Something a little different.

[M2 Carbine]

Yesterday I posted this on another forum, but I thought the THR members that haven't seen it might find it interesting.

Don't read anything into it.
I'm not advocating that people should not practice at 7 yards and closer or that you close your eyes when you shoot.
It's just a, "I wonder what if", fun experiment.
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Another thread discussing shooting at 7 yards got me to thinking.

I'm not a big fan of shooting closer than about 15 yards except for practicing close up defense type shooting and sometimes point shooting, etc.

I've been known to say, "Inside 7 yards it's so close that you can hit the target with your eyes closed."

I like a challenge and like experimenting so I thought I'd put my money where my mouth is, so to speak.
Besides, it's just such a nice day for shooting.

I haven't shot my Taurus PT99 in a long time, so I thought it would be good for this test. If there's such a thing as muscle memory, I wouldn't have it for this gun. I've only shot it a couple times since I bought it last year.



So here's the test.
At seven yards I'd get a sight picture, then close my eyes and squeeze the trigger. Open my eyes and acquire the sight picture for each shot. I took note that it was taking me between 2 and 3+ seconds to squeeze the trigger.
I must admit that it is a little strange feeling.

The target is the center of the old Texas concealed carry qualification target.

The results from a full magazine surprised me, but then, that left flier upset me. With the flier the spread is 3 3/4 inches.
Maybe I should close my eyes more often when shooting.

I think now I can now confidently say that Shooting at seven yards is so close that you can close your eyes and do it.



BTW, I haven't been a big fan of the Beretta 92 and clones but after getting in a good shooting session with that Taurus I believe I'm changing my mind.
I think it will do good at 100 yards.

 

[10-Ring]

Good looking Taurus and some nice shooting there too!

 

[zahc]

Now try it after blindfolding yourself and spinning around 5 times...

 

[MachIVshooter]

So you are planning to close your eyes if you ever have to shoot in self-defense? Does the thought of seeing blood bother you or what?

I guess I miss the objective of this one. Point shooting is one thing, but PPC-style eyes-closed serves exactly what purpose?

 

[M2 Carbine]

MachIVshooter
I guess I miss the objective of this one.

I guess you also missed reading what I wrote.
"Don't read anything into it.
I'm not advocating that people should not practice at 7 yards and closer or that you close your eyes when you shoot.
It's just a, "I wonder what if", fun experiment."

But if you must have a defense reason for every round you shoot.
Some very unlikely but still possible events could be, you get blinded by, light, gun flash, wound, pepper spray, flash bang, etc, etc, you just going to let the BG kill you are you going to spray and pray?

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zahc Now try it after blindfolding yourself and spinning around 5 times...

That sounds like a plan.
If you'll try it with me.

I do plan on taking this one step further.
Stand facing the target (7 yards), gun lowered, close eyes, raise gun and fire.
Probably I'll start at 4-5 yards first to see if there's any reason to continue moving back.


A practical reason (not that I care about a practical reason for this experiment)?
Ever try shooting in almost complete darkness? I have. It is spray and pray.

 

[DirtyBrad]

I'm with you, M2. Filling a pumpkin up with Kool-Aid doesn't have much training value, but it's good times with a shotgun slug.

I also find that roller coasters, fireworks, and popcorn have no practical value.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I don't know.

Seems like yesterday saw on the net that a pumpkin, high on Kool Aid, attacked a young lady in her home and she defended herself with a kitchen knife.
They said the pumpkin ended up being part of Thanksgiving dinner today.

 

[mnrivrat]

Now start with the gun at ready and pointed in front of you toward the ground. Then close your eyes so that you have to bring the gun to the target with your eyes closed ,and fire.

(make sure you have a proper background/stop area)

 

[M2 Carbine]

Now start with the gun at ready and pointed in front of you toward the ground.
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That's the plan. Maybe tomorrow.

If nothing else I want to run some more different ammo through the Taurus. It seemed to be a little finicky about the ammo yesterday. I shot three different loads (reloads) and two didn't do well, so I want to try them again.

Oh, I had my eyes open this time.

15 yards.
Left, some no name lead bullets.
Right, some no name jacketed flat nose bullets. Looks like a shotgun.



15 yards.
115gr no name FMJ, loaded in 1993 but still not bad shooting.

 

[M2 Carbine]

mnrivrat
Now start with the gun at ready and pointed in front of you toward the ground. Then close your eyes so that you have to bring the gun to the target with your eyes closed ,and fire.

OK.

This morning I got out the Taurus again, I'm really getting to like that gun, and continued with the experiment.
(any reason to put off the chores and shoot )

7 yards.
Fired 16 rounds, twice.
Started with gun pointed down, hammer back every shot.
Looked in different directions, then close eyes.
Fire one round, except one double tap (both good hits).

The first 16 shots mostly hit low so on the second 16 I tried to hold higher, which worked.

I used the skinny BG target since it is more of a challange that the TX concealed carry target.

Again I'm surprised by the results. I didn't expect to miss the paper but I did expect to miss the BG a few more times.

Fun shooting.