Variations of the Double Tap
Variations of the “Double Tap”
Based on material posted by Roscoe Benson on
www.tacticalforums.com on 12-13-2002.
There is much confusion over the term “double tap” and what it actually means.
A “double tap” is a quick two shot burst fired on a single target. We fire two shots because we may miss with the first or the first hit may not cause incapacitation rapidly enough to protect us from a deadly assault.
Within the concept of the “Double Tap”, Jeff Cooper at API taught three variations, the “Hammer”, the “Dedicated Pair” and the “Controlled Pair”. Many people believe the specific technique of the “Hammer” is the same as the “Double Tap” but that is not exactly true.
The “Double Tap” is the general category of technique and the “Hammer”, “Dedicated Pair”
and “Controlled Pair” are specific applications of that technique.
The normally accepted standard of accuracy is that both hits remain in the A zone on an IPSC, IDPA or Paladin silhouette target. A 8 inch paper plate makes a field expedient repair center for practice purposes.
The “Hammer” is a flash sight picture – shot #1 – recover from recoil – shot #2.
This is a technique best utilized where multiple hits with coarse accuracy are required very quickly at close range. Whether one can successfully get the required hits using the “hammer” is certainly influenced by recoil and it manifests itself as the distance at which one can keep his “hammer” delivered pairs acceptably placed.
One sight picture, two shots. A “Hammer’s” best utility is to put two hits on target in a hyper-rapid interval, and with practice one can fire a “dedicated pair” or a “controlled pair” nearly as fast with greater accuracy. (The "Hammer" is also known as "the accelerated pair")
The “Dedicated Pair” is an aimed sight picture – shot #1 – recover from recoil – flash sight picture – shot #2. The “Dedicated Pair” differs from the “Controlled Pair” only in that, while the sights are seen for the second shot, no attempt is made to correct the sight picture. The sights are seen for the second shot only to verify alignment that has already been achieved through a well-practiced follow-through. Since the eye can pick up images incredibly quickly, many shooters who think they are firing “hammers” are really firing “controlled pairs”.
The “Controlled Pair” goes like so: aimed sight picture – shot #1 – recover from recoil – reacquire aimed sight picture as needed – shot #2.
In a “controlled pair” the interval between the shots can be very short or quite long. The length of the interval is influenced by the degree of marksmanship difficulty required by circumstance, the recoil of the weapon, the type of trigger, and so forth.
Through practice, experienced shooters know how much time they need to deliver a “double tap” on a particular target at a particular distance under particular circumstances. A charging target at 5 yards might best be engaged by a “Hammer” where a partial target behind hard cover at 15 yards would require a “Controlled Pair”. Most situations are best resolved with a “Dedicated Pair”.
These descriptions of technique are most useful to newer shooters trying to conceptualize marksmanship skills and techniques over the continuum of situations where they might need to be applied. With practice, experienced shooters know how precise a trigger stroke and how perfect a sight picture they need to deliver a shot or shot on target under different parameters.
THE DOUBLE TAP
Notes taken from the article "Firing Modes with the Combat Handgun"
By Gregory Boyce Morrison
S.W.A.T. Magazine / October 1989 -- Page 46
The reason we stress two hits are simple: First, even the most powerful handguns are pretty mild in terms of fight stopping ability, so two hits are better than one. Second, such a practice increases the odds of a solid hit on a difficult target. Third, it provides a greater likelihood of damaging something critical. Fourth, even under the best of circumstances there is always the possibility of a miss.
TYPES OF DOUBLE TAP
THE CONTROLLED PAIR -- They are a pair of shots involving deliberate use of the sights, when there is sufficient time for minor sight alignment adjustments between shots. More simply, a controlled pair consists of two fast single shots separated by a span of time no longer than necessary for the proper manipulation of the trigger.
THE ACCELERATED PAIR (aka THE HAMMER) -- An accelerated cadence is possible when dealing with extremely close range targets from perhaps 15 feet (5 yards) in to arm's length. At this distance most people can fire the weapon in a manner called "Hammering". The first shot is fired as in the controlled pair, but the difference lies in how the second round is discharged.
The hammer is accomplished by timing the second trigger press with the return of the bore line to the same axis as during the first shot. The sights are not acquired for the second shot, as muscle energy is depended upon to return the weapon to proper alignment. The muzzle-dampening benefits of the Weaver Stance considerably enhance the technique. The hammer is sufficiently different from the controlled pair, so that it requires additional attention. It is a good technique, but one probably won't perfect it in an afternoon.
THE DEDICATED PAIR -- This mode of fire is the end result of the natural progression of speed with the controlled pair. As one reduces the shot-to-shot time interval with the controlled pair, there comes a point where sight adjustments for the second shot are precluded. The sights are seen on the second shot, and the shooter can call the shot, but there is insufficient time to change anything. Its use results in a cadenced firing speed, for whether at 5 or 15 yards, it still takes the same amount of time for the weapon to return to the line of sight established on the first shot of the pair.
Once the trigger finger is educated, it works quite well. From some observations of the firing speed, we would imagine that many people who feel that they are "hammering" are in fact, firing dedicated pairs.
One finds that with practice the sights naturally settle back to the original line of sight following the shot. If this is deeply programmed through the practice of proper technique, one of the results at the accelerated end of the continuum is the "dedicated pair". It is slightly slower than the "hammer" but it can be used at considerably greater distance. The only limiting factor is one's personal degree of consistency in stance, grip, muzzle control and trigger control.
