• Home
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Categories
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Problem Solvers

February 1, 2010
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
in Archives
242
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

Anyone who s been involved in training for any length of time is always on the lookout for simple, effective, inexpensive products to resolve problems or shortcomings in their training program(s). Example: How do you safely render inert a real pistol so that it can be used in hands-on training scenarios?

At one time, the plastic blue or red gun was the answer, but they re expensive and really do nothing beyond filling the holster or shooter s hands. There s no way to practice magazine exchanges, malfunction drills, trigger control or any other manipulations essential to actual shooting.

In addition, when training for extreme close-quarters shooting, it s wise to have students actually tussle with other students so they can see how easy it is for a close opponent to foul their draw something a stationary target can't do. Lastly, students should point guns and drop the hammer on a real person during conditioning to enable them to actually perform the action in real life.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has made this point clear in his two books, On Combat and On Killing. If a shooter has never been taught to shoot a lifelike target, it s possible they may not be able to do it when it s time to save their life or someone else's.

Keeping It Real
The best of all worlds would be to disable (i.e., render safe) the student's personal weapon for the type of training described above while, at the same time, at a glance determine the gun is truly inert. Anything less is unacceptable.

The good news: There s a product available that replaces the entire barrel assembly and requires the gun to be field-stripped to insert. It eliminates the chance that a live round could be inserted, and, by having to take the gun apart, a real barrel being accidentally placed in the gun is all but impossible. I've used this product, and it's a good one.

However, I've broken several during demonstrations. In both cases, I was demonstrating Tap, Rack, Target (aka Tap, Rack, Access; Tap, Rack, Bang or Tap, Rack, Look) and when the slide sprung home, the barrel separated from the chamber insert, and I launched a missile from the end of my pistol. No one was hit but, knowing my luck, I'd put a student's eye out.

In any event, I ve been looking for a similar product that wouldn't suffer this breakage and, as it turns out, Law Enforcement Targets just introduced a new barrel insert it calls the Train Safe Firearms Block. Not only is it available for most all semi-auto pistols, it costs less than $5.

The Train Safe is a polymer rod that's molded to fill the barrel and chamber on specific models of semi-auto pistols, so the gun can be safely used as a training weapon. The Train Safe:

Provides a visually safe way to store firearms at home;

Provides visual evidence of disabled firearm even with the chamber closed; and

Removes the concern of dropping the firing pin/striker on an empty chamber during dry-fire training.

By using the barrel itself, there s no stress placed on the Train Safe, so the breakage that I experienced with the other barrel replacement won t occur. I ve been using the Train Safe for several months now as a dry-fire aid and as a safety device in training courses and I ve been impressed by it. I ve tried to break the Train Safe by inserting a magazine of live rounds and releasing the slide, but the insert has suffered no visible damage.

At this price point, agencies can afford to purchase them in volume so enough inserts will be on hand for an entire class, regardless of weapon type. It s simple, effective, inexpensive and nearly foolproof. The only way to insert the Train Safe is to disassemble and then reassemble the gun; you can't do much more than that to ensure training safety.

The DST 3-D Target Insert
In the September 2009 issue of Law Officer, I discussed a method based on a class I took from James Williams, MD, who is an emergency room doctor, at the 2009 ILEETA Conference, of using toilet paper to lengthen the life of 3-D targets while also offering a way to score hits to the high chest region of the body. I was looking for a way to install 3-D training into any course of fire at a reasonable price. By using a roll of toilet paper, it was possible to use 3-D target torsos like the Tac-Man or Tactical Ted and not have to be concerned about the number of hits in the plastic torso because the roll of toilet paper is being scored, not the target body.

After using this idea for several months, as well as getting feedback from other instructors who have used it, I went to the folks at Law Enforcement Targets and asked them if they could develop an inexpensive insert for these 3-D target torsos that would be as anatomically correct as possible. We corresponded regularly and, in a few weeks, they developed a folding, cardboard cut out with sticky back strips that allow the unit to be put together in about 15 seconds. The unit will cost around $1 and can withstand hundreds of hits if tape is used to reseal the bullet holes that develop much like any cardboard or paper target.

The shape of the insert is the same as the Primary Neutralization Zone of the DST series of paper and steel targets that LE Targets sells. The cardboard insert is designed to meet two goals:

  1. Create a 3-D scoring zone that can be used inside polymer torso targets; and
  2. Extend the life of these more expensive 3-D targets, making them more affordable to smaller agencies with smaller training budgets.
  3.  

As Williams makes clear in his lecture, Utilizing 3-D Target Visualization (www.tacticalanatomy.com),if an officer were to return fire to the center of the chest while at an angle, the result would be a glancing wound unlikely to result in incapacitation. If you re shooting at an angle from your adversary, depending on the degree of the angle, shots would need to be delivered to the side of the pectoral muscle or even the upper arm to deliver shots to the high chest region. Shooting on flat targets head on is likely to result in inaccuracy, so training on 3-D targets is essential. Officers should engage targets at varied angles so they have a visual representation of where they need to shoot. In reality, this type of live-fire training should be undertakenbeforethey re introduced to interactive training, such as Simunition or Airsoft scenarios.

Conclusion
The insert can be attached any number of ways, and it s really up to the trainer involved. I ve suspended the insert, using duct and packaging tape, rubber bands and paper clips, and wire and string. In reality, whatever s on hand will work. Note: Rounds will be traveling through the target and what you use will probably get shot and break, so be prepared to replace it. Remember: Be safe, be alert, and check your 360 often.

For more information about LE Targets, call 800/779-0182 or visit www.letargets.com.

 

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: RangemasterTacticalTactics & WeaponsTraining
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Law Officer Badge Blue

Donate & Help Support Law Officer

Donate now and help support justice, law & order
Your donation is tax-deductible.

Related Posts

Source: munshots, unsplash

The police reform we need—written by a cop

March 4, 2021
6.7k

Viral Video Shows K-9 Officer Punching Partner

January 3, 2021
2.5k

Police Recruit Critical After Boxing Incident At Academy

November 27, 2020
1.5k
Public Opinion Of Police

Use of Force, Training And Costs For law Enforcement Agencies Per The USDOJ

September 8, 2020
1.6k

Stockton Training Officer Shot By Rookie In Training

September 3, 2020
5.5k

Goodyear, Social Justice, and Leadership in Action

August 26, 2020
4.1k
Load More
Book: The Courageous Police Leader

Latest Articles

USAF veteran

DOJ will not pursue charges against Capitol police officer involved in Ashli Babbitt’s death

April 14, 2021
1.3k

Police union leader speaks unpopular truth: Duante Wright shares blame in his own death

April 14, 2021
1.4k
Source: Hodgenville Police Department, Facebook

Exclusive–Vehicle Thefts Increase After Dropping 50 Percent

April 14, 2021
1.2k
Brooklyn Center

Brooklyn Center officer arrested, faces manslaughter charge in death of Daunte Wright

April 14, 2021
2.4k
Chauvin trial

Chauvin trial: Judge grants ‘key witness’ request to avoid testimony due to fear of self-incrimination

April 14, 2021
3.1k
(YouTube)

Minnesota police fortify Kim Potter’s home as some neighbor’s flee to safety

April 14, 2021
8.7k
Load More

Liberty University offers affordable tuition and a 25% discount for law officers and first responders.

Follow your Law Officer Local Network:

  • Illinois
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New York, NY
  • Tulsa, OK
  • Wauwatosa, WI

More coming soon. Follow the news related justice, law, and order in your local area—and stand up and speak out.


Please donate and help support Law Officer

Must Read

Officer expresses shock

Officer expresses shock after shooting combative suspect with firearm instead of Taser

April 12, 2021
12.2k
Texas police sergeant

Qualified immunity is an endangered species

April 2, 2021
2.3k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
149.8k
Source: Tito Texidor III, unsplash

Duping the ‘woke’—a new kind of criminality in America

March 26, 2021
4.3k
Source: bantersnaps, unsplash

Are Asian-Americans victims of ‘white terror’—or the media?

March 21, 2021
4.4k
Load More

Stand up & speak out!

Gab with us—fight censorship!

Most Popular

Nashville officer

Graphic video shows deadly encounter between Nashville officer and Tennessee woman

March 15, 2021
220.9k
New Mexico State Police

New Mexico State Police release horrifying video of officer’s murder

April 11, 2021
50.8k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
149.8k
ears

Florida man reportedly pulled out human ears when questioned about grandfather’s murder

March 15, 2021
71.3k

Journalist: Derek Chauvin ‘will be acquitted’; alleged drug dealer invokes the Fifth Amendment

April 1, 2021
84.7k

More from Law Officer

  • Archives (12,812)
  • Chaplain (74)
  • Chauvin Trial (11)
  • Community (128)
  • Cop Humor (15)
  • Crime & Controversy (126)
  • Editorial (457)
  • Gear & Technology (64)
  • Investigations (2,429)
  • Laws & Legal (1,314)
  • Leadership (477)
  • News (5,989)
  • Officer Down (804)
  • On Duty (88)
  • Op-ed (600)
  • Reference (1)
  • Tactics (405)

LA Police Gear

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Law Officer Networks
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • NYC Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Join the Network!

© 2021 LawOfficer.com