NRA Precision Rifle Instructor Class (Part 2)


This class was scheduled for 5 days and hosted by a local agency. I had signed up months back when a good friend and fellow sniper “LTR” advised he was going to host the class. I had originally taken his basic Sharpshooter 1 class 4 or 5 years ago after he completed the Heckler and Koch Sniper Instructor course. The administration suggested I take a second course at some point to gain another perspective on the mission. A year or so after taking the first class and during a period where we were doing some multi-jurisdictional training at one of our regular SWAT training facilities the facility had a special Advanced Sniper class going on at the same time. Master Sergeant Neil Morris (USMC ret.) and his wife Elizabeth from Precision Rifle Inc. were the instructors for that course. LTR and I spent every available second of down time around that class soaking up as much as we could. They even brought in a helicopter and did a sniper initiated house clearing run from the bird for us. Frankly, that was awesome! OK, so now you’re wondering why that is important. It is because you grade the quality of training off past experiences and others opinions. At this time I had taken a basic course and witnessed part of an advanced class. I wasn’t sure I was ready for an Advanced Class with PRI so I tried like hell to get into another basic class at that location. It was to no avail though as each time the class was rescheduled due to low registration. So finally along comes LTR to the rescue and schedules the NRA Precision Rifle Class. LTR had gone to a couple different instructor level classes by that time and stated he thought the NRA class was a good one. I was a bit apprehensive as I was wondering if I was getting in over my head. I have several Instructor level certificates to teach other classes and had been doing such for several years. I’m not new to the L.R. game and I continually try to learn and improve. It wasn’t so much the shooting as it was being able to complete all the different Mil Dot / ranging formulas, wind formulas and other aspects such as proper stalking techniques that we may need to know in order to teach others that had me concerned.

Dan Schlernitzauer from Lexington Kentucky was our instructor. The class was scheduled to hold 20 but about a week out we only had 10 so they cut out the secondary instructor. That first morning we got out materials and completed some class lecture topics. I was very impressed with the class material especially the main manual. The manual contains quality color photos and tabs to quickly find resource material. Dan warned that the class was not an operator’s school and we would be coaching each other throughout the whole week. We got a syllabus that outlined what we would be doing each day, along with a sheet which detailed each of the specific range drills we were to complete and a copy of the final range qualification. I particularly like the range drill sheet as when we completed each section it was signed off on by our coach which would lend well to training documentation if needed in court. The second half of day one consisted of cold bore and 100 yard zero confirmations along with a few positional shooting drills.

I’ve already had a discussion with S1 by phone reference the cold bore shots we took all week. I had already been documenting the cold bore for this gun and had been using the S1 method of leaving the bore with a thin film of synthetic oil in it. During the week the instructor kept telling us to use a clean dry bore for the as he called it clean dry bore shot. My first two for the week I continued the syn oil method, then switched to a clean dry bore. It was immediately apparent that the gun did not like a dry bore. But I persisted and put 4 total clean dry bore shots downrange. On Thursday I resumed my normal method and after the morning cold bore I overheard the instructor making a statement about using a dry bore. I interjected myself in the conversation and politely advised him of what little test I had going on and now had multiple shots logged to show it. For reference my syn oil shots were all less then .25 MOA from center and my dry bore shots ranged from 1-2 MOA and not a smidge closer than that.

S1 and I also talked about their wind formula. They push the wind clock with full value, no value, half value and quarter value winds. He did note that the FBI does not teach the quarter value wind with the clock. I’ll let S1 chime in from here on what works and doesn’t. In fact I recall a thread where he was going to go in to detail about it but I don’t think he has gotten that far yet. S1?

We did do a whole lot of positional shooting from 25 to 100 yards. This was a good refresher as some drills were under a time limit and there wasn’t time to putz around. We also did a fair amount of support hand shooting which was almost totally new to me with a bolt rifle. I did shoot a deer many years ago from a tree stand left handed when it took the opposite path I had been anticipating. However I surmise that to being lucky at the time. We completed shooting, reloading and clearance drills with the support hand before the week was over. Dan made a comment that most will probably never use it but it is good to know you can and would help in showing a left handed shooter how to run a right handed gun.

Thursday we had our Top Gun shoot off and Penny Challenge. The Top Gun was done from 100 and the initial shot was on a shaded head and was to be a practical accuracy shot. Meaning it only needed to be within the shaded spot which was covered up to approximately one inch from the edge. The instructor made a statement upon return to the line that all had made it and he was surprised as he usually looses a couple on it each time. The second was an accuracy shot to a pen and ink type drawing head target. We lost a couple on this round. The third was a zero target and who could get the closest to the center. Ralph took Top Gun award with a shot that touched the center dot. LTR and I were the next two closest and completely within the 1MOA circle surrounding the dot. LTR do we need to break out the calipers????? The Penny Challenge is a real confidence builder. However it should be restricted to only 1 shot. Dan let those who didn’t hit it take multiple shots at it. It makes a much better memento if it is done the first time. All the ones which were winged or done on subsequent shots should have been confinscated.

The last day of the class was out turn to take over and run a drill with the other half of the class. Earlier in the week we had been split up into two groups. The deal was we had to come up with a shooting drill and run the other half through it. This was apparently the only instructing we were to do for the whole week and at that we were identified in the range drill plan as critique officers, safety officers, setup officers and such. Basically one person told them what they were going to do and the others watched. The instructor had commented earlier in the week that part of our instructing was coaching each other. Yes, we occasionally pointed out something to each other but it was more along the lines of a teammate to teammate critique. That morning we completed our qualification. It ranged from positional shooting at 25 and 100 to a few shots at 200. There were a few of the drills that the time limit was tight but in general was not an issue. Two others and I had to re-shoot the 100 prone with reload as we experienced some sort of malfunction and did not get all the shots off. I myself had a double feed. When I reloaded I thought the bolt had slipped over the case head so pulled the bolt back to pick it up, not knowing that it had grabbed it the first time. I dumped the magazine and cleared the raceway thinking that the round had just got cockeyed. Inserted another mag without cycling the bolt (yep my stupidity) and subsequently jammed a second one right back into the same place. Once I got it cleared I was out of time.


Other then that the class was just purely a basic marksmanship class designed for an operator. Now that a week has gone by and I’ve had time to reflect on it. I’d have to say that I did learn a few things and it was a good opportunity to get behind the “Raptor’. However my expectations were not fulfilled. I’m left with the sense that I need yet another class that is more advanced. I’m going to list the topics that I was anticipating to be covered but were not.

1. Bullet selection and terminal ballistics based on real data (Who uses what, where and Why?)
2. After action review of actual call outs and successful missions (shots taken)
3. Camouflage of rifle and self
4. Stalking principals and movement
5. Wind reading with hands on approach
6. Policy and Procedures for our departments
7. Weapon selection and use of personally owned vs. department owned
8. Instructional principals
9. There were no videos or photos of actual shots on real targets.
10. No moving targets were utilized
11. No discussion of legal ramifications (Case law and Civil Suits). I did note after the class was over and was looking more thoroughly through the lesson book that there are several pages of cases listed but no data on outcome.

Like I said before maybe I had my expectations in the wrong place.

Photo from the low light / night shoot.

Left handed drills!

I can agree with alot of what Shep has been saying. I'm NRA Instructor certified in 5 areas and can say that the PRI is the best offered in the NRA Instructor Classes. This was a re-cert for me and like said above I have been to H&K PRI Instructor class as well as additional sniper training and my own class I teach. The NRA PRI class simply blows H&K out of the water. H&K focuses more on the classroom instruction than range instruction. Boring and not a lot of rounds down range. I can say the H&K Instructor were excellent instructors and knew their stuff. I was just not impressed with the over all content of the class. Plus it was $$350.00 more and I had to drive to Virgina, 2000 mile round trip. The range H&K uses for PRI is PATHETIC. I expect more and was sorely disapointed in it. Then again I'm spolied at Benchrest Club. Realize that these are instructor classes not advanced sniper schools. Being able to spend 5 days observing Neil Morris's as a man and instructor was one of my LE sniper highlights. The man has literally been there and done that. Wow just wow! Yes, I have a man crush.

I belive what issues Shep is having is to do with time. You really simply can't put everything you want in a 5 day 40 hour class. It just can't happen. 2 weeks would be much better but then again how many departments would let their officers go to training for 2 weeks? I know I would get laughed out of the brasses office.

This having been a re-cert for me my previous instructor did go over a few Sheps issues. Each instructor is differnet I guess. Any of you that have ever done any instruction know you always forget something or wish you had more time.

The penny shoot was great, Shep and I both got it on the first round. Last time I did this I had difficulty with my 3-9 luppy scope. My change to 4.5-14 has made a huge difference. I belive only three or four of use got it on first round hits. The shoot off was fun and Shep and I were very very close to tieing for first. The winner only beat us by less than 3/16 of an inch or so. By the way in my opinion the winner was with out a doubt the finest over all shot in the class (but not by much ). I was impressed with him as a marksman.

In general I was impressed with the entire classes marksmanship. It never fails you go to a class with a "bubba" in it. We didn't have any "bubbas" in this class and the men were all damned fine shot.

Rifles in the class:
1 custom: Sheps super exhaust eye blaster 300wsm
1 G$A&P 308 (had an issue/fixed)
5 rem pss 308 (1 had and issue/fixed)
1 rem ltr 308 (no issue)
1 ruger 308(older tactical something) yes it shot well. No issue other than scope canted and needing adjustment.

Scopes:
8 luppys, mill dots, tacs, MK 4, ect ect
1 Nightforce custom
One had night vision

Rings/Bases:

Mainly luppys
Belive sheps are nightforce?
Mine were badgers
Ruger had ruger

Ammo:

(7)168 FGMM ruled the roost
(1) Aquglia 168 SMK (shot well)
(1) Sheps hand loads 300 WSM

Rests:

EVERYONE: harris
I shot off a ruck for 2 days then switched to the by-pod for training/log book purposes.

Sand soxs of all sorts for rear rests.


Slings:

You name it

Few people took advantage of them.

My rig: aka "stumpy"

Rem 700 LTR 308
Luppy 4.5-14 tac
****** mounts and rings
1903 sling
Harris by-pod
168 gr FGMM

All stock with the exception of some trigger work. I have been shooting this rig for about 4 years now after having switched from the PSS. I belive that this is one of the best LEO factory rigs for LE sniping. Nice light, neat package. Consistant CCB shot. I hated the PSS double palm swells and longer barrel. AND I have to provide my own rifle. My dept only gives me ammo and training from time to time.

I belive when I re-cert that I'm going to use an SRL of some sort probably an AR based. While Sam can testify for thier accuracy I would like the expernece of using it and trainig with it beyond just a patrol rifle. Yes I currently carry a POF piston upper and RRA lower AR on duty. I'm pondering a Precision Rifle in AR. Sam you and I may be talking over the next few years as my brain is a brewing.

One of my complaints is that we kept running down and back to check targets for data books. This gets old and takes up a lot of time. We could have cut a bunch of time by using our scope and or spotting scopes to plot out shots. I started doing this but then began feeling bad because I was the only one staying back. Cammo, hides, set ups was also hardly touched. Rifle cammo wasn't brought up. Supported shooting positions wasn't brought up till the last day by chance when we were advised we could use what ever we wanted for the qual. So I used the camra tri-pod on a few shots. I wish I'd known that on day one so I could fart around with it (and others) more. Positioning of spotters, spotters weapons and gear wasn't touched.

Over all I'd give the class a solid 8.5 out of 10. While not super tactical it covers what it can for the time allowed.

thanks for reading.


ltr

It is hard to spend just five day shooting, not much time. SOTIC is 5+ weeks, and the Marine SS class is 12+ weeks. Any time seriously invested is well spent, and brings some real self discovery. Thanks for the write up.

Sorry to hear some things you found interesting were not covered. It is always like that. Five days can be enough only if the instructor knows his "students" and their limit's. But thats not always possible.
I'm glad you did well on that course.