POMW III, 2015

By Pia Hornung, SDKSkyt, Ballerup

POMW III, IPSC B

Like POMW II, the course took place at Hanebjerg shooting center and consisted of two full days of shooting.

The first day was fantastic weather, which is very cool when you have to stand outside and shoot. We started in the shooting house by shooting 2×30 rounds with cal. .22 and then proceeded outside with the 9mm pistol. First at a distance of 3 meters, then 6 meters, 12 meters and finally transition shooting, where we shot alternately at 2 targets from 3 meters. The safety procedure was reviewed in detail beforehand so that everyone was aware that it is a dangerous weapon and must therefore be handled correctly at all times for everyone's safety. The instructors shot along every time, just as Kimu Sensei shot alongside. Both parts help to make the situation a little more stressful, as shots are fired quickly. Stress and subsequent mistakes are easy to inflict on yourself during the process, also for other reasons. It could be that you get holsters in the head when the person next to you shoots or the gun jams. But as Kimu sensei says 'you just have to say never mind and do the best you can, because then you can't do more'. You don't have to stress yourself, because it can be read immediately in your shot. This is probably also the case in other areas of life, if you stress yourself, it will be reflected in your results in one way or another.

With the 9 mm pistol, the normal shooting discs were replaced by IPSC discs with A, C and D firing ranges. If you shoot in A, which corresponds to a person's head, he is dead. If you shoot in C the chest, he is probably also dead and in D, corresponding to the arms, he is wounded. If you think about it that way, it becomes a little more real what the competence is actually about. It's not all fun and trouble. We got 4-500 rounds fired with the 9mm, and ended up shooting 2 more rounds with the cal. .22 pistol. It actually went very well and I finished with 248 points, and I'm happy about that. Finally, we separated, cleaned and assembled both types of guns. Super day which ended after almost 10 hours of training, so everyone was tired at the end.

The second day took place in the hole at one of Hanebjerg's outdoor gun ranges, where the instructors had set up IPSC targets and divided the area into different shooting distances with rafters. In addition, there were 3 metal targets with a longest shooting distance of approx. 45 meters. The weather was perfect shooting weather, no rain or wind, but a little cloudy. We started by shooting at different distances with 9 mm against the IPSC targets, and then switched to transition shooting with 4 targets. 1-2 holes in each disc with magazine change and with approx. 1 sec. between each shot fired. It was super fun and great to see that you could also hit well when the focus was on changing targets and at a constant speed.

Afterwards, the distance was increased by moving the shooting onto the metal targets. Kimu Sensei tried to put pressure on the shooters by standing close to each one and shooting quickly at the same target. This partly made it difficult to concentrate, but also deprived one of the opportunity to hear whether one actually hit the target, as the small ping when the bullet hits the metal disc could not be distinguished. For me, the problem was mostly that my trigger with the 9mm goes a little downward as I try to counteract the recoil that comes. That way, I have to aim over the target, and I don't hit well enough. But I still hit the target of 45 meters and was quite satisfied. Two of the instructors showed a shootout on the metal discs, where it is important to be the first to empty your magazine and you take turns shooting at the first miss, after which the tour moves on to the second. Fun, and another good way to apply pressure.

At the IPSC targets, a door was set up with a window in it, and with this we got to try both shooting around the barricade and through it. Not quite easy to hit the targets when the shooting range is limited and I also managed to make an extra hole in the barricade, which fortunately only one person noticed. We finished off the hole in the late afternoon by again firing at the metal targets. It wasn't my best performance, but fun and educational. Subsequently, I succeeded again on the 25 m course with cal. .22 pistol to shoot my best target on the course and it was a great finish. After cleaning the guns, the course was over, and we can look back on a 2½-month intensive course. It's a shame that it's over, because it's been fantastic fun to be part of, and the course has more than lived up to my expectations.

I think all the participants have had an incredible development from not being able to shoot at all or having a bit of experience to in 2½ months being comfortable shooting with 9 mm and hitting targets at up to 45 meters away. It has gone very well. The biggest development for me was seeing the difference that the dry training made, i.e. home training with POMW shooting technique, where the technique is really only practiced. That it can make such a big difference to being able to shoot accurately with just 10-20 minutes of dry training a day is incredible. But cool and inspiring and to consider applying in other areas. Furthermore, it was super good to get personal feedback after the first POMW II day about your own personal learning areas. I can use it to work on my own personal development and I'm sure it applies to others too. It's healthy to look at yourself a little from the outside and even if I can't easily change myself, the awareness of my weak points in particular can mean that I can work with them in different situations.

POMW is not a cheap course, but as my mechanic always says when I get my car repaired, 'it's not expensive, it's just a lot of money'. Guns and ammunition themselves cost money, and we've fired a lot of rounds. But for me the course has definitely been worth it. I have learned the essence of shooting and will be able to pick up the competence again at any time in the future, even if it should become a little rusty. I have received so much praise, so at least my confidence has been boosted for the next while. It has been fun and everyone has gone through incredibly fast development. Thanks to Sensei and all the instructors who put a lot of time into the project, and showed up every weekend, with support and guidance throughout.

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