INTRO

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training introduces a video series covering:

· Red dot optimization techniques

· Multiple target engagements

· Multiple round engagements

· Shooting on the move

· Troubleshooting weapon failures

For personalized training, contact Aimpoint at Aimpoint.us.

Installing a red dot sight

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates how to set up the red dot on your rifle. He covers placement considerations, explaining why he prefers positioning the red dot far forward on the receiver for optimal use with magnifiers or night vision. Using an Aimpoint H-2 on a Scalarworks 1.93” mount, he provides step-by-step instructions for securing the optic. Additionally, he offers insights on managing other attachments like slings, lights, and lasers to maintain a clean setup.

sling setup

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training discusses sling and rifle setup. Using a Geissele Super Duty rifle with a VTAC padded two-point sling, he explains his preferences for sling attachment and positioning. He highlights the importance of adjusting for transitions between strong side and support side, and how personal preference and practice are key. He also touches on the placement of the pressure pad for the light, emphasizing the need to experiment and find what works best for each individual on the range.

BELT SETUP

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training explains the setup of a shooting belt. He discusses his right-handed configuration, emphasizing the importance of keeping the front of the belt clear for mobility. Key points include pistol placement for easy access, magazine orientation for efficient reloads, and positioning of the rifle magazine and first aid kit. He highlights that setup is a personal choice influenced by unit requirements, and encourages practice to determine the best configuration for each individual.

bore sighting

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training explains the process of bore sighting a rifle. He details how to align the sight through the rifle’s bore with the Aimpoint red dot to save time before range practice. He describes removing the bolt carrier group and charging handle, sighting through the bore at a 25-meter target, and adjusting the red dot to match the bore sight. This method helps ensure that both the bore and red dot are aligned, reducing time spent adjusting during live fire practice.

ZEROING CONSIDERATIONS

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training discusses zeroing considerations for Aimpoint red dots. He recommends a 50-meter zero due to its effectiveness up to 300 meters with minimal adjustment. He explains the concept of bore height and how it affects zeroing, noting that the impact point at 25 meters should be about an inch low to approximate a 50-meter zero. He also mentions different zeroing distances and encourages finding the best fit for individual needs and equipment.

ZEROING A RIFLE

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates live-fire rifle zeroing at the range. He starts by confirming the bore and optic alignment previously verified through bore sighting. Using precise adjustments and shooting from a prone position at 25 yards, he fine-tunes the rifle's zero based on initial shot groupings. Nate adjusts windage and elevation as needed, ensuring the rifle prints consistently with a one-inch low impact at the target. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistent shooting technique to achieve tight groupings and a precise zero.

IMMEDIATE ACTION

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates immediate action drills for rifle malfunctions. He emphasizes the importance of practicing different methods to handle failures effectively. Using an eight-round magazine setup, he simulates weapon failures and walks through steps for clearing them swiftly in live-fire scenarios. Nate highlights the simplicity of these actions: tap the magazine, rack the charging handle, and re-engage the target. He encourages shooters to explore various techniques to find what works best for them under pressure.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates remedial action procedures for rifle malfunctions. He outlines two methods: the first involves inserting a spare round to clear a malfunction that immediate action couldn't resolve, while the second method uses an ambidextrous safety for situations requiring more thorough inspection or potential ammunition clearing.

ADMIN LOADING

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates loading and unloading procedures for primary and secondary weapon systems. He distinguishes between admin loads, speed reloads, and tactical reloads, emphasizing efficient execution in different scenarios.

ADMIN UNLOADING

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates administrative unloading procedures for primary and secondary weapon systems. Emphasizing consistency, he reverses the loading sequence for unloading starting with the primary weapon followed by the secondary. Nate begins by ensuring a safe area and verifying dot alignment for both the rifle and pistol. He methodically removes ammunition sources, safely stows them, and visually inspects the chamber and magazine areas before re-holstering or stowing the weapons. Nate stresses the importance of maintaining a consistent approach to handling firearms for safety and efficiency.

SPEED RELOADING

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training demonstrates the speed reload technique for rifle shooters using both primary and secondary weapon systems. He emphasizes the importance of the transition zone between the two systems, explaining that transitioning to the secondary weapon can often be quicker than reloading the rifle. Nate details the process of recognizing and responding to an empty magazine, swiftly executing the reload by indexing the magazine release and smoothly inserting a new magazine.

TACTICAL RELOAD

Nate Blanton from Aimpoint Professional Training explains the Tactical Reload technique for rifle shooters, used during a break in combat to ensure readiness with fresh ammunition. He emphasizes communication within the team and maintaining firing control while executing the reload. Nate demonstrates a modified grip technique to facilitate quick and efficient magazine removal and insertion without losing retention of the magazine. This method optimizes readiness for continuing engagements without sacrificing ammunition security.

DRYFIRE RIFLE

Nate Blanton discusses his approach to dry fire practice, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific skills and addressing inconsistencies in rifle presentation and manipulation techniques. He stresses maintaining target focus while being aware of the red dot's alignment, which helps correct grip and stance errors. Nate encourages viewers to develop a structured plan for each session to target weak areas like rifle and pistol presentations, multiple target transitions, and other skills needing improvement through disciplined dry fire training.

DRYFIRE PISTOL

Nate Blanton explains his process for dry firing with a pistol, emphasizing the importance of solidifying technique before adding speed. He uses the example of improving speed reloads by focusing on proper grip, magazine insertion, and follow-through. Nate stresses the value of slow, deliberate repetitions to build muscle memory and ultimately increase speed.

DRYFIRE TRANSITIONS

Nate Blanton demonstrates dry fire transitions from a primary rifle to a secondary pistol. He starts by ensuring both weapons are clear. During the transition, Nate emphasizes the importance of smoothly moving the rifle out of the way while simultaneously drawing the pistol. He advises practicing these movements slowly to build proper technique before adding speed, maintaining consistency in presentation and sight alignment throughout the process.

SINGLE SHOT PRESENTATIONS

Nate Blanton explains the single shot presentation drill for refining grip, stance, and rifle presentation. He highlights common mistakes like being too tense and over-correcting, which can disrupt accuracy. Nate advises a smooth, relaxed presentation with a focus on the target, allowing the red dot to naturally align with the point of aim. This drill helps shooters become aware of their dot placement and ensure consistent, accurate shots.

STRONG SIDE SUPPORT SIDE

Nate Blanton demonstrates how to properly transition from the strong side to the support side using a two-point sling on a rifle. He explains the importance of trying different sling positions to find what works best for maintaining a low silhouette behind hard cover. The process involves loosening the sling, switching grip positions, and adjusting the stance to ensure a smooth transition. Nate emphasizes the need for practice, especially considering that not all rifles have ambidextrous controls. This technique is essential for maintaining cover and effectiveness in various shooting scenarios.

DRILL 2X2X2

Nate Blanton introduces the 2x2x2 drill, aimed at improving target transitions and eye movement for multiple target engagements. He sets up three targets and explains that this drill is not about shot delivery but about getting accustomed to shifting focus between targets. The process involves snapping to the first target, firing two rounds, then lifting and shifting the eyes to the next target before driving the gun aggressively and firing again. This sequence is repeated for all three targets. Nate emphasizes starting slow to master the mechanics before adding speed.

VTAC DRILL

Nate Blanton explains the VTAC 1-5 drill from Viking Tactics, used to pressure test shooting fundamentals like red dot presentation and multiple target engagements with varying round counts. The drill involves engaging three targets in sequence: one shot on the left target, two shots on the middle, three on the right, four back on the middle, and five on the left. This multi-step drill tests recoil management, stance, and precision in target transitions. Nate advises starting slow to identify areas for improvement before adding speed.