Good article here is a MUST read:
http://www.birdflumanual.com/resour...esentation to Police Firearms Instructors.pdf
Synopsis follows, but I advise you to read the whole article.
Col. Rex Applegate’s Presentation
To Police Firearms Trainers
On February 24, 1998 in Seattle, Washington
Colonel Rex Applegate has enjoyed an extraordinary
career as a world renowned leader on Close Combat
techniques, as knife designer, and as the foremost expert
on Riot Control. Applegate served in the U.S. Army
Military Intelligence, and was a member of the OSS
during World War ll. His book “Kill or Get Killed” is
the best selling book on unarmed and armed close
combat in history. The U.S. Marine Corps has reprinted
“Kill or Get Killed” as an official reference training
manual, and Applegate’s revolutionary knife fighting
and Point Handgun Shooting Techniques are in wide use,
earning the unparalled respect of of virtually everyone in
the police shooting and military communities. Applegate
is also the winner of the Outstanding American
Handgunner Award. His books include Kill or Get
Killed, Crowd & Riot Control, Point Shooting, Shooting
For Keeps, Scouting and Patrolling - and more!
...“Point shooting is the employment of the handgun in close quarter combat
without the need or use of the sights. Point Shooting, (contrary to some of these self-appointed gurus) is not some untested, untried theory!”
"...For those of you who do not know, I have long been an
advocate of the single hand point shooting technique, a
combat tested, historically proven, and authenticated
method of using the handgun in close quarter, life
threatening situations. It is diametrically opposed to most
of the basic precepts of the Weaver technique. Also,
believe me when I say that if there were any other proven
way to improve police handgun performance in close
combat, I would be for it, even if it involved standing on
your head. I hope that now you can approach this subject
with an ‘open mind.’ Remember, your main concern and
primary objective should always be how to teach your
officers and recruits to survive and successfully conclude
handgun firefights - which mostly occur at close quarters.
I am of the opinion that in the case of the sighted shot,
I would rely entirely on the isosceles stance. In my
opinion, any future successful police handgun training
program should be devoted to half isosceles and half point
shooting. I would entirely eliminate the Weaver stance
training for reasons which I will state later in the program.
There is an urgent need of an attitude change in the minds
of most trainers and in the law enforcement organizations
of this vital, basic subject..."
... "During the years 1972-92, there were 1,722 police officers killed in armed encounters. The following is a breakdown of the distances in which these officers were
fatally shot:
0-5 ft - 928 officers fatally shot (percentage is 53.89)
6-10 ft - 342 officers fatally shot (percentage is 19.68)
11-20 ft - 237 officers fatally shot (percentage is 13.77)
21-50 - 118 officers fatally shot (percentage is 6.85)
50 ft plus - 97 officers fatally shot (percentage is 5.63)
Colonel Applegate: “Proper training in combat point shooting achieves quicker expertise, does not necessitate so much retraining to maintain proficiency, saves more police lives, and takes more criminals off the streets. There has been too much concentration on
what is erroneously called the “new modern technique” promoted by self-appointed gurus instead of what is, and has been proven in combat!”
(In 1996, Colonel Applegate produced a video for Paladin called “Shooting For Keeps.” It covers in detail, point shooting techniques. Additional information may be found
on the blue sheet enclosed with your “Informed Source” Intelligence Newsletter.)
EPILOGUE
“During recent months, three national major state police agencies have adopted Point Shooting. The largest of these agencies is the California Highway Patrol (5,500 men).
They have just finished the training process and adopted the single handed point shooting technique for employment in the majority of police-criminal firefight
situations. In addition, one major Federal police agency and numerous small civil law enforcement agencies have also adopted the technique. The U.S. Military is currently
undergoing testing procedures so as to, once again, possibly adopt the technique which was abandoned shortly after WWII.” - Col Applegate