Last month’s article, “Revolvers for Self-Defense: 6 Key Points,” included advice for those interested in carrying a revolver for self-defense. This month, I am out on the range with Heritage Manufacturing’s Roscoe revolver, trying some courses of fire suggested by Claude Werner, the Tactical Professor.
Claude Werner’s background combines extensive experience in the military, self-defense training, and white-collar financial services communities. His firearms related background includes the following:
Before heading out to the range, I spent time dry-firing the Roscoe to get used to the trigger press. If you haven’t seen it yet, the Roscoe I am shooting has a three-inch barrel (it is also available with a two-inch version). As I mentioned in the previous article, Claude shared his process for dry-fire and a tool he developed, the SafeSnap Training Disc at The Mingle event I attended last month. Claude suggests the following steps whenever you dry practice or perform any maintenance on your revolver:
Although this procedure may seem excessive to some, using it will go a long way toward preventing unintentional discharges.
In the post “Practicing with a Snub Revolver” on his website, Claude shares five different law enforcement courses of fire. He suggests using these courses as they provide structure for practice and a modest measure of skill determination. I chose the two that required the least amount of ammunition, as I had already gone through quite a few rounds getting used to shooting the Roscoe, and honestly, my hands were getting tired.
I brought along a few different brands of ammunition for this trip to the range:
New York State CCW Qualification Course – 5 rounds
LAPD Retired Officer Qualification Course – 10 rounds
Using law enforcement qualifications is a great way to determine what I need to practice. By taking photos of the targets each time I can also track my progress and see if my groups tighten up. Additionally, although timing is not part of the qualifications, as I become more comfortable drawing the revolver from the holster and presenting it to the target, I plan to time myself. I plan to focus on these two qualifications for now, then eventually move on to the ones that require more ammunition.
If you decide to try any of the courses of fire or are just spending time on the range, make sure you are enjoying yourself. If you begin to feel fatigued or start to get flinchy from the recoil, it’s time to stop while you’re ahead. There is no reason to beat yourself up or push yourself to a point that becomes unsafe. It will show in your target.
Visit the Heritage website to read all about the Roscoe.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
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