Most recently Shooter Reviews had the opportunity to go to Oregon Precision Firearms Training LLC in Bend, Oregon. OPFT is co-owned by Dell Hackett and Mike Herbes. This school has two world-class instructors. Before I get into this article I want to introduce these two men to give readers a background on Dell and Mike.
Mike is a lifelong shooter, hunter, and avid reloader. Mike has taught pistol, carbine, precision rifle, and sniper tactics to numerous allied countries, elite military, and law enforcement agencies. He is currently employed by The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Regional Training Unit. Mike is the primary instructor and develops curriculum for the regional law enforcement firearms training and tactical training section. Mike previously worked for The Oregon Department of Corrections where he was the lead firearms instructor and served on the Tactical Emergency Response Team as entry team leader and co-team leader. He helped develop, implement, and instruct the three week basic Tactical Emergency Response Team Course. He has over 24 years in the military with the majority of his time spent in the United States Army Special Forces. During his time in the military, he has served as a weapons and tactics instructor, team sergeant, and currently holds the rank of sergeant major. His experiences teaching and training around the world, as well as serving combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, bring a no nonsense realistic approach to the development and implementation of firearms and tactics training. Mike is certified as a firearms instructor by The National Rifle Association, Heckler and Koch, Oregon 4H Shooting Sports, and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. He is a Patron Member of the National Rifle Association, Life Member of The Veterans of Foreign Wars and The Special Operations Association. Mike is also a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
After over 28 years of service, Dell retired as a Lieutenant with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in Eugene, Oregon. During his career he served as a patrol deputy sheriff, detective, and patrol sergeant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1991 and served in that capacity until his retirement. Within two separate SWAT assignments, Dell logged over nine years experience as a SWAT team member. His various SWAT duties include team operator, element team leader and SWAT commander. He has participated in numerous law enforcement special weapons missions including high risk warrant services, armed barricade situations, and high profile dignitary protection details. As the Special Operations Lieutenant, Dell led the department’s aviation (helicopter) unit and SWAT Team. He was assigned as the working liaison to the military counter drug operations team and participated in counter drug missions and training with the U.S. Army. He is currently a senior firearms instructor and range master for The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). He assists and acts as a lead instructor in the firearms training of recruit law enforcement officers and law enforcement firearms instructors. Dell is a life time member of the NRA and a certified NRA Law Enforcement firearms instructor in the disciplines of pistol, shotgun, and precision rifle. Dell is a member of the Oregon Governors Top 20 Law Enforcement Pistol Shooters and holds an NRA law enforcement pistol classification of Distinguished Expert. He is also a member of The International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and a past member of the National Tactical Officers Association. Dell is an active hunter and precision rifleman and is admittedly addicted to reloading. He also enjoys competing in local and regional IPSC pistol matches.
These two guys are teaching and instructing classes like: Basic combat pistol, Low Light Combat Pistol, Basic carbine, 1,000 Yard Precision Rifle, the list goes on and on. While I was there for a Saturday and Sunday I attended their Combat pistol and 1,000 Yard Precision Rifle Clinic.
Saturday morning started at 7:30 for instruction at the COSSA Range. It was a very tropical temperature of 20 degrees. If you are unfamiliar with the Bend area of Oregon, you never go to Bend in the Fall without preparing for all types of weather. Well prepared I was layered like an Eskimo. The morning started with a well-conducted safety briefing, and then we headed straight to the range. By 9:00 Mike and Dell had us running basic shooting drills. I like how they used some very basic fundamental shooting drills to get an idea as to where the students’ skill levels were.
Mike Herbes watching one of his students
Tactical reloads were then introduced. As soon as the class had been instructed how to do Tactical reloads, they became a constant drill throughout the day. Many drills required one-two magazine changes without instruction. It was expected. I thought this was a very smart way to build the shooter’s speed and confidence. One thing I noticed from the get-go was how Mike dialed in novice pistols shooters. This course had a plethora of different skill levels from the beginner shooter with zero training to competitive shooters. Mike is very detailed oriented, and I don’t think there was a student there that didn’t take something from this class. I will also add here that this course will better you, no matter how good you are. As the day progressed shooting and moving became a key focus with the emphasis of utilizing cover. Coming from a combat background myself. This definitely struck home with me. In my time in the Marine Corps, I did not get extensive pistol training, and the training I did receive did not focus on the essentials of life skills, i.e. using cover, moving, and keeping both of my eyes open. Mike and Dell teach in this course to shoot with both of your eyes open. Hmmm. Many folks have never even heard of this but physiologically it makes way more sense in a combat situation. Remember this class was COMBAT PISTOL. Lastly, Dell instructed a survival portion called “Ground Fighting”. What an excellent class!! I told Dell and Mike that I would not give every detail of their classes that way their school would remain unique. I will say that after the Ground Fighting portion you feel confident and prepared to survive.
one student conducting a tactical reload while another student continues firing
If you are a novice or a professional shooter there is something at OPFT for you. I would say if you want to feel confident as a concealed carrier and/or want to feel confident in protecting your home and family this class is a must! I shoot frequently, but there were countless things I learned that have made me a better and more confident shooter. On March 25th they have another COMBAT PISTOL course, and I will be there.
Sunday was another bright and early morning driving from my hotel to the range in the snow preparing for the 1,000 Yard Precision Rifle Clinic. We started in the COSSA Range shack where Mike went over another safety briefing and gave us pamphlets with all kinds of shooting information. For the sake of their business I will not give all the details, but I will include that I now have all that information they gave me in my personal data/range book that is extremely helpful. After some coffee we all headed to the 1,000 yard range! Shortly we were checking our zero’s at the 100 yard line. It was fun to see all the different rifles. There was a custom built .243 (that held a 3 ½ inch group at 700 yards), and .308s to 300 Win Mags. Again, a diverse group of shooter at the range. Mike was fixing shooters and looking to give pointers to individuals. Again, Sunday was filled with beginner rifle shooters to competitive rifle shooters. One thing I guarantee you will notice about Mike and Dell is that they will not make a novice shooter feel intimidated. I saw them work with a couple of guys, and they helped them with breathing, trigger control, and gave other pointers. While Mike continued to work with the students, Dell took other students who desired to have their weapons chornographed. After chronographing Dell gave students a ballistic chart for their personal firearm and load.
students spotting for another shooter
Just like Saturdays pistol course, the shooters’ skills got tested by making the distances longer. I think all students would agree that throughout both days both firearms instructors were very helpful. If you have never shot at 1000 yards and want to… Sign up for this class. If you are a proficient rifle shooter
this class will be extremely fun. Near the end of the day, Shooters get the opportunity to hit steel at 1000 yards. Unfortunately I am a college student and had to leave a little early and was not able to do that portion of the class, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be back to do it. I truly love long distance shooting. On top of the opportunity to shoot at 1000 yards, upon hitting the target you become part of the “Club” and receive the badge below.
If you would like to learn more about classes offered go to http://opfirearms.com/ or call Tom Allen at 541-420-0856
Mike and Dell,
Thank you for the opportunity to join your classes. I will be back to attend more of the schools you guys put on.
Readers: If you live on the West Coast and want to attend a shooting school look these guys up! Mike and Dell are the epitome of professionals.
If you have attended their schools and would like to give a brief testimony of your experience email me at gsjones@shootereviews.com and I will post your thoughts!
———TESTIMONIES———
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Mike Herbes and Dell Hackett of Oregon Precision Firearms Training LLC for the two day classes I attended. When I signed up for the two day course, I wasn’t sure what to think. Being “green” with no prior formal training, there were several times I thought about not going. I am so glad I went anyway because the training was outstanding. Both Mike and Dell were extremely helpful and took the time to assist if anyone had any problems or questions.I can honestly say that at the end of the Basic Combat Pistol 1 class (first day), my confidence with my Glock was much higher than when I started. I did things with my Glock that day that I never thought were possible. The second day was the Long Range Precision Rifle II class. Even though I didn’t attend the first course, Mike still took the time to help me set up my rifle and show me the basics so I could be up to speed. Even though I was having trouble hitting the 1,000 yard target with my 243 Win, Mike walked me right onto the target while I used my friend’s 300 Win mag. I made the shot twice. That was the first time in my life shooting that far successfully. It was so awesome. I am definitely going back for more because I am hooked. The classes were packed with information and professionally taught in a way that was both educational and fun.”
Erik King
“I, like a lot of Americans, have been shooting since I was about 12 years old, but have never had any formal training. I have looked into classes from other shooting schools, but have never taken any. When I found out about the classes offered by Oregon Precision Firearms Training, LLC, I was immediately interested in the long range rifle course, so I signed up for that and the Combat Handgun 2 Course.I went into it with an open mind even though it seemed a little too advanced for me. What I found were instructors who knew what they were doing and how to teach it. It might sound overwhelming to a new shooter, but they start with the basics and build from there. By the end of the day (handgun course), you are doing some very advanced shooting on the move and ground fighting. In those 350 rounds, I was so far ahead of where I was after almost 20 years and thousands of rounds. The precision rifle class was also very informative. Although we had to leave early that day, Mike helped us set up our rifles correctly and I was able to watch my friend hit the 1,000 yard target (he had not shot past 300 yards in his life).”
“I would recommend Oregon Precision Firearms Training, LLC to shooters who are new or advanced. Everyone who likes to shoot guns will get something out of their classes and leave with more confidence. I would like to thank Mike and Dell. I plan to take more classes from them in the future and hope to see some new faces there.”
Dylan Shockey
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