Warning: Long thread of little value ahead.
In another thread, a spirited discussion was held regarding the attributes of point shooting and aimed fire. Inevitably, the discussion revolves around accuracy (consistency and hit quality), speed, and usable distances for each technique. There is also the obligatory square range gun handling skills (gamers if you like) as opposed to skills more suitable for use in a self-defense role.
While reading the threads on “Quick Kill” and “Point Shooting”, I saw a lot of references regarding hit quality vs. time. Of course there are also references of so-and-so can do such-and-such in so many microseconds. In reality the only thing that matters is how fast I can consistently shoot with the required accuracy using varying techniques. A couple of days ago we had some beautiful weather so I went to the range to experiment with some PSing. The gun was a Dan Wesson V-Bob, the ammo was some target reloads somewhere around 160pf. The holster was kydex worn outside the belt without concealment. The target arrangement was three metric USPSA targets placed together edge to edge five feet to the top of the shoulders.
I haven’t shot much of late, and I haven’t shot close quarter drills with a carry gun in months. I took some time to warm up, and the rust showed especially shooting from the hip on multiple targets. After the warm up I shot one round on each target from the hip at three yards. Starting position was hands at sides. The times were 1.16, 1.19, 1.18, 1.09, and 1.17 for an average of 1.16 seconds. The hit quality wasn’t the best and frankly I didn’t feel very confident. The majority of the time was in the draw…way slow.
I then repeated the drill shooting from full extension looking “through” the gun or over the top seeing the sights peripherally. Times were 1.18, 1.12, 1.17, 1.14, 1.18, for an average of 1.16 seconds. What the heck? I just ran the numbers as I type this and I am shocked that the time is the same. There are several reasons of that. First, comfort level with techniques, secondly the thousands of presentations I have made in practice, and last, I can drive a gun harder and more confidently when I can read the relationship of the bore to the target faces. Of course, shooting at extension at 2 yards is asking for a gun grab.
At the end of my session, I repeated the drill from the hip, this time shooting as fast and as aggressively as I could go without trigger freeze. The times were, 1.01, .95, 1.01, .96, 1.01, for an average of .99 seconds. The hit quality was not stellar. That’s better. So, shooting one on each of three targets at three yards takes me .99 seconds from the hip if I go nuts and 1.16 at full extension with confidence. The biggest difference is hit quality. I think that is exactly what everyone was saying in the PSing thread. That begs the question as to whether or not the extra .17 seconds is worth the huge increase in accuracy. I suppose not unless you miss.
I then shot a series of Mozambique Drills at 5 yards. The start position was both wrists above respective shoulders. The times were, 1.23, 1.26, 1.32, 1.31, and 1.21, for an average of 1.28 seconds. That’s pretty fast. I repeated the drill at 3 yards and the times were 1.09, 1.08, 1.05, 1.05, 1.04 for an average of 1.06 seconds. Hmmm, faster than shooting three targets edge to edge. Easily explained, it is easier to shoot a pair then ride the recoil than it is to index in the horizontal plane. I am also just plain faster shooting from surrender than from hands at sides. Then I got to thinking, what is the point of practicing Mozambique Drills from full extension at three yards? Again, a future gun grab could be in the works. I suppose two to the body from retention or the hip followed by one to the head from extension might be better. Practice as you fight.
What did I take away from the experience? Really nothing that I didn’t already know, but it was fun.
In another thread, a spirited discussion was held regarding the attributes of point shooting and aimed fire. Inevitably, the discussion revolves around accuracy (consistency and hit quality), speed, and usable distances for each technique. There is also the obligatory square range gun handling skills (gamers if you like) as opposed to skills more suitable for use in a self-defense role.
While reading the threads on “Quick Kill” and “Point Shooting”, I saw a lot of references regarding hit quality vs. time. Of course there are also references of so-and-so can do such-and-such in so many microseconds. In reality the only thing that matters is how fast I can consistently shoot with the required accuracy using varying techniques. A couple of days ago we had some beautiful weather so I went to the range to experiment with some PSing. The gun was a Dan Wesson V-Bob, the ammo was some target reloads somewhere around 160pf. The holster was kydex worn outside the belt without concealment. The target arrangement was three metric USPSA targets placed together edge to edge five feet to the top of the shoulders.
I haven’t shot much of late, and I haven’t shot close quarter drills with a carry gun in months. I took some time to warm up, and the rust showed especially shooting from the hip on multiple targets. After the warm up I shot one round on each target from the hip at three yards. Starting position was hands at sides. The times were 1.16, 1.19, 1.18, 1.09, and 1.17 for an average of 1.16 seconds. The hit quality wasn’t the best and frankly I didn’t feel very confident. The majority of the time was in the draw…way slow.
I then repeated the drill shooting from full extension looking “through” the gun or over the top seeing the sights peripherally. Times were 1.18, 1.12, 1.17, 1.14, 1.18, for an average of 1.16 seconds. What the heck? I just ran the numbers as I type this and I am shocked that the time is the same. There are several reasons of that. First, comfort level with techniques, secondly the thousands of presentations I have made in practice, and last, I can drive a gun harder and more confidently when I can read the relationship of the bore to the target faces. Of course, shooting at extension at 2 yards is asking for a gun grab.
At the end of my session, I repeated the drill from the hip, this time shooting as fast and as aggressively as I could go without trigger freeze. The times were, 1.01, .95, 1.01, .96, 1.01, for an average of .99 seconds. The hit quality was not stellar. That’s better. So, shooting one on each of three targets at three yards takes me .99 seconds from the hip if I go nuts and 1.16 at full extension with confidence. The biggest difference is hit quality. I think that is exactly what everyone was saying in the PSing thread. That begs the question as to whether or not the extra .17 seconds is worth the huge increase in accuracy. I suppose not unless you miss.
I then shot a series of Mozambique Drills at 5 yards. The start position was both wrists above respective shoulders. The times were, 1.23, 1.26, 1.32, 1.31, and 1.21, for an average of 1.28 seconds. That’s pretty fast. I repeated the drill at 3 yards and the times were 1.09, 1.08, 1.05, 1.05, 1.04 for an average of 1.06 seconds. Hmmm, faster than shooting three targets edge to edge. Easily explained, it is easier to shoot a pair then ride the recoil than it is to index in the horizontal plane. I am also just plain faster shooting from surrender than from hands at sides. Then I got to thinking, what is the point of practicing Mozambique Drills from full extension at three yards? Again, a future gun grab could be in the works. I suppose two to the body from retention or the hip followed by one to the head from extension might be better. Practice as you fight.
What did I take away from the experience? Really nothing that I didn’t already know, but it was fun.
