1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Refernece Points
Lancel said:
Distance is given when discussing accuracy to give the reader a reference. Just because I can run 14 miles per hour doesn't mean that I run 14 miles in one hour.
Howdy lancel...Understood and acknowleged. The point that I was getting
at was that I've noticed recently that too much emphasis is placed on how
tightly a gun will group its shots at a specifed distance, and using that
as a yardstick to determine the pistol's usefulness as a defensive tool.
Then the merit of Pistol A vs Pistol B is judged by how easy the sights are
to see. While it's true that big, blocky sights that are sharply defined
are a plus on a target range, they can be a liability in a close-range
emergency...sights that , as observed, probably won't even be used
95% of the time. When faced with a deadly threat at arm's length, speed
of deployment is paramount. Big, easy to see sights can slow you down.
Getting into a habit of searching the top of the gun for a perfect sight picture before firing will become an auto-response. It may only take a
second, but that second may be enough time to get you killed.
Another member made the observation that a perfectly placed shot is
necessary to decisively stop an attacker coming at him from 5 feet with a
crowbar, and target sights/accuracy would help insure perfect placement. My response was that if a man was coming on hard and fast at 5 feet while swinging a crowbar, that the attacker would cave in his skull before he could find the sights...Why? Unless you're highly disciplined and well-practiced, your eyes will be riveted on your attacker. By the time you switch back to "Range Mode" and start to search for the sights, the lights
will go out before you can find them.
The target shooter has a need for sharp sights and intrinsic accuracy.
The defensive pistoleer has a need for speed.
When it comes down to shoot or be killed, 3 fast hits in the 8-ring will beat a perfect "X" that comes too late...every time. Practice the way you'll have to fight, and you'll probably survive. Form range habits, and you may not.
Some of the best 'Match" marksmen in the world fall apart when the flag flies.
This public service announcement comes to you from those who have been there, done that.
Cheers!
Lancel said:
Distance is given when discussing accuracy to give the reader a reference. Just because I can run 14 miles per hour doesn't mean that I run 14 miles in one hour.
Howdy lancel...Understood and acknowleged. The point that I was getting
at was that I've noticed recently that too much emphasis is placed on how
tightly a gun will group its shots at a specifed distance, and using that
as a yardstick to determine the pistol's usefulness as a defensive tool.
Then the merit of Pistol A vs Pistol B is judged by how easy the sights are
to see. While it's true that big, blocky sights that are sharply defined
are a plus on a target range, they can be a liability in a close-range
emergency...sights that , as observed, probably won't even be used
95% of the time. When faced with a deadly threat at arm's length, speed
of deployment is paramount. Big, easy to see sights can slow you down.
Getting into a habit of searching the top of the gun for a perfect sight picture before firing will become an auto-response. It may only take a
second, but that second may be enough time to get you killed.
Another member made the observation that a perfectly placed shot is
necessary to decisively stop an attacker coming at him from 5 feet with a
crowbar, and target sights/accuracy would help insure perfect placement. My response was that if a man was coming on hard and fast at 5 feet while swinging a crowbar, that the attacker would cave in his skull before he could find the sights...Why? Unless you're highly disciplined and well-practiced, your eyes will be riveted on your attacker. By the time you switch back to "Range Mode" and start to search for the sights, the lights
will go out before you can find them.
The target shooter has a need for sharp sights and intrinsic accuracy.
The defensive pistoleer has a need for speed.
When it comes down to shoot or be killed, 3 fast hits in the 8-ring will beat a perfect "X" that comes too late...every time. Practice the way you'll have to fight, and you'll probably survive. Form range habits, and you may not.
Some of the best 'Match" marksmen in the world fall apart when the flag flies.
This public service announcement comes to you from those who have been there, done that.
Cheers!
