Glock Pistol Training
The Glock pistol has enjoyed a very interesting and successful history, beginning in Austria in the 1980s. Today, Glock manufactures one of the most successful lines of pistols in the world, with a large percentage of U.S. law enforcement agencies adopting it as their official service pistol. Training in the safe and proficient use of Glock pistols is a bit non-traditional due to the weapon's unique characteristics.
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History
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The company began in 1963 in Austria. In 1982, Glock received a contract to design and build a new service pistol for the Austrian army. The pistols were first imported to the U.S. in 1986. Glock pistols were the first industrially manufactured handguns with high-tech polymer frames. As of 2010 Glock offers 21 different models in regular and compact frames, with another eight models that feature an integrated compensator to reduce recoil and "muzzle jump" during rapid fire. The pistols are offered in seven different calibers.
Types
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Glock pistol training is offered by Glock itself to law enforcement, military, licensed security and other personnel. Armorer, Advanced Armorer, Instructors Workshop and G18 Select-Fire classes are available to provide information and recommendations for the use of Glock handguns. These classes are held throughout the United States and Canada. Courses include both classroom instruction and live-fire range training.
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Function
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The Glock is unique among semiautomatic pistols. It has three internal safeties, yet it may be the simplest weapon to operate in a high-pressure, shoot/don't shoot scenario. In use, the only way to keep the weapon from firing is to avoid pulling the trigger. There are no external manual safety levers to disengage or safety buttons to press. The weapon is always ready to fire.
Pulling the Glock's trigger is also the only way to discharge the weapon. A Glock's internal trigger safety prevents accidental trigger pulls resulting from inadvertent lateral movement, while the drop safety prevents accidental discharges caused by dropping the weapon on the floor. There is also a firing pin safety which blocks the firing pin from contacting a chambered round unless the trigger is pulled.
Time Frame
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Glock's training courses range from one day (eight hours) for the Armorer course and the G18 Select-Fire course, or two days (16 hours) for the Advanced Armorer course, to three days (24 hours of classes) for the Instructors Workshop course.
Benefits
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Glock sponsors an organization that provides its members additional proficiency training in the form of periodic shooting competitions held at locations throughout the U.S. The Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) has created three competition course layouts, each with at least two variations to accommodate differences and limitations encountered at each sponsoring venue. In addition, the GSSF sponsors the GSSF League, an indoor competitive shooting league that uses D-1 paper targets with a timed course of fire at varying distances.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit pistol image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
