Selecting the right gun for a training class

[nickatnite]

For those of you who do a fair amount of training with rifles (AR's, AK's, etc), what dictates which rifle that you will take to your training class?

Do you find yourself constantly going to the same rifle?

Do you try to rotate your rifles, if you have multiples?

I just looking for some decision factors...

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I have 2 identical guns. I usually swap them out half when through to spread the love. Its never really necessary but just seems like a good practice. I do not do this for pistols.

 

[aard3]

I'm a believer in "train how you fight", so I always bring the weapon that I would use if I ever needed it. For carbine type courses, it's a carbine style AR. For long range, it's a 308 bolt gun, for pistol courses: Glock, etc.

 

[aroundlsu]

Whatever you take make sure it works with the ammo you plan to be shooting. The last thing you want in a class is to be constantly fixing your gun in front of everyone. You should also have a COMPLETE backup system for when something breaks. That includes backup slings, mags, gun, holster, etc.

 

[mike308]

If your are doing a training class for rifles where you are teaching someone how to properly handle a rifle you should have a variety. Semi auto, bolt and crack barrel. Show that the basic componets of the friearm are the same and that there are some differences and point them out. Now if you are doing say a high power clinic for service rifle bring those rifles that are used in service rifle: AR15, M14 and M1. Again what is similiar what is different; advantages and disadvantages.

So unless you say what type of traing you are interested in above would be considered what the basics should cover.

 

[swamper]

Two identical firearms, well almost identical. One has a CompM4 while the other has a Micro T-1. I also bring spare parts as well (pins, springs, BCG, etc.).

 

[nickatnite]

I have 2 identical guns. I usually swap them out half when through to spread the love. Its never really necessary but just seems like a good practice. I do not do this for pistols.

This.....

So lets look at the following situation.

Joe Dirt has 3 rifles:
1 - AK - 7.62 x 39
1 - AK - 5.45 x 39
1 - AR

He shoots all three well, knows how to run them. Can shot them well with or without optics.

For the last 3 years, Joe has been attending a L.O.C.O. training class, say Carbine 101, 102 and 103 and he always used his AR. He has some money saved up for a training class this year and L.O.C.O. is now offering an advanced Carbine class (say Carbine 205 - deploying your rifle from a 4 wheeler).

Would you take you AR or one of the AK's. What would the behavior change be for him to not go to his trusty Windham Weaponry AR?

THis is what I'm getting at.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

As soon as I saw AK I lost the ability to read any farther. My advice sell the ak's buy another AR.

 

[Sin-ster]

Before I really knew a thing about ARs (or firearms in general, for that matter), I picked up an RRA as my first. They were packaging them with YH FF quad rails back then, and heavy 1:9 barrels as well.

Down the road, I eventually "built" the rifle that I should have bought in the first place. Ergonomically, it was configured the exact same, save for the length of the rail that resulted from the middie gas system on the newer rifle.

It only made sense that I turn the first one into the primary training gun, and try to keep so much wear-and-tear off of the other. For the most part, the trigger time directly transfers-- only a slight change in perceived recoil, and some mild difference in handling thanks to the added weight of the HBar.

That said, you should of course run your "main gun" hard from time to time as well, not only to keep up with the "feel", but to ensure its reliability as an individual example. And throughout a 2+ day course, if your "main gun" is notably lighter than your "training/practice" gun... You'll probably wanna make the switch eventually. "Oh, I'll just make myself stronger!" only lasts for so long, in my experience...