Point Shooting foo-foo (again)

[trapshooter]

I love these threads. The guys who know what's up always seem to remember things that I

a. never realized (thus didn't know)
and
b. freely share thier experience

Thinking very hard (this means just 'thinking', mostly), when I was shooting X's in a relatively serious way, the faster I had to shoot, the less I relied on a 'perfect' sight picture, and more on the target. As the distance increased, I was allowed, and took, more time. Enough to get a good frontsight.

The (very few) times I had to actually draw on a live target, I don't recall a 'sight picture' in the classic sense at all, just the 'target', with a vague recollection of the gun between us.

I guess what I'm saying is that, theory aside, my limited experience tends to push me towards PS techniques. With a handgun or rifle, the more time I take to think, the less likely I am to be precise.

 

[comacho]

Point shooting? SAS - Delta Force. Those guys use it for close quarters combat. But after all, what would they know?
comacho

 

[The Rabbi]

Point shooting? SAS - Delta Force. Those guys use it for close quarters combat. But after all, what would they know?

Well, glad you raised this since it seems like a contradiciton.
One of Fairbairn's propositions was that is is easy to train someone using the PS method, easier than training him to use sights in fact. Yet in the orgs you mention I know that the training to PS involves about 8 hours a day for more than a few weeks plus periodic refresher sessions. I dont know too many people who have the time and money for that kind of training.

 

[Sean85746]

Use What Works For You

I have been to see the elephant, as cowboys used to say. I worked in federal law enforcement in Panama doing drug interdiction for a large chunk of my adult life.

We had many teachers tell us what their new gee-whizz take on shooting and combat was.

The one question I always asked them was.."Have you EVER been under fire?"

If the answer was anything other than "Yes", I turned off my ears and went to the room in the back of my mind where I can shoot pool and drink ice cold beer served by topless Hooters Girls.

I have been in 4 armed encounters. Three of them ended without a shot having to be fired. One did not. All I remember was seeing a very quick flash of my front sight on the chest of the subject. I didn't hear the gun shot, nor did I feel recoil. My only sensation was a slow motion view of the front sight.

I fought as I had trained. I used what was best for me. My advice is this:

Get a good handle on your weapon and your abilities. Learn and practice the fundamentals of good shooting. WATCH YOUR FRONT SIGHT, and PRESS THE TRIGGER.

Don't follow the whim of every Tom, Dick, and Harry who thinks he is Mr. Joe Combat Pistolero. Remember that common sense and a little applied knowledge, and lots of practice will bring you home safe.

 

[1911Tuner]

Questions

Sean said:

(sic) "have you ever been under fire?"
______________________

And that is exactly the point. My experiences differed a little. I didn't hear the report...I didn't feel the recoil...I don't remember seeing anything except the other guy's muzzle flash. I may have caught a brief glimpse of the front sight...but I don't remember it either time. I may have seen it, but I don't have that memory.
I do remember that everything slowed down to a crawl...and that the distances seem farther in recollection than they actually were. Funny stuff, stress.

 

[Ankeny]

Yeah, that stress is some funny stuff. BTW, I am a former LEO, in South Dakota just after the Wounded Knee screw up. Hell, I used to work the rally when the bikers were hardcore. Yeah, I have thrown down on more than one scum bag. Those experiences don't make me one little bit more proficient with a pistol. However, it's nice to know I can function when it matters.

Don't follow the whim of every Tom, Dick, and Harry who thinks he is Mr. Joe Combat Pistolero.

I follow the teachings of the most highly sought after trainers of elite military forces and law enforcement agencies. Guys like Avery, Barnhart, and Leatham. Not listening to the best shooters in the world because they haven't pooped a cap in a bad guy's azz is just a little too anal for me.

 

[okjoe]

Point Shooting and/or P&S is almost brain dead simple and as such, can be learned (at your own risk and expense of course), by most regular folks and with little or no practice.

It is good from very close quarters to the practical handgun fighting distance of around 25 feet. That distance should also take care of most in home situations unless you own a mansion.

Just look at your targets. They will tell you if it works for you.

As with most things, practice will improve performance.