Thinking Man's Corner

Article by: William G.

I recently was at GPSTC, where they hosted two Pistol Mounted Optic Instructor classes taught by the SIG Academy. Both classes were private classes for the FTU of two major agencies. The instructors were Scott Reidy (a career SWAT cop and FI from an agency in the North East), and Dave Jones a former Navy SEAL from Development Group. Scott is a secret in the training industry, and one of the best instructors teaching today, I have had several classes with him. And he is seriously legit. He probably teaches more actual LE PMO Instructor classes at a higher level than anyone else, and has a lot of actual experience and real field reports. This was my first time in a class where Jones was an instructor, and he was top notch as well. Scott was the lead instructor through the entire class, and I think this is wise because of his cop background. Cops teach pistol better than military. Military teaches carbine better than cops. Cops teach cops better than military teaches cops, and the other way around. Not to say you cannot get good training from military guys, but cop training is often more relevant to our jobs.

Anyway, I have been through this specific class several times, and have always said it was the best of its kind. The SIG Academy teaches everyone from local, state, federal, and military. They do not care what gun or optic you use, they just care what works. Quite refreshing since some manufacturers require you to use specific equipment in their class. Not the SIG Academy. Bring what you are issued or run, and they will teach you how to use and teach it better.

The first day starts off in the classroom with a safety briefing and power point. It is around an hour lecture. It goes over how to properly mount optics, battery choice and replacement, how to clean and maintain optics, and briefly touches on types of glass, and emitters. Then off to the range, where you will remain for the next two days. They zero on bullseye targets, and recommend 15 yard, braced zero procedure. The bullseyes will reappear for some drills, but they will primarily use the targets the host agency uses, in this case the SQT-A1. There was some shooting on steel, and then the scored testing was done on the SIG Academy targets with an 8” and a 4” scoring zone.

Intertwined into the class were teaching strategies for today’s new generation of peace officers. Emphasis was placed on smaller chunks of learning, experiential learning, and what I have long called the “model adult learning theory/accelerated training methodology” (which I first learned from Marcus Wynne). There are too many topics taught in the class for me to adequately cover in an article, and it would be very beneficial for you to attend the class (which they teach all over the country). In two days, each shooter fired close to 1,000 rounds, and learned a great deal. I have yet to hear someone that hasn’t been complimentary of the class.

Let’s talk about equipment. If you actually train with your equipment under realistic conditions, you will find out all sorts of interesting things. Here are some of the things I saw:

There was a large number of G45’s factory direct milled for Trijicon SRO’s (yes, that is thing). Several of the optics came loose, and upon inspection, the milling job left daylight behind and in front of the optic. That is no good, and will result in sheared screws, or loose optics. That is why proper milling, or a special mounting system like that on the excellent Shadow Systems guns is so important. There were other issues with the SRO’s as well. It rained a lot during the first class, and that optic acts as a shot cup when it is in the holster, filling up with water, and there is just no way to get a clear first shot on the draw. Additionally, in my educated opinion-gained by seeing a lot of them in the field, the SRO is far too fragile for a duty gun. They crack if you bump into a door frame or drop them from a few feet. Had one crack in this class, and get reports of one cracking from minor bumps at least a couple of times a month. The optic is fast, but has no place on a serious purpose tool.

Holosun was well represented, and there were no issues with the optics. One person has a SIG P320 with an EPS in a C&H plate, and the plate cracked, but the optic was fine. There were a couple of people using some sort of competition SIG P320 model (I do not pay much attention to game guns, so I cannot give you the exact model). These had SIG competition optics on them, which people swear by (like the SRO), and I have no idea why. They break, far too frequently. Both of these optics had circuitry issues develop, and had to be swapped out for actual duty grade optics. One of the competition guns had the take down lever crack. Once these shooter’s switch to LE SIG P320’s with duty grade SIG optics, they ceased to have issues in the class. The other Holosun’s, ACRO P2’s, the SIG Romeo X and M17 optics were all fine. The LE Glock’s and SIG’s did fine throughout the class. There were some malfunctions with both brands, that were shooter induced. When it is cold, and raining, and you are out of your comfort zone, and tired – things will happen and you have to learn to deal with it.

As far as personal equipment, I switched back and forth between two guns and rigs. I started with a P320 with Romeo X in an Alien Gear Rapid Force level 3 holster and a P365 Fuse with a Romeo X in a Palmetto Leather Works OWB leather holster. There were zero issues to report on the P320 or it’s additional accoutrements. The P365 Fuse had some magazine issues in a very specific scenario. One drill required you draw with your weak hand, fire 2 rounds, then reload weak hand only, and fire 2 more rounds. Here we had the issue arise, specifically with the 21 round magazines. On the reload (I manually used my index finger to depress the slide release) it would chamber a round, and fire that round when I pressed the trigger. It would extract and eject the spent case; however, it would not chamber the next round. I had one of the instructors try it to make sure it wasn’t my grip. Same thing happened to them left hand only. The only thing I could think of is the springs are particularly weak with these magazines.

I had noticed the spring tension seemed weak prior to the class, and think SIG needs to put a longer and stronger spring in both the 17 and 21 round P365 magazines. I talked with the rep and he had the factory send me new magazines. The springs are longer and stronger, and the problem did not occur with the new magazines. However, I still think they will eventually develop this issue, and am looking to source aftermarket springs for these magazines (which I do when I need to replace 1911, Glock, 870, and AR magazine springs anyway). You may never experience the issue, but I would rather you know to look out for it, than to be caught off guard too late.

The hot ticket gun at the class was a LE version of the SIG M18 (all black, no thumb safety). It had a Brouwer grip mod with magwell, M17 optic, and PEEL trigger. Love the grip mod because it is very close to my beloved 1911. The optic is rock solid, and only draw back is it is SIG specific for it’s mounting. The PEEL trigger is a Canadian Provincial Police trigger – it feels like a cross between a tuned revolver trigger and a NY1 return spring with a “-“ connector. It takes any mush out of the press, increases the trigger weight slightly, and is a very fast reset. I have had the PEEL trigger on my P320 for a while, and really like it. It is a great duty trigger, that can be run at speed of life.

Speaking of magwells….. There is one on my P365 Fuse. I generally do not like them due to a problem I will describe shortly. I left it on the Fuse because I like the way it mates with my hand. On a 1911, it makes reloads faster. On a double stack gun, that uses a tapered magazine, it doesn’t increase speed that much; at least for me. What it does do is add bulk. Since I carry concealed mostly, I tend not to like things that hamper concealment: a giant magwell. On an exposed duty gun, the bulk isn’t an issue. The design on the one on the Fuse, is not bulky, so it is not an issue for me for concealment. The primary reason I do not like them is under the unique scenario of having to do one hand manipulations, and needing to strip the mag with the belt or pocket, the magwell usually prevents a good purchase on the leading edge of the base plate.

What is the likelihood of having to do one hand manipulations? Depends, and you never know. If we could predict such occurrences we would all be rich, and not get in any gunfights. One drill had us wrap tape around the mag body (old trick) to let you back it out a bit, without letting it fall free under recoil; so that you could get a tap rack rep in without dummy rounds. Even with only one wrap, the mag gets stuck tight in the frame, and there isn’t enough room to wedge anything in to strip it in a timely manner. You end up having to use a key or knife to get the mag out. When I got home, I modified the magazine base plates to allow for a gap on the lip and between the magwell. On full size guns, carried exposed, a lot of people have slightly extended magazines, and this allows more purchase for stripping stuck mags. On the Fuse, the flush mag does not extend enough, and the 21rd mags are too long for concealment in the gun. Modify your equipment based off a potential remote problem? Why are you carrying it in the first place? Is it probable, or possible? You decide, and take your chances.  

Same take-away as normal: Make sure the gun is cut specifically for the optic you have, or get a Shadow Systems. No matter how good the plate is, you will eventually have problems with it. SIG optics are the best optics for SIG guns. Stay on top of maintenance, and replace parts and springs. Have spares available for when your equipment goes down – nothing lasts forever. Pressure test your equipment, and yourself – under varying conditions, in front of peers, and under the watchful eyes of people that know what they are doing. Happy New Year, good luck, and good training.