You've Got An AR-15, Now How Do You Train With it?

AR-15 training goals and audience

The hosts introduce a training session built around the AR-15, noting that the concepts apply to other rifles as well. They explain that viewers asked for more training content after a concealed carry and CCW-focused video. The goal is to provide practical drills that work for shooters with different experience levels, from brand-new AR-15 owners to law enforcement users who want more than basic qualification. They also acknowledge that not everyone has access to outdoor ranges or facilities that allow rifle manipulations or rifle-to-pistol transitions, so the focus stays on rifle-only work that can be adapted to various range rules.

Budget Radical Firearms RF15 setup and optics height

One rifle used in the video is a budget Radical Firearms RF15, described as a street-price AR-15 under about $400 for the rifle and under $750 for the complete setup. The point is to show that effective training does not require high-end rifles or expensive accessories. The rifle is equipped with a North Tac Ronin red dot optic mounted on a Unity riser, a Streamlight weapon light, a Unity foregrip, and a Magpul MS1 sling. The hosts emphasize that this straightforward configuration is sufficient for the drills they demonstrate and that the optic sits noticeably higher than the bore, which becomes important for close-range accuracy.

Understanding height over bore at close distances

The discussion shifts to height over bore and how optic placement affects point of impact. The hosts show that the optic’s line of sight sits roughly two and a half inches above the bore when the muzzle is placed against the target. The red dot is zeroed at about 50 yards, so at that distance the point of aim and point of impact coincide and remain close out to around 200 yards. At close defensive distances, such as 7 to 10 yards, shots will land several inches lower than the dot unless the shooter compensates. They stress that shooters are responsible for every round fired, so understanding and accounting for this offset is essential, especially in close quarters or CQB-style scenarios.

Ready-up drills and A-zone calibration

To illustrate height over bore and build a baseline, the hosts mark A-zone and head “credit card box” areas on an IPSC-style target. They run ready-up drills from low or high ready, depending on what a range allows. A common standard is two rounds into the A-zone from about five yards in under 1.5 seconds, followed by two rounds into the head box with similar time pressure. The goal is to get hits on paper, confirm the offset, and establish personal performance times rather than chase speed alone. As they review the target, they note vertical shot strings caused by recoil anticipation and the timer, and they explain how the dot must be held higher than the desired impact point at close range to keep hits centered.

Stance, grip, and controlling recoil

The video then covers basic rifle stance and grip. The shooter is right-handed, so the left foot is forward and slightly bent, with the right foot back and more straight, similar to a fighting stance. The rifle butt is placed high in the shoulder pocket, and the support hand pulls the rifle firmly into the shoulder to stabilize it. This position helps manage recoil and maintain accuracy during rapid strings. The shooter runs several repetitions of the A-zone and head-box drills from low ready, focusing on consistent mount, sight picture, and trigger press. When they check the target, they identify which hits belong to each string and again relate the placement to where the dot was held relative to the desired impact area.

Mozambique drill and maintaining cadence

Next, they introduce a Mozambique-style drill, described as two shots to the chest followed by one to the head. A key training point is maintaining an even cadence so that an observer listening to the shots could not easily tell when the transition to the head occurs. The desired rhythm is a steady series of shots rather than a long pause before the head shot. They aim to complete the three-round sequence consistently under about two seconds, or under roughly 1.5 seconds in some runs, while still respecting the height over bore offset. After each string, they walk to the target, evaluate chest and head hits, and discuss how small adjustments in dot placement could tighten the groups within the A-zone and head box.

Applying height over bore to head shots

The final sequences focus on refining the Mozambique drill and applying height over bore to precise head shots. One shooter runs the drill with a suppressor, and they note that the reduced sound can make it harder for the shot timer to register hits. They continue with two-to-the-chest, one-to-the-head strings, watching the timer and then inspecting the target. The hits show that holding the dot slightly higher is necessary to keep rounds in the small head box at close range, especially with the optic on a Unity riser. They count and locate impacts, acknowledge a possible round that may have gone just over the target, and conclude that all accountable hits remain in acceptable scoring zones while still leaving room for further refinement.