by Gila Hayes
Bigger Is Better—Up to a Point
Perceptive readers have already noted that although we have argued the defense potential and shortcomings of smaller calibers, nothing has been said about the very large handgun calibers like .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .50 AE or the remaining variety of large .40 to .50 caliber hunting handgun calibers. These magnums and the 10mm recoil viciously and will slow your shot-to-shot times.
Besides producing punishing recoil, the very large handgun calibers require a larger framed gun, and this alone disqualifies them for the many who will legally carry a concealed pistol. Reasonable self-defense caliber choices, when partnered with modern hollowpoint ammunition, include the .380 ACP, .38 Special, 9mm Parabellum, .357 Magnum, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .44 Special and .45 ACP.
No Magic Bullet
There is no magic bullet. Accurate shot placement is of utmost importance. The most viable target is the center of the chest at armpit level. This increases the chances of a heart, lung or spinal cord hit. In addition, a center-of-mass aim point is quickest and most reliable for the adrenaline-filled defender. Students of armed self defense must learn to shoot until the threat ceases. Unless the spinal cord is severed or the brain’s medulla oblongata hit, the assailant may be capable of continued hostilities after taking several handgun bullets. You must be capable of repeated, accurate shots to the center of the assailant’s chest.
Misses don’t count in a gunfight, and in the end, your life is the prize.
Notes
1Marshall, Evan, and Sanow, Ed, Street Stoppers, The Latest Handgun Stopping Power Street Results and Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study. Paladin Press, Gunbarrel Tech Center, 7077 Winchester Circle, Colorado 80301, 800-466-6868, 800-392-2400.
CHAPTER 19
Shooting Skills
Earlier we discussed obtaining basic handgun training and understanding appropriate use of deadly force. During subsequent chapters, we have emphasized the importance of accurate shot placement. Marksmanship skills are just the beginning; your training needs to include learning to shoot accurately and rapidly despite the distractions and stress of a self-defense emergency.
Remember, you cannot learn to shoot or safely use a gun by reading a book. You must find qualified instructors who will help you give physical form to the ideas we discuss here. In basic handgun class you should have learned about gun safety, sight picture, follow-through and trigger control. To reiterate anything you may have forgotten or did not completely understand, here is an overview of the basics.
Dry Firing
Dry firing—the simulated firing of an empty, unloaded gun—can be a valuable training technique. You don’t need to go to the range to practice a smooth, controlled trigger pull, speed reloads, or draw and dry fire skills. Champion pistol shooters all practice dry fire because despite one’s level of skill, flinching—that near-instinctive reaction to loud noise and violent motion—is an unavoidable human physiological response to extensive live firing. Dry fire is the cure to the flinch, and it’s inexpensive because it requires no ammunition. It is also practical: with planning, you can do it almost anywhere, provided you follow stringent safety procedures. Best of all, it lets you ingrain a perfect trigger pull without the aversive stimuli of the gun firing, so the practice habituates the body to pull the trigger smoothly without flinching.
Dry fire practice, however, is a two-edged sword. Valuable because it is without question the best way to develop trigger control, dry fire is dangerous unless performed under very stringent safety rules. This may be the reason nearly every gun manufacturer warns against the practice.
With rimfire guns, like a .22 LR pistol or rifle, the warning stems from potential damage to the gun itself, which can be avoided through the use of Snap Caps to protect the firing pin and the edges of the chamber.1 On shotguns and rifles, too, there is potential for accelerated wear to the firing pin. Snap Caps or other inert dummy cartridges are recommended as a way to avert mechanical problems, yet these, too, are not without risk because live and dummy ammunition may be inadvertently mixed up. With centerfire handguns, including most self-defense pistols, the manufacturer’s warning is rooted in safety and liability concerns.
Dry fire entails all the steps of discharging a gun with one crucial difference: the absence of ammunition. In one careless moment, live ammunition may all too easily be loaded in the gun during a dry fire practice session. Danger of a negligent discharge and the subsequent liability are behind manufacturer’s warnings against dry firing. Those dangers are very real and should not be ignored.
Sight Picture
The handgun has two sighting devices to help you align the barrel with your target. The front sight is generally a blade with serrations, a dot or colored insert to help you see it clearly. The rear sight is a notch shaped like a squared-off letter “U” and may have two dots or a bright outline around the notch to mark the edges in poor light. As you look through the rear sight, if the front sight is perfectly centered in the notch of the rear sight and the tops of both front and rear sights are perfectly aligned at the moment the gun discharges, the bullet will hit the part of the target covered by the front sight. This arrangement is called “combat sights” and is common on most service pistols. Target pistols, guns designed purely for sporting pursuits, may use a slightly different arrangement regulated so the bullet strikes the target right above the front sight at a specified distance; this arrangement is called “target sights.” For self defense, we prefer the former, since it is impossible to predict self defense distances.
As we aim the gun at the target we see three objects: the rear sight, the front sight and the target beyond. When all three are viewed in alignment, it is called the “sight picture.” If we focus our vision on the rear sight, anything beyond it is blurry. If we see the target clearly, both front and rear sight will be too fuzzy to keep them lined up accurately. Like a simple camera, our eyes can focus on only one visual plane at a time. We must concentrate on only the front sight to be sure our sights remain aligned, with the front sight covering the place we wish the bullet to strike.
Focus the eye on the front sight and let the target and rear sight go blurry.
On paper targets, or facing an assailant, it is natural to want to look at the object we intend to shoot. That creates a problem, because focusing on the target allows the front sight to move out of alignment, causing inaccuracy. Allow the target to go slightly blurry. Focus your vision on the front sight as if it holds your life and your future.
Trigger Squeeze
A smooth, consistent pressure on the trigger is the key to accurate shooting. Jerking the trigger moves the sights out of alignment, making the shot go wild. This happens right at the end of the trigger pull, and many novice shooters are not aware that they have moved the sights so radically until they notice how far off center their hit is located. Just as experienced drivers press the car brake pedal smoothly until they bring the vehicle to a stop, on a smaller scale, that same smooth control is what you want from your trigger finger.
Physical skills are best learned slowly. Mastery is the result of precise performance of the actions required, first at a slow pace, then with tiny, incremental increases in speed as the motion is refined. Thus, a deliberate four-second trigger squeeze starts with up to three seconds of smooth controlled pressure on the trigger. At some point between two and four seconds, the gun fires (sometimes described as the shot breaking or the hammer falling), although the skilled shooter does not try to predict the exact instant the discharge will occur. The remaining time is dedicated to follow-through: bringing the gun back on target, lining up the sights and assessing the situation to see if you need to shoot again, all before releasing the trigger. The same consistent trigger press, surprise hammer fall and subsequent shot break, and follow through can be compressed to well under a second per shot as your skills grow. Consistent, smooth trigger pressure without anticipation of the shot is the key component in effective trigger manipulation at any sp
eed.
Make It A Surprise
Why should we be surprised when the gun goes off? Obviously, if the finger is pressing the trigger, we should expect the gun to fire. The surprise I’m talking about is not being so focused on the progress of the trigger pull that I can predict the exact instant in which the gun will fire.
Again, why? Were you surprised by the noise and jolt in your hand the first time you fired a handgun? I think we all were. Our bodies said, “That’s threatening, let’s find a way to avoid it next time.” Even though our minds know we can survive this aversive stimulus, the body instinctively shies away. If you know exactly when the gun is going to fire, your body will flinch away as it tries to escape the recoil and noise. The flinch or jerking movement pulls the sights off target and the bullet goes astray. However, if you do not know precisely when the gun is going to fire, there is no flinching, anticipatory reaction. Let each shot break as a surprise.
The last sentence is a lot like saying, “Stop your eyes from blinking,” because the flinch happens on a reflexive level. Not knowing when the gun is going to fire is the only way to prevent the reflexive reaction to the aversive stimuli of recoil and noise. Obviously, even a young child can figure out at what point in the trigger pull the discharge occurs, so good shooters trick themselves into ignoring that critical moment.
A good drill to improve trigger control is called ball and dummy, in which the revolver shooter randomly loads two or three of the chambers in her revolver, leaving the others empty. Closing the cylinder without observing the order in which the cartridges will fire, we go on to shoot a slow-fire exercise. When the firing pin goes into an empty chamber, you can observe any flinching reaction that disrupts sight picture, because the sight picture should still be there after the hammer falls, since there is no recoil with dry fire! Using dummy cartridges like Saf-T-Trainers1 gives semi-auto shooters the opportunity to practice the same valuable drill with the added benefit of getting in some practice clearing failure-to-fire malfunctions.
Like bowling or golf, follow-through is critical to accurate shot placement. Follow-through with a firearm consists of realigning the sights on target after the recoil of the shot disrupts the sight picture. The sights are realigned on target before the trigger is released. Even if you know a second shot is not needed (in competition, for example) the discipline of a complete follow-through keeps the shooter from raising her head to look at the target while the shot goes off. When the shooter peeks at the target, sight alignment is lost at the critical moment the gun fires, sacrificing accuracy. In self defense, follow-through prepares the handgun and the shooter to make an accurate second shot if the threat remains.
She’s only going to load three rounds positioned randomly, so this shooter can work on trigger control drills using the ball and dummy exercise.
Stance Builds Power
Still having some misses? Check your stance and your grip. Because a handgun recoils with each shot fired, a rock-firm grip is needed to maintain control and to keep the sight picture precise for consecutive shots. The dominant hand grasps the gun grip panels with the hand’s web pressed firmly into the grip tang at the top of the back strap. Grasping the gun low on the grips allows the muzzle to rise unnecessarily during recoil. For maximum control, hold as high on the grips as you can, with the fleshy web of your hand blocking the gun’s rearward recoil. The support hand wraps over the firing hand, like a tight fist on top of another fist. Support-hand fingers press atop the firing hand knuckles, and the non-firing hand’s thumb sits right on top of the firing hand’s thumbnail and locks down, pushing the thumbs in against the gun.
A good shooting grip needs the support of strong, balanced footing in the same way a house needs a good foundation to withstand strong winds. For beginners, the Isosceles stance is inherently the strongest and fastest to assume. The Isosceles stance is based on feet positioned shoulder-width apart, with arms and wrists simply locked straight out for fast, accurate firing.
The foundation of any range shooting stance is foot position. Feet must be placed an immodest shoulder width apart for balance and stability. Women students, especially those of mature ages, find this the most unnatural part of shooting. Women have excellent hand-eye coordination and can manipulate the little safety levers and magazine release buttons well, yet standing with their feet wide for balance is disconcerting, going against all their socialization. People trained in a martial art are generally more comfortable in a wide stance, knowing they’re vulnerable to knockdown attacks if they keep their feet together. Before aiming the gun, check that your feet are at least as wide as your shoulders and are not aligned as if walking a tightrope (see diagram).
So, let’s review the Isosceles stance: Starting from the feet up, the feet are at least shoulder width apart and toes point toward the target. Not only is this a natural stance, it accommodates movement, which is essential in a real-life emergency. The leg on the firing-hand side is placed to the rear with a very slight bend at the knee. The non-dominant side leg is forward and flexes at the knee to act as a shock absorber against the gun’s recoil. Flex both knees, because locked joints create a pivot point from which recoil or a blow will steal your balance. The hips face the target straight on, with the derrière tucked forward. The shoulders likewise face the target squarely. Arms are locked straight out, punching the gun toward the target. The head may tuck down into the shoulders a little, a natural response to this aggressive, body-forward posture.
For maximum control on a hard-kicking handgun, the author prefers the old-fashioned grip shown here with thumbs locked one atop the other to keep the hands together.
The aggressive Isosceles stance is a fast and stable shooting platform.
The Ready Position
If the assailant runs away but you aren’t sure the entire area is safe, you may need to escape, get out of the immediate area or go to call for help. In the wake of a deadly force threat, you will want the gun readily available in your hands, yet protected from a gun grab should a hidden accomplice be waiting. The gun also needs to be out of your line of vision so you can scan for additional threats. These concerns prevent stalking around with the gun in a fully extended shooting stance.
Instead, maintain your strong, two-handed grip on the decocked or on-safe gun and tuck your elbows back against your ribs, trigger finger indexed on the frame of the gun, well away from the trigger guard, and point the muzzle down about two feet in front of your feet. We call this the low ready position.
Diagram illustrates the wide, squared-off foot position that lends the Isosceles stance its strength. As shown, if facing north, the right-handed shooter’s right foot it back in the southeast quadrant, their left foot is well forward in the northwest quarter. Lefties stand opposite.
Hold the gun close to your torso, out of reach of an assailant who may try to disarm you, while keeping it instantly ready to punch out into a shooting stance. Gripped thus, the gun is in the strongest retention position possible. When hand and arm strength is required, it is difficult to exert power at arms’ length. For example, to open a sealed jar, we hunker down and concentrate our strength at the center of the body.
Jacqueline demonstrates the safe low ready position in which we hold the unholstered gun while not shooting.
The Hollywood high ready, with the gun pointing up, is only a cinematic technique to include the gun in the film frame with the actor’s face. It has little tactical advantage and just cries out for a disarm attempt.
Gun Handling Skills
After you have mastered basic sight picture, grip, and stance, you need to refine your skills to keep the gun loaded and firing during combat or competition. Safe speed reloads are important, as is the ability to correct any malfunction of the weapon. You should have one primary reloading technique: a speed reload. Don’t allow yourself to ingrain sloppy reloading habits while shooting for fun or during slow fire practice. The motions you make during fun and practice are those you will repeat under stress.
A gun held close to the body’s centerline is more easily defended from a gun grab than one held at arm’s length.
The late Jim Cirillo, who survived a number of gunfights during his stint with the New York City Police Department Stake Out Squad, told me of several incidents in which officers repeated gun handling sequences that had been unintentionally incorporated in their formal training. Some years ago, he related, the revolver-armed officers were trained to shoot a course of fire, then unload their empty brass cases into a can provided for that purpose. They were then to reload and shoot again. The officers were sent to the training range with 100 rounds in their pockets and were not sent to the training line with speed loaders or dump pouches. Reports from on-duty shootings told of police officers who shot at assailants until their revolvers were empty, then turned and looked for the brass can while still under attack, according to Jim.
With the gun held at face level, she has little strength with which to combat a disarming attempt.
In an armed confrontation, the useless empties must be discarded immediately, new ammunition inserted and the gun brought back up on target in a matter of seconds. From the comfort of your easy chair, you may be tempted to say, “Of course, I already knew that.” But on the range, do you catch your revolver’s empty cases tidily in your hand? Do you carefully withdraw your $60 semi-auto magazine before it can fall to the ground and become scratched? Every practice reload should be treated as if it is training for a life-threatening confrontation—because it is.