range thin
5star logoCenter Target Sports Newsletter
 The Only 5 STAR Range In The Northwest!
The  TARGET ZONEDecember 2010 
In This Issue
Class Registration Discount
Spotlight Member
Gift Certificates & Machine guns
Reloaders Warning
New Products In Stock
Free Presentations
Class Schedule
Seldom Offered Classes
Monthly Tip
Quick Links
  
Next Member Fun Shoots are
 Dec 19, Jan 30, Feb 27 at 8am   

 
Don't forget our online gun gallery

Happy Hour - 2 for 1
range time T-F noon to 3pm
 
Don't forget your 
Christmas Gift Certificates
 
 
 Did you know there are only 7 Five Star rated indoor ranges in the US, and we are one of them!


Next Glock Matches
Dec 18
Jan 15
Feb 19

 
 
UTAH CCW
 Good in
31 States Remember if you take your Utah CCW training with us it is all inclusive.  Our Fee Includes  Fingerprinting, Passport Photos,help in filling out all the forms and Even a Pre-addressed Envelope.
Truly, One Stop Shopping!! 

 

   For a complete list
of classes with dates and times, go to:
  
 
CTS The Only Place
To Try
Before You Buy...
   
 

Remember  Bullseye Every Thursday Night at
5pm & 6pm
 
          
Friday Night
Date Night (all day)
Unlimited shooting for both you and your date only $22 and 10% off Ammo and Targets
  
  
 
Women shoot free with the purchase of a box of ammo all day on Thursdays 
  
 
FREE  1 Hour Class and Range Day with every firearm purchase.
A $57.00 Value    
 
 
 Don't wait...Get your 
Gift Certificates Today.      
 
 
   For a complete list
of classes with dates and times, go to:
 
 
Don't Forget Our 
AR PRO SHOP 
For All Your AR Needs 

 
Welcome back to the Target Zone: 
 
SIX Years and Going Strong!!! 

 

I can't believe it is Dec 4th.  Do you realize we had our grand opening exactly 6 years ago today. We've come a long way and we owe it all to you and our staff.  We certainly are not perfect and we try hard everyday to meet your expectations.  We know sometimes we fall short but for the most part I believe we deliver.range construction

 

Allow me to get a little philosophical for a moment or two.  I had a pretty clear vision for many years as I dreamed about building my own indoor shooting and training center.  As the dream turned to reality I have tried to stay true to my passion for teaching and believe we have never compromised our goal of always providing the most comprehensive and cutting edge training available anywhere. 

 

In addition to the training, providing a clean, safe, family friendly environment for everyone to pursue the shooting sports has always been what has motivated us here.  I believe we do that in no small part due to Stephanie, Ken, and the most awesome staff you could find anywhere.

 

As the economy continues to challenge us all, I feel strength and confidence in our future because of the continued support from all of you.  As I stated above I believe we have stayed the course with our goals and objectives,but all of you have surpassed our wildest dreams by supporting our facility and what we do here.  I would not be living my dream today if it were not for all of you and all that you do for Center Target Sports and this entire community. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

 

Good News Coming!!  We have been sworn to secrecy until January but we will have a major announcement coming soon.  We may not be able to share the info with all of you until after the January newsletter.  If that is in fact the case then we will use one of those special email blasts.  It will not be junk mail but a one pager spreading the great news.

 

Insurance waivers and Safety equipment...  A special thank you to everyone for your patience as we update our insurance waivers.  The automated process seems to have helped out quite a bit.  In addition, we sure appreciate your support for us no longer loaning eyes and ears.  It is much better for all of us not having to worry about the health and hygiene issues related with strangers sharing equipment.

 

Cane Student 1 - Purse Snatcher 0 ...  Was it divine intervention, just good forethought, or just plain luck.  Who cares, it worked and here is a short version of the facts.  Student in his late 50's calls and says, "leaving for Italy in a few days, would like to take a cane.  He asked me to set him up with a cane and a few tips on how to use it since he was going to miss the Dec 14th Cane Defense class. 

 

We did both and off to Italy he and his wife go.  During the trip they stop to visit a coffee shop and long story short, a purse snatcher gets away with his wife's purse.  Her cane wielding husband is in quick pursuit (not sure if that was the smart thing to do...leave that for another discussion).  The husband catches up to the robber and with cane in the loaded position demands the purse be returned. 

The purse snatcher wanted no part of that cane and dropped the purse before he ran away.  Would he have given up the purse so readily had the husband not been armed and ready to use his cane?  We will never know. 

 

But as we always say here at CTS.  If you own defensive tools and you know how to use them, you must carry them with you for them to work.  The fact that this student was armed with a defensive tool that he knew how to use allowed him to confront this robber with a significant advantage than if he were left only to his physical presence.  To the student, thanks for sharing your story...next time you are in the range, let's talk about the wisdom of chasing the robber down.

 

In Closing:  Peggy and I along with our entire staff want to wish all of you a very Blessed and Joyful holiday season.   

 

REMINDER:  Shooters under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or parent in order to shoot a handgun.  Shooters between the ages of 18 and 21 may shoot a rifle without a parent or guardian present.  Federal law limits the sale of handgun ammunition to shooters over the age of 21. Please don't ask us to break the law and risk our license.

 

  

Previous Newsletters

 
Did you know that you can go back and review all our previous Newsletters, just click here. Archived newsletters  
 
 
If you have any suggestions or ideas for the newsletter, please email Peggy at  [email protected].

Be Safe....
 

Ed & Peggy Santos
208-773-2331
 

PS:  Please take awareness seriously. 

If you are a CCW holder...CARRY YOUR GUN! 


HOLIDAY HOURS

 

 We will be closed Christmas Day and News Year's Day.  We will close at 5pm on Christmas eve and stay open until 7pm on New Year's eve.

 

 

LIVING SOCIAL NETWORK
 
 
Many of you  may have heard of the new "Living Social Network" that is making its way around the country and now into our region.  CTS has signed up and will be offering two fantastic packages at 50% OFF.  Keep your eyes open for the Living Social offers that will be hitting our area soon!
Click on the link below and put in your email address and zip code to get in on the deals as soon as the Coeur d'Alene/Spokane site launches this month.

Class Registration Discount Reminder!

 

CLASS REGISTRATION:  Since so many of you sign up for the next level class or an additional class during the day you are attending a class, we have decided to offer you a discount.  Anyone who registers for a class on the same day they are attending another class will receive a 10% discount on their new registration.  This offer is not available to students attending a class as a "no pay retake" and can not be combined with any other discount.

 

 

SHOOTING INTRODUCTION: Here's the challenge: Introduce a new person to shooting and save some money.  Just bring a first time shooter in to experience what we have to offer.  Inform our staff that your guest is a first timer and we will give you a 50% discount on the "first timer's" range fee. 

 

  

Spotlight Member of the Month!!

  
harley bushMeet Harley Bush our December spotlight member.  Harley is the guy you see in the range practicing his bullseye shooting.  He is a regular competitor in the Thursday night bullseye league and he is always ready and willing to help out with new shooters.  
 
We are very proud of our members and especially those who are always looking for ways to help further the shooting sports.  Harley is one of the "good guys".  Take a minute to introduce yourself to him next time you see him on the firing line.

Thanks Harley for all you do for us and the shooters that support our facility.


Each month we will randomly select a member from our roles to be the Spotlight Member of the Month.  The spotlight member will have a reserved priority parking place (appropriately marked with a sign), and receive 10% off all targets and ammunition for the month that they rein as spotlight members.  

 

 

 Gift Certificates and Machine Gun Shooting

Are you having trouble finding that perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything?  We have the answer, a Center Target Sports GIFT CERTIFICATE.  They never expire, can be used for any product or service and I bet the recipient will never guess what's in the package.   Our  gift certificates are available in any amount you desire and can be used for products, range time, training or memberships.

Machine Gun Shooting Special!machinegun

Last year we had so many members bring in holiday visitors to shoot the machine gun between Christmas and New Years that we decided to create this holiday promo.  If you are waiting for the Turkey to cook or can't watch another football game, just pack up the family for an unforgettable experience. 
 
Between Dec 15th and Jan 1st we will waive the range fee from our Machine Gun shooting package.  That means for $30.00 you can shoot a machine gun.  This package includes the MP5 or UMP40, full size target and two magazines and more fun than you can imagine! 

Make sure you bring a camera as you will never have a better opportunity to capture the largest smile possible.

gun failure

*This is an example Only*

Did not happen at CTS.


 
Attn: Reloaders 
 
TWO MORE Times this month


Unfortunately I feel the need to speak to this issue for the 2nd month in a row.  We have had TWO more firearm failures since the last newsletter came out.  Luckily, no shooter/reloader received more than a few minor cuts.
 
We have been lucky, but let's not depend on luck.  I can not emphasize enough the necessity to pay attention to detail when reloading.  Please reload in an environment that allows you to concentrate without interruption.  Modern firearms are typically pretty well made.  However they are not designed to handle the extreme chamber pressures associated with double powder charges, the incorrect powders or primers, etc.

If in doubt about what you are doing don't hesitate to seek information or guidance from someone who knows.  Don't take a chance with such a serious issue.  Your safety, the safety of those around you and of course the value of your firearm are all in the balance.

New Products In Stock..

 
AR tools continue to come in on a daily basis.  Now on the shelf we have bore guides, butt sock wrenches, bolt disassembly tools, sight adjustment tools etc...
ar tool kit 
We will soon have the complete AR Armorer's tool kit in stock.  Today, about 85 % of the individual tools and jigs are in stock. This kit is a very comprehensive collection of tools necessary to completely disassemble/reassemble and work on any AR platform.  The choice of tools included in this kit was developed by Ed and Gio. 
 
Gio is a master gunsmith who has built or worked on thousands of AR's.  What we have done by putting this kit together is make sure the right tools were selected and you are not purchasing tools you don't need or are not often used.    We will also be stocking those seldom used special tools like "Go / No-Go" gauges for those who want to add them to the kit.   We are able to offer you a significant savings by purchasing the entire kit as opposed to purchasing everything separately.

 

USED GUNS...case  We Have Em!

 
We have almost 100 used guns in the used/consignment dept.  Unlike shops that don't have a range attached, we test fire 100% of our used guns and stand behind them all.  If you are in the market for another firearm, don't hesitate to check out the great deals on these used guns.
CCW gun 

FREE Clinic In December:     

Our December FREE clinic promises to be another biggie!  We expect well over 100 attendees.  The December 10th FREE clinic will be an in-depth comparison of all the neighboring States CCW laws.  For the first time ever we will compare side by side all the CCW laws and their differences as well as how these laws affect the way we carry in those respective states.  The States we'll be covering are: ID, WA, MT, OR, UT.

Please register early as this could be another sell-out of our FREE clinic series.
 
P.S. Thank you to all of you that have donated folding chairs to Center Target, we use them for all the clinics and appreciate you thinking of us.
 
FREE Clinic In January:bullseye tgt
 
On January 12th at 6pm we will offer another Bullseye Free Clinic.  The last Bullseye clinic was so well attended and we are constantly getting asked about another one so we thought, "why not start the year with one?"  Call the range to get your name on the list.  208-773-2331
 
 
Upcoming Class Schedule

Master CCW (ID) -  Dec 18, Jan 9,21, Feb 10,19 
Utah 4 hr CCW - Dec 22, Jan 13, Feb 16
Utah 8hr CCW - Dec 12,16, 28, Jan 5,29, Feb 13,22
Handgun Familiarity - Dec 19,29, Jan 11,15,25,30
Youth Firearms Safety -  Dec 19, Jan 15,30, Feb 27
Basic Pistol - Dec 21,26,30, Jan 2,4,16,19, Feb 11,23,26
Basic Pistol 2 - Dec 14, Jan 18, Feb 9
Kubaton -  Dec 23, Jan 11
Cane Defense - Dec 14
OC Spray - Dec 21(offered quarterly)

Defensive Handgun 1 - Jan 22, Feb 20
Defensive Handgun 2 - Dec 11
Concealed Carry Street Survival - Jan 8
Refuse to be a Victim - Jan 11
Basic Carbine - Jan 23
5-day Comprehensive Handgun - Feb 2-6 (Offered twice a year)
Home Defense Shotgun - Feb 12

For the entire calendar go to:
 
Shotgun - Dec 15, Jan 20, Feb 17
Kel-tec -  Dec 29, Jan 26, Feb 24
A/R - Dec 9, Jan 14, Feb 2
Sig - Dec 23, Jan 24, Feb 28
S&W semi-auto - Dec 8, Jan 7, Feb 10
Revolver - Jan 12, Feb 11
Glock - Jan 5, Feb 3
Ruger -  Jan 6, Feb 4
1911 - Dec 10, Jan 13, Feb 9
Bersa - Dec 16, Jan 21, Feb 16
Walther - Dec 17, Jan 19, Feb 17
Tauras - Dec 22, Jan 27, Feb 25
Kahr - Dec 30, Jan 27, Feb 23

Owner Orientation classes are the free one hour class you receive when you purchase a gun at Center Target Sports.  Just bring your receipt and show up.  If you want to take the class and didn't buy your gun from us, the class is $40 and everyone's welcome.  Call the range for times. 208-773-2331

Seldom Offered Classes are on the Schedule!

FIVE Day Comprehensive Hand Gun

On February 2nd we will begin our very popular but seldom offered comprehensive handgun class.  I am so proud of this class.  It is exciting to see so many of you registering so far in advance.  I guess the fact that the last one sold out so quickly has something to do with this early registration.

This above all others is the class that will make you a better shooter.  The unique aspect of this course from my perspective is that I designed it to accommodate the needs of all skill levels.  At least 5 students that have completed this course have told me it was so much more beneficial than classes they have attended and paid in excess of $2000.00 for.  In fact, many of you have suggested we raise the price on our class.

A student in the last class told me " he wasn't sure about signing up because we only charge $500.00 for the class and after all, how good could it be compared to the class he just finished in AZ for $2100.00?".  In his words "I will never go to an AZ class again as long as you are here".

Well, we will not raise the price at this time.  I want this class to be affordable by anyone who wants it.  I truly believe that this is the class for anyone who wants to improve.  In fact, I guarantee that you will improve if you give this class a try.  Go to the website or stop in to learn more about our 5 Day Comprehensive Hand Gun Class.

Street Survival Skills Course

Ok, so you have a Concealed Carry Permit. Do you know how to act when confronted with a lethal threat? Do you understand the use of lethal force? How about your less than lethal force options? Have you evaluated your personal protection options? Do you know the best way to interact with the threat, the police, witnesses, and even your own attorney?

Register today for the January 8th class.  You will get to experience these topics and many more during this course.  Through the use of real life scenarios students will demonstrate the escalation of their defense posture. They will learn and practice verbal intervention, deploy less than lethal threat response and defend themselves with lethal force when justified.

 

This class will include a practical examination designed to test the student's ability to perform defensive skill sets under induced stress situations. Completion of a Defensive Hand Gun I course is a requirement prior to enrolling in this course or see the instructor for evaluation of your knowledge and skills. 

 

Students MUST possess a current Concealed Carry Permit in order to register for this course. The majority of the 8 hours of instruction will take place on the range.

Monthly Safety Tip!


 

Your Survival, Your Training, Your Life!

 

 

One of the benefits of working with many of you for the last 6 years is the opportunity to witness your transition into armed citizens who possess many very advanced and practical defensive skills.  Through this journey, I have been asked by many of you about training techniques, specific skill sets and battle preparation in general. 

 

Many of you have heard me say when referring to skill sets and training "is it probable and is it plausible?"  What I am trying to say here is don't learn, adapt or practice a technique that might look good on the range, or sounds cool when described, if it won't work on the street when you are fighting off the affects of Body Alarm Response (BAR).  I encourage everyone to seek out training from qualified instructors.   I personally attend at least two classes a year from the most qualified and competent instructors I can find.  I have been an Armed Professional for over 33 years and I still seek out this high level of training.  This is what allows me to continue to offer cutting edge training to all of you.  I am not teaching you 1960's LAPD shooting techniques. Like anything else in life "All instructors are not created equally".  Ever wonder why John Farnam is the only outside instructor we allow to teach here.  Lord knows, many have asked and in fact, we get requests on a weekly basis.

 

You might want to apply the 3 S test when evaluating possible instructors and their programs. The 3 S Test consists of 3 questions involving the letter S.  First, is the technique or tactic SIMPLE to perform? If it cannot be mastered and performed within the time constraints of the training environment, it will certainly be forgotten in the stress of the street.  Second, does the tactic or technique make SENSE? If it just does not match with your personal and professional life experience, ask the instructor for more information. If the instructor cannot make it "click" with what you know is street reality, then your antenna should go up.

 

Finally, is the tactic or technique STREET PROVEN? If the instructor cannot give you at least one real world example of the technique working in a high-stress environment, then be very leery of being a guinea pig.

 

It's not unusual for us to become so enamored with a particular technique that we forget our ultimate goal...winning. Winning is defined not just by survival, but exiting the incident without harm. Becoming so focused on completing overly complex techniques could result in an inability to save ourselves from harm. Remember, most armed professionals do not practice their survival skills once they leave the training environment. Any repetition they get is on the job. Walking into a gunfight and trying to execute a technique that has never been fully understood, let alone practiced, is likely to result in tragedy.

 

Much debate that affects individual survival comes from the defensive shooting arena. There are a lot of people out there trying to make a living out of firearms training, and all of them are trying to offer something unique.  As a graduate of many of these schools, I have no problem with their variety. I always go into these programs with an open mind, wanting to learn something new.  However, let's be honest, there are only so many ways to shoot a gun. The shooting technique that delivers the gun to the target quickest, with little wasted motion is probably best. Courses that insist you stand a certain way, hold the gun a certain way, use your sights, don't use your sights, and/or use a particular gun-regardless of the situation are unlikely to pass your "Three S Test."

 

The goal of any survival-oriented training is to win the confrontation without harm. What technique is used to accomplish this is secondary. What is important is that it is simple and effective most of the time. Nothing is absolute.

 

I personally don't care if you carry a 1911 style .45; a double-action/single-action, high-capacity 9mm; or a .357 magnum revolver as long as you can hit your target with it, reliably, under stress. You want to use the Weaver Stance? Terrific. The Isosceles? Outstanding. I don't care as long as it is effective for you and your particular body style. Do you want to use a flash front sight picture? Excellent idea. What, you believe that point shooting is the answer? Good for you. They both have their place; maybe we need to understand both. To my way of thinking, all of the above pass the "Three S Test."

 

Debate in the training arena is a good thing, unless it becomes so heated that the message to the student is lost in all the hype to show who is right. For example, everyone agrees that multiple rounds to the high chest area is the best location to shoot when trying to induce rapid incapacitation. But what if the suspect is wearing body armor?  If a suspect has absorbed two or three rounds to the chest with no visual affect, it is unlikely that two or three more are going to help. The answer is an alternative aiming point.

 

For years I have heard the phrase, "Two in the chest, one in the head, guarantees they're really dead." Unfortunately, it has been shown over and over again that due to the mobility of the head that it is hard to hit in a fluid situation like a gunfight. Additionally, the brain is well armored by the skull, making the point of entry for any handgun round quite small. This situation led one very famous firearms instructor to remark, "Two in the chest, one in the eye, is guaranteed to run you dry."

 

Many informed instructors are calling for shots to the pelvis as an alternative to the head. It is felt that the pelvis is a larger target and produces an extremely painful wound. If the pelvis can be broken, movement would be seriously hindered if not stopped. Critics, however, advise that the pelvic shot does not stop ambulation, and even if it does, the downed suspects are not incapacitated as they can still shoot.

 

What is the answer in the interest of simplicity? I cannot give a definitive answer, but it would seem to me the best response is to shoot whatever you can.  

 

Simple techniques leave you ready for anything, like concealed firearms or a cell phone gun.

 

Training (or I should say improper training) can be a genuine handicap to survival, when it should be the answer. Where many firearms instructors get the ideas for some of their programs is beyond me.  For example, one agency I know of uses a drill where it's officers run up to a table where they find a semiautomatic pistol in pieces. The gun must be assembled, loaded and then fired on two targets directly in front of the table.  While watching this drill, I asked the range officer what the point of the drill was.  He was unsure and said it was in their exercise drill book but, he believed it was to give the officers experience in putting their gun together under the stress of a gun fight.

 

I guess I was not too good at hiding my disgust at such a drill in modern police training.  He asked what I would do if he gave me an opportunity to do the drill.  I informed him I would run to the table as he asked (as it did provide the only cover in the immediate area) but while running to the table I would be drawing my backup gun and shooting the threat targets.

 

He wanted to know why I would not put the pistol together and fire. To this I responded, "If I am ever in a gunfight, with multiple bad guys and my gun comes apart, I am going to use my back-up gun. If I don't have a back-up, I am going to run away.  Think about it, putting together a gun under fire does not pass the "Three S Test".

 

To win on the streets, you must be aware, be willing to engage, have the best equipment you can afford, seek all the training you can, know how to use that training under stress, and know what is relevant and what is B.S. Good Luck and Be Safe...

$25.00

OFF 
SAVE $25.00 
On any New IN-Stock Springfield Armory 1911 pistol.
 

Present this coupon and receive $25.00 OFF your next Springfield Armory 1911 pistol.  Limited to New in-stock models only!
Offer Expires: Dec 31, 2010   Only one coupon per person per visit.