooting from standing, squatting, single knee, double knee, and seated positions. That was fine. Having to fire from prone was, however, not fun. If I have to take a shotgun shot from prone, I'll do it. But, not recreationally. My clavicle is still screaming at me.
Walking and shooting was great fun. It proved to me that I'm not good at it with a pump gun. Walking from right to left while aiming to the right (as a right-handed shooter) is quite awkward. It is something that I cannot ever practice at a range. So, I was glad to have been able to try.
The only bad thing that I can say about these courses is that every time I go, I find better gear that I want to acquire and which will cost me a lot more money. Ben let me run his Beretta 1301 for one of the drills. That is a wonderful firearm. As soon as I got home, I found the Langdon Tactical site so that I can place a pre-order for a Beretta 1301 gen 2 with upgraded stock, hand guard, shell holder, and rear sight rail with platform to mount an RMR-pattern micro red dot. The gun will not ship until late fall or early winter, but I look forward to bringing it to many OFT courses in the future.
[10 yards - top: Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot, bottom: Standard Federal #4 buckshot]
I've taken two other shotgun courses with OFT. I always learn something new. During this course, Ben spent some time discussing appropriate shotgun loads for home defense. When I purchased my first shotguns in 2013, I knew very little about firearms and even less about ammunition. I brought some of my purchased-for-defense buckshot to the course. Ben had us fire a single round of our buckshot at a fresh paper sheet from 10 yards. I fired my #4 buckshot and had about an ~10" group. Ben then tossed me a round of Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot. I fired that into the top portion of the target and saw a 3" group. I was impressed. That simple demonstration showed me that I really need to upgrade my self defense loads.
We went through shooting from standing, squatting, single knee, double knee, and seated positions. That was fine. Having to fire from prone was, however, not fun. If I have to take a shotgun shot from prone, I'll do it. But, not recreationally. My clavicle is still screaming at me.
Walking and shooting was great fun. It proved to me that I'm not good at it with a pump gun. Walking from right to left while aiming to the right (as a right-handed shooter) is quite awkward. It is something that I cannot ever practice at a range. So, I was glad to have been able to try.
The only bad thing that I can say about these courses is that every time I go, I find better gear that I want to acquire and which will cost me a lot more money. Ben let me run his Beretta 1301 for one of the drills. That is a wonderful firearm. As soon as I got home, I found the Langdon Tactical site so that I can place a pre-order for a Beretta 1301 gen 2 with upgraded stock, hand guard, shell holder, and rear sight rail with platform to mount an RMR-pattern micro red dot. The gun will not ship until late fall or early winter, but I look forward to bringing it to many OFT courses in the future.
[10 yards - top: Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot, bottom: Standard Federal #4 buckshot]
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and I enjoyed every bit of soreness I felt because each time I felt it I flashed back to a particular moment from the day. 