I am still quite interested in the use of “Malfunction Sticks” as a training tool. Unfortunately, comments on previous articles, both pro and con, concerning the use of this tool have resulted in adolescent name calling of various trainers, as well as denigration of this website, rather than discussion of the actual technique.
Consequently, I’d like to call upon any trainer that uses this technique to shoot a little video demonstrating its use. I’d like to share it here on SSD. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that what many who are unfamiliar with this tool see in their mind’s eye, isn’t what’s going on. I think that will put many concerns to bed.
On my end, I will conduct a very thorough administration of the comments to prevent any personal attacks. I’d like to see an actual debate of the issue.
Haters gunna hate babies gunna cry.
I can see the potential use of this as a training aid although I never have had the opportunity. Something I have my marines do is have a buddy load there mags and throw in one piece of brass and a random amount of rounds so it’s a little more of the “oh shit” factor.
I think the argument of having student become used to “ignoring obstacles” is bullshit anyways. Having been in combat I can personally say there is times where it’s going to be one of two things: 1) fire your weapon and risk the casing bouncing back or not coming out or something else or 2) have a lot of rounds come your way and risk taking a few.
My constant and only gripe is that the people without any experience in actual gunfighting are the ones that seem the most prone to illogically argue against a point because they have their ego invested in one way.
Be the master of all trades and the jack of none. Different techniques have the potential in applicable scenarios. Shooter preference know what I’m sayin?
I use essentially the same drill – ball and dummy – to teach both immediate actions and trigger control. People refuse to believe that they are bashing the trigger until they hit that inert round and the muzzle crashes down about 45 degrees.
I’d like to see a video also, and am not adverse to stealing good ideas from others.
Their*** I blame apple for that one
It’s all good, no worries
It’s another tool to use for limited training environment 🙂
Good call SSD.
Here is an easy way for anyone to answer this (and other similar questions/topics). It avoids sophomoric internet arguments but it very well may cause cognitive dissonance with the person looking objectively at the problem.
It also must be recognized that many of the top in the field will not and often avoid internet discussions like these, so the outcome of any said discussion isn’t a true metric of what is trying to be discovered. Instead, you get a lot of lopsided opinions from the peanut gallery.
So how do we arrive at a conclusion you ask? I will tell you. Again, this technique will work for just about any topic, so keep this in mind the next time a debate like this pops up.
In this case, look at those who advocate “for” and either “against” and or simply do not use said technique. Look at the professional background and experiences of those who are “for” and compare them to those who are against and or do not use said device in their training.
It is a universal truth that a true instructor will always be a student and always open to learning something new. If a technique and or piece of equipment emerges that enhances learning and or performance ,it is typically recognized and adopted and used by that instructor to better train his students. Fads, gimmicks or pointless techniques/equipment are typically avoided or not adopted and hence, not taught by said instructor(s).
In this case, who in the industry is using and or advocating the use of malfunction sticks and who is not and or simply doesn’t use them even though they know their use exists? What are their professional backgrounds and experiences? Now ask yourself: Why do you think those who don’t use them have chosen to not use them in their courses?
When you sit back and honestly and objectively look at it, compare and contrast the pros and cons, you should arrive at an answer to your question. However, I will caveat this with the fact that the ability for some to do this, is like common sense, and not everyone is capable of doing this objectively as it causes a great deal of cognitive dissonance, aka butt hurt, in their perception of the world.
Your premise is flawed because you assume that individuals are rational and capable of applying objectivity.
A decade ago, YouTube existed, but individuals still approached “instructional videos” with caution. It was normal to be curious, but a healthy amount of prudence was still exercised.
Currently, “instructional videos” on YouTube are ubiquitous and the medium has even been reduced down to 15 second clips on Instagram. Mass availability of content has altered our perception of legitimacy and even waived consumer demand for instructor credibility.
The net effect of surplus content is that it informally manufacturers consent that is founded on inaccurate metrics. I address this in a previous SSD piece, “There Is Too Much Internet On This Firing Line: The Dangerous Future Of Tactical Entertainment.”
A decade after the first instructional videos began to emerge on YouTube, we are in an environment in which more soldiers and law enforcement officers seek out commercial instruction on their own. This is because most units or departments are over-tasked and underfunded, yet the men and women serving in those organizations still take it upon themselves to improve their abilities.
The greatest disservice the industry can do to the men and women that serve us is create a market that disregards professional experience and rewards only the most vocal members of the peanut gallery.
*BTW, props for bouncing “cognitive dissonance” and “butt hurt” off of each other in the same sentence without losing significance.*
Aaron, I do not disagree with your explanation above or your previous articles. However, the premise of my post is not flawed as you suggest. As I pointed out, it is the person and or persons inability to apply the methodology I described that may prevent them from arriving at a correct deduction for themselves.
If we apply what I described in this case, and use people in the industry, such as those listed below by PNW Tree Octopus, and then compare them to all the rest who are on the opposite side of the topic. What is the outcome someone who can objectively look at the topic going to arrive at? It’s a rhetorical question but one you and I (and others capable of objective deduction) will undoubtedly arrive at and agree on. Until people can do that, the internet will continue to be covered in the cheeto dust of the keyboard commandos who refuse to believe otherwise.
DOL
Ah, my initial sarcasm translated poorly through text. I agree with everything in your post.
How about we turn this question over to Pat Mac, Noner, LAV, KD4, Hackathorn, Tu from Ronin… you get my drift?
Let’s get the opinion of guys who have the experience and the sheer amount of students?
Because this technique seems to stem from instructors with LE experience and they take issue with insinuating that their experience is less valid than the military guys. I think this should be investigated, based on its merits, rather than on who uses it.
To add: At what point did “instructors” decide they need some snake oil? What happened to simply applying the basics under extraordinary circumstances? Is this the new and oversold “rifle to pistol” transition?
But… But… I just come here for the personal attacks!
If you intersperse training with malfunction sticks with training with snap caps or empty brass in your magazines, I can’t see how it would be an issue. If you do one thing all the time, you’ll get a training scar, so don’t do the same thing all the time.
I find the personal attacks beneath us. Now, attacks on ideas? That’s fair game as long as they are well reasoned. The use of spent brass and snap caps is used by most everyone but the question remains if we can randomly and reliably induce other types of malfunctions to enhance training and stress inoculation.
Ok I went thru a train the trainer class to deploying civilians. I(I worked for the U.S. Army on active duty to teach civilians deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan how to operate all our small arms weapon systems.) But what I would do to tech malfunctions and broken belts was to use spent brass and or use the magazines that would not have the anti tilt followers. I could load a few in the crap green or worse black follower mags. Then I would know at some point I know you are going to have fix that. Usually it’s something stupid as just the slap. But then sometimes it’s the dreaded double feed. (FOL on that one). But for the belt fed weapons. Just a spent cartridge is all we had to do. You could know ok at 100 rounds I know I’m going to have a miss feed. Next thing you know you think you have maybe 20 more rounds and you hear a click. To easy to fix. And I have been to a few classes all were taught by former military personnel. Never heard of a “malfunctions stick” or seen one used.
From what I have seen the instructors with LE backgrounds are a little harder to vet as opposed as the military ones. Working a couple years as a prison guard or a reserve cop part time at a range doesn’t equal documented carrers that span decades of the military guys listed above. There are really good LE instructors out there that you will never hear about because they are too busy training people as part of their jobs and don’t have a need to be famous on the Internet. Oh and they don’t use malfunction sticks either.
As a Virginia DCJS LE Firearms Instructor, PD Sergeant, Department Armorer/Firearms Training Sergeant and tactical team member of a large urban department here in VA, Ivan only provide my personal experience. While I don’t have the high speed low drag background as LAV, Pat McNamara, and all the other mil guys here, I do not see the advantage to such training “tools”. I’m not aware of any reputable instructors or LE agencies that utilize these. Not to say that they’re not out there, but that’s my experience. I personally would or advocate their use, but I’m also open to the possibility that there may be a beneficial application or drill that I’ve never seen. I don’t know it all and try to expose myself to as much as possible to add to my tool belt.
I don’t see the benefit of flaming those who advocate their use. While I don’t think it’s good for me, who cares if there are those who like/utilize them?! To each his own.