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SHOOTING CLASS It happens all too often at every pistol range. Individuals are concerned about the shooter in the next booth. It's natural (at least for testosterone driven males) to want everyone, even strangers, to think we can hit the center of the target with every shot. But how do you progress in a real world practice situation if you're not trying new tactics? You have to try new approaches, which means you'll miss the bulls eye sometimes. But with practice, the right kind of practice, you'll see progress. Fighting Stance: ( Psychological Preparation ) Target practice, and being in a gun fight are two distinctly different things. The upright "Weaver" stance is fine for the practice range, or is it ? What about the Isosceles position ? If you find yourself in a real altercation, you'll quickly find yourself crouching… the same as if you were facing someone in a fist fight, or wrestling match. It's just human nature. We instinctively bend our knees and crouch to reduce our size (think as a target), and it's also a natural stance where we are able to spring forward into battle to defend ourselves. So, why not practice shooting from a crouched position ? Sight Picture: ( Expectations - Capabilities ) The same thought process should be utilized when thinking about our sight picture. Learning to use the sights on our handgun is reasonable if you're shooting at paper, at long distances, or during a hunt. But, ask anyone who's been in the real deal of two smoking guns pointed at each other and they'll quickly tell you they (may) remember their front sight only. Most, if they're honest about it, will admit they never saw their sights at all. Then why don't we practice point shooting for self-defense ? One Hand or Two? : ( Personal Performance Ability ) This has nothing to do with style. It does mean we need to decide how, and why, we hold a handgun a certain way. When facing paper targets that don't shoot back, we can take our time and mentally make the conscious decision to hold our firearm with both hands in such a way that both the front and rear sights are lined up correctly. Think a bit further on this. By using two hands there's no doubt we do have a more stable platform. We grasp not only the handgun, but also our own hands giving us a firm grip, this also reduces the weight held by a single hand and arm. But there's more here than first meets the eye. By holding a pistol with two hands, we have moved the firearm to the center of our body which is usually positioned almost squarely facing our target. This also means that our arms holding said instrument, are pointed at an angle to this centerline of our body. Thus we also have forced our wrists to be bent as well to be squared towards our target. Try now to hold your dominant arm up at your normal shooting level with your gun side shoulder pointing at an invisible target, with the arm in a straight line. Now bend your wrist slightly as it would be if you are holding a pistol in two hands. What we have done is put an unnatural bend at the wrist in the direction we're pointing. When we naturally point our finger at any object, our finger, hand and wrist, are all aligned in a straight line. We've been doing this same motion since we were too young to speak…such as "mommy, I want that." The object of this discussion is that we need to decide which is the most natural feeling for us as individuals. When we "point shoot" we need to keep our hand and wrist in a straight line towards our target. This means keeping our gun hand in a direct line with our shoulder. Holding a handgun at the centerline of our body is just not natural (for some people) and any training we do to overcome this (in my opinion) is wasted effort. Rate of Fire: ( One Shot Drops ) For many years the FBI has taught their agents, and advised police departments, to use the strategy of two shot taps. That is until just recently. At the end of 2004 the FBI finally began to advocate the "three tap" sequence that most military special teams and private protection companies have been using for some time. The "Mozambique" style of two taps to the body and a third to the head may be a good strategy if you expect your enemy to be drug-crazed or wearing body armor. For most civilians facing a carjacker or an armed robber, our best bet is to try placing all three rounds in the attackers body (think triangle - nipple to nipple to Adam's apple). The hope is that at least two of the three will make serious contact with a major organ or the spine.  Bullet Placement: ( Achievable Results ) When shooting at paper targets we all have that desire to excel by placing all our rounds in one neat little hole. How could we expect to do better than that? And yet, anytime we place a hole in meat…whether it's a deer or a human, we accomplish nothing when we put a second bullet in that same first hole. Think about it. When you do so you are hitting dead meat! A gunshot will cause trauma in about a five inch circle, depending on the caliber and grain of the bullet, and of course placement. Once we have placed a round on target, the next bullet needs to be a few inches away from the first so as to create another separate wound with it's own muscle and organ damage, as well as a new loss of blood. To be realistic - we cannot expect our assailant to stand still like a paper target. So our second or third bullet cannot be expected to impact the same spot as the first, regardless of our marksmanship abilities. The point being made is to help you understand that target practice at flat paper targets is necessary, but at the same time has limited benefits. Three dimensional targets are utilized in our tactical course.  
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 Shooting Distance: ( Reality ) Don't waste your time and bullets practicing shooting targets at the back of the range. If you're that far away from your assailant, you'd better be running in the opposite direction instead of shooting. At least you'll wish you had once you get in court and the prosecutor is pressing charges against you for murder. Self-defense with a deadly weapon (in most cases) is permissible only when you have absolutely no chance of escape. Practice at a realistic distance, seven yards (21 feet) at the maximum. The truth is, about two-thirds of your practice time should be at a range of no more than three yards (9 feet), in other words, up close and personal! Recent FBI statistics relate that over 80 % of all gunfights are at a distance of no more than 21 feet, over half of those are at less than five feet! Concealed Carry Method: ( Personal Preferences - Habits ) It's amazing how many otherwise intelligent individuals will switch carry guns and holsters for no other reason than "style". They own more than one handgun, and of course several carry methods from belt clips to holster types, with perhaps several different materials. This can be from their taste for different makes of handguns, different calibers, and (usually the most common excuse) different dress styles depending on the season (weather), or destination (work or play). Now there's nothing wrong with owning more than one defensive handgun, most of us do. And, there's nothing wrong with having more than one holster for each of these weapons, like most of us have accumulated. What is wrong, is switching these out on a daily basis just for fun. If it's summertime in Texas, then carry the right equipment for the weather. Same, same, if it's cold outside (or where you spend your work hours), we can adjust for the lesser difficulty to conceal our weapon. If it's cold outside you can carry that big 45, if it's shorts and a T that you're wearing make it something smaller (that'll still do the job) that fits behind your waistband. My main point is don't switch methods just for the heck of it, do so for a reason and then make sure you practice enough to be comfortable when you make the change. SNS: ( Physical Reactions ) Much touted today by many instructors are the words Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS). What this adds up to in laymen's terms, is how tension (adrenalin/nerves) affects our ability to perform simple tasks under stress. It's a physical change brought about by the "autonomic nervous system" and it produces fear! Some men are able to overcome the natural tendency to flee easier than others, this doesn't mean that they don't feel fear in it's many forms, it's just that some are better able to control it than others. This almost always comes from hard won experience. When faced with danger, as in the case where someone points a gun at us, nature has given us the natural ability to respond, and we immediately make the choice to stay and "fight", or "flee". There is a third "F" option, and it usually gets you hurt or killed since it is represented by non-action, it's "freeze", as in too scared to do anything. The adrenaline that comes with (actually what causes) the fight or flight response triggers a faster heartbeat, higher blood pressure, tunnel vision, even trembling of the hands and a loss of fine motor skills (motor function). All this starts with the nerve endings along our spinal cord. Is it any wonder then that man refers to someone having "backbone" when we discuss bravery? There's also the "parasympathetic" condition, but that is used to relax and save energy. This is what's known as the digestive mode or "rest and digest" response, when we relax and let our body concentrate on breaking down consumed foodstuffs. But, we can alter our breathing pattern…(more on this in the shooting range). Actually, there's a third part here and it's called the "enteric nervous system". It is of even less importance to us because it deals with how our system of nerve fibers relate to the function of our lungs, pancreas, gall bladder, etc. Obviously, what we should be concerned with is how we function under stress when faced with a life or death situation. Adrenalin is good for us, it helps us focus on the threat at hand but it can also cause problems. This is where we have to realize that little things, like the safety on our pistol, are just that, small things we have to be able to put into play to save our butts. Adrenaline may be the good stuff when it gives us increased strength, speed and even the ability to not notice pain until the action is over. But, it also wrecks havoc with our ability to settle down and function as we normally do. (Here again is where training can help). Get my drift now? Why would anyone choose to switch concealed carry pistols that will be different than the handgun they normally carry? Just as bad, why would anyone make the decision to carry a handgun in a different holster than they are used to drawing from? Or carry say in a shoulder holster just because you're able to wear a coat to the function you are attending, but normally wear your gun at your waistband under your shirt. Personally, I don't want a safety on my pistol, nada, zilch, none. At least not one that I have to make the mental decision to disengage. Safeties are fine for target shooters and hunters, and they may be required of peace officers in some departments, but for anyone who's work requires the capability of defending themselves in a split second, NO! Nor do I often switch holsters. Our conscious thought process is much too restricted during such confrontations. Having to spend even a split-second releasing a safety on your firearm, or a holster retention strap on a concealed holster, is time that could end your life. Concerning holster retention straps…they are needed when the holster and the gun it cradles are in plain sight where anyone who chooses to do so might try to relieve you of your weapon. The point is, we are creatures of habit, make sure when you have to reach for your pistola it's where you expect it to be, ready to do what you need it to do! Training is great, but (correct) continued practice is even more important! Repetition is how we turn lessons into habits. Safety: ( Lethal Consequences ) Not the one on your gun…just as important, maybe more so, is the safety and well being of others. To carry a gun for self-defense brings with it an obligation for the concern of others. Throwing lead downstream in a confined area such as a gun range is relatively safe if we follow the rules and wear the required safety equipment. Outside, in the real world, where a bullet can travel much further than our assailant is, that's where we have to really be vigilant. Surviving a gunfight is a high priority, but killing or seriously wounding an innocent bystander would be unforgivable. Each of us must realize the responsibility that comes with gun ownership and their use. |