Advanced Weapons Training for Hostage Rescue Teams [4th Printing ed.] 0939235013, 9780939235018

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_ FORHOSTAGE RESCUE TEAMS

- Specialized Tactical Training Unit x

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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2023 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation

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ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING by

Mark V. Lonsdale

Also by Mark Lonsdale Sniper Counter Sniper SRT Diver C.Q.B. Raids Sniper II Bodyguard

ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING FOR

HOSTAGE

RESCUE by

Mark V. Lonsdale

TEAMS

DISCLAIMER The author, STTU and those who contributed to this book take no responsibility for the use or misuse of the material herein. ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING was written as a guide for qualified and experienced law enforcement or military personnel, with no intention of contradicting their current agencies’ policies. Special weapons training is a potentially dangerous activity that could lead to serious injury or death if not properly organized and supervised. The training methods indicated in this book should be undertaken by selected and trained personnel only, under the strict supervision of qualified instructors and team leaders. Each and every individual involved in hostage rescue training should act as a Safety Officer, and be constantly alert to any potential safety violations. No moral or legal conclusions should be drawn from any of the foliowing material. We have tried to present the mechanics of special weapons training, leaving the legal and policy decisions to the individual agencies concerned. All training should be under the control of qualified instructors and all operations under the control of qualified commanders.

ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING First Printing September 1988 Second Printing December 1990 Third Printing August 1993 Fourth Printing July 1998 Copyright ©1988, 1993, 1998 by Mark V. Lonsdale Los Angeles, California 90049 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 0-939235-01-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 88-92351 PRINTED

IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To all the dedicated men & women

on the sharp end of counter-terrorism

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many agencies and individuals have contributed material for use in ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING. Those still involved in military, police and federal agencies must remain nameless for either security reasons or departmental regulations. They know who they are and | extend my sincerest thanks. Those who can share the credit are as follows:

Bill Hahn for his unique cartoons Karen Lewis for photography and proofing Mary-Lou Mutch for corrections and proofing John Satterwhite of Heckler & Koch Phil Singleton (H&K) for assistance with the automatic weapons Roger Green of the Green Canyon Combat Range Larry Nichols, rangemaster BPD Chuck Byers of Accuracy Systems and all the manufacturers, agents, trainers and reps that have supplied technical data of equipment for test and evaluation.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR All S.T.T.U. operations come under the direct control and supervision of Mark Lonsdale, an FBI trained and certified Police Firearms Instructor and internationally recognized advisor/instructor in police and military special operations and training. He is also the author of Sniper/Counter Sniper and has had articles published in most of the major police magazines. Prior to entering the military Lonsdale was a very successful Black Belt in Judo, competing in three World Championships and teaching in New Zealand and France. Martial arts gave way to international combat shooting where Lonsdale has ranked Top Ten in the U.S., shot on the U.S. team to the European Champs, was twice winner of the French International and continues to compete in PPC, IPSC and Green Light matches. Lonsdale continues to work on an international level in both training and operations. His close association with U.S. and overseas agencies, and T&E work for the U.S. arms industry helps to keep the S.T.T.U. training material current and interesting. He is currently working on two more books related to special operations for police and military.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE The last ten years have produced a quantum leap forward in the weapons training methods and techniques in use by the more progressive training groups and counter terrorist teams. Much of the increased interest in modern combat shooting can be attributed to increased terrorist and criminal violence on one side, and some very forward thinking law enforcement and civilian combat shooters on the other. The style of shooting taught by STTU is based on my own personal experience and study into the tactics and techniques that work best under high-stress, realistic conditions. Many well Known shooters and instructors, civilian and government, have had an influence on my style of shooting and instruction. It has been my policy to remain flexible in my thinking; to take the best from each philosophy; and to combine them into one truly effective style of combat shooting. It has been my good fortune to train and compete with the very best shooters in the free world. Years of competitive shooting and training have provided a solid foundation for my understanding of the basic human mechanics of shooting. On the tactical side, police, military and government Special Response Teams in several different countries have all influenced my approach to tactics and training. Teaching special weapons and tactics to both law enforcement and military personnel has given me the opportunity to collect data, develop training aids, perfect course design and polish my delivery. Weapons skills can be developed only with long hours of practice and quality instruction, but tactics can be learned from a book. | have covered tactics only in the broadest terms as they apply to weapons training, and avoided descriptions or photos of the methods or tricks used by antiterrorist teams on actual operations. These operational tactics should be included in your training but have been omitted from this text for security reasons. Some faces have also been blacked out to protect the identity of operatives still in the field. It is my sincere hope that this book will be of some value to all those dedicated SWAT/HRT instructors who must operate on a limited budget, and will not get the opportunity to travel and train on an international level.

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INTRODUCTION ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING is the second in a series of books based on the training methods of the SPECIALIZED TACTICAL TRAINING UNIT. The first in the series was SNIPER/COUNTER SNIPER which is now considered a standard text on the subject of urban sniper deployment.

ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING was born out of demand. Countless police, military and government teams that have received training from STTU have commented on the value of our training methods and range programs. The teams are constantly impressed with our efficient use of training time and the amount of material we can effectively teach in the time available. Not only is the material well presented but the information is current and progressive. The most common question is “What is the source of these training methods and where can they find this information?” The training methods STTU uses are the result of years of travel, training, teaching and studying with many different teams. There is no one source. Many agencies, instructors and teams will never have the opportunity to train with the STTU staff because of time or budgetary constraints. So we hope that ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING will help fill the void and at least get them headed in the right direction. Good training saves lives! ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING will concentrate on the latest shooting techniques for special response teams; how best to learn and perfect these methods; then to incorporate these specialized skills into realistic team scenarios. This text is not intended to serve as a hostage rescue tactics manual, but many of the following training methods and much of the related material will be of considerable interest to the team leaders and tacticians. Training, to be of value, must reflect reality, and realism is a prime factor in STTU training doctrine. Whether it be Police SWAT, FBI Hostage Rescue or Military CounterTerrorism, the essential weapons handling and basic tactics remain the same. Only the application and complexity of the problem will vary. Emphasis should always be placed on good personnel, sound tactics, intense training and reliable equipment. Those teams that place their trust in and come to depend on high-tech gadgets are doomed to failure when “Murphy” raises his ugly head. STTU understands the limited funds available to most teams and designs its training methods and recommendations accordingly. With the intense pressure placed on a special response team by close media coverage and a watchful society, it is essential that these teams and individuals be able to handle their weapons SAFELY and ACCURATELY

when

the situation

dictates. ix

The

death

or injury of a single

hostage or rescue team member will reflect badly on the rescuers, the administration and the law enforcement community as a whole. There is always great risk involved in an operation where armed criminals or terrorists must be captured or neutralized in an effort to protect innocent lives. This risk can be greatly minimized by careful planning, sound intelligence, good tactics, adequate training and finely honed weapons skills. No book can ever replace professional instruction and many hours of hard training, but it is hoped that ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING will serve as a Suitable guide to weapons selection and training for all those involved in tactical operations. Readers should feel free to contact STTU directly if they have a further interest in our training programs or methods. Because of the sensitive nature of this type of training and operation all inquiries should be on agency letterhead. Mark V. Lonsdale

1993 Edition Although this book represents the third printing of “Advanced Weapons Training,” it has not been totally updated. Since the later manuals from S.T.T.U. have the more current weapons and tactics, this book has been modified only slightly so as to maintain its historical perspective. In addition, even though the “toys” may change, good training methods change very little. “Advanced Weapons Training” is still a valuable text for anyone involved in special operations.

CONTENTS AU PREPARATION eves sc ck re cee 1 Personnel Selection Equipment Selection 2 RANGES & TARGETS. ogc. ceases st 7 Range Props Situation Rooms Killing Houses Towers Lighting Private Facilities Government Facilities TANGO 2.5 oie sie pe oles ores es ca eee oleae, oa 19 Stee/ Targets Moving Targets 3 INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT ........ 33 Classroom Range Safety Program Development Program Design Methods of Instruction

Principles of Learning Policemen as Learners Types of Training Testing Training Aids Training Time Allocation

42° THE HANDGUN Yen