Tag: Training

By Ryan Penny

Are you looking for an effective yet economical training grenade solution?  The Versatile Training Grenade or V.T.G. manufactured by S.W.A.T Training Devices Limited out of the United Kingdom might be what you are looking for.  I have had the V.T.G. grenade version 1 for about three years now and so far it is holding up very well minus a few minor scrapes and dings from use.  It weighs in at about 10.38oz which is pretty close to an M67 in weight at 14oz, so it has a decent enough mass for a simulation grenade.

Construction is made out of aluminum which is encased in a polymer casing that is sold in different colors to meet your needs.  I opted for the blue color since it is usually the color used to denote training devices and it also helps make the device easier to spot if thrown into an area with overgrown vegetation as compared to the darker colors.  The spoon and retention pin are made of a durable steel which appears to be holding up very well under normal use, with no bends or other deformations.

The beauty of the VTG grenade is its reliability. The thing is just a work horse. I have struggled and witnessed countless others struggle with other grenade options where they fail to detonate consistently. With the V.T.G. I never worry about a failed detonation. It goes off every time all the time.

To reload the grenade all you do is unscrew the cap. Remove the spent blank casing, the casing may or may not free fall out and in the case it doesn’t fall free on its own you can use your reloading tool that comes with the grenade to push the casing out.  After the spent casing is removed, simply add a new blank casing to the cap.

Next you will need to reset the firing pin mechanism in the grenade.  To do this you hold the grenade in one hand and with the loading tool in the other you place the tool on the firing pin and firmly press the tool down until the firing pin is fully seated down.  With the pin fully seated you then hold down the spoon and remove the loading tool.  Keep the spoon depressed and insert the locking pin to hold the spoon in place.  Finally screw on the cap with a new blank and you are good to go. Again, what sets this system apart from other units for me is the reliability, it just works.

The unit comes with adapters for 0.209 shot gun primer, .380 short blank and 12-gauge short cartridge which produce about 68 decibels, 120 decibels and untested decibels respectively.  This system is nice because it allows you to easily adapt the unit to meet your needs.  The manufacturer also makes a 9mm pax adapter that can be purchased separately for those who wish to use the slight larger 9mm blank as compared to the .380 short. Seen below is the 0.209 blank adapter which fits into the main cap.

Some people have expressed great concern that the grenade expels a flame and could cause a fire.  It is true the device produces a flame and there is always a potential for a fire, so deploy accordingly.   Although even with a flame, the cap is cool to the touch immediately after use.  The flame is very brief and doesn’t place enough heat long enough to heat up the metal parts of the grenade to become a secondary source for ignition, especially as compared to other systems that are an explosive firework. Those firework systems appear to have the potential to create fires more easily as they generate a lot of intensive heat over a much larger area. As the end user it is up to you to ensure you use the right tool for the job. If the fire risk is high, you might look at alternative systems that do not generate a flame at all.

After many uses I have noted a few potential issues depending on conditions. I have found that if the grenade hits the ground too hard, the jolt can result in the grenade going off on impact instead of counting down for the full 3 second delay.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on what you are using it for.  If it is for training purposes, that could be looked as a negative because the delay could be negated.  If it is for airsoft use, then that might be a positive since the quick detonation could prevent people from running to cover, it just depends on the user and their preferences.

One other aspect to be aware of is that I have witnessed two occasions where other people have had issues when the threaded cap had become stuck after use which required a vice or a pair of channel locks to assist in removing the cap.  I have personally only had it happen to myself once and from what I can tell it was my fault. Be sure to avoid cross-threading the cap by first turning it counter clockwise until you feel the threads seat, and then clockwise to close it up.

I believe that when I prepared the device, I didn’t thread the cap all the way down to be fully seated. I had noticed the cap was not fully threaded in by about two threads. This may have allowed debris to get in between the threads resulting in the cap to become too tight for me to remove by hand after use. I had to use a vice at home and some WD-40 to assist me in removing the cap.  But once I removed it, it still threads on like new and I have not had any further issues to date.  Up to that point I have never done any maintenance to the unit, so I recommend to clean the threads every once in a while to keep them clean and free of debris.

Finally let’s look at a cost analysis of different type of grenade systems and their operating costs over a number of uses.  Below is a quick reference chart which shows the base cost to operate, no shipping costs were included.

Operating Costs (assumes no shipping)
Grenade Type	Startup Cost	Startup Cost plus 25 shots	Startup Cost plus 50 shots	Startup Cost plus 100 shots	Startup Cost plus 200 shots
Pea Grenade ver2	$5	$125	$250	$500	$1,000
Pea Grenade ver3	$11.48	$287	$574	$1,148	$2,296
Thunder B	$41	$64	$108	$195	$391
VTG with .209 primer adapter	$94.60	$96	$98	$101	$107
VTG with 9mm pax adapter	$113.52	$123	$133	$152	$191
VTG with 12-gauge short cartridge	$94.60	$120	$143	$191	$287

If you look at the chart you can see although the initial cost for the Pea-grenades are cheaper at the beginning, the cost dramatically increases the more you utilize them since they are a onetime use item.  The Thunder B is in middle of the pack for startup costs and even though the price increases with more use, the overall rate of increase is manageable.  Then if you look at the V.T.G. you can clearly see it has the highest initial startup cost by far but if you look at the long term operating cost and the three options that it can provide, you can see where the Versatile Training Grenade really shines.

The 0.209 adapter is easily the cheapest route as long as the 68 decibels it produces meets your needs.  If you want something a bit louder and comparable to the Thunder B, the 9mm and 9mm adapter is not a bad alternative for continuing operating cost, especially if you couple the grenades reliability into the equation. Then if 120 decibels are not enough for you, you have the 12- gauge short cartridge option.  The 12-gauge option is still comparatively less expensive in the long run compared to the alternatives.

But what should you do with all this information?  Well, that is entirely up to you and your needs.  If you are looking for a true explosive training grenade, one of the Pea-grenade versions is the best option for you.  If you are looking for a middle of the row in terms of a cost solution and a device that has no pyrotechnics and no fire danger, then the Thunder B is a good solution.  If you are looking for a reusable and adaptable training device with a low operating cost in the long run, S.W.A.T Training Devices’ Versatile Training Grenade could be a great option to consider.  In any case, identify and prioritize your training needs and see which training grenade solution is the best fit for you.

For more information on the Versatile Training Grenade visit http://www.blankfiringgrenade.com/.

Below are is the pricing I used to make these basic pricing assumptions.

Pea Grenade ver. 2- $5 http://www.tlsfx.co.uk

Pea Grenade ver. 3- $11.48 http://www.tlsfx.co.uk

Thunder B

Core plus 12 shells $35 =2.91 http://www.evike.com

12 Shells $15 = 1.25 source http://www.evike.com

CO2 40 shells for $20 = .5  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crosman-12-Gram-CO2

V.T.G.

V.T.G. = 94.60 http://blankfiringgrenade.co.uk

9mm pax adapter = $18.92 http://blankfiringgrenade.co.uk

9mm pax 50 count = 19.43 https://www.cheaperthandirt.com

.209 shotgun primers 100 count = 6.19 http://www.basspro.com

12-gauge shotgun short cartridge http://www.perfectshotllc.com

By Larry Zabel Sgt. US Army Infantry (Ret)

This is my first article to MilSim Magazine and I just wanted to use this article to of introduce myself and who I am as a martial arts instructor/self defense teacher and where I’m at on my own martial arts journey. I took a moment to reflect on the long history of martial arts study I’ve taken (now 36 years +) and stopped to consider all the techniques taught to me by my teachers, taught to them and so on. What struck me is the universal notion that it all works.

In academic terms, yes it all works. In practical terms not so much, some things that might work for one person, may not work for someone else. Not everyone has the skill, coordination, body type, flexibility, dedication, ability or even interest in learning an entire curriculum. Even if a student spends years studying and learning an entire schools curriculum there are a certain set of techniques, concepts and principals that student and teacher will gravitate towards because of that person’s physical body makeup and natural tendencies. In other words Bruce Lee has been famously quoted, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own”. To that adage I add, “Know when to break the rules altogether!” That last part I added on my own and it has been my martial mantra for more than two decades.

I remember doing countless drills of kicks and punches in the air and for what? Muscle memory? Wrote learning? Historical preservation? Moving meditation? Perhaps. When I joined the Army and was an infantryman my martial arts philosophy permanently changed. Now, as a teacher I look at things differently. Curriculum, class structure, live action scenario training, interactive drills, coordination exercises, If they aren’t effective I don’t do it and I won’t teach it. Even terminology. I used to be pretty good at spiting out the names of techniques in a foreign language and the students looking at me funny. Not anymore, unless it’s is quick concept not easily explained in English.

Let’s take kicking for example. We can all agree that the artistry required to be effective at kicking is demanding, precise, powerful and lethal in the right circumstance and application. It takes years to develop the strength stamina and precision to be an effective kicking machine, so to speak. So, what about the ordinary person who works a 40 hour job, has a family and doesn’t dedicate his every waking breath to the study and preservation of martial knowledge?

Here is where we get to the nitty gritty of my premise “Know when to break the rules altogether” is applied. In America today we are flooded with images of exceptional martial athletes doing death defying stunts or competing in the MMA Arena. Neither is going to work for the average man or woman out there interested in self defense. I no longer teach every kicking technique because in practical terms there are only 3 that actually get the job done with minimal time invested, skill development and limited flexibility the average student can pull off if ever needed. Front kick, Cross Checking Kick, and Low to Mid Level Round Kicks. I do still teach crescent kicks, side kicks, hook kicks, spinning kicks and they’re variants but they require time and technique development outside of safe usage for a beginner. I personally no longer actively practice the “fancy” kicks because in a self defense scenario it just wouldn’t be practical. Is there a legitimate place for these techniques and preservation? Absolutely!

Back to my ongoing point. Once you analyze the motions you realize they are not overly complicated, require no extra special balancing, or even above average flexibility. However, each one can deliver powerful debilitating blows in a defensive posture or finishing techniques in an attacking mode. The point I’m making is that we as “Instructors” have to put ourselves into our students lives momentarily and understand the daily stresses they’re dealing with and deliver fast effective solutions to potential problems everyday life may throw at them. If you have a student whose main goal is to defend themselves and leave after six months (if that) then adjusting your teaching method to help that student could be a winning strategy.

There is also a different breed of student that this practical training philosophy I have applies. The “Tactical Professional” can ill-afford years of dedicated training nowadays with the amount of time away on deployment or in the streets on patrol. They need our deepest knowledge, best concepts, and training applications in a short amount of time. They need all of this in order to be well rounded, mission ready, and qualified for the battle on patrol, active watch, downrange or in the field.

These professionals have to understand what works quickly and effectively with minimal time invested. With limited time for skill development and minimal flexibility because of the time constraints, we need to prepare our students for mission readiness schedules, environmental variables, protective gear, movement in close quarters, mission essentials, and weapons carried. The curriculum must be simple, effective and lethal to the enemy. It should also be demoralizing to the suspect and debilitating for those captured for questioning or intelligence gathering. All must hasten the stop of the fight and mitigate injury to the professional user.

My point about kicking earlier in this article takes on a different premise here. In tactical situations with full kit, weapons, and restrictive/hostile environments being strong influencing variables, heavy adrenaline flow will be produced and the premise for kicking effectively will be limited to simple, effective, and fast (gross motor movement). The way the body moves in a combat situation with heavy gear is different than how the body moves unencumbered out on the streets. The overall premise still applies, but the reasons for it are different and the way it is trained changes as well. Understanding operational conditions impacts the training environment, what is trained, why and how training is conceived and implemented. Understanding and being able to deliver effectively takes on new purpose with lives at stake, so the responsibility as an instructor takes on new levels of meaning, purpose, and accountability.

There are always going to be the dedicated students that you throw all your knowledge, heart and soul into. For the students that don’t have that time, dedication, and drive, this might be a prudent way to teach those folks who need it quick and dirty without sacrificing knowledge, skill,  your integrity or their personal safety. For the tactical professional among your student base this training philosophy is especially critical for them because they are putting their life on the line with the knowledge you posses and disseminate.

These areas of tactical applications, principals, and concepts are what I will be focusing on here at MilSim Magazine. I hope you enjoy and learn from it. I know I will.

Train Right. Train Smart.