{"id":1523,"date":"2023-10-11T17:25:32","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T17:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1523"},"modified":"2023-10-11T17:25:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T17:25:32","slug":"training-with-the-blackbeard-and-the-saint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1523","title":{"rendered":"Training with the Blackbeard and the SAINT"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Travis Pike<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n my opinion, the Blackbeard from Mantis revolutionized the dry-fire industry. An auto-resetting trigger device with an optional laser makes dry-fire fun and takes it to a new level. However, the Mantis Blackbeard can\u2019t plan your training session \u2014 but I can, or at least I can help! Today, I plan to take your AR-15<\/span> training to the next level.<\/p>\n

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Training, especially defensive rifle training, can be difficult on traditional ranges. These dry fire training drills can be done safely in your home to keep you skills fresh.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My Setup<\/h2>\n

I chose to use a SAINT Victor 5.56mm with the Blackbeard attached with a simple red dot. It\u2019s the quintessential AR carbine and a perfect match for the Blackbeard.<\/p>\n

[Catch Paul Carlson\u2019s Springfield SAINT Victor review here<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

I developed drills based on dry-fire and the Mantis Blackbeard device with the goal to make these easily accessible, capable of being shot indoors and out, and for training various skills. Let\u2019s dig in and get shooting \u2014 or \u201clasering,\u201d if you prefer.<\/p>\n

The Failure to El Pres<\/h2>\n

The Failure to El Pres combines two of Jeff Cooper\u2019s most famous drills into a fun drill you can run indoors or out. If you run it outdoors, you can use greater distances and bigger targets, like USPSA or FBI Q targets. If we take it indoors, you are closer to the targets, so use smaller ones.<\/p>\n

\"aiming\n<\/picture>
As with any dry-fire training, be sure you are working with empty firearms. When used, the Blackbeard system prevents you from loading live rounds into the gun due to the design of the mechanism.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this, we\u2019ll need our rifle, the Mantis Blackbeard and three targets. A shot timer is also a must-have. (A phone app shot timer works since we are only using par times.) First place three targets in a row. If you\u2019re outdoors, set them up three yards apart. If you\u2019re indoors, set them up one foot apart.<\/p>\n

[For more information on this dry fire training system, read our Mantis Blackbeard Review<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Start with your back to the targets with your rifle at the low ready. Set a par time for 10 seconds. At the beep of your timer, turn and engage each target with two shots to the chest (big sticky note). Now, change gears and shoot each target with one round to the head (or tiny sticky note).<\/p>\n

\"blackbeard\n<\/picture>
As shown above, the Blackbeard training system includes replacement parts for the SAINT\u2019s magazine, bolt carrier group and charging handle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The purpose of this drill is to work on your target transitions and shot placement under time. You are also changing gears and going from two quick shots to a large target to one well-aimed shot to a small target.<\/p>\n

The Offset Drill<\/h2>\n

Home defense distances are typically less than 15 yards. If you are using an AR at that range, you\u2019ll need to learn about height over bore. With an AR, your sighting system sits well above the barrel. When you are shooting at 25 yards and beyond, that\u2019s not a big deal. As you get closer, you\u2019ll notice your rounds hitting lower than your point of aim. At home, defense distances this offset can be measured in inches. The offset drill allows you to get used to and train for that offset.<\/p>\n

\"offset\n<\/picture>
Offset drills can be high-value training opportunities in your home. This will help you understand the rifle\u2019s offset at various distances in your abode for safer shooting if needed to defend your family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this, I used my Blackbeard-equipped rifle with a sighting system and a small target. A shot timer also helps, but isn\u2019t necessary. Your optic needs to use your normal zero. For me, that\u2019s a 50\/200 zero. Now, you\u2019ll need to zero your Blackbeard to your optic. This is quite easy. Refer to your Blackbeard manual on how to do this.<\/p>\n

Set up your target at the longest possible shot you can take and measure that distance in yards or feet. Divide by three to establish three different distances. So, if your longest shot is 15 yards, you\u2019ll shoot at 15, 10 and 5 yards. We\u2019ll start at the longest distance and move forward.<\/p>\n

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Set your par time to one second and assume a low-ready position. At the beep, aim and fire a shot while attempting to compensate for offset. Small targets won\u2019t lie, and it\u2019s easy to see a miss. Observe and learn the offset. Fire this drill three times at each distance, aiming to achieve a dead-on shot in one second while accounting for height over bore.<\/p>\n

Using this drill, you\u2019ll learn a lot about close-range precision shots. Having some experience with offset under the stress of a timer will ensure you recognize, acknowledge and train in observing height over bore.<\/p>\n

The Mean Lean<\/h2>\n

Cover is a real lifesaver, a literal one. Knowing how to use and shoot around cover can be a very valuable skill to have. The mean lean shooting drill is all about using and shooting from behind cover while forcing you to move and stretch your skills at different angles and levels under a time limit.<\/p>\n

\"mean\n<\/picture>
Using cover is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of defensive shooting. Here, the author demonstrates a shooting drill employing cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this, you need a Mantis Blackbeard and rifle, a single target, and a piece of cover that is tall enough for you to stand behind. You\u2019ll need a shot timer as well.<\/p>\n

Set the target up at an appropriate distance. If you\u2019re outdoors and using big targets, use a greater distance. If you are indoors, use a smaller target cause you\u2019re a bit closer. Then, set your par time to 10 seconds. You\u2019ll start standing behind cover.<\/p>\n

At the beep, you\u2019ll lean out from the dominant side of cover and fire two rounds at the target. You\u2019ll then immediately take a knee and fire two more shots at the target. Now, transfer to the support side, but remain kneeling and fire two shots before finally standing and firing two rounds from the support hand side. You have 10 seconds for eight shots and four position changes.<\/p>\n

\"mean\n<\/picture>
The proper use of cover allows you to minimize the amount of your body that is directly exposed to danger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this drill, you are digging in and learning how to shoot around cover, as well as how to work around cover. You may need to change position from cover. In fact, it\u2019s typically a smart idea to use different angles of cover rather than predictably pop out from the same side and height every time.<\/p>\n

1 Through 6<\/h2>\n

In the gun world, we get into this two-shot habit. We get really used to firing two shots at a target and assuming that\u2019s what it will take to win. Sometimes, it might take more. Other times, it might take less. With that in mind, let\u2019s do a little more and less.<\/p>\n

\"1\n<\/picture>
Dry-fire training, like this 1 Through 6 Drill, can be done with inexpensive sticky notes or just paper and tape.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For this drill, we need seven cards, roughly 3\u201d. This can be index cards or playing cards, or cut out from paper. Don\u2019t get wrapped around the edges too much on the targets. You\u2019ll need your Blackbeard-equipped rifle and a pen. Don\u2019t forget the shot timer.<\/p>\n

Take six cards and number them one through six. Leave one card blank. Shuffle the cards so you can\u2019t see the numbers. Hang your blank card in the middle and begin drawing cards one by one, attaching the first to the right side of the blank card, the second to the left. Repeat that pattern until all of the cards are hanging around the blank card. My example came up \u2014 1 \u2014 4 \u2014 6 \u2014 Blank \u2014 2 \u2014 5 \u2014 3.<\/p>\n

To run the drill, set a par time to 10 seconds and start in the ready position, aiming at the blank card. At the beep, you\u2019ll shoot target number one a single time. You\u2019ll then shoot target two, two times, and so forth and so on until you shoot all six targets.<\/p>\n

The most obvious training in this comes from target transitions. You\u2019ll also be breaking away from the \u201cshoot two and move on\u201d mindset. Shooters will need to pay attention and think the entire time. It\u2019s tough to get mechanical with random orders.<\/p>\n

Train, Train, Train<\/h2>\n

There we are, four intensive drills that can take your training to a different level. These drills all have a basis in defensive firearm use and, in my opinion, can be quite fun. My par times are generous and aimed at new shooters, so if you find the drills too easy, trim the par times and move and shoot faster.<\/p>\n

There are near-infinite variations of different drills you can do with your Blackbeard kit and SAINT rifle, so hop into the forum and let us know how you train with yours.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Mantis Blackbeard<\/span><\/h3>\n


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SAINT\u00ae Victor<\/span><\/h3>\n


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By Travis Pike In my opinion, the Blackbeard from Mantis revolutionized the dry-fire industry. An auto-resetting trigger device with an optional laser makes dry-fire fun and takes it to a new level. However, the Mantis Blackbeard can\u2019t plan your training session \u2014 but I can, or at least I can help! Today, I plan to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}