I was fortunate to attend a unique event recently, the LMT Owner’s Experience. LMT Defense hosts an event that allows LMT enthusiasts to train like the Defense users that employ their weapon systems. This was a two-day event at the Tier 1 Training group outside of Memphis. This facility has over a 700-acre footprint which translates to many specialized training facilities with some amazing training opportunities. While this isn’t specifically a training event, participants still get to walk away with knowledge from one another and the LMT Defense Staff.
The day started and ended in barracks-style lodging on the facilities campus. Chow was served at 07:00 AM, and we joined current military units training as we all got our first meal in for the day. It was a very cool experience knowing that while we were enjoying this weekend’s getaway of shooting, service members were training for their mission sets on the same ranges we were on. It added a “realness” to some of the drills and training exercises we got to experience.
Day 1
Flat Range
Our first block of shooting was on a series of standard flat-range bays with many steel targets and barriers. Some participants had to zero their weapon systems, so we had free time to warm up and check out one another’s gear. I really enjoyed this portion because you got to be hands-on with many different LMT products and optics that people chose for their setups. Shooting my direct impingement SPECWAR next to a piston SPECWAR was eye-opening in reducing recoil. Although my gun has less felt recoil than many, the piston system reduced it even further.
After racing on plate racks and beating the timer, we moved to more structured drills hosted by Zack Sisco, the International Sales Manager for LMT. We paired off and formed a firing line. We went through some “up-drills” where we started at low or high ready. On Zack’s command, we brought the guns up, found our sights, and broke the shot. We then moved to some reload drills that utilized LMT Ambidxrious bolt release.
Once everyone was warmed up and ready for more dynamic training, LMT added some movement into the mix. We first worked on moving laterally across the range while engaging targets that were called out randomly by one of the instructors. This tests your reflexes and cognitive ability to identify the correct target and then engage promptly.
The flat range block concluded with a partner communication exercise. We were positioned with our partners on a 100-yard bay with barricades scattered every 20-25 yards in two rows. While communicating with your partner, one person would lay down suppressive fire, and the other partner would advance to the next position. This is repeated until you hit the 25-yard mark, and both partners engage the targets simultaneously. There are few places where you get to try this type of training. Everyone was pumped by the end of this block.
MOUT Training
MOUT stands for Modern Operations in Urban Terrain. There was a mock city on the complex where we got to use our personal LMT rifles with chalk rounds and practice clearing buildings individually and as a team. This was some of the most fun because the structures were very complex, with connecting rooms, long hallways, and a control room to operate the lights, sound system, and a series of distractions when moving through the building. This really put the flat range work to the test because by this point, our stress levels were heightened, and we had to identify the threats and the hostages while communicating as a team with people we met the night prior.
Nightvision Flat Range
After some chow, the sun started to set, and we headed back out to the range. It was time to shoot in the dark and utilize night vision. Some people brought their night vision, but a lot of people did not have their own. TNVC & Opscore were sponsors of the event and provided some rental units that participants could borrow for this portion. For some, this was the first time they ever used night vision. I love it when companies provide these types of opportunities for people. Night vision and suppressors go hand in hand; you only realize how well they work once you have them in your hands.
We spent most of the time on a firing line engaging different steel targets. There were a couple of VTAC barriers that we started to utilize mid-way through the night. It was great to get hands-on with a handful of full-power lasers and see how different-size rifles perform under NODs. I have had my own set of NODs for four years, so I was very excited to see how TNVC’s lineup compared. Night vision can be anywhere from three to five thousand for a monocular and seven to sixteen thousand for a set of binos. This means that testing night vision out becomes few and far between. I really appreciated the opportunity to try out the different night vision and also shoot with them!
Day 2
Unknown Distance Range
We kicked off day two at the Unknown Distance Tange at T1G. This range had targets all the way out to 1,000 yards at undisclosed distances. Having an environment that allows you to estimate ranges and then confirm with a rifle was very gratifying. I shot my 12.5″ 5.56 LMT out to 750 yards with accountable hits. Some of the larger caliber LMT MRGG 6.5 Creedmoor easily made 950 and 1,000-yard shots. The guns did most of the work for you!
For fun, I even took out a couple of the pistols I had brought, and I got confirmed hits at 200 yards. The freedom for us to explore on different platforms was a great experience and something you rarely get to do on a 1,000-yard range. This quickly built up our appetite for lunch, so we headed to the chow hall to refuel for the next adventure.
Machine Guns & 40MMs
We returned to the same range with a fresh arsenal. Being that LMT produces machine guns, it was only fitting that we got to shoot some full autos. LMT is also known for manufacturing 40MM grenade launchers. They brought a few cases of chalk rounds for us to launch. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Most people will never have the opportunity to shoot 40MM grenades, let alone go through cases of them with newly made friends. We all tried taking some pop shots with a standalone 40MM launcher at the 200-yard silhouette. When the chalk rounds hit the target or the ground, it explodes with orange Cheeto dust that leaves a lasting mark. And, of course, machine guns are always fun. I will never not shoot a machine gun. LMT had a variety of calibers ranging from 5.56 to 6.5 Creedmoor. Why do you need a 6.5 Creedmoor machine gun? Because this is America, and we can! We enjoyed spending a couple of hours shooting LMT’s ammo and recreating our favorite action movie scenes.
Vehicle Training
The final course of fire for the weekend was vehicle combatants. Tier 1 Group has an entire driving course with rifle-rated berms that allowed us to shoot from a moving vehicle. Again, LMT is bringing the average shooter the opportunities they cannot find commonly at local ranges or training. A small loop was created with a few steel targets and some paper targets we got to shoot at as we drove by. After a few reps of this, we got to experience “ambush” training where we had to shoot our way out of the situation, and it ended with an aggressive J-turn style 180°.
Overview
This two-day event felt like it was a week long, with each day packed to the brim with activities. Thank you to Joe Hajny and the other LMT staff who helped make this happen. If you are an LMT enjoyer, keep an eye out for this event so you can experience similar training and opportunities. The pistol ammunition used for the 200-yard shots was from GunMag Warehouse. Pick some up for yourself! To see some of this event’s videos, stop by my YouTube channel: Hunter Constantine.
