She Draws Him Like a Gun…

Hoffner’s Tactical Pistol 1 Review

January 24 & 25, 2009

Impact Zone Range, Hempstead (Houston), TX

Instructor:  Brian Hoffner; http://www.hoffners.com/, and 6 “assistants” who have completed Hoffner’s instructor training program.  Hoffner’s cv is found at http://www.hoffners.com/about.htm This course is Level 1 of 3 offered in Tactical pistol.  This course is a required foundation course for other Hoffner offerings.

Price:  $395.00 paid in advance

Rounds:  1,000 per course information.  Approximately 750-800 fired by me.

Range:  Impact Zone, northwest of Houston, near Hempstead, Texas.  Roughly a 45 minute drive for me from the I-10 & Beltway 8 area.  The Impact Zone range is operated on a cattle farm and overall is an excellent facility for shooting pistols.  The range has approximately 8 large pistol bays with earth berms built to approximately 10-11 feet in height on 3 sides.  I am terrible with overall dimensions but the bays are roughly square, but there was a great deal of rifle shooting going on in adjacent bays on both days of the course.  The bay utilized for the class was wide enough to accommodate 34 shooters at once and it was essentially full.

There is a small building utilized as a class room, with power provided by a generator as needed.  There appears to be no running water, with porta-johns provided.  The property owner has obviously gone to great expense to build the earthworks on this facility and while spartan, it is ideal for classes like this and others.  Rapid fire of rifles and pistols was heard, something clearly verboten on more politically correct ranges.  This alone is worth the trade off at a swank indoor range that will not allow you to do more realistic practice.

Day 1 (Saturday)

The range is not hard to find if you follow directions, though you may drive past the gate once and have to come back.  You drive a mile or so back off the road to a main area past several of the shooting bays as you go.  Until you get to the berms it appears to be any other cattle ranch, with plenty of cattle.  On arrival there were quite a few people milling about the various bays and building.  It wasn’t clear where the class formed and I wandered over to either and IPSC or IDPA match setup for a time.  Eventually everyone gathered in the building, which was crowded with 34 students and other instructors passing in and out.  Approximately 6 ladies attended.  Class was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but probably didn’t get started until closer to 9:30.  There were brief introductions of Hoffner and his staff, completion of paperwork and housekeeping items. 

Hoffner lead off with what I equate as a “why we’re here”/pep talk.  His passion is obvious and appreciated by me as is the underlying philosophy.  It may strike the new shooter or those unfamiliar with self-defense mindsets and attitudes as odd or overdone, by the end of the class it won’t.  If you have had other training, done some of  your own study and are serious about self-defense, you will be right at home.  References to sheep and sheepdogs, make me feel at home, though may be baffling to the unfamiliar.  Hoffner is currently employed as a police officer, and for me it is always refreshing to see LEO’s who want to see citizens armed and proactive about their own safety.  Hoffner displayed none of the “Only Ones” attitude that is often encountered by armed citizens when dealing with law enforcement.  Hoffner trains LEO’s, and it is my hope that the benefit of law-biding, trained, armed citizens is conveyed to them in his programs, to combat the “Only Ones” mentality. 

At no point during the two days did I witness Hoffner or one of his staff members talk down to a student.  The class appeared to range from those familiar with the mechanics of gun handling, safety and shooting to those who were fairly unfamiliar.  Most of the class appeared to be from the Houston area and many also appeared to be familiar with Hoffner from his shooting clinics in the Houston area.  Many students were mentioned to have “mentor instructors” among the assistants.  It wasn’t entirely clear but it appeared that these assistant’s may have given them instruction during the weeknight clinics or had some hand in getting the students to attend.  Hoffner and his staff were pleasant to deal with and did not give off the occasionally encountered “uber-tactical belt loop” types with the holier than thou-“I know more than you attitude.”  I didn’t observe much that would make the rank beginner uncomfortable in this environment.  Overall the environment was conducive to learning.  The weather was in the 40’s mostly with a strong wind on Saturday, slightly warmer on Sunday. 

Following the initial pep talk, safety was covered in detail, with written materials distributed.  Students signed off on the safety briefing and range rules.  Other than one muzzle that went over a berm one time and polite reminders about muzzle position on the “sul” position, I did not observe a safety problem, nor did I hear an instructor dealing with a safety problem during the course of the weekend.  The safety lecture was thorough and well done.  My one nitpick would be that visuals are occasionally useful and there were none.  Several times on the range an assistant would bring up a particular reminder or safety tip as the drills progressed on the range.  In sum, no one left with more holes than they came with.

A booklet was distributed that contained information on Hoffner’s shooting principles.  The Cooper colors were discussed and how they have been added to by some later instructions.  Hoffner uses his own system of the fight cycle, but he does tie it into the familiar Cooper codes where applicable.  Occasionally his terminology wasn’t entirely obvious, (i.e. “download”) but in the end you had the overall picture of his method.  The presentation would have benefited from power point or large visuals (may be an inherent limitation of the facility).  Hoffner did utilize a dry erase board from time to time.  The “SOSU” concept wasn’t made entirely clear during the lecture, but the general principles of his method were logical and easy to follow.  Beginners however may not know what a “sight picture” is or other terms used.  On the written materials, larger fonts would be a help and a little different layout in the interaction between Hoffner’s fight cycle and the Cooper codes would help. 

Hoffner’s coverage of mindset and moreover the reason for the mindset, was excellent.  Even someone who has attended a lot of training and has an ingrained mindset, couldn’t help say “amen” many times.  An oft repeated mantra was that no one has to stand by and be abused.  Seemingly a “well-duh” concept, but not really if you look at people you see every day.  Most citizens are blissfully unaware and easy targets for abuse.  Following the mindset discussion, I think even the ardent pacifist would have to say “amen”. 

Moving to the range, we began with a simple clearance drill, and tap rack bang.  Hoffner uses the “pinch-pull” method for racking the slide.  I have always been taught the “over the top method” so this was an adjustment to me.  I think I will stick with “over the top”; however it was good to practice the different method.  Hoffner has logical reasons why he believes it is best as do other instructors who teach over the top.  It did earn me a nice bloody blister however using the different method.  The TRB’s were done dry, 40-50 times in sets of ten or so, only 2,950 more reps to go to own the skill I guess.  This is the time when you find out that you nice light, comfortable G17 weighs a ton and the arms and back start to burn. 

Work with stance, grip and some on presentation was done dry while on the line also at this point.  In my opinion more time should have been spent on presentation from the holster but that was a minor thing for me.  Hoffner’s ready position for me was higher than anything I had been taught or used before, it was quite an adjustment.  Also, there is no Weaver/Chapman with Hoffner, he doesn’t necessarily advocate isosceles but, he does not want to see one foot behind the other to any significant degree.  He does not want the shooter to feel like they cannot shoot without the strong foot back.  I was never instructed previously to use a Weaver, Chapman or isosceles, but to shoot from a “fighting stance”.  My natural fighting stance just ended up being with the strong side foot back some.  Hoffner also advocates a “fighting stance”, but insists on feet more or less square to the target.  So that was another conscious adjustment I was making, which means more thinking…I hate thinking.

Live fire started with single shots to the “A” zone on the Hoffner targets (center mass).  This is where the adjusting and learning really began for me.  I am certain in hindsight that most of my shots were fired once my pistol was stopped in position, sorta locked out, but not with my elbows locked.  The “surprise” on trigger press, was something I was struggling with.  From a very high ready (for me), you get sights on target and slack up on the trigger (SOSU) and being the trigger press as you are pressing the gun forward.  The trigger break should surprise you to avoid the flinch.  Now, all of these concepts I had learned before, but clearly wasn’t fully getting it.  The trigger break was never truly surprising me.  I did not have a flinch problem before, but I have to agree that without “surprise” I was likely flinching some, however slight.  I was on target, but consistently slightly to the left side of the center.  The assistant who was working with me and my group was a great help in diagnosing what was going on.  I cannot recall his name, and that is a shame, he deserves credit for solid observation and instruction.  I will find it out and add it in here. 

Eventually over the course of day 1 I began to “feel” the “surprise”…the un-verbalized “ooooh” as Hoffner puts it.  (very funny, you have to actually hear that part of the lecture).  The assistant first had me adjust support hand grip pressure to try and zero in more precisely.  This adjustment at least by feel, helped.  I was likely a little light on the support hand.  However the moment of revelation, which was ridiculously simple, was when the assistant instructor simply asked about sight picture.  I think this is demonstrative of why good instruction is worth the time and money.  Yes, I understand sight picture, it isn’t a new concept.  Is it an obvious thing?  Yes.  The assistant simply asked, if my window was equal on the sight picture.  (i.e. space l & r of the front sight in the rear).  My answer was “in my mind it is…in reality I’m not sure”.  Essentially, because, “I know what proper sight picture is” and because I “understand the concept” my sight picture in my mind was good-but in having to respond to the question, honestly I wasn’t sure.  My fellow students near enough to hear my answer got a chuckle out of my response.  After the question, I took a conscious look at my sight picture and particularly the window.  Of course you know the answer by now, it wasn’t equal…I was left.  Not severely, not out of the target box, but still left.

A few dry repetitions confirmed, it wasn’t equal.  For the rest of day 1, I concentrated on that (more thinking) and voila…centers.  Was it instructor magic?  No, but a simple observation on a simple, basic concept that I had lost “sight” of.  It made a huge difference.  For the remainder of the course, I now knew that if I was left, that I was either slightly flinching or slapping.  We put 750-800 rounds into a single target over 2 days…a simple look at my target proved to me that the instruction was solid.  The lefts were gone, save the occasional slap or flinch.  Hoffner utilized a single hole drill later in the course, I was impressed with myself on that drill.  No I wasn’t single hole, but much better than I thought I would be.  Good instruction is worth every penny.  I have far too many friends that believe and say “I just need the paper (the CHL), I know how to shoot.”  They don’t.  I have had good instruction from several reputable trainers.  I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know; it is a very true adage.  I still don’t know what I don’t know.  When I go back to Hoffner or Tom Givens in Memphis, I will discover more that I didn’t know that I didn’t know.  When I accumulate the arm, leg and first born child necessary to attend Gunsite or Thunder Ranch, it will be true there too.

Day 2 (Sunday)

Day 2 was spent entirely on the range.  We got started about 9:20 a.m.  The wind died down which was good, and it was maybe 50 degrees instead of 45, it helped.  We began with more dry drills.  The TRB’s still stung despite the moleskin and tape over the blood blister.  We moved to single shot drills next for more warm up and happily I didn’t have the lefts.  We progressed to multiple shot drills and then began using the smaller 1-6 circles arranged outside the silhouette of the target.  The small circles force precision and simulate distance.  I was generally pleased with my shooting, though mentally having to focus on the mind game that I am shooting at a much smaller target.  As the day progressed, we then added the additional target areas on the silhouette of the “C” zone for the pelvic girdle and the “B” zone for the cranio-occular area.  I found that given the sequencing of Hoffner’s use of the target, both areas were very easy, in light of the “small circles” drills from before.  All firing on both days was done from one of two distances, both close.  Basically 7-9 feet and perhaps 15-20 feet by guesstimate.  After work on the b and c zones, we progressed to calls of various locations…”A, 3, 4, B”.  Under Hoffner’s rules, the A (center mass) gets two shots, the pelvic girdle 2 and the head 1.  These drills forced you to obviously switch targets and acquire new target pictures.  The required speed was “as fast as you can safely operate and control the gun…and get hits.”   This meant on the A zone, speed was expected, on others, you could take all day…literally, Hoffner wanted hits period.  Incorporated throughout Hoffner’s method is scanning following shots.  Hoffner’s scan is not done with the pistol following, like Gunsite for example.  The scan is to the rear not merely forward.  For the rear scan Hoffner teaches the “sul” position with emphasis on no muzzle sweep of your own thighs (for example). 

Hoffner also has a fun and very nasty little drill for making sure scans are done correctly and not merely as a ho-hum exercise of glancing over the shoulder.  I won’t ruin it but it gets the point across effectively.  The “fight cycle” ends with a scan essentially.  One benefit that I found is the linkage he instructs in moving from “sul” back to ready.  It is a simple rotation that I found quite natural for me to reacquire my gun indexes quickly.  You don’t know what you don’t know…

We ended the day with “zipper drill” shots starting at the center line of the pelvic girdle and proceeding up the target on the center line to the cranio-occular and back down again.  Lots of fun, fast shooting, and a cool way to finish up your target.  A couple of days later looking back at my target, my zipper is damn straight…I’m impressed.  The final wrap up was another “why we’re here” from Hoffner, as I said before these are my cup of tea.  I like the reinforcement from like-minded people in a world where we are treated as some kind of gun nuts who wake up every morning itching to gun down the driver next to us in traffic.  I think more shooters need to buck up and feel good about who we are and why we do what we do in this Oprah-fied culture.

Overall:  money and time well spent.  I am a better shooter than I was.  I learned new things.  I got positive reinforcement on the “whys” of the carry lifestyle.  

Pros:  A lot, I won’t try to list them all.  The course itself is a pro.  I like the “why” discussion and mindset.  The attitude of instructors and their demeanor toward the students, it appears Hoffner would tolerate no mall ninjas and demeaning talk to students.  To the thank yous from the class, Hoffner’s reply was “no- thank you, I’m grateful you decided to come here.”  I find him to be genuine in this.  It is particularly rewarding to me, because in my line of work and in the community of armed law-biding citizens, law enforcement contact is not always positive and at times decidedly negative.  The sequence and progression of the course is well thought out and the components build well upon prior ones.  Hoffner’s enthusiasm, it’s contagious.  I have sat through countless hours of endless lectures on topics like insurance law and mud drying.  A enthusiastic speaker/teacher is always preferable to someone who has no heart for what they are talking about.  His passion is obvious; it makes him a better teacher.  Were he technically and tactically brilliant unable to convey information it would be a worthless class.  The burgers at the Parrott.  If you have an option for lunch…go to the restaurant, don’t brown bag it and get the burger.

Cons:  In terms of facility it is excellent for shooting.  Running water would be great, because I am a hand washing freak…At the lunch break, I really needed a way to wash up.  The porta-johns would certainly be a problem for my wife (and she is the textbook target market).  The generator providing power to the building was left running all day Saturday.  Combined with the wind it at times made range commands very difficult to hear.  If it can’t be turned off (as it was some Sunday) it needs to be moved to the other side of the building.  The use of terminology was occasionally not explained and a new shooter wouldn’t get it, at least until later.  PowerPoint would be a boon.  If you weren’t from Houston and didn’t already know Hoffner or his assistants, or have a “mentor” ahead of time, you kind of thought “well what about me…whose group am I in?”  I may have been the only person there not from Houston or vicinity and not previously familiar with Hoffner from a weeknight class etc…  Some of the “warrior” stuff may be disconcerting to the uninitiated.  The last thing I would want is for them to start the class off wondering about whom these people are and am I in the right place?  It isn’t negative, but for someone who has never thought in those terms, they may need a longer ramp up.  Like I say, it is my cup of tea.  While I think the “warrior” component is required, I think it is important to remember that some people may come in there with the mindset of “I want to learn to shoot (better)…not kill people.”  I don’t have a gripe with the message but simply being conscious of who might be in the student group.  They will leave with the knowledge that they may indeed need to stop someone and if that means they end up dead, so be it.  It to me is all a question of ramp up, so I don’t shut a reluctant person down early on.

Bottom line:  Go and train.