Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Simulated shooting an educational outing

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 7:35 a.m.

PAULA DEL GIUDICE has been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.

BECAUSE I like to shoot, I was looking forward to trying Las Vegas' newest shooting facility, Shooting Simulators of Nevada (SSN). From the brief background information I received when the facility opened in November, I knew that shooters could use actual firearms fitted with eye-safe lasers to practice shooting.

The police and military have used the FATS technology -- an acronym for firearms training systems that uses video and imaging equipment -- to simulate real-life situations and test skill levels.

When I arrived at the south Arville location, I immediately realized I was not in a laser-tag joint. I was met by Michael Pirtle, the SSN co-owner. A former Metro Honolulu police officer, Pirtle was about to become my "coach" for an hour -- about how long it takes to go through a smorgasbord of shooting situations.

In the early 1980s, I shot competitive trap in northern Nevada and northern California and have been coached by some very good shooters. It takes a rare combination of confidence, knowledge, compassion, kindness and a good sense of humor to become a coach someone can trust. Pirtle is all of that.

The facility has two rooms: the pistol room and the shotgun room. We visited the pistol room first. I waffled when I looked at the 9mm handguns attached by cables. I've fired a few handguns before, mostly revolvers, but never a 9mm. I explained that to Pirtle. He showed me how to load it and then talked me through a few of the scenarios.

First I shot a few pop-up targets and some that turned to the side. Each scenario was timed and after shooting a scenario, you are able to see where you hit the target. There are a few "shoot" or "no-shoot" targets. Pirtle didn't laugh when he asked me if I knew I'd shot the Medic.

I was beginning to relax and enjoy the pistol shooting. I especially liked the Smith & Wesson Model 5906. They also use two Glock 17s and a Sig Sauer 226.

It was when I began shooting the Olympic and International pistol courses that I really had fun. Maybe it was because I was shooting well. If so, I should have stayed with the pistol scenarios because my shotgun shooting was a little rusty.

I found that out upon entering the shotgun room where the 12-gauge 870s are found. I could hit the block of ice and the cabbage when they were stationary. But had they been flying that would have been a different matter.

I shot some of the clay bird targets and some of the basic hunter targets, including some no-shoot situations that I gauged accurately. It was a fun way to practice shooting in a controlled environment without the cost of ammunition, but the hunting scenarios have more benefits than that.

"It puts hunters in a real situation without exposing them to any risk," said Pirtle. "It's absolutely safe."

The shoot, no-shoot hunting situations expose hunters to making judgment calls on whether to shoot when there's another hunter nearby, a dog, at game that might not be legal, across roads or under other circumstances. This kind of training can be a particularly useful part of hunter education.

I liked the Ducks Unlimited disk the best. It almost felt as though I was sitting in a blind waiting for the geese to come in.

But the part of the adventure that I found most useful was back in the pistol room with the personal security scenarios. After loading the 9mm Smith & Wesson, I felt like I was part of the scene. In one, I was walking through my "home" that had been burglarized and finding the burglar inside. He was carrying a knife when he turned and started to come toward me. Shoot or no-shoot?

After making the decision, the scenario halts and you can see how others reacted. You can also see how many scored a lethal hit, a nonlethal hit or a miss. I was not surprised to see how many missed.

One scenario showed a man coming through the window quickly and aggressively. He pulled a gun and shot before I had a chance to react. Had it been real I would have been history. I asked to try it again. This time I shot. I hit the target in the crotch -- not exactly where I'd aimed. We both chuckled when the computer registered it as a nonlethal hit.

Pirtle recommends those using the shooting simulators go through a basic course including pistol and shotgun scenarios. The basic menu of about 46 scenarios gives shooters a good idea of what's available. An hour's time costs $35.

It's a welcome resource to shooters of all ages, sizes and interests throughout the valley. I can't wait to go back.