Help me design a class for backup guns

[Rexster]

Regarding accessibility, access while in a fight, i.e., bent at the waist, should be considered. Front pockets become inaccessible, and rear pockets tighten up. Thanks to SouthNarc and Paul Gomez for publicizing this vital aspect of gunfighting! Fights don't start at 25 yards, or even 7 yards; they start at zero yards. (I would think "smartcarry/thunderwear" might be complicated by being bent at the waist, too.) I also recommend Michael DeBethancourt's stuff. I have trained with all three of these instructors; SouthNarc is a real guy, who conceals his identity for self-evident reasons. Ed Lovette's little book on the Snubby Revolver is a gem, which costs little; I also recommend "Shooting to Live" by Fairbairn and "Shooting" by J.H. "Fitz" Fitzgerald. The latter is out of print, and commands collector prices, but Lovette and Fairbairn pass along much of the good stuff from Fitzgerald.
I attended the Snubby Summit, too, as mentioned above; what a great event!

 

[MBane666]

Make a good SHOOTING GALLERY...

Michael B

 

[Browning]

If it were my class on the BUG, I'd have them focus on four things.

1) Being able to draw the weapon smoothly and able to accurately fire within just a couple seconds in both a seated and a standing position. If the person is carrying their BUG in a place that isn't all that easy to reach, they'll find out in class rather than on the street in a confrontation.

2) Drawing their weapon while seeking cover, moving away from their opponent quickly or using strikes to distract their opponent while they drew their back up gun since most of these guns are carried on the body in places that aren't quite as accessable as their main handgun. This should also include being able to get their BUG out while avoiding or blocking blows from impact weapons, punches, kicks and/or stabs since most of the situations a back up gun is likely to be needed will occur at very short ranges.

3) Being able to accurately fire at both close range (less than 7 feet) and at medium ranges (under 15 yards) and being able to perform malfunction drills and reloads on the smaller gun efficiently once they have the gun out. In short being able to manage their weapon under stress.

4) Weak handed use and use of the weapon while being injured since many times the BUG comes into play after they've been injured, shot or been disarmed earlier. Being shot in the gun arm and in the primary hand is a pretty common phenomenon in gun fights and people frequently have to use their weak hand to defend themselves with. Look at the Miami Shootout in 1986, most everybody was shooting with one hand by the end of the fight.

Those would be the things that I'd concentrate on anyway.

 

[mgregg85]

an idea for you...
in the rare times that I carry a BUG in addition to my XD i like to keep it on my weak side in case some bad guy were to grab the barrel of my xd and try to wrestle it from my grip. With it on my weak side I could attempt to hold the xd with my strong hand and grab the BUG with my weak hand and use that to force him to release my primary weapon. Even if it wasn't a BUG it could be a back up knife or impact weapon that could save your life if whoever is attacking you happens to grab at your main weapon.