SIG MMG 338 Program Series

Gunfighter Moment – Pat McNamara

As there are techniques, there are just as many gun related gizmos, gadgets, and gimmicks. Bolt and strap on. Theatrical movements and dance steps. Tales of woe or implausible performance enhancers. Some live long and become center of debate issues while others die off quickly.

One of the things I encourage on the range is discovery or tactile learning. In other words, learn by doing vice taking one’s word for it. One can now make the determination for himself on whether to shit-can or to maintain a technique or piece of gear for he sees that it will or will not offer positive development in a gunfight.

Battlefield multipliers are often the simplest in solutions versus high tech gear or high motor skill movements. My go to Battle Rifle is a 16” BCM KMR and it’s pretty much meat and potatoes. Full length 2-point sling, good optic, good BUIs, good light.

Patrick McNamara
SGM, US Army (Ret)

Pat McNamara

Patrick McNamara spent twenty-two years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. When he worked in the premier Special Missions Unit, he became an impeccable marksman, shooting with accurate, lethal results and tactical effectiveness. McNamara has trained tactical applications of shooting to people of all levels of marksmanship, from varsity level soldiers, and police officers who work the streets to civilians with little to no time behind the trigger.

His military experience quickly taught him that there is more to tactical marksmanship than merely squeezing the trigger. Utilizing his years of experience, McNamara developed a training methodology that is safe, effective and combat relevant and encourages a continuous thought process. This methodology teaches how to maintain safety at all times and choose targets that force accountability, as well as provides courses covering several categories, including individual, collective, on line and standards.

While serving as his Unit’s Marksmanship NCO, he developed his own marksmanship club with NRA, CMP, and USPSA affiliations. Mac ran monthly IPSC matches and ran semi annual military marksmanship championships to encourage marksmanship fundamentals and competitiveness throughout the Army.He retired from the Army’s premier hostage rescue unit as a Sergeant Major and is the author of T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical Shooting). He also served as the Principle of TMACS Inc.

Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Bravo Company USA. Bravo Company is home of the Gunfighters, and each week they bring us a different trainer to offer some words of wisdom.

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11 Responses to “Gunfighter Moment – Pat McNamara”

  1. john smith says:

    Amen.

    Learn, adapt, perform.

  2. SONNY says:

    what is the belt and holster setup?

  3. Jed says:

    To BUIs or not to BUIs.

    • Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

      If you can’t figure this out for yourself, I suggest you take up another hobby.

      • PNWTO says:

        I agree with that sentiment to an extent. However, with modern optic technology and realistic encounters for civilians, I see the BUIS as completely optional.

        Even on the .mil side they are quickly becoming optional. Especially with low-power variable and cant-mount T-1s becoming popular.

        I think iron sights are capable of a lot more that folks credit them for but with a good optic backed by training they definitely can be unnecessary.

      • jkifer says:

        I agree with Paul. I served in the Army, got out and served/serving in multiple fed leo departments… I’ve seen primary optics fail (and how about the eotech fiasco?).. you always start with the fundamentals… and that means being proficient with irons before a cco/adj optic. Having irons on your primary is an absolute no brainer to me, a good set is relatively cheap, weights nothing, and very important to have. if youre running your platform for completion only or as a weekend tin can shooter, then fine..don’t do buis.. but if your life or teammates/coworkers lives depend on you and your weapons platform then you should have buis.

        On the topic of there use in the military, every non SF soldier/marine I ever saw had them on their weapon. the reason a lot of the SF guys aren’t running them is due to their 10.3″ weapons platform being dedicated to a bombproof optic (acog/elcan/T-1)…and some kind of IR DBAL..they don’t have room for the buis…

    • BossMan says:

      The rifle I use for work has Iron Sights only, thus my personal AR-15 rifle at home only has iron sights. I have had scopes fail on my hunting rifles. I have yet to see A2 style irons fail (although I am sure it could happen).

  4. PNWTO says:

    Yep, wayyy too much variety out there. “Sold for fisherman, not fish.”

  5. Disco says:

    99% of anything you see on YouTube is BS.

    Low Crawl, do your push ups, get an honest M4, and do what has been working forever instead of what some airsoft kid or reserve deputy cooked up