Aiming on the Second Shot

[Titan6]

I have been doing a lot of pistol shooting lately and must admit it has improved somewhat.

Anyway I noticed that when firing double taps that if I aim on the second shot the shots are within 4" or less of each other from 25'. When I don't aim (fire very qickly) the shots are within 8", sometimes closer, but never farther away. I am thinking that double taps that close together are enough. My questions are

- Do you aim on the second shot of a double tap?
- Do you think it is worth the extra effort? Why/ why not?

 

[Lurper]

Always aim. It should not require any additional effort. The second shot is no different than the first. Go to competition shooting and find my post on "double tap" and watch the video. I cannot post a link here in S&T.

 

[highorder]

from what I have been told, moderate bullet despersion is desirable; the body reacts to two wounds in close proximity as a single wound. two wounds several inches apart are considered seperately by the body and hasten the onset of shock.

mind you, this point is moot for shots that destroy important tissue. If you fire a double tap and one round penetrates the right atrium of the heart while the other severs the aorta; while close together both wounds destroy important tissue and are more serious than a shot thru the lung and the aorta...

FWIW, this information comes from an informal conversation between a DEA door kicker, a thoracic surgeon, and myself.

 

[Sam1911]

Under the general heading of "double-tap" there are a lot of different terms used a bit interchangeably for a couple of different procedures. "Double-Taps," "Hammer Pairs," and probably others.

One procedure is to acquire a sight picture, fire, reacquire the sight picture, and fire again.

The second procedure is to acquire the sight picture and fire twice -- with no more time involved than needed to reset the trigger. If you are practiced at this and have the cadence down that allows you and your particular gun, and the power/recoil of your ammo, to cooperate, your second shot will break as the gun is coming back to the original point of aim and your two shots will be very close to each other on the target.

Some shooters describe following the front sight with their eyes the whole time. I can't do that. I find that I see the front sight arrive at the point of aim, fire and then maintain that stance and focus as I look "through" the gun at the point of aim for subsequent shots. My trigger finger is moving and the gun is moving, but my stance and focus are not. Once that first shot breaks, I see the gun as a dark blur, centered on the target.

If you practice "Bill Drills" (6 shots on target at maximum effective speed), you will see this more fully. I cannot say that no shooters execute "Bill Drills" by obtaining a clear sight picture between every shot. I can say that I certainly don't. I generally produce a sub-5 or 6" group in a "Bill Drill." That's can be all "Down 0" hits, if my point of aim and initial sight picture was good and I can maintain focus. I'm not saying that I shoot perfect scores all the time...or much .. but dropping a "Down 3" is unusual for me with this technique, and it gets me around 0.20 sec. split times, so I'm happy enough. Again, 10 yds. max.

At 10 yds. and under, this is the type of shooting I do in IDPA competition. At longer ranges, sights for every shot.

I've heard of a practice drill some folks use to train themselves to do this. Take one of those small paper plates and try this technique at 5 yds. When you can keep all your double-taps on the plate at 5, move back to 7. Then 10. If you can extend your range beyond that, great, but it's going to take a lot of time.

Good luck! No technique is compatible with every shooter, and vice-versa.

-Sam

 

[Titan6]

One procedure is to acquire a sight picture, fire, reacquire the sight picture, and fire again.

This is how I have always been taught, except to follow up with a third sight picture at the end to ensure you are on target and judge whether or not more rounds are required to engage the target. I am thinking that the speed in which a double tap is fired would be more advantageous than taking time to more carefully aim the second shot. Probably an exception would be for moving targets, especially if they were moving in a direction other than straight at you.

 

[Charles S]

Always aim. It should not require any additional effort. The second shot is no different than the first.

Agreed. However this does take (or did for me) education, practice, and experience.

This is how I have always been taught, except to follow up with a third sight picture at the end to ensure you are on target and judge whether or not more rounds are required to engage the target.

One of my favorite instructors says you should be in love(changed for the High Road) with your front sight. When properly trained an individual should be able to call their shots (remember the sight picture when the trigger broke).

I am thinking that the speed in which a double tap is fired would be more advantageous than taking time to more carefully aim the second shot.

A well trained individual should be able to shoot between 4 and 5 aimed shots in a second (some can even shoot 6). To me there is no benefit to un-aimed fire.

 

[Titan6]

A well trained individual should be able to shoot between 4 and 5 aimed shots in a second (some can even shoot 6 or 7). To me there is no benefit to un-aimed fire.

I have never really timed myself on a pistol. All I know is when I really want to be shooting it never seems fast enough.

 

[Lurper]

One procedure is to acquire a sight picture, fire, reacquire the sight picture, and fire again.

It's really better to have one continuos sight picture as opposed to "reacquiring" the sight.

Titan6 watch the video in the post I mentioned in competition shooting. It has a good explanation of the process.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

Col. Cooper made a distinction in techniques of firing two rapid shots.

A "Hammer" was described as two shots fired with one sight picture. Relying on a solid grip and stance to return the pistol to the target after the first (sighted) shot was fired. Obviously restricted to short range encounters but remarkably effective when given some dedicated practice.

A "Pair" was two shots fired as rapidly as the (flash) sight picture could be re-acquired after the first (sighted) shot.

A "Split Hammer" was also taught in "Advanced Pistol" and "Special Pistol" for two targets in extremely close proximity. One sighted shot followed by an immediate second shot at the seconday target again relying on solid grip and stance to return the pistol to target with a slight correction for the second.

Col. Cooper did not like or use the term "double tap" but insisted on students learning the difference between a "Hammer" and a (controlled) "Pair".

 

[possum]

for me it depends on distance to the target. there are times when i tale 2 shots with one sight picture and times i take 2 shots with 2 sight pictures.
there are different names for the above and it is all quite confusing really. i call the 2 shots one sight picture, hammers, and the 2 shots 2 sight pictures controlled pairs.

 

[SA Friday]

Go to www.brianenos.com and buy his book. Read it and you will begin to understand the different sight pictures in relation to your target(s). Your sight picture, acquisition, calling your shots, and follow through can all change depending on your target, distance, etc.

Go find a USPSA or IDPA match in your area. Your learning curve in this area will skyrocket with time.