Defensive Shooting Skill Builder

Overview

The Intuitive Defensive Shooting program focuses on defensive shooting skills in the most probable scenarios. Defensive Shooting Skill Builder is designed to sharpen those skills and expand beyond the most probable scenarios into the circumstances and conditions under which a student can apply these skills in other plausable scenarios.

What if you have to shoot at much farther distances?
What if you are seated, kneeling, or laying down?
What if you have a malfunction during an incident?
What if you are injured or otherwise required to shoot and/or reload with only one hand available?
What if that hand is your weak hand?
What if you have to have to shoot around cover?

This is a companion course for students who have completed fundamental defensive shooting training in the IDS Program and want to expand their skill sets and increase competency.

This course is an intense physically and mentally challenging course that will take any student's confidence and ability to defend themselves with a gun to a higher level.

Though every class can be different depending on the unique needs of the attending students, the basic full day program typically covers the following areas:

Refresh Your Defensive Skills:

Let's be honest, you're probably not regularly visiting the range and practicing the drills you learned in class. In this class we will do a quick recap of the IDS class and make sure you remember the basics and are ready to expand to more advanced topics.
In this class you are allowed (and encouraged) to use your actual carry gear. IWB holsters are allowed but must be worn over your clothes.

Refine Your Defensive Skills:

Build precision competency at a wider range of distances, and with smaller sized targets. In IDS we stayed at 3-5 yards. In the skill builder we vary distances to include farther distances, and shrink the size of that high center chest area to refine skills.

Expand Your Defensive Skills:

Dealing with malfunctions during an incident
One handed shooting and reloading
Weak handed shooting
Shooting at unreasonable distances
Seated or other unorthodox shooting positions

Cost

This class is normally $250 per student but is offered to the Pink Pistol and Liberal Gun Club communities in a "Pay what you want" donation model. If you register using either a Pink Pistol discount code, or your LGC member ID, you will not be charged to register. You are encouraged to bring cash in the amount you choose to donate to the range the day of the class for allowing us to use the range. ($25-50 recommnded donation)

Who should take this class?

Students who have already taken Intuitive Devensive Shooting or Defensive Shooting Fundementals from an IDS certified instructor
Students looking to expand their skills beyond the most problable scnarios where a lethal threat is presented.
Students must be physically fit and able to transition safetly between laying, kneeling, and standing positions while maintaining proper safety protocol.

Gear Requirements

The following is the required gear for this course:

A semi-automatic, modern, striker-fired, full-size or compact handgun that is cleaned, lubricated and in good working order. Examples: Glock 19, 17, 34, 43x, 48, Springfield XD, Smith & Wesson M&P, M&P Shield or Shield Plus, HK VP 9, VP30, FNS-9, FNS-509, Sig Sauer P320, P365, 365X or XL, Macro. Your sights or optics must be zeroed in prior to the class. There will be no time to make adjustments once we begin. (expect to do a lot of shooting at ~5 yards)
Good quality belt suitable for supporting repeated draw from a holster
A holster for your firearm that completely covers the trigger guard with kydex. Actual carry gear recommended though IWB must be worn over your clothes.
Magazine carrier that can withstand heavy use (optional, you can use your pants pocket too)
300 rounds (or more) of ammunition (preferably 9mm but .380, .40, .45 ACP are also acceptable)
3 magazines for double stack firearms of 10 rounds, 5 plus magazines for single stack firearms of less than 10 rounds
Eye and ear protection
Knee pads are not required but are recommended
Plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated
Snacks/Lunch
An open mind and positive attitude
Weather appropriate clothes / sunscreen and bug spray - this training will be outdoors

Time

Students should arrive between 8:30 and 9:00am and be ready to attend the required safety briefing at 9:00 AM sharp. If you are late and miss any of the safety briefing you will not be allowed to participate. We will end roughy at 5pm.

Location

The class will take place on the "Action Range" at Maynard Rod and Gun Club at 45 Old Mill Rd, Maynard, MA 01754. See the image below for exact location of the action range on the property

Parking

When you arrive, you have two options:

Park in the "General Parking" and walk the blue line to the action range.
Drive the orange line and park at the Action Range parking. Please note, parking at the Action Range is limited and requires driving across the line of fire of the trap range. As shooting is not allowed at Maynard Rod and Gun before 9:30am this will be fine on arrival, but for departure you would likely have to drive through the red line area which crosses the trap line of fire. It is possible to verify the range is not in use but no guarantee can be made. Safest bet is to park in General Parking and walk your gear to the Action Range area.

Please give yourself ample time to park, find the Action Range, and be ready to go by 9:00 for the safety briefing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I have a hammer fired gun like an 92FS. Can I use that instead?

In the class we will cover why these are not preferred but if 92FS is your only option, you can use it in the class so long as you have a kydex OWB holster for it, correct number of mags, and meet the rest of the requirements. For other guns, please contact the instructor and discuss before assuming you can take the class.

Who developed the IDS program?

The Intuitive Defensive Shooting program designed by Rob Pincus and the I.C.E. Training Company and is taught by instructors around the United States and Europe. IDS is the basis of the USCCA defensive training program and has also been successfully integrated into various military and law enforcement training programs and is the most efficient way for anyone interested in defensive firearms skills to develop their abilities. For more information about the concepts used IDS, see personaldefensenetwork.com.

I have plenty of experience drawing and shooting from a holster. Is there anything I would learn from this class then?

If you are new to Intuitive Defensive Shooting or Counter Ambush Methodology, regardless of experience or skill level and assuming you have an open mind, you will learn something from this class and by shooting these drills. If you are familiar with or have taken the Fundamentals of Intuitive Defensive Shooting or USCCA DSF1 or DSF2, please reach out to the organizers to discuss what might be in it for you.