Practicing for Self Defense

[TGO David]

Agreed and sorry for using the words 'friend' and 'acquaintance' interchangeably like that.

[Luckyforward]

No problem . . . you actually helped me to make a good point - when with someone who is carrying, we better be sure of that person's judgment, because it if questionable or poor, we can pulled into their "crap" before we know it.

[Oh Shoot]

...

Then again I planned to lead an interesting life and die by age 35. ..

Sounds familiar.

Just turned 60 today.

If I'd known I would live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself

- OS

[SpacemanSpiff]

I just had my Advanced Handgun 1 class yesterday. What an eye opener. We were shooting from the hip. I think it was referred to as "elbow to holster". I have to say that my ribs are a little sore from shooting there. My instructor said that most gunfights are within 4 feet, so you cannot shoot with your arms fully extended. We did some one handed shooting, both strong side and weak, while running or walking fast. Moving forward or backward to cover.

Some things that I found valuable that I will be practicing will be reloading and clearing jams. During my limited formal handgun training, the instructors have all said that you need to carry at least one reload whether it's a mag or a speedloader. You never know if something will happen to your first mag or you need more shots than your revolver will hold.

***NO AMMO IS NEEDED*** An exercise to help you group better, if your gun will allow it, is to put a coin or empty brass on the end of your barrel and pull the trigger (dry fire). If you are steady, it stays on. If you move (such as anticipating the shot), it falls off. ***NO AMMO IS NEEDED***

[Marswolf]

My instructor said that most gunfights are within 4 feet, so you cannot shoot with your arms fully extended.

..........

***NO AMMO IS NEEDED*** An exercise to help you group better, if your gun will allow it, is to put a coin or empty brass on the end of your barrel and pull the trigger (dry fire). If you are steady, it stays on. If you move (such as anticipating the shot), it falls off. ***NO AMMO IS NEEDED***

The distance I normally hear is 5-12 feet, but yes - you need to be able to fire at close range.

I'm not sure what the "No ammo needed" thing is about. If you know there is no live ammunition in your handgun, you will tend to not flinch. Probably a better drill is to have someone mix some non-firing rounds into the magazine or cylinder with live ones. It really works better with a DA revolver. My thought has always been that if you have a gun - handgun, rifle, shotgun, whatever - where the recoil bothers you, then you probably need a firearm with less recoil.

[SpacemanSpiff]

I'm not sure what the "No ammo needed" thing is about.

I forgot to say that you can do that at home so don't have a loaded a gun that's why I put the no ammo needed. I sometimes flinch with or without ammo. Two different instructors recommended people doing that, not so much for anticipating the shot but to practice a smooth trigger pull. I was tired when I wrote that and didn't reread it before I posted.

[Guest canynracer]

Random musings on the subject...

Regarding IDPA / USPSA or other forms of gaming: Don't fool yourself into thinking this is good training. It's not. It is better than what 90% of handgun owners do (i.e. putting rounds into a stationary target from a stationary shooting position from a fixed sitance) but it doesn't cultivate good defensive skills. The scenarios most gaming events pitch are utterly silly. Furthermore some of the safety centric rules of gun handling and some of the "gaming tactics" for maximizing use of rounds in each magazine do not apply to winning a fight for your life. At a real defensive handgun class, you will do things that would make a USPSA Range Officer scream like a girl.

That said, I enjoy gaming. It's fun and it gives you a chance to do some interesting stuff with your firearm. But it also teaches bad habits. Since the vast majority of what you will do in a defensive situation is going to be reflexive and autonomous, I refuse to devote any more of my time shooting to burning bad habits into my subconscious memory.

If IDPA or USPSA is the best you can do for training, I would recommend not going to compete or worrying about score, but rather playing the game "your way" with necessary concessions made to keep the safety officers happy, and maximize the opportunity as a way to practice shooting on the move. Forget times, forget splits, forget score. In a fight, the only score that matters is who is left standing.

Hope this helps some.

This is why I suggested IDPA... for the move and shoot practice. There are not many places that allow you to move and shoot, and that is valueable practice.

just dont train yourself to "Unload and show clear" cause that is NOT the thing you wanna do after winning a fight, or anytime during a fight.

but doing idpa to pratice move and shoot, for your own and not for the competition of it all is sound advice IMHO...not everyone can spend 200 buck on the classes...

[wjh2657]

I am currently in the process of going from 40+ years of Pistol Team (USMC and Police) (Target) shooting to Personal Defense (PD) shooting. I have sold my service length weapons and bought all short barrel guns for quick sight acquisition with my failing elderly eyesight. I have started drills at short range for point shooting and shooting fast. I mostly follow the "4X5" rule of contact. I hip shoot (one hand)at 3 yards, then two hand and one hand at five yards. I've learn to quit worrying about groups. I do this at the Indoor Range Club every two weeks.( I did attend Gunsite in the 80's and well remember the Colonel's axiom about tight groups mean you are shooting too slow!) It is hard, not worrying about 4-5" groups, but it is real as it pertains to street shooting. I do a lot of dry-fire drills with snap caps and speed loaders at home too. This type of shooting requires a lot more mind-eye-motor coordination and familiar habits than range (Target) shooting.

Edited July 31, 2008 by wjh2657
Misspelling

[Guest tlondon]

cool thread!!! Great advice and alot of food for thought. cruel hand luke, thanks for your advice and training tips and drills