Defensive Shooting
"The point of carrying a weapon for self defense is it’s there when it’s needed. Predicting exactly what will be happening when that need arises is nearly impossible. If one could predict every dire situation, one could then avoid them. Almost by definition the defensive situation a CCW holder might face will be a surprise, and come on rapidly. If it were any other case then it would probably be better to escape than fight."Carteach0 has an excellent post up regarding defensive shooting. I am fortunate to have access to a private range where I can shoot as I like (as long as it's in the right direction). Being able to draw and shoot accurately at close range while moving, at a moving target, is a fundamental skill of the well prepared armed citizen. Ask around. Get to know your Range Officers. Seek out professional instruction. Chances are, there is some place near by that responsible gun owners in the know go to to practice reality based defensive shooting. Being able to put all the elements of defensive shooting together in rapid succession is essential to building overall competence.
But if such a place is unavailable to you, and if your range has rules prohibiting holster draws and movement, there are still techniques you can try. At the very least you can shoot from low ready while shifting your weight from side to side at targets as close as possible. Ask if you can staple two targets at different heights on the same frame. If permission is given, practice transitioning from one target to the other between shots. If even these practices are prohibited, then working with dry fire in the home remains an alternative, although the feedback of holes in targets is largely absent. For defensive training anything is better than aimlessly punching holes in paper in a frozen Isosceles stance.
Labels: Training
posted by Xavier at 7:10 AM
7 Comments:
A realistic way to practice what may likely happen in a real self-defense situation, but that free hand waving around scares me. I, too, practice close range shooting drills like he does with the exception that I put my free hand on my abdomen to preclude shooting a finger or two off. I understand that you may need your free hand to knock a weapon-wielding BG's hand away, but for practice with live ammo, I think you're inviting a horrible accident to dinner.
Optionally, you could take up one of the many defensive pistol games. While no one who knows what they're talking about would call IDPA/IPSC a gunfight simulator, the ability to practice the fundamentals of drawing, shooting on the move, engaging multiple targets, and reloading all under simulated stress is an excellent training method.
Additionally, the culture that surrounds IDPA and IPSC is extremely open and helpful for new shooters. The high level shooters are almost always willing to share tips and tricks with the newbie to help improve the novice's shooting skills.
What's the reason for lifting his left arm high while he's shooting?
"What's the reason for lifting his left arm high while he's shooting?"
One school of thought is clutching your weak hand to your chest to protect it. Another school of thought is to raise your weak arm in a blocking move, to pevent a knife attack and/or to protect one's face from gunfire. It is far better to take a bullet in the forearm than the face.
Close range shooting is a necessary skill. But what I see is a shooter standing still instead of moving.
Mike
"One school of thought is clutching your weak"
Thanks for the reply. I have seen a video--that I can't find anymore--of a guy who trains for close-range shooting by holding the gun two-handed high to his chest with his upper-body slanted toward the target.
He's using a Glock I think and I had an "Aha!" moment looking at it because it would cover the situations most likely to happen: the perp(s) waits until he's right on you before making his move.
"of a guy who trains for close-range shooting by holding the gun two-handed high to his chest with his"
Sorry, I was clear as mud here with my explanation.. I meant that the guy is sorta holding the gun in his right hand and supporting it from his left, and shooting--more or less--from his left clavicle by pointing his left shoulder in the target direction and holding the gun somewhat parallel to his body. It did look weird but practical when I saw it. That vid was somewhere on the Firing Line forum.
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