Year: 2015

Action Target Announces Dates for 2016 Law Enforcement Training Camp (LETC)

LETC 2016

PROVO, Utah – Action Target today announced official dates for the 2016 Law Enforcement Training Camp (LETC), an annual event featuring advanced firearms training presented by many of the best instructors in the industry.

LETC 2016 DATES: SEPTEMBER 12 – 16, 2016

Now in its 24th year, LETC brings together over 140 of the very best firearms and tactics instructors from around the world for five-days of intensive firearms training on Action Target’s state-of-the-art shooting ranges.

"We’re very proud of the LETC program and the opportunity it provides for Action Target to give back to the community. Each year we receive the highest accolades from attendees and supporters. LETC 2016 will bring new courses, better ammo purchasing and shipping opportunities, more vendors, and much more," said Seth Ercanbrack, Marketing Communications Manager at Action Target.

Agencies and trainers interested in attending LETC 2016 are encouraged to subscribe to the Action Target email communications list. Learn more about Action Target’s Law Enforcement Training Camp at https://www.actiontarget.com/LETC.

LETC 2015 Video Highlights

About Action Target

Target Inc. Action Target Inc. is a privately owned business headquartered in Provo, Utah. As a world leader in shooting range technology with more than 4,000 products and 40 patents for the systems it designs and manufactures, Action Target has installed thousands of shooting ranges across the United States and in 40 other countries around the world. Action Target also designs systems and conducts firearms training for law enforcement and various military divisions. For more information on Action Target, visit www.ActionTarget.com. To learn more about Action Target products or to purchase items online, visit www.LETargets.com.

IDPA teams with Action Target to create official steel practice target

PT IDPA Practice Torso [square]Action Target announced today that it has partnered up with the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) to create the organization’s official steel practice target named the PT IDPA Practice Torso.

The new target, which is available for sale on Action Target’s online store (www.letargets.com), features a regulation torso shape including scoring zones with reactive swinging plates to provide instant visual and audible feedback for accurate shots.

“We were really excited to work with Action Target on this project because of their ability to take our requirements and come up with an innovative solution,” IDPA Executive Director Joyce Wilson said. “Specifically, we wanted a steel target that encourages shooters to focus on accuracy. To do this, we diminished the sizes of the down zero zones by two inches to encourage tighter groupings in training which can lead to better scores in competition.”

While the PT IDPA Practice Torso is designed specifically for competitive handgun training, it is built with 3/8-inch AR550 armor steel which can withstand any standard handgun round and is also rated for rifle use at 100 yards. It is also designed with the safety of the shooter in mind with no exposed bolts, clamps or brackets for a completely flat shooting surface that produces predictable splatter patterns and reduces the risk of ricochet coming back at the shooter.

The patent pending target hinge design of the PT IDPA Practice Torso.
The patent pending hinge design of the PT IDPA Practice Torso.

“A lot of work went into the design of this target,” Chris Hess, Action Target’s product marketing manager over steel targets, said. “Not only did we ensure that the torso dimensions of the target perfectly match IDPA regulation, we also created a new patent pending hinge design for the reactive plates that minimizes the number of parts needed and provides consistent reaction on every shot. This new design will soon be used on all of our reactive steel targets.”

The PT IDPA Practice Torso made its first debut at the 2014 IDPA National Championship held in Tulsa, Okla., where the prototypes were tested by competitors and IDPA executives. Two-time national IDPA champion and member of the Smith & Wesson shooting team Tom Yost was especially influential in the creation of the target and suggested improvements that led to the final patent pending design.

“As a competitive shooter, this is exactly the kind of target I want to train with,” Yost said. “Practicing on steel helps build muscle memory for accurate shots better than anything else because it provides instant feedback that you can hear and see. Those habits built shooting on steel transfer perfectly to the official cardboard target.”

The PT IDPA Practice Torso comes with the buyer’s choice of a 1-foot, 2-foot, 3-foot or 4-foot stand and will begin shipping March 13.

Product Specifications:
–          As Low As: $339
–          Height: 5’ (with recommended 3’ stand)
–          Weight: 59 lbs.
–          Torso Dimensions: 12” x 25.75” (adjusted for target angle)
–          Reactive -0 Square Dimensions: 3” x 3”
–          Reactive -0 Circle Dimensions: 6”
–          Steel Grade: 3/8” AR550
–          Handgun Shooting Distance: 10 yards+
–          Rifle Shooting Distance: 100 yards+ using ammunition below 3,000 fps

 

About Action Target Inc.

Action Target Inc. is a privately owned business headquartered in Provo, Utah. As a world leader in shooting range technology with more than 4,000 products and 40 patents for the systems it designs and manufactures, Action Target has installed thousands of shooting ranges across the United States and in 40 other countries around the world. Action Target also designs systems and conducts firearms training for law enforcement and various military divisions. For more information on Action Target, visit www.ActionTarget.com. To learn more about Action Target products or to purchase items online, visit www.LETargets.com.

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Action Target Inc., 3411 S. Mountain Vista Pkwy, Provo, Utah 84606 USA
Contact: Laren Helms (801) 396-1212 Office / lhelms@actiontarget.com

Emergency Medical Action Plans for Live-fire Range Operations

By – John Krupa III

How many times have you been at the range and thought “What do we do if someone gets shot or injured during training?” You’d be surprised to learn that there are a lot of range facilities that do not have a posted Emergency Medical Action Plan (EMAP) in place to deal with serious on-site injuries! Sure, they may have a policy protocol established in their range operations manual, but who is responsible for executing it? Have they been trained appropriately on how to respond to medical emergencies and what resources are available on site to actually deal with serious injuries?

LETC [2014] 114

If you do ask that question at the range, most of the time the response will be to use the first-aid kit that is available on site and to call 911 for serious injuries. It’s obvious that there needs to be a much more detailed plan other than just slapping a band-aid on a wound and waiting for EMS to arrive.

It has been my experience when inquiring about EMAPs at range facilities that they are not all prepared to deal with serious medical emergencies and lack proper equipment and training to deal with trauma injuries.

So let’s explore some steps on how to establish a reliable EMAP and how it can be implemented so students, instructors and range staff alike will know these procedures and what actions to take at the onset of each training evolution.

Start out by acquiring medical supplies and build medical kits that can be easily identified and accessible on the range. I recommend building a First-Aid Kit, a Trauma Injury Kit and AED Kit.

The First-Aid Kit is typically built using a heavy duty plastic tool box or tackle box that is orange or yellow in color. Use an indelible black marker to write FIRST AID KIT on the front, back and sides of the box in large letters so it can be easily identified.

The First-Aid Kit will include all of the essential medical supplies that will be used for non-serious injuries and will be accessed regularly to treat small scrapes, cuts and other minor injuries. This kit should be monitored on a regular basis to ensure that used items are replenished.

TMS-R-AID

The Trauma Injury Kit is typically built using a heavy duty plastic tool box, tackle box or soft canvas bag that is RED in color. Use an indelible black marker to write TRAUMA KIT on the front, back and sides of the box or bag so it can be easily identified.

While this kit will rarely, if ever, be accessed (hopefully you won’t need to use this kit!) it should also be monitored regularly so items with expiration dates can be rotated out and replaced with fresh supplies.The Trauma Injury Kit will include all of the essential medical supplies that are needed to treat serious trauma injuries such as; hemorrhage control, deep lacerations, penetrating puncture wounds, gunshot wounds, sucking chest wounds and tension pneumothorax.

The Trauma Injury Kit should ONLY be accessed for serious injuries and by personnel that have been properly trained in TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) or training of equivalent level.

The AED Kit (Automated External Defibrillator) is something that every range facility needs to acquire and have available at all times. While AED units can be purchased new, with a little work searching on the Internet, you should be able to find a source that will donate a decommissioned unit for your facility.

The First-Aid Kit, Trauma Injury Kit and AED Kit should be kept on-site where the training is actually taking place and immediately accessible. These kits will be useless if they are kept in a range building down the road or in a vehicle parked 100 yards away!

The next step is to establish a communication protocol to contact 911 for EMS response. While hard line phones may be on-site, they might not be immediately accessible on the range. I recommend assigning at least (2) range staff members or students with reliable cell phone service to keep their phones with them on the range in the event a 911 call needs to be made. Another option is to have a police radio on the range for direct contact with dispatch. Assign (2) people to emergency call duties in case one of them is the person that is injured.

Create a laminated handout, outlining the EMAP, that can be kept on the range and accessible with the medical kits. The handout should contain the physical address of the range facility, GPS coordinates (for Life Flight dispatch) and the direct phone number to EMS dispatch. The direct number is important, as a 911 call on most cell phones may not always reach the dispatch center for the area you are training at. Having the direct number to dispatch available, the people assigned to emergency call duty can preprogram that number into their cell phones.

Include the name, address and phone number to ER of the closest Level 1 Trauma Center in the laminated handout in the event the decision is made to use one of the vehicles on site to grab and go vs. waiting for an ambulance. Sometimes it may be quicker to drive someone to the local hospital vs. waiting for EMS to respond. If you do decide to grab and go, make sure a phone call is made to the hospitals ER in transition from the range to the hospital to notify them of what you have and ETA to ER.LETC [2014] 282

In summary, review the EMAP with everyone at the beginning of each training evolution during the range safety briefing. Show everyone in the class where the medical kits will be located on the range. Identify range staff that are TCCC qualified. Identify any students in the class that might have a medical skills background and recruit them to assist the range staff, should a medical emergency occur.

Assign at least (2) reliable people on the range to emergency phone call duties and verify the direct dispatch number, GPS coordinates and range address with them. Make sure they know where the laminated EMAP handout is located with this information.

Lastly, if a serious injury incident does occur, whether you decide to wait for EMS or grab and go to the hospital, be sure to secure the area where the incident occurred as responding LEO’s will be required to process that area as part of their investigation. It is also recommended that anyone that witnessed the incident remain on scene for LEO debrief.

If you follow these procedures and develop a sound EMAP, you’ll be ready to handle any emergency medical situation that occurs on your range.

As always, stay safe, remain vigilant and Fight to Win!

John Krupa III – Bio

John is a police officer with the Orland Hills Police Dept. (IL.) and has over 24 years of experience in law enforcement. He has previously served as a patrol officer, FTO and firearms instructor with the Chicago Police Dept. He is a recipient of the Award of Valor, Silver Star for Bravery and Distinguished Service Award for his actions in the line of duty. He is a certified Master Firearms Instructor from PTI and graduate firearms instructor from the Secret Service Academy, FBI, DEA and FLETC. He holds the rating of Distinguished Weapons Expert with the Department of Homeland Security and has presented numerous courses at training conferences across the country including ASLET, IALEFI and ILEETA. John can be reached at – jkrupa@teamspartan.com

John Krupa III

SHOT Show 2015 Report

Another successful SHOT Show is in the books, and this year was just as busy as any with nearly 64,000 industry professionals attending and more than 1,600 exhibiting companies. The show, which takes place at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas every January is the largest firearms tradeshow in the world and is a great place to show off new products and make connections in the shooting and hunting industry.

Here’s a look at some of the big events from this year’s show:

SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range

Action Target and its subsidiary Law Enforcement Targets once again sponsored SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range which is held every year at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Range in Boulder City, Nevada, the day before the show starts. Industry Day at the Range is an integral part of the show and allows both media and buyers the opportunity to try out new guns and shooting accessories.

This year, more than 1,100 media members and 500 buyers converged on the outdoor range complex where everyone got the chance to shoot a few rounds and try out this year’s new gear. All of the targets used at the range were provided by Action Target and Law Enforcement Targets and included an array of steel and plastic targets.

SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range Action Target Safety Award

More than 160 Industry Day exhibitors were judged on their firearms safety practices by a panel of safety auditors from DOA Tactical. The scores for each exhibitor were determined based on specific safety criteria such as the handling of firearms, ammunition placement, and maintaining a safe environment at their shooting stations.

Smith & Wesson was the winner of this year’s award for holding the highest standard of safety during the event. The award was presented in Action Target’s booth to Smith & Wesson’s Director of Marketing Jan Mladek.

“Safety is paramount for events like this,” Mladek said. “We wanted everyone to have a fun and safe experience, so we had range safety officers providing one-on-one instruction with the people who came to our shooting bay.”

Action Target Safety Award Presentation [small]

ATAC Range Day

This year, for the first time, Action Target was the official target sponsor of ATAC Range Day which is put on by ATAC (Advanced Tactics and Countermeasures) Global as a way for military and law enforcement personnel to test new products in the tactical market. Much like Industry Day at the Range, several exhibitors sponsored shooting bays where attendees could shoot everything from service pistols to turret mounted machine guns. Action Target provided steel targets for all of the exhibitors at the event and displayed products in the exhibitor area.

ATAC-Range-Day-2015-1024x186

New Booth

This year, Action Target moved to a new location where we were able to expand to a whopping 40′ x 70′ booth and combine with Law Enforcement Targets to demonstrate the full capabilities of our turnkey shooting range solutions. The booth included a steel target kiosk with new releases, a range design station where clients could print custom plans, a bullet trap deceleration chamber display, and a four-lane shooting range with functional target retrievers.

New Products

Action Target debuted two new steel targets at the show: the E-50 Silhouette and the PT IDPA Practice Torso.

E-50 Silhouette

Bring out the big guns for this military-grade steel target capable of handling .338 Lapua and .50 BMG from as close as 100 yards.

The E-50 Silhouette is the first commercially available target from Action Target capable of handling .50 BMG and is the only steel target on the market made from 1/2” AR550 armor steel. Designed according to U.S. Marine Corps steel target specifications with a 20-degree angled shooting surface and standard military E-type silhouette proportions, this target is made for everything from heavy military firearms training to long-range rifle shooting. With a patent pending stand design that keeps the target grounded even with the biggest of ammunition, you don’t need to worry about using sand bags to keep it upright or going downrange to reset it.

[NEW] E-50 Silhouette

PT IDPA Practice Torso (coming soon!)

Hone your competition skills with the official IDPA steel practice target.

The PT IDPA Practice Torso is the official steel practice target of the Independent Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and one of the most effective training tools for competitive shooting. It features a regulation torso shape including the -1 and -0 scoring zones with reactive swinging plates for the -0 head square and center mass circle which are both reduced 2” to encourage more accurate shooting. The reactive plates are gravity reset which means you can spend more time shooting and less time walking downrange. The PT IDPA Practice Torso also helps reinforce good shooting habits. For every shot that is on target, you get instant feedback from seeing the target react and from hearing the distinctive “clang” as the bullet makes impact. This allows your brain to make a connection between the exact muscle movements you made and the reward of positive feedback.

[NEW] PT IDPA Practice Torso

Wednesday Night Client Event

On Wednesday night of the show, we hosted a client event at the Las Vegas National Golf Course with excellent appetizers, open bar, driving range contest, and some celebrity friends. More than 350 people attended including Rich Wyatt of Gunsmoke and Ted Nugent making for a great night with our clients and friends.

Thank you to everyone who visited us at SHOT Show! If you weren’t able to make it this year, we hope to see you next time.