Thinking Man's Corner

Article by: William G.

What follows are observations on a variety of guns, optics, and training that I have encountered over the last month. If nothing else, it may be interesting or can help someone, so here it goes:

Recently I taught a GALEFI Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor class. There were 18 students from 10 agencies in the class. Approximately 800-1000 rounds were fired over two days. 

The majority of guns were some form of Glock in 9mm. The predominant optics were different model Holosun’s, and Trijicon RMR’s. There was a RCS on one of the Glocks, and several optics I did not recognize. There was some use of plates, and those were a mixture of the usual suspects, and the Glock MOS plates. There was one Sig 1911 with a Romeo X, and a P320 with a RXE. Holsters were mostly Safariland with a few Alien Gear and a few Blackhawk’s. 

One person borrowed a Glock for the class from someone, and it had the slide direct milled for a RMR. Not the student, but the person that let them borrow the gun, spent all that money to get a really nice looking gun, and put a great optic on it, only to not properly secure the optic. It worked loose, and I was able to properly loctite it, and torque it. There were no more issues with the optic on that gun. Another student had a Glock with tall sights. The front sight worked loose during a qualification, and I caught it prior to the next stage. I was able to loctite it, and torque it down as well.

The weather was not such that fogging was an issue, and there was less than two hours total of classroom time, so humidity/cold/etc. was not an issue for the glass. Nor did it rain, so there were not any big problems with the optics that way. Had it been a few months ago, or a few months into the future, fogging would have reared its ugly head if they were not treated (which is something we talked about under the maintenance portion of the class-short version, get an anti fog agent such as zip wax). 

I would guess that there were more guns without witness marks than there were with them. This was also discussed as part of the pre-flight procedures of the lecture. After I had to properly secure that loose RMR, several students borrowed my paint pen. 

One thing I keep with me is a tackle box with parts for a 1911/Glock/320/365/AR. It also contained batteries, screws, cleaning supplies, punches, other tools, torque wrenches, anti-fog, lens wipes, lubricant, and paint pens; plus a nifty little collapsible craftsman box with a magnetic bottom. It helps out tremendously. I have gotten lots of guns back up and running during matches and classes for myself, and others. 

Some of those optics I said were unknown (I didn’t ask what they were, only if they worked for the entire class, as I have a pretty hard rule of only recommending Aimpoint, Holosun, Sig, and Trijicon for duty guns; though Steiner should get honorable mention) had a quirk I have noticed with some non-mainline optics. They were not nearly as bright as the top players. I noticed this in a PMO class at GPSTC with a state agency a year or two ago when I borrowed a school gun with a non-mainline optic. It was maxed out on brightness, and still only half as bright as one of the brands I recommend. The shooter of that optic was one of the better shooters in the class, so it didn’t affect him in the least. It’s the Indian, and not the arrow…….

Not an optic failure, but a quirk sort of: front sights on dot gun should be black, or a different color than the dot. This was brought home in this class and after (see the 365 Fuse part of this article) Two students has G45’s with Holosun SCS’s (great topic) and Ameriglo FAT sights.The FAT sights are unique, with a U notch rear  which has subdued tritium, and a rounded front (similar to XS big dot) with a fluorescent yellow outline. Really fast to pick up (Fast Acquisition Target – I “think”), but only work for me out to 15 yards, though they seem to work further for others. The issue is the round front with a similar color to the reticle. They run together, and caused some nagging issues with the shooters, especially one with some vision issues already. This ended up being a problem as the agency already has over 100 guns with those sights and that optic. They have over a hundred more delivering shortly. So half the agency may have different irons than the other half. They rightfully like the optic, and are not going to switch. They have the MOS model G45’s, and do not want to use plates to mount an optic (which is also wise). Even if they did, they would still have the problem of a 100+ guns with those sights and that optic combo. Try before you buy, and have a variety of your officers test under a reasonable set of circumstances that have a measurable standard and pre-determined objective. 

Using proven methodology, after the initial dry fire program I use, and introductory exercises to pick up the dot (requires about 50 rounds), no one lost their dot the rest of the class. About a quarter of the students had never shot a pistol mounted optic before, or had no formal training in it. They were all agency firearms instructors, just not trained up on the dot. The few that were came to see a different way, and I commend anyone for seeking out training, and testing their current knowledge.

Some of the guns had normal malfunctions for various reasons (grip issues, under lubricated, dirty, worn springs, etc.), but nothing that persisted. There were some optic button related issues that popped up, that I see pretty frequently. Due to the way the gun has to be handled with the optic on it, hands come in contact with the buttons on the side of some optics. Several were inadvertently switched into lock mode, and could not be adjusted for brightness. One got turned into the auto dim feature randomly between strings of fire in a qualification. This caused the shooter to pause when the shooter did not see his dot in the next string. It is one reason I like to randomly turn the student’s dots off during training. It has to be done with a partner, and it has to be random, or you get no value out of it. It is the reason I still like to have irons as backup. 

Once we get use to something, we have momentary lapses when that thing is not there. The only way to train for it, is to train for it. Just like a tap-rack, or double strike (with revolver or DA auto). If you do not routinely practice this skill, you will freeze when it happens under stress. 

We shot as close as 3 yards, and out to 75 yards during daylight. We shot out to 50 yards at night. We tested blooming of the dot’s effect on getting accurate hits at night, and dot vs target focus at distance. Plus too many more things to list in a single article. There was a lot packed into the two days, and I am proud of the effort put forth by all the students. 

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I was at the range with my longtime shooting partner, Big Dick. He was testing out the unholy union of a Ruger RXM with an Olight rechargeable PMO. The gun is a good gun, and runs well; well enough I am thinking of getting one. The Olight is huge. It is bigger than a RCS or 507 Comp, the thing is bigger than some TV’s I have owned, literally offensively big. To me the optic is best suited for a gun in a non-serious role, but whatever. The only issues have been the screws for it. It took several tries for Big Dick to get the thing secured to the point it didn’t fly back and cut his forehead open (which it did once a few weeks ago). It works, but I am not sure how long it will. I recommended he put a Holosun on the RXM, and that monstrosity on a 22 rifle, or in the burn barrel.

Anyway, I had decided to test some weird ammo in one of my 1911’s, and after that I was done shooting for the day. Big Dick and I talked for a bit on the merits of the 32 H&R Magnum vs 38 Special in snub nose revolvers, then he left. I stayed to enjoy a cigar and read a book for a while. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a rapid movement. I am not sure if it was a bobcat, or a raccoon. (I did get stalked by a bobcat a few nights ago at dusk in the same area, so really not sure.) The creature was either rabid or had babies. It went up the side of the berm into a clump of bramble and trees. 

Not knowing exactly if I was dealing with a rabid animal or what, I drew my 365 Fuse to investigate. My optic was dead (Sig Romeo X Compact). Thankfully, I know how to use iron sights, sort of. A cursory examination did not yield exactly what the creature was, or where it had set up its ambush point. Discretion being the better part of valor, and me being scared of not getting a hit past three feet with just iron sights, I decided to head home for the night. Once I got home, I decided to do some optic maintenance (new battery, clean the lens, refresh anti-fog, etc.) While I was doing so, I saw that the front fiber optic rod was starting to get loose, so I replaced that as well. All normal wear and tear. Even with a scheduled battery replacement, batteries can randomly die at bad times.

The only fiber optic rods I had left were red. The Romeo X is red. That is a problem in bright light. It was decidedly an issue for me, to the point I took the fiber optic out until I could replace it with a green rod, which brought me back to my comfort level. While the contrast of irons vs dot may be psychological, it is most certainly a notice and measurable obstacle that should be avoided from the start. Learn from my mistakes, and not your own. 

Now, I will admit that I am not the best at keeping track of battery replacement. When I was on patrol, I would replace the batteries in my WML once a week when I was on nights. I normally replace optic batteries once a year, but sometimes even I forget. This lead to a call to Big Dick to confess my sins. He brought up that he kept a notebook, and once he replaces a battery, he tapes it to the page with notes about which gun he took it out of, and when. That is his way of keeping track. I thought that was a neat way of doing it, not for an agency, but for individuals with personal weapons. 

While not the case with my particular optic in question, I have seen multiple of the same line that needed varying degrees of battery changes. One is good for two years, and the very next serial number needs to be replaced every six months. It varies so much, that a friend of mine with a state agency is mandating in field replacement once per quarter when he does inspections. I do know the 1632 battery seems to burn out faster than the 2032 (which makes sense because they are pulling close to the same power, and one has more capacity). It depends on if auto bright is on, motion activation is on, or if you run a busy reticle at close to full power all the time. In the end, replacements may need to be as frequent as my friend’s rule of every quarter; depending on your mission profile, and choice/mandated gear. 

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I have just completed another agency transition to PMO’s. New guns, optics, holsters, and lights. Here is what I observed. The proper training program will result in competent shooters that can find the dot, under time and stress. This seems like common sense, but I see a lot of complicated stuff. I still take cues from Kelly McCann, the Father of the Modern Pistol Mounted Optic. I have written about him before, and his take on everything close combat related is practical and proven. 

Classroom is kept to the bare minimum, and shooting and learning is maximized. Sights are used to work your way to the dot, and then ingrained as a back up when needed. Occluded eye, with tape over the front, helps to teach target focus for some, but not all. After the first live fire exercise (total of 18 rounds over 6 strings), if I observe the tape method is not working (or if the shooter has a good group, but doesn’t like the tape) I take the tape off. If the shooter that didn’t like the tape starts having issues, the tape goes back on for a time. If the shooter that was having an issue doesn’t get better, I quarantine the problem, correct it within a few minutes and rounds, and move on. 

It is not rocket science. This particular program is designed for people that have shooting experience, but not dot experience. With people with no shooting experience, a different program is administered. It is similar, but much slower, and broken down into micro doses. I find that works best. What I have not worked out just yet, is the Marcus Wynne method of accelerated learning (with the dot) for a brand new shooter – I apply the principles, but cannot fully immerse them like I can with irons. That is an in depth and intriguing topic for a later article, or book which I may never write……

There was a plethora of guns. Glocks, Sigs, Shadow Systems, Springfield, and Staccato. Optics were Aimpoint, Holosun, Trijicon, and Sig. There were no gun, iron sight, or optic failures in any of the end user transition classes, that I saw. (It is simply amazing what happens when the sights and optics are quality, and installed by someone that is competent). I had two people lose the dot under a timed, close range drill, but they immediately reverted to irons or alternate aiming. They only lost it once or twice the entire class, so something is being taught correctly, or I have been blessed with having incredible shooters across multiple agencies, or both.

There was one issue with pants. A Sergeant from a neighboring agency (Hey, Ryan!) had pants about four sizes too tight. Seriously, like spandex tactical pants. I have never seen anything like them before, and hope to never see them again. They were so tight, he couldn’t even put a partial mag in any of the pockets when he did a reload with retention. Now, I admit they look good for the gram (insta), but they are completely impractical for anything other than a muscle model (which Ryan is). He claims they were “issued,” probably off his own credit card. All kidding aside, (Ryan is my buddy, and his father and I have been friends for close to 30 years) too tight a pant is not the best thing for actual police work, and it is an issue I have start to see cropping up these days. We can all get a good laugh at Ryan’s expense, because he is winning and beating us at everything else in life, except for pants.

One drill I really like to do, I picked up from the world renowned Randy Cain of Cumberland Tactics. It is my take on the battlefield pickup drill I learned in one of his classes. I take 8-10 guns and lay them on barrels in front of targets. Guns are loaded to capacity. Targets should be about 10 yards from the barrels. Have all the students go back a ways, and form a single column line. I then create some issue with the optic, maybe. Turn it off, bloom the dot, dim the dot, tape the front, tape the back, tape a portion of the front, tape a portion of the back, tape portions of the front and back, tape the front sight, tape the back sight, tape the front and rear sight, or a combination of some of the above. 

On the buzzer, shooter briskly moves 7 yards to first station, fires 3 rounds, puts gun down, and moves to the next, rinse and repeat until all stations have had 3 rounds fired from each. Take the total time, and add 1 second per round out of the 10 ring, and 5 seconds for every miss. Winner gets bragging rights, and a fine cigar if they are so inclined. It forces them to immediately decide the best course for an aiming solution under time pressure, and 10 yards is far enough they cannot cheat with “point shooting,” unless they are Col. Rex Applegate or Leo H……. Fun drill to tie knowledge and skills with proof of ability. 

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Somewhat related to all of this, somehow, I have been testing dual glass housing optics (erroneously called closed emitters) on two guns. A Sig M18 with M17 optic, which I really like that optic, and wish it had a cut that allowed it to be used on a gun beside the M17/18. It is very clear glass, very sharp dot, and incredibly rugged, and I mean Tonka Tough. I have had zero issues with that optic, and really dig it. 

I put a Romero X Enclosed on my 365 Fuse. That one is probably going to come off soon. For my eyes there is some distortion on the circle dot reticle. That distortion is not there on the “open” Romeo X (for me). It also presents the rear glass at an angle that reflects light too much for me, though others have not been distressed by either of these issues in talking with them. This is similar to some Holosun optics for me. The EPS is great for me, but the 509T has the same issues as the Romeo X Enclosed. Yet, most other people are not bothered by it. This is a gentle reminder to myself, that we are all special snowflakes, and should try before we buy at every opportunity, because we are all different and unique or something like that. 

My original issue Trijicon RMR with auto adjust is still going strong by the way. Not really pertinent, but I thought I would share. Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. Maybe they will entertain or pass some sliver of knowledge. It is almost midnight, and I have to be up early to go shoot a match. Change the batteries in your optic when you want to, not when you need to. Goodnight, wherever you are.