Patrick McCarthy

Our @brvo_tactical Long Range Precision class this weekend was sold-out, with students coming from as far away as Illinois to attend. Despite gusty winds, we were ringing steel at 800+ yards by Sunday afternoon 🇺🇸 Special thanks to our SWAT sniper instructors @mikewallaceaz and @shotawaytactical for sharing techniques based on decades of real-world experience.

I recently hit 50k miles in the 4Runner, so I guess I’m halfway through the break-in period. Here’s to the next 250k.

Precision long gun training with the boys at #sierra1site #swat #az #training Photos by @pmccarthy10 and @graeline

As someone who has spent most of his life shooting and carrying Glocks, switching over to a 2011 (or double-stack 9mm 1911) felt a little imposing to me at first — and I know I’m not the only one. At what point in the drawstroke should I deactivate the safety? How should I manipulate the slide stop lever efficiently during reloads? How often do I need to clean and lubricate it? And which modifications are actually worthwhile? These are all questions I ran into along the way. This weekend, I took the @practical_performance_org 1911/2011 Driver course for the first time. Not only did instructor AJ Zito answer all my questions, he addressed nuances of the platform I hadn’t even considered. The two-day course included a mix of shooting fundamentals and gunsmithing/maintenance topics. I walked away with a better understanding of how to run my @staccato2011 more effectively.

Train smarter. Train harder. Train with professionals. Our training programs are led by Special Forces and SWAT instructors and hosted at a private, high-elevation facility designed for serious performance development. Located outside Heber, AZ, Sierra 1 Site offers over 100 acres of varied terrain and cooler summer conditions, so training doesn’t stop when temperatures rise. We offer immersive instruction in: • Precision and long-range shooting (1,000m+) • Dynamic run-and-gun environments • Small-unit tactics and team movement • Fieldcraft, concealment, and terrain mastery • High-angle and positional engagements • Low-light capability development • CQB operations (expanded two-story structure arriving Spring 2026) Every courses are built with intent, realism, and adaptability. Explore upcoming courses on our website or DM us for details.

Low-light/no-light drills with @charlie_whiskey89 🌙

Cross wind calls at #sierra1site

Shotguns always make for some dramatic photos 💨 This shot was taken of a student training with @symtac_consulting at the @vangcomp Thunderstick Summit a few years ago.

Developed by SWAT and US Army Special Operations personnel, BRVO Tactical brings highly specialized training programs to military and law enforcement. Located near Heber, AZ, our state-of-the-art SWAT training facility, #sierra1site is built to support the evolving operational needs of law enforcement and special units. Spanning over 100 acres with strategically developed terrain and our newly built 360 degree live-fire CQB range, 200 yard flat range, small unit tactical training area, and high angle precision lanes offer a dynamic environment for advanced marksmanship and real world training scenarios. Our private facility offers secluded and secure training for operators and private security teams. Courses are developed and instructed by SWAT and military SOF personnel to support advanced law enforcement team training. Visit our website today for upcoming courses for both law enforcement and civilian. For additional inquires or group training events, send us a DM or visit our website.

📣 Introducing: @matchgrade.media 📣 Those of you who know me know I’m not one to seek the spotlight, and as a result, I haven’t always been the best about marketing my own work. I enjoy sharing my photography with people solely to see them appreciate it, rather than attempting to become an “influencer” or monetize every shot I take. That approach is what led me to photography in the first place — back in college, I co-founded a small car club and did photoshoots for friends. I didn’t make a dime off any of those shoots, but they helped me teach myself the fundamentals of composition, lighting, camera setup, photo editing, and how to work with clients. Match Grade Media isn’t a departure from that, it’s an extension of it. I just figured I should finally have a standalone brand so people don’t have to refer to me as “that guy Patrick with the camera” 😂 If you’re so inclined, follow the new @matchgrade.media account and check out the website (link in bio). I’ll be posting some of the hundreds of thousands of photos I’ve accumulated over the last 14+ years of doing this professionally.

Long-exposure photos really show the @southwestprecision ports on my @staccato2011 C doing their job 🔥🔥🔥 📸: @graeline

Life goals: find yourself someone who looks at you like @moregoodercompshooting looks at my MP5K 😂 The @radiata_inc lower is definitely a crowd-pleaser.