This past weekend I had planned on attending a 2 Day Practical Rifle course at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, but ran into an unexpected challenge. As I wrote about earlier, I recently purchased an AK-47. I was planning on taking this course to learn how to handle, sight in, and shoot it properly. The rifle course uses steel along with paper targets, and Front Sight requires that only non-steel core ammo be used. Steel core ammo can damage the steel targets. I didn't think finding non-steel core 762x39 ammo, at a reasonable price, would be a problem. I was wrong.
My first mistake was waiting too long to look for the ammo I needed. Although a good friend could lend me the 200 rounds I needed, they were all steel core. It was now a day before my course. I checked Walmart and they had no 762x39 ammo. I tried calling three other Gun Stores, I got answering machines at each. I was running out of time as I needed to go the work shortly. I finally found two stores that had the ammo I needed, however they were farther away and I had little time before I needed to leave for my swing shift job.
The prices I found were $15.95 and $12.95 for 20. That would be $159.50 or $129.50 for the 200 rounds I needed. That is much more then I would have cared to spend, plus I'm sure I could pick this ammo up much cheaper at a gun show.
I called the Pro Shop at the range to ask about ammo for my course. They had none available. I explained my situation and was told they were strict on only allowing the recommended (factory new, non-steel core) ammo in the course.
Front Sight places a high priority on safety, and teaches many techniques through instruction, demonstration, practice, and, repetition. I am a little surprised they could not teach their students to manage the difference between ammo for paper targets and ammo for steel.
So, I skipped the course and stayed home and worked on projects. I enjoyed my extended weekend.
