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Simple vs. Complex Shooting Drills

1/23/2019

1 Comment

 
 The fact that you have a gun in the home for defense purposes is not enough to ensure your safety. The fact that you took a firearms training course or visit your local range once or twice a year is not enough. Mastering skills while under stress is the recipe for winning deadly force encounters. 

What is a simple shooting exercise to develop skills? In my DH 2.0 course I instruct students to move up on a barricade and fire from standing and kneeling from both sides of the barricade. They start 4 feet away from the barricade, move into position and fire the designated number of rounds. They repeat this drill a number of times then they watch the next student perform the drill. 

The technique in barricade shooting is simple. If the bad guy is targeting you stay off your cover, if the bad guy is targeting someone else rest on your cover to take a more accurate shot. Stress and adrenaline is the reason you rest on cover to stabilize your shots. If you're staying off cover aim through the barricade and and get your sights or red dot, obtain your proper stance, right foot forward staying behind your cover, then roll out by pushing up on your left toes, aim and fire. First time you roll out aim low to pick up a low lying threat or you can quick peak if you're unsure where the bad guy is . There is more to it than that such as, don't cast a shadow, sound discipline, identifying cover/concealment and more...

Students understand proper position and use of cover pretty quick. When you add a complex shooting drill involving movement, multiple firing positions, round counts or multiple targets they forget the basics, at first. Stress, competition, multi-stage courses of fire, multiple firing positions, concealed draw stroke, low-light and cold weather can all be a part of complex shooting drills. The more you shoot complex drills the better you get.

The two students in this video are advanced shooters. They can shoot accurately and can manage their handguns with no issues. The first complex use of cover drill found their skills lacking. They both looked at the target then sighted. Both their positions on the barricade were not what we had practiced. This video highlights what happens if you don't master skills. 

I see this all the time in my training. These students in this video are above average shooters. I see the same thing in my law enforcement courses because gun owners or officers don't train enough to master these skills while under stress. Both these students addressed these issues after this video was taken. Awesome job guys!

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1 Comment

Firearms Safety

1/23/2019

5 Comments

 
Unintentional Discharges can happen to anyone, anytime!!!!! In 2008 I lost a friend to an unintentional discharge who was experienced in handling firearms from police and military service. Recently another experienced friend received a wound to his forearm. The other day a woman in Lewiston suffered a self-inflicted injury.  

There is a number of reasons why these accidents occur. The biggest two are. They violated the first firearm safety rule of treating all guns as if they are loaded. That rule means don't point a gun at anything you don't want to destroy, even your own body. The second reason is they had their finger on the trigger. How that finger got on their trigger can happen a number of ways.

When you grip your handgun place your trigger finger on the frame or slide. Do not rest your finger tip on the trigger guard. It's to easy for that finger to slide off and engage the trigger. There is a number of situations that can cause your trigger finger to engage the trigger. Here are some of those reasons:
Inexperience - Placing your finger on the trigger when you pick up your firearm. Often in my Introduction Course and Defensive Handgun 1.0 Course I repeatedly have to tell students to take their finger off the trigger when not shooting.

Losing your balance can cause you to grasps your hands. Finger slides off the trigger guard or frame, applies pressure on trigger and gun discharges.

Startled response -  When scared by a loud noise, someone bumps into you or your surprised by someone.

Racking the slide - with your barrel pointed at your forearm or hand. The violent action of racking rapidly can cause your finger to engage the trigger.

Inter-limb confusion - an action with your support hand is mirrored with your gun hand.

Alcohol consumption - handling your firearm when intoxicated.

Jumping or single leg kicks have been identified as actions that can lead to pleasure being applied to the trigger

Violent action with your support hand, pushing someone away or pulling them in can lead to unintentional discharges.

To avoid self-inflicted injuries or shooting someone else practice safe gun handling by following the Four Firearm Safety Rules:
  1. Treat All Firearms As If They Are Loaded
  2. Finger Off Trigger Until Ready To Shoot
  3. Be Sure Of Your Target/Threat Foreground & Background
    4. Secure Your Firearms In A Safe Manner

​Be Safe & Aware

5 Comments

Invest in Training in 2019!

1/23/2019

1 Comment

 
Studies have shown that 60% of firearm purchases are for personal safety reasons. Most of these gun owners don’t train properly in defensive shooting skills. I saw this repeatedly over 25 years of owning two training companies and more recently during my 2 years managing training and range operations at an indoor shooting range.

During 30 years of police and SWAT experience I was always amazed how call outs or hot calls seemed just like training. Training with quality instructors and repetitions provided me with confidence in my skills to make the right decisions in stressful situations. Feedback from instructors was crucial in building and mastering my skills. I was given a course of action to take based on my training.

It’s easy to sit on the couch or be a keyboard commando and visualize how you would react when confronted with a situation that could result in death or serious injury to you or loved ones. Over the years I have seen both law enforcement officers and civilians discover in scenario training or live fire drills their skills and decision making were severely affected by stress induced training.

We do fight like we train. That training must be realistic and pass the stress test. Can I perform these tactics or techniques when I’m scared or with adrenaline pumping through my system. Can I manage effects of stress present in a life or death situation?  Are the techniques I’m mastering going to minimize these effects?

When you search the internet you can find a variety of pistol and rifle techniques to practice. I encourage you to evaluate those techniques and determine if they pass the stress test. Taking a training course with an experienced instructor is the best way to improve your skills. Shooting from an open carry position, not moving, closing one eye, not using available cover and not using proper tactics is not the way to train. Don’t fall into the trap of simply owning a firearm is enough, it’s not!

Invest in your safety in 2019 & take a training course and see if it makes a difference.

Be Safe & Aware
​
Peter

1 Comment

    Author

    Peter is a third generation retired Portland Police Officer with a passion to train responsible gun owners in life safety skills.

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Mindset - Preparedness - Skill - Tactics - Gear

Mindset - Have situational awareness and practice ongoing threat assessment.
Preparedness -  "What if" Have a plan.
Skill - Master skills through realistic training and repetitions.
​Tactics - Maneuvering correctly through a stressful hostile situation.
​Gear - Selection based on trusted & proven performance.
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