FIGHT! – Combat Effective Shooting

 

A post or two back we chatted about what happens when time runs out – that moment when you draw your weapon to stop the threat that is before you. Now what??? Well, the obvious answer is “SHOOT THE BASTARD! NOW!!!!”

At that instant your body undergoes a massive adrenaline dump – your eyesight drops to about 35 degrees per eye – 70 degrees total. Your fine motor skills are gone and you are left with only your gross motor skills (making constant practice manipulating your weapon a must). Your heart rate sky rockets, your breathing becomes rapid. All this occurs while an existential threat intending to send you home in a box is bearing down on you.

A number of studies have been conducted regarding the mechanics of gunfights. Perhaps one of the most unique and comprehensive is “Shooting to Live” by Fairbairn and Sykes. Their first-hand experience with approximately 600 gunfights is not only a gripping read but very informative. Discussions cover distances, types of weapons, body armor, movement – to name just a few topics. If you have not read this book – stop now (I’ll wait), go to Amazon and place it on order – you will not be sorry. In today’s vernacular, perhaps the most common title assigned to describe their shooting technique would be “Combat Effective Shooting”.

Keeping in mind most gun fights obey a rule of 3 – 3 rounds, 3 seconds, 3 meters, your ability to shoot a threat bears no resemblance to standing on a firing line, carefully taking your stance, your grip, acquiring a good sight picture and engaging the threat. A gun fight is fast, brutal and deadly. In general, the shooter to get the first hit wins. Time spent working on combat effective hits will serve you well.

When looking at an active threat, you should work on three primary skills:

MOVE – a stationary target is a dead target. I hear the words “get off the x” used frequently but basically you want to make yourself into a moving target, not a stationary one.

DRAW – work on your draw stroke daily. Dry fire, draw slowly until it’s perfect – then accelerate it until you fail, back off a bit and repeat – daily.

POINT AND SHOOT – work on the “metal on meat” sight picture, put the rear of your weapon in the center of the chest and pull the trigger as fast as you can.

The hits you achieve in this three-step process would fit into the category of “combat effective shooting”, you’re not going to have nice, tight 3-inch groups, all your rounds will not be going through the same hole – yet you have the opportunity to significantly damage your immediate threat.

So where should you “aim”? There are three primary areas and one that spans the three.

First, center chest. A round of Critical Defense ammunition from Hornady through a threat’s heart will be a bad day for any attacker. Multiple rounds, in the area of the heart and lungs, will go a long way to take your attacker’s mind off you.

Next, the pelvic area. Break the pelvis, their mobility is severely limited and it’s an area where the majority of your blood supply is generated. You can dump a lot of blood in a short time through multiple pelvic hits.

Third, their head also provides the opportunity for a quick kill, yet it is no guarantee and trying to hit a 4 inch target during an adrenaline dump can require more luck than you have at that given instant.

Finally, the ultimate “off switch”, their spine. Sever their spine above the pelvis, their legs stop – sever their spine above their heart – their primary systems stop, sever their spine at the throat – they drop like a rock.

I teach a new shooter to focus on the torso, from the neck to the crotch. I have them experience dumping multiple rounds in that region, from a number of different positions while using various point shooting tools – focus on the target, use your entire weapon to aim - not just the front sight, engage early and often. My goal is 3-5 rounds in this area in less than 3 seconds. Most threats will be down at the end of this process – not all of them, but most of them. For those still presenting a danger, repeat above as needed.

Bottom line; stop worrying about small groups on little round targets at 21 feet. Death will greet you at a much more intimate distance. Prepare for that moment by ensuring you can get solid Combat Effective Hits quickly and consistently. As I said earlier, you have all the time you need to prepare . . . now. Make use of it.

Training – “Pull the damn trigger!!”

 

I’m around nine or ten and Uncle Ted is standing behind me, shirtless, smokin’, hands on his hips waiting for me to “pull the damn trigger” on the .22 Colt Woodsman I was shooting for the first time. We were at his cabin “up north” in Michigan and I was getting my first shooting lessons. (just goes to show, we are taught bad habits early in life) For a ten year old, the Colt Woodsman is a sizable piece of iron to be holding for the first time. I was being taught “old school” stance – bladed 45 degrees to the target (a 7-Up can), support hand in my rear pocket, arm full extended, good sight picture and finally “pull the damn trigger Bill!” I still remember how the Colt wavered and shook – I could not hold a damn sight picture to save my soul. Finally, responding to Uncle Ted’s frustrations, as well as my own, I “pulled the trigger” – and was astounded that the can shot off the stump, a clean little hole in its middle.

Well, Uncle Ted slapped me on the shoulder, laughed and gave me a “nice shootin’”. I was pretty darn proud of myself as well, happy with my performance – with my initial impression of proper stance and “trigger pull” imprinted on my ten year old mind.

Well past my formative years, my initial pistol shooting intro by “Tiny” the Taiwanese MP – nothing changed – bladed stance, support hand in rear pocket, arm extended, fairly solid sight picture (I was considerably stronger by then) and my “trigger pull”. Let’s just say, accuracy was not one of my strong points. Things began to change in the pistol shooting world – Cooper began to talk about trigger “squeeze” – others talked about trigger “press”. Stances changed with the introduction of the Weaver and Isosceles – increasing stability and accuracy. And – I began to move as well, finding my new position – my new “shooting home” so to speak. It has settled into what I call a “modified weaver” – feet shoulder width apart, strong side foot toe even with the rear of the support side foot, two-handed grip, arms extended, both eyes open, solid sight picture . . . . . and NO TRIGGER PULL . . . . but a trigger press.

  

 

What’s the best way to explain “trigger press”? Well, demonstration usually has a tendency to be more descriptive than words so let me show you how I teach trigger “press” to new shooters. I use a simple ball point pen, cradle it in my strong side hand, I use the very end 1/3 of my trigger finger to gently press the “trigger”. The video might make it a little clearer as well.

 

 

The tendency of many new shooters is to incorporate the trigger finger as one of the parts of the strong side hand that grips your weapon – IT IS NOT!! The ONLY PURPOSE of the trigger finger is to PRESS THE TRIGGER! Period. So, spend some time with this “training device” and see if it improves your accuracy.

 

 

 

A warm welcome to A-Girl

 

A warm welcome to A-Girl – definitely on the the bloggers everyone should spend some time with.  Welcome Ma'am – very nice to have you on board!

Training – Massad Ayoob discusses “Stand Your Ground”

 

Stand Your Ground has received a great deal of attention since the Martin/Zimmerman incident in Florida.  Pay particular attention at about the 8 minute mark and see if you believe Zimmerman responded within the boundaries of “Stand Your Ground”.

He also discusses an incident regarding an Iowa citizen towards the end of the lecture.  Yet, our Democrat controlled Senate refused to advance Iowa’s own SYG law.

As I have discussed in earlier posts, drawing your weapon and employing deadly force is a grave responsibility.  Yet, when your very life, when the lives of family or friends or other citizens are about to be taken – a citizen who carries lawfully has the right to defend and protect themselves and others.  They should not face personal and financial ruin because a violent criminal chose the wrong victim.

Take the time to watch this, it is well worth your time!

(H/T Tanjo Jouliet)

 

Preparation – You have all the time in the world . . . . right now.

 

There is a single instant for an individual when time runs out . . . . that moment when the situation changes things forever. In the realm of the individual that has chosen to carry a weapon for personal protection, it happens during the draw stroke – the time it takes for the hand to grip and draw their defensive weapon. They must transition from a mom, dad, neighbor, friend – into a warrior that is entering mortal combat. Someone will live and someone will probably die once the transition is complete and combat is engaged. Until that instant . . . . you have all the time in the world.

So, what would you do – with all the time in the world?

Obvious things, of course: tell those around you that you love and care about them. Work less, enjoy life more. More work on the old bucket list – less behind the grindstone. While these may be reflected on as your light begin to dim and your life’s spirit drains, perhaps a bit more time in preparation was in order.

You have all the time – right now – to do your absolute best to prepare yourself for a deadly encounter, to give yourself the very best chance to go home on your feet rather than in a box. I thought that perhaps a “preparatory inventory” might be helpful. If I was going to evaluate all the things that would be helpful to pay attention to – what would those items be? Let’s start on the “inside” and work our way “out”.

Mental Attitude: This can have many descriptions: “Warrior Mindset”, “Combat Mindset”, “Tactical Mindset” – basically it means that you have decided you are willing to do anything it takes to insure that you, your family or your friends will survive a deadly encounter. This is the most basic requirement for survival – you have to decide that you want to. Obviously the true test comes at the moment you chose to begin your draw stroke – yet training can do a great deal to get you past that point. “Target Practice” will not get you there; making holes on the range will not get you there. It takes more – much more; we’ll address that in a bit. But, without the proper mental attitude nothing else matters from here on – if you are unwilling to defend yourself, your family or your friends – you will not survive a deadly encounter.

Clothing: This is such a simple and easily overlooked part of preparation. It’s so easy to compromise your ability to carry your EDC gear because of how you want to look. Less clothing means less gear. Flip-flops, loose sandals, spike heels – all these mean less mobility and less stability. “Sturdy shoes”, “casual” rather than “skimpy” clothing, a “practical purse” rather than a “clutch purse” all provide you a better starting point to defend yourself. While a tube top and micro shorts may be sexy – while a muscle T-Shirt and Cargo Shorts may be comfortable and attractive – they may leave you weaponless.

Pay attention to your wardrobe. Could you run flat-out for a block? Could you transition from concrete to rock to grass and not loose traction? Can you conceal your weapon, a couple spare magazines along with a knife, flashlight and cell phone? Will you meet death today? Probably not, but if you do - go dressed to put up a fight and not to go along willingly.

Your Body: Your most basic weapon. So how are you doing staying in shape? Could your run for 15 minutes to escape an attacker? What does it take to get you winded? How does your body react when stressed? How strong are you? Could you climb a tree, ladder, house or fence? Could you absorb an array of body blows? How would you defend yourself? What I’m getting at is – take care of your primary defensive weapon – your body. Learn some basic hand-to-hand, work on your strength and cardio abilities. Honestly, I’m the last one to talk here. 21 years in the military, 62 years of life, a round of cancer has definitely degraded my physical abilities. Not an excuse, simply a reality. So, I adjust my training to make the best use of the strength, endurance and mobility that I do have.

Your Weapon: Let’s focus on your handgun first. Do you carry each and every day? Are you fully locked and loaded when you leave your bedroom? Do you remain that way until you disarm to go to bed? Does it fit you? Can you conceal it easily and draw it quickly? Can you use it? (and I mean more than simply punching holes on an IDPA target at 21 feet) Can you quickly clear malfunctions? Can you use it if one arm is shot to pieces? Can you quickly field strip your weapon, clean it and reassemble it without referring to youtube or the manual? Is it loaded with the most deadly ammunition you can find? Do you carry at least two spare magazines or speed loaders? When you face a deadly encounter – are you willing to place “metal on meat” and kill whatever is in front of you?

EDC: What do you carry each and every day? Is it useful? Will it help to protect and defend you? I’ve posted on this earlier so I won’t rehash it here. Develop yours, make carrying all of the items a habit.

Situational Awareness: Have you learned and do you practice methods to become aware of your surroundings? Whether you adopt Jeff Cooper’s “Color Codes” or the NRA’s levels of awareness, are you observing your surroundings, evaluating people and environments, determining what threats you may be facing? An unaware person is a much easier to attack than an individual that is alert and observant.

Are you still learning? Have you settled into a comfortable training regimen that revolves around range visits and target practice? Are you satisfied with a range visit a couple of times a year, sending a box or two downrange, punching holes in paper? Or do you push yourself, find new instructors, different shooting techniques and do everything you can to ensure you get the first hit, the best hit and that you put your attacker down quickly. Training should push you, stress you, introduce an environment that would be similar to a real-life encounter. It should include movement and engagement while moving – if you stand still you die, as simple as that.

Do you read on the topic of self-defense, weapons technology, training techniques, shooting techniques, military encounters, LEO shoot-outs? Are you spending at least some time every day adding to your skill set that will ultimately keep you alive?

First Aide? Have you taken a first aide course? Can you do CPR, stop you or your friend from bleeding out? Have you built a “Boo-Boo” kit and a “Blow Out” kit? Do you know how to best use them both? Do you carry them at all times?

As you scan my list, have you noticed some things that prompted an “I should really work on that” response? We all have areas of weakness – that’s not unusual. And, those areas of weakness will do us no harm until that moment comes when you reach for your weapon and draw it to defend yourself. You have all the time in the world – right now – at this moment in time - to fill in any blanks. Make use of it, embrace it, be thankful for it – and use it wisely.

Because tomorrow, or next week, or next year . . . . it may be your turn to make use of all your skills to save your life, or your children’s lives or the life of your closest friend.

RANT ON – VOTING FOR OBAMA TO TEACH THE REPUBLICANS A LESSON

 

Gun Blogger Borepatch has endorsed Obama.  He’s afraid of Romney, feels like the Republicans aren’t listening – time to teach them a lesson.  The thing his post implies is that this has not been tried before – sadly Obama makes the 3^rd time folks like BorePatch embarked on a mission to teach the Republicans a lesson in my political lifetime.

My first experience was Carter. Gerald ford couldn’t drive a golf ball straight you know, he was from the Washington crowd – frankly, the Republicans in DC just weren’t listening. What better lesson to send that a “nice”, quiet spoken governor from Georgia?? Never mind those little incidents that followed later – Iran’s Islamic revolution, the Arab oil embargo, purchasing gas only on odd or even days, 17% inflation rate, a decimated military, fireside chats in cardigans as we were all asked to turn our thermostats down to a government approved 68 – we taught those damn Republicans a lesson.

My second experience was Clinton – TWICE FOR F*#@KS SAKE!!!!. Nothing to see here either, “booming economy” (thanks to Reagan), little things like the Cole, Kenya, World Trade Center I, Somalia and Blackhawk Down with a military so neutered we had to tow the landing craft off the beaches as we retreated, the crash of March 1999 as Clinton attacked the largest software company in the world in an attempt to break it up, passing on sending Osama off to his 72 virgins, and finally the moral deprivation of a President unable to stop himself from utilizing an intern’s vagina for his own personal humidor. Yep, we sure taught those Damn Republicans a lesson – by subjecting the country to two terms of Clinton.

(WRAPPING MY EXPLODING HEAD WITH AN ENTIRE ROLL OF DUCT TAPE JUST TO GET THROUGH THIS RECAP OF TEACHING THOSE DAMN REPUBLICANS A LESSON)

My current experience in this whole process – the Obama administration. Honest to god – where to start? The destruction of our reputation over seas (if you screw with us the fires of hell will rain down on you to bowing low enough to give every major world leader a quick blow job), the systematic destruction of our military capabilities and the continued reduction of forces in active war zones – endangering every soldier on the ground, the enslavement of our children as their tax burden becomes equal to their income, the utter destruction of the best healthcare system in the world that will lead to a closing of 30% plus of all hospitals and the early retirement of up to 40% of all doctors, the systematic destruction of the oil industry to be replaced by an utterly failed policy of alternative energy sources, the broad attack on America’s core job producers – small business through outrageous tax policy and a draconian IRS collection, an ongoing attack on the “rich” who are paying 70% of the tab (top 10% of wage earners) while 49.7% PAY NO F&#*!&G taxes at all . . . . . . . WE SURE SHOWED THOSE DAMN REPUBLICANS BY VOTING FOR THE ‘CLEAN, ARTICULATE BLACK MAN’ SPOUTING “HOPE AND CHANGE” OUT HIS A$$.

I HAVE A GREAT F&$@ING IDEA – LET’S DO IT AGAIN!!!

For those who are all smug and self righteous in their belief that re-electing Obama will teach the Republicans a lesson – I would simply ask you to let go the hate: your hate of America, your hate of those who have succeeded, your hate of those risking all in an attempt to succeed at their personal dream, your disgust of your own children and grandchildren, your hate of your neighbor, your doctor, your banker, your car salesman, your college graduate . . . . . . . that you NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON AMERICA AS IT TEETERS ON THE EDGE OF DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES OF DECLINE . . . . . and simply vote ABO – Anyone But Obama.

Were there a poodle with massive diarrhea on the national Presidential ballot as the Republican vs the current Marxist that occupies the Whitehouse . . . the poodle could be assured of my enthusiastic support!

So, with all due respect to Borepatch – I disagree.

RANT OFF.

NBC Warfare – the perfect “delivery” system.

Long ago, in another life, I was a NBC warfare officer.  I’ve spent more time in chemical suits, working on decontamination methods and reviewing different delivery systems and how to defeat them than I care too remember.

Well, there is one system that is particularly deadly – actually it has successfully infected me in the past, and now – it has compromised my defenses yet again.  In this particular instance it was a dual delivery system.  One was a cute little 6 year old granddaughter by the name of Ms. A, the second a 4 year old bundle of cold virus called Ms. E.  Their virus package was particularly effective and I found myself this past afternoon and evening attempting to recover in my recliner.

Beware these highly effective little critters – impossible not to love them, yet they can surly take a toll on grandpa!

Looking forward to a quick recovery, they’ll  be here this weekend!  :)