Sunday, April 25, 2021

 

Cajun Arms Defensive Carbine 2 Course, April 25, 2021



I expected a rainy Defensive Carbine 2 class with Cajun Arms, LLC today but instead got a really nice cool day. We had 2 instructors and 10 students. Class was 100% outdoors so masks were not mandated per CDC’s new outdoor guidelines. Today’s class was conducted at the 150 yard range where there were series of three paper targets and one steel target setup at 50 yards, 100 yards, and 150 yards. Class took place from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Due to the ammo shortage, we focused heavily on drills and skills development and round count was not high…I fired 107 rounds of 5.56 with my AR15, and 18 rounds of 9mm with my Sig P365 pistol.

Before I highlight the drills we went through, I’d like to first mention some non-shooting-related things I observed at class today. First, no one talked politics. Second, there were no weirdos. Third, all students appear to be in the 40s and 50s in age. Fourth, many seem to be vaccinated for COVID…the four guys I talked to most of the day take the pandemic seriously, believe folks should get vaccinated, take the CDC guidelines to heart, and indicated that they’re vaccinated. One student graduated in 1989 from the private school where I work and knew one of the teachers there who was also an alumnus from Class of 1989.

The drills (that I can recall):

-Static 2 shots at the 50 yard steel target.

-Static 2 shots at the 100 yard steel target.

-Static 2 shots at the 150 yard steel target.

-Static shots at the paper target from 10 yards to reinforce the point-of-aim holdover at close distances.

-2 shot combinations on multiple lettered boxes on the paper targets at 50 yards as the instructor calls the letters out.

-Static 3 shots at the 50 yard steel target, and then walking as we continually shoot at the 100 yard steel target, once within 15 yards away from the 100 yard steel target we transitioned to our pistols and fired 3 shots. We did this in pairs of two shooters walking side-by-side…when your partner runs out of ammo, they reload and yell, “OUT!”, and you yell, “I GOT YOU COVERED!”, and continue firing while they reloaded.

-2 shots lying on our back, transition to 2 shots sitting, transition to 2 shots kneeling, and transition to 2 shots standing at the 50 yard steel target…safety is engaged during transitions.

-We walked in figure eight pattern around two cones…when the instructor yells, “THREAT!”, we turn around (if needed), identify the steel target at 50 yards, take aim, disengage the safety, and fired 2 shots, engage safety, and continue walking around the cones again.

-Fire 3 shots at the 50 yard steel target, walk and shoot at the 100 yard steel target…upon arriving at the 50 yard target and berm, we kneel behind cover, and then pop up to take 2 shots at the 100 yard steel target.

-Seated on the ground taking 2 shots at the 100 yard steel target.

-Weak-side shooting.

-Simulated injured support hand requiring shooting one-handed.

There were more drills but these are the ones I can remember. Jim Benoit, the lead instructor, complimented me on my form and said that he could tell things are clicking for me since our Defensive Carbine 1 class from last June. He also said that he could tell I was serious today because I didn’t wear my short shorts to class like I did for my Defensive Carbine 1 or Defensive Carry 2 classes (Jim busts everyone’s balls for something).