Shot placement

[Sam]

I have a pretty much anatomically correct reactive target that I like.
Works pretty well and is also 3 dimensionally accurate to about 30 degrees either side.

For putzing around, I like business cards stapled horizontally to a post at 7-10 yards and empty shotgun shells at the same distance.

Sam

 

[Ryder]

There someone spoke less than highly about my choice of targets(orange diamond sighting in target with 4 more orange diamonds in the corners).

I just happened to remember this was on my disk... Did somebody say orange triangles?

 

[Kodiaz]

Yeah that was me lets see if I can post mine

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=34970&d=1139013450
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Target was at 7 yds.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=34971&d=1139013520
Click image for larger version Name: 45 at the range 006.jpg Views: 0 Size: 478.7 KB ID: 34971

Target was at 20 yds.

I love my .45.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

While it is nice to see some of the human targets with key anatomy added in so as to give the shooter and idea of where to shoot (straight on) to be able to hit said key anatomy, so it is shame that the anatomy isn't as accurate as it could easily be.

For example, ANT-4 and ANT-5 both have the lungs extended up to and maybe slightly above where the person's collarbones would be. So the lungs and heart are shown with a higher than actual location. ANT-8 has the heart and lungs about right in terms of height, but they have skinnified the skeleton so the skeleton is actually too narrown for the person in the image. The frontal view anatonomy overprinted on the person also doesn't fit, apparently because the guy's body isn't quit full front, I think. There is more room on the right side of the pelvis than the left. Ant-5 and ANT-8 both have pelves that are far too narrow. It looks like they have well in excess of 1" of tissue between the iliac crests and the edges of their bodies. It actually is closer to 2" or so, but we can account for clothing being part of the problem. Even so, neither of these guys would be able to reach down and thump on their illiac crests, even though they are both not fat.

RyanM said,

If you nail the spinal cord, even if the bullet went through the stomach first, chances are good of an instant stop.

This is one of those statements that seems specific, but it isn't. What is an instant stop? Spinal injuries below the neck may result in the guy losing control of his lower body and his normal locomotion may be stopped, but that does not mean he will be stopped as a fighter and if he is still armed then he still can physically shoot you. He just isn't going to run away on his legs.

As far as differences of COM versus COC (center of chest/heart area), COC gives you the best shooting area for hitting vital organs, but gives you less room for error to account for your shooting problems, moving target, etc. COM gives you the greatest room for error while still striking the target.

 

[RyanM]

This is one of those statements that seems specific, but it isn't. What is an instant stop? Spinal injuries below the neck may result in the guy losing control of his lower body and his normal locomotion may be stopped, but that does not mean he will be stopped as a fighter and if he is still armed then he still can physically shoot you. He just isn't going to run away on his legs.

I meant unconsciousness. A good hit to the cervical spinal cord or brain is the only 99.9-something% guarantee of instant unconsciousness, but severing or otherwise damaging the spinal cord further down can sometimes cause an instant knock-out. Chances decrease the further down you go, but it can still happen.

 

[Tim Burke]

While it is nice to see some of the human targets with key anatomy added in so as to give the shooter and idea of where to shoot (straight on) to be able to hit said key anatomy, so it is shame that the anatomy isn't as accurate as it could easily be.

The caveat about the target being straight on is an important issue.

For example, ANT-4 and ANT-5 both have the lungs extended up to and maybe slightly above where the person's collarbones would be. So the lungs and heart are shown with a higher than actual location.

Lungs frequently extend above the clavicles. Based on the images in the posts, I'd say ANT-4 may show the heart slightly high, ANT-5 looks correct, and ANT-8 has it slightly low.

A good hit to the cervical spinal cord or brain is the only 99.9-something% guarantee of instant unconsciousness,

A high cervical hit may cause immediate collapse and loss of motor control of all extremities, but I wouldn't count on it causing unconsciousness. Lower spinal cord hits are even less likely to cause unconsciousness.

 

[Jenrick]

Just as a note on the targets of police officers and such.

We use them all the time for target descrimination drills. They also sell badges, POLICE tags, etc, that you stick on the target to make it a no shoot. I'm sure some people get them to shoot at, but I imagine they're mainly used for no-shoot targets.

-Jenrick

 

[possum]

I use the military e-type targets. i practice rapid 3-5 shots which i have became pretty good at doing at 7 to 15 meters. I also practice the triple tap racking upward. and head shots. I have also had alot of fun shooting ballons that i tie to the target and let the wind have it's way with, to simulate a moving target.

 

[kennyboy]

I agree with Kodiaz. .45 is the best pistol cartridge. I can't stress that enough. The bigger the holes, the more damage.

 

[carebear]

My point in my opinion is to train for center of what ever mass is presented as a target whether that be a chest or head etc. to reduce the possiblity of missing the target.

Exactly right. Louis Awerbuck has a great video out showing how he'll curve targets, half conceal them, place them at weird angles etc.

His point is that you'll scarcely ever have a straight-on shot where COM is possible and that training to shoot at the center of the chest can result in grazing or ineffective wounds in real life, for example, on a 3/4 bladed target you need to aim at the front of the armpit, not the chest, to get a full tranverse of the torso. He recommends thinking about the path the round will take and (like most of the top instructors) shooting for the most effective part of what you have offered (think the shot in the foot scene in WotG).

Straight-on shots are great for range practice but (within the limits of what your shooting area will allow) mix it up a little.