"Combat shooting."
It's the last refuge of the incompetent shooter.
Whenever some "Reality-based instructor" tells you that they are going to teach you what really matters about pistol shooting, and their pitch includes things like "the sights don't matter", "tight groups are for prissy bullseye shooters", and "you want your hits to be spread around, so you have a better chance of hitting something vital", what they are really doing is trying to massage your ego, which is bruised by being unable to make an A-zone hit on demand, and trying to separate you from your hard-earned dollars.
If you are bound and determined to tote a pistol with you every day, the first skill you need to master, at least from an ethical standpoint, is being able to place a bullet exactly where you meant to place it. Remember: once it leaves your gun, you are going to pay for every single thing that bullet hits. Take your time; there's no rush. Then work on more rapid fire. Then work on snap shots from the low ready and from the holster. Then, and only then, work on things like "point shooting", "hip shooting", "instinctive shooting", the "speed rock", or whatever the new terminology is.
Don't try and massage your ego by telling yourself that even though you can't hit what you're aiming at, it's because you're a "real combat pistolero".
Remember: You will pay for everthing your bullet hits. Make sure you can hit only those things you want to buy.
Couldn't agree more; "spray and pray" is only effective as a suppressive fire tactic; while you are filling the countryside with lead from the latest "wonder-caliber", the opponent may take careful aim and drop you with one shot from a mouse gun. Not to mention the possibility of you hitting an innocent bystander. Shot placement is the most important thing to master.
ReplyDeleteWhen you really, really need to put holes in things, not only is your front sight your friend, it's your only friend. Learn to love it. Deeply and with great passion.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like an excellent example of the difference between spray-n-pray and good shooting, I've got one for you.
ReplyDeleteI talk pretty harshly to myself sometimes. When I'm practicing and not as accurate as I want to be, what goes through my mind?
ReplyDelete"If I want to live, I must make every shot deadly."
It's like a mantra, you know?
In IPSC or IDPA, if you miss the Bad Guy target and hit a Good Guy target, it's points off your score.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas, should you do the same, it's at the very least called "Involuntary Manslaughter" with a penalty of up to ten years.
Front sight, press.
Art
Who was it said, "Every bullet comes with a lawyer attached?"
ReplyDeleteWhile shooting in a tactical shooting meet set up by the CHL instructor I first qualified with back when Texas allowed concealed carry, I was concerning with how he advocated “spray and pray” shooting techniques. As a Marine, I was trained to make all my shots count on target. While engaging on a “one on one” tactual shooting exercise my opponent was sending a lot of rounds down range in my general direction (special .38 FX rounds). A paint capsule in a .38 caliber brass cartridge loaded with a minimum amount of power which would send the paint capsule about 25 yards down range. We wore heavy bunker jackets and face masks. As I was partially hidden behind a barrier my opponent was firing multiple rounds at me without much success. I took aim and fired one (1) shot that hit my opponent directly in the center of his face mask. I reminded our instructor that we (the individual shooter) owned ALL the rounds we send downrange until it stopped and fell to the ground, even if it went through the perp and into an innocent bystander. That’s why I use special tactual ammo that has maximum penetration with high energy impact that reduces the change of a through and through that might injure someone further down range. Make sure of your target and put ALL your rounds on target.
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