Foreward
Suitable equipment is mandatory for all Tacfire classes. This is both a safety issue as well as a training issue. Broken, defective, improperly modified, or otherwise unsafe firearms have no place on the range, let alone a training class. Unsuitable gear, such as improperly fitted holsters and magazine pouches stand in the way of getting the maximum benefit from our firearms training classes. The more time you waste with inferior gear, the less time you have to learn. In an effort to fully prepare you before your training class, we have prepared the following list of recommendations. Keep in mind that we are training you to fight with a gun, not play games with firearms or shoot competitions! If you are looking to purchase a firearm for self-defense to use in any of our classes, please contact us first so we can discuss your options to ensure you purchase a suitable firearm for your needs.
Firearms-General All firearms must be in safe working order. All safeties and/or decockers present on the firearms must be in working condition. Any firearm with an overridden safety, such as a 1911 with a "pinned" grip safety or a series 80 1911 with the firing pin safety removed is not acceptable. Any modifications to firearms that make them unsafe, unreliable, difficult to manipulate, or dangerous are not acceptable. All firearms brought to Tacfire must be reliable, strong, ergonomic and safe. Cheap, poorly made firearms will not withstand the rigorous nature of our training programs.
Firearms-Pistols All handgun training at Tacfire is based around the semi automatic pistol therefore you need a safe, strong, reliable semi-automatic pistol. Pistols used in our training classes must be suitable for concealed carry and self defense, therefore very large and very small pistols are not acceptable. Minimum caliber is 9 mm parabellum (9x19). Modern pistols manufactured by Glock, Sig Arms, H&K, Beretta, Kahr, Ruger, and Smith and Wesson are suitable. Unsuitable pistols include Desert Eagles, small pocket pistols, old surplus pistols such as P-38's and CZ-52's, and any pistol with "competition" type modifications. Pistols that utilize a magazine that is not inside the hand grip such as the Tec-9 or H&K SP89, MAC or Cobra Ray series pistols, and similar style pistols are not suitable. 1911 style pistols as well as Browning Hi Power style pistols are acceptable provided they do not have the following competition modification. By "competition" modifications, we mean all the unnecessary add-ons and modification popular with competition shooters such as compensators, extended barrels, magazine wells, recoil buffers, magazine extensions, ultra light trigger pulls, tightly fitted actions, sharp checkering, skateboard grip tape, fragile adjustable sites, optical sites, overly extended levers and buttons and so on. A fighting pistol must be strong, durable, free of sharp edges, snag free, reliable and field strippable without tools. The only modifications recommended are as follows: Fixed metal sights, preferably night sights (All pistols.) Reliability package (1911 and Hi Powers.) Remove sharp edges (Many pistols)
Firearms-Shotguns The rigors of our shotgun training classes demand a strong, rugged, dependable shotgun. Many sporting shotguns are not built to take the abuse a defensive shotgun receives. All shotguns must have the capability of being manipulated with one hand, thus the Mossberg "Jungle gun" autoloader is not suitable. The barrel must not exceed 20 inches in length and shotgun must be either a pump action or semi auto. Ghost ring or rifle sites are highly recommended. The forend on pump action shotguns must not extend over the action when in the rearward position. All shotguns must be equipped with a sling. A side saddle or butt cuff is recommended to carry extra shells. Magazine extension tubes are acceptable. All shotguns must have a standard rear stock; a pistol grip only rear stock is not acceptable. Barrel modification by Vang Comp Systems is highly recommended. 12 gauge is recommended, however our smaller stature or recoil sensitive students may use a 16 or 20 gauge providing suitable ammunition (buckshot and slug) is available. Recommended shotguns include the Mossberg 590A1 for pump action and the Remington 11-87 Police autoloader. Mossberg 500 and 590, Remington 870, Benelli Super 90 M1 and M3, Winchester 1300, and other similar shotguns are suitable providing they meet the criteria outlined above. Unsuitable shotguns include Street Sweepers, SPAZ 12, and any other gimmicky unconventional style shotgun.
Firearms-Defensive Rifle Currently Tacfire only offers defensive rifle training in the AR15 style rifle, therefore an AR15 style rifle is mandatory. While there are many configurations of the AR15, we recommend a standard 16 or 20 inch barrel, iron sights, and a fixed stock. Optical sights are suitable providing they are rugged enough for field use and mounted on a flat top receiver. The ACOG by Trijicon, the Elcan, and the Aimpoint COMP M are examples of suitable optical scopes. Optical scopes mounted on top of a standard carry handle are not recommended. All rifles must be reliable and capable of shooting 500 rounds of ammunition without cleaning or malfunctioning. Therefore, rifles with "match" chambers generally are not suitable. We recommend standard chrome lined military style barrels such as those offered by Colt and Bushmaster. Competition style triggers are not recommended; all rifles should have a single stage mil. spec. trigger. Trigger jobs are permitted providing they are safe, do not cause the rifle to "double" or go full auto, and are not set to ultra low pull weights. Triggers in the 3 to 6 pound pull range are recommended. The safety must be functional, and left handers should look into an ambidextrous safety. Magazines should be functional and in good condition. We recommend military spec. Aluminum 20 or 30 round magazines such as those made by Colt, Adventure Line, Parsons, Sanchez, Labelle, Center Industries, and O-Kay. Cheap steel magazines such as those made by USA or Triple K are not suitable as they are neither reliable nor functional. The only plastic magazines acceptable are Thermolds and Orilites. All rifles must be fitted with a sling.
Firearms-Precision Rifle Precision rifle shooting is a highly specialized endeavor requiring highly specialized gear. Standard hunting rifles and gear do not posses the accuracy, durability, maneuverability, or ruggedness necessary for this type of shooting. There is no room for cheap or flimsy gear in this arena. The recommended rifle is a bolt action built on the Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70 action, 20 to 26 inch free floating heavy barrel, and bedded in a high quality synthetic stock such as those by HS Precision or McMillian. There are very few semi automatic rifles that can achieve the accuracy necessary for precision shooting, however if yours shoots under one MOA and is reliable, it is welcome. Production bolt action rifles such as the Remington PSS, VS, LTR and VSSF are acceptable providing they are capable of shooting under a minute of accuracy. Custom precision rifles such as those made by HS Precision, NorCal Precision, Texas Brigade Armory, Chandler Brothers, and others are acceptable. Plan on spending between $800 and $2000 for a precision rifle alone. Precision rifles should have a trigger pull between 2 and 4 pounds. 2 ounce target triggers are not acceptable. Optics must be of the highest quality and should feature mil dot reticules, 30 mm main tubes, and target style adjustable knobs. Recommended Scopes are Leupold Vari-X 3 Long Range Tactical scopes in 3.5-10 magnification or 4.5-14 magnification, and Mark 4 with 10 power magnification. Either 1/4 minute or BDC turrets are acceptable. The bottom end of suitable scopes are along the line of the Leupold Vari-X 3 Tactical scope with mil dot reticules which features a one inch main tube, 3.5-10 power magnification, and 1/4 minute target turrets. Expect to spend $450 to $1000 for the scope. Just as important as the rifle and scope, are the scope mounting base and rings. Standard hunting style rings and mounts are not sturdy enough for field use. We recommend heavy duty steel rings and bases such as Leupold Mark 4's, MWG Tactical, Badger Ordnance, NightForce, and Atuagua Arms. We also recommend that the bases be tapered 15-25 MOA to ensure enough scope elevation adjustment to long ranges. Plan on spending $250-300 for rings and bases. The recommended caliber is .308 Winchester due to the vast availability of match grade ammunition, its mild recoil, and long barrel life. However, other calibers such as .223 Rem, .243, 30.06, and 300 WM are acceptable.
Gear-Holsters, Magazine pouches, BeltsProper fitting gear is essential for you to gain the maximum benefit from firearms training at Tacfire. Belts must be thick and sturdy enough to support the weight of your gear without shifting around. Belts 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 inches wide are preferable. Narrow dress belts are not suitable. Recommended belts are leather gun belts such as those by Bianchi, or nylon 5 stitch instructor belts by The Wilderness.
Holsters should be of the highest quality leather or Kydex material and form fitted to your particular pistol. Cheap universal nylon holsters are neither secure nor durable enough for our training program. All holsters must be suitable for concealed carry and hold the pistol snug against the body. Competition holsters are not permitted. All holsters must retain the pistol securely, and be stiff enough to retain their shape when the pistol is drawn. All holsters will be worn slightly to the rear of your strong side hip; Cross-draw, small of the back (SOB), pocket, or shoulder holsters are not permitted.
Magazine pouches will be worn slightly behind the support side hip and must retain the magazines securely. All holsters and magazine pouches should thread through the belt; clip on style holsters and magazine pouches are generally not secure enough. Students who are law enforcement or armed security guards my use their "sam brown" duty belt and gear.
Other recommended gearTo make your training with Tacfire as comfortable as possible, it is recommended that you bring the following items any Tacfire class: Sunscreen Knee or elbow pads Suitable eye and ear protection Baseball cap or other brimmed cap Rain gear Non-prescription pain reliever Folding lawn chair Shooting mat or tarp Sturdy shoes or boots Vest or jacket for concealment Cooler with lunch, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks Backup firearm should your primary firearm break Comfortable clothes, pants must have belt loops.
Special note for female students Female students sometimes face problems that male students do not. These issues must be addressed so all students can receive the same level of training in a safe environment. To properly and safely utilize a holster, pants with belt loops are necessary. They should also be loose fitting for comfort and mobility and have pockets to hold spare ammo and magazines. Sweat or stretch pants just won't work.
Shirts should be of a crew neck design; V neck shirts allow hot brass to go down the front of your shirt causing very uncomfortable burns. Bras worn during rifle or shotgun classes must not have plastic or metal adjustment buckles in front of your shoulders. The recoil of the rifle or shotgun will drive the buckle into your shoulder causing unnecessary cuts, pain, or bruising.
Hairstyle must permit the wearing of a baseball cap or other brimmed hat. Long hair should be tied up to keep it out of your face and eyes.
Jewelry, especially long dangling earrings and large rings can be a hindrance to shooting a firearm safely. Please secure all personal property before beginning training. Fingernails should be as short as possible; long fingernails make holding and manipulating a firearm difficult.
Most holsters are designed for men, and may be uncomfortable for some women. Most major holster manufactures make models that feature an offset drop that is specifically designed to suite women.
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