2015 All Army Small Arms Championship

[frostfire]

The registration for the 2015 All Army Small Arms is open. I'd like to see if anyone is going and would to train together like running 1.5 miles with gear right before firing

A few lessons to share from a similar match I shot recently:
- Beyond sight alignment and trigger control, nothing much transfer from NRA High Power to combat EIC match. Slinging a rack grade (non free floated) M16A2 is the sure ticket to the bottom ranking
- When no one on the line sling up, to include those with P100 tab, it is probably a bad idea to sling the rifle into position
- Did I say don't use sling? Seems the way to go is the good 'ol mag on the ground with the support hand cradling the front of mag well and never use support whatsoever from zeroing all the way to 500m. The A2 and M855 can hit standard E silhouette just fine that way at 400 & 500m, even in rapid fire.
- Accept "imperfections" on rack grade i.e slight wobble on front sight. Good idea fairy showed up and I should have choked her out and burned the carcass. I bottom out the front sight so it won't move around when the rifle supposed to be zeroed at mechanical zero. As a result, I was in twilight zone when I actually dialing the rear down from 100 to 200, 300, and 400 just to put round on target....and produced the lowest score since 2006
- That thumb beside the handle HSLD method from Todd Hodnett and range 37 folks works for $$$ precision rifle, not rack grade, beat up A2
- If you are at Bragg and have access to SOCEP or the CSF program, that biofeedback and breathing training that comes with it is money. Whereas other competitor struggled, my scores actually soared when we did 100yards dash before firing from 500 to 400, 400 to 300, and so on.
- The rack grade M9 is a very very accurate pistol. I was able to keep a fist size group from 30 yards. Use the first joint for better leverage, which allows smoother, uninterrupted straight to the rear pull, no matter how slow you squeeze the trigger.
- If you shoot 170+ in the shoot-in for a SFARTEC slot, you are a strong contender to get EIC points or even win the combat pistol EIC match.
- Probably the best tips on dry fire from Olympic shooter SFC Sanderson. Optimize your dry fire with eyes open, eyes closed, target, no target, and follow-through holding practice. Details here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hySB...tUhEzSYNfGSIyQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAR...tUhEzSYNfGSIyQ)


Clips from 2014 All Army, note the prone rifle, kneeling rifle, and prone pistol, kneeling pistol positions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRIdri8xjhQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnbwFD9giQc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9IMmsVivvM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1JM2Pmi7l8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRIdri8xjhQ

Sadly, the days of $$$ prize table from sponsors of all sorts are no more
Compete to train-the-trainer and validate training.

[frostfire]

well, the 2015 All Army Small Arms Championship has ended.
Had a big serving of humble pie, and little taste of victory here and there.

Lesson learned:
- IAD with the M9 will put it back on safe more often than not. Need to practice pinching slide or using indentation at front of slide.
- Making tight group on face or the nether region does not help with scores
- Multigun scoring tip the balance heavier towards overall score and placement than the rifle and pistol matches
- Don't take rack grade rifle with canted/crooked front sight. Starting with 8 clicks left no wind zero does not fare well at 400 and 500m
- If trying to place, take own unit M16 and M9. None of the high scorers use what AMU provides i.e. the same rack grade that has been used for the last 10 years
- Skills from running $$$ AR with free float do not transfer to rack grade A4, in both long distance and run and gun. Sand bag, c-clamp technique, sling, etc. is enough to change POI esp once barrel is hot
- "Jogging" for 1.5 miles before shooting M16 and M9 increases blood flow, makes one more focused on breathing and mental game, and consequently makes better performance.
- Learn to shoot M16 and M9 prone on uneven ground/hill side
- 18B SGM "novice" knows how to shoot well...blasting through even the open and pro class competitors
- no more prize table

I waited since 2006 to be eligible to do this match. Just want to thank plenty of professionals on this board that have contributed through through their coaching and writing to my physical, technical, and mental marksmanship skills : Master Rick, master Gene Econ, gits, TR, TS, NDD, and Peregrino

[The Reaper]

Congrats.

Sounds like a great time.

TR

[Combat Diver]

Congrats on shooting the match. I shot it in 2005 with my M4A1 that I took on several deployments and did a combat equipment jump with it 3 days before the match. 2006 used one of the rack grade AMU A2's. Placed in the middle both times. On pistol used my same go to war M9 and get leg points in 06' with it. Would love to get back into service competition. One thing to remember is your leg points are transferable when you retire, difference is the Distinguished Badge is slightly different.


CD

[chance]

I just got home from it, I shot EIC pistol.

[frostfire]

Originally Posted by Combat Diver

Congrats on shooting the match. I shot it in 2005 with my M4A1 that I took on several deployments and did a combat equipment jump with it 3 days before the match. 2006 used one of the rack grade AMU A2's. Placed in the middle both times. On pistol used my same go to war M9 and get leg points in 06' with it. Would love to get back into service competition. One thing to remember is your leg points are transferable when you retire, difference is the Distinguished Badge is slightly different.


CD

Thanks!

With minimum practice (0 rifle, <100 pistol, several hundred dry fire) I didnt do too bad. Ended in the top ~10% overall with novice, open and pro classes combined. I got the full 10 EIC points in pistol so that shows how I did with the M9. Rifle on the other hand...

Not too shabby all in all, and I can face without shame the few 18 series and SO2 folks I had had the honor and privilege of coaching

[frostfire]

Originally Posted by frostfire

Lesson learned:
- IAD with the M9 will put it back on safe more often than not. Need to practice pinching slide or using indentation at front of slide.

Turned out Beretta listens to recommendations after all. We were talking about a decocker model only at the range and voila, Beretta is already putting ideas to action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HMCbNrwO-k
The grip circumference reduction, the taller mag release, and better sights should help too

[Streck-Fu]

"Based on feedback from the military, we've made some changes."

Service members have been bitching about the M9 for 30 years. Beretta is just now thinking that the M9 may get replaced and is incorporating some needed changes.