THE SIMULATORS

the next two photos are courtesy of Peter Dayton

Depending on the course, there are several simulators. These shots were taken in THE TERMINATOR. The Terminator is a large cinder block building with myriad rooms, halls, movable walls, props, chairs, furniture, etc. Targets. both shoot and no shoot targets, are on bullet trap target stands. They're photos, life size, on cardboard. They are held on by a string over the top held in place by a magnet in the back. The magnet is placed where they would like you to shoot. For example, a center hit would cause the target to fall most of the time. But others need a head shot, just like real life. Some won't fall from multiple 9 mm hits (just like real life), where a good hit with 230 gr hardball works fine. These simulators require the use of ball ammunition, no hollowpoints or wadcutters, to minimize damage to the bullet traps. The kevlar vest, in this case, is mine, but they issue them if you don't bring your own. That's a SureFire 9Z Combat Light in the rear pouch. With my vision I used it in some of the stages where no one else needed it. Most of the magazines are Wilson Bureaucrats, handy for the 1 target you'd find per course that wouldn't go down after 2 good chest hits, 2 good head hits, 2 good pelvic hits, etc. High cap, double stack magazines aren't necessary unless you screw up and forget to tac load after each "problem," or unless you're shooting little bullets. There was an exercise at H.I.T. in which I heard the previous shooter shoot two or three magazines in one encounter, then a few seconds and another 2 or 3 magazine "burst." I was wondering what to expect. I got there, encountered a bad guy holding a hostage. Bang. Head shot. Everything fell. Around the corner, a good guy, then 2 bad guys. Bang. Both fell. I felt almost cheated. The shooter behind me, using a P-7, used all of his magazines and some of the targets wouldn't fall. None of the .45 shooters had a problem, though all of them shot more than 2 rounds.

Some scenarios don't require firing a round. You never know what to expect.

This scenario demonstrates getting verbal compliance, something like, "Drop that weapon!" This explains why I'm talking. The instructor (Dennis Tueller in this case) plays the part of the person you're encountering. I see all of the rules are being obeyed here. My trigger finger is still straight because the sights aren't yet on the target. The gun's high enough to be fired instantly, but low enough to see over. You have to see the bad guy's hands.

You might notice the target visible between the shooter and the red-shirted instructor. The target is still upright because the guy has a beer in his hand. The scenario required me to tell him to get down on his belly, get compliance, then go on and solve the problem of the guy threatening to shoot the child in the next room. There's brass in the air because the target in the next room didn't have a beer in his hand and refused to drop his weapon and get on the floor.

Yes, I'm shooting with bifocals, hence the leaned back head.

This is a typical TR student in typical dress. Note she has a purple holster and pink stocks on her 1911A1. This lady was at every TR class I've taken. Apparently she and her significant other really like TR. They took the Pre 1900 course, and they don't do SASS shooting. She shoots very well and handles the stress of the courses quietly and efficiently.

Behind her is the infamous TOWER.

(I'm not giving names, and you'll note most of the faces visible are me and Peter. Some people might not need their faces on the internet in conjunction with a shooting course. Some might work undercover.)

The TOWER is 4 stories high. At various times you'll clear it from the bottom up and from the top down. Access to the top is by ladder. You can see an instructor waiting by the ladder on the right side of the building. You can see the ladder going up to the roof. Mas Ayoob didn't do the ladder.

When I took DHG 2. I had 102°F fever the last day. Climbing the ladder was no fun. It's dark inside the TOWER, even when the windows are open. So I carried a flashlight when I went in except for one time for a Simunitions run. That was a serious mistake. I absolutely could not see. If your vision is bad in the dark, TAKE A FLASHLIGHT even if they tell you not to. Trust me on this.

Fortunately for many students, the bad guys in the simulators don't actually shoot at you. But then there's

Hell On Earth