In another thread, https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/dry-fire-practice-without-snap-caps-yes-or-no.821363/ the subject of the "four rules" came up and started to sidetrack the thread a bit. It was suggested that I start another thread to discuss this subject. I do not claim to be some sort of authority on firearms and the ways they are used. This is simply my opinion that you can take or leave at your pleasure. I have what many would consider to be a significant amount of professional training in the "TTP's" for both pistol and rifle. I'm also an NRA certified basic pistol instructor (a credential that means little or nothing when it comes to practical, real world weapons knowledge).
Here's Cooper's "Four Rules". There are a few variations of this but this is the basic idea.
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.
I'll go over each one and give my thoughts on it.
#1. I believe this one to be far too simplistic and juvenile. All guns are not always loaded and it's impossible to treat them that way. This would be the similar to saying that you should always keep your seatbelt buckled and your hands on the wheel while in your car, even when it's parked in your garage and you're changing the oil. Cleaning, dry fire practice, some training techniques (this one will be controversial) and gunsmithing would all be impossible if we were actually always treating all guns as if they were loaded.
#2. This one is also overly simplistic and rather confusing for new gun users. Obviously, when the gun is unloaded and in a case we all regularly point the muzzle at things we don't want to destroy. Even when the gun is loaded it's impossible in many cases to holster it without at some point having the muzzle pointing at something we don't want to shoot. Obviously this is more common with certain carry methods than others. Some people object to appendix carry for this reason. Any carry method is subject to this "problem" at some point though. Try drawing from the four o'clock position while seated and engaging a target at nine o'clock without pointing the gun at any part of your body and simultaneously avoiding flagging people sitting across the table or room from you. In many cases, it can't be done. If we're on the second floor of a house, there may be no way to avoid having the muzzle at some point cover something we don't want to destroy. There are also certain training techniques (again, I realize this is going to be controversial) that would would not be possible if this rule was followed religiously.
#3. Again, too simplistic. Generally speaking it's best to keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target, but getting a sight picture is not always possible. Anyone who has done any close quarters gunfighting training will know what I'm talking about. If you can get your sights on the target, then by all means do so but there is not always a guarantee that you will be able to use your sights. Contact shots and the ever popular revolver technique of shooting through a pocket are a couple examples.
#4 This one I am largely ok with. I would add "be aware of what or who is to the sides of your target, and where and how fast it/they may go" to that rule.
These are just my somewhat scattered thoughts on the subject. I recognize that this is bucking long standing tradition a bit and I mean no offense to anyone here. In our CCW classes we tell the students about the four NRA rules, but we want them to remember two basic rules that cover all the bases when taken fully to their logical conclusion. Those two rules are:
1. Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
This one is self explanatory. When you it's time to actually fire the weapon, that's when you put your finger on the trigger. Otherwise, keep it off.
2. Always maintain active muzzle awareness.
This one requires some more explanation. Active muzzle awareness means always knowing where and at what, your gun is pointing, whether you're in the act of shooting are just transporting the weapon. I know that when I sit down, my appendix carried Glock 19 is pointed at my right testicle. I know that when I dry fire practice in my house, I don't point the weapon at the wall of my kids bedroom, I point it toward the back yard. I know that when I'm doing a three to five yard bound, peeling to the side behind my training partner, that I don't flag his legs as I run behind him. Those are some examples of active muzzle awareness.
Let the games begin!
Here's Cooper's "Four Rules". There are a few variations of this but this is the basic idea.
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.
I'll go over each one and give my thoughts on it.
#1. I believe this one to be far too simplistic and juvenile. All guns are not always loaded and it's impossible to treat them that way. This would be the similar to saying that you should always keep your seatbelt buckled and your hands on the wheel while in your car, even when it's parked in your garage and you're changing the oil. Cleaning, dry fire practice, some training techniques (this one will be controversial) and gunsmithing would all be impossible if we were actually always treating all guns as if they were loaded.
#2. This one is also overly simplistic and rather confusing for new gun users. Obviously, when the gun is unloaded and in a case we all regularly point the muzzle at things we don't want to destroy. Even when the gun is loaded it's impossible in many cases to holster it without at some point having the muzzle pointing at something we don't want to shoot. Obviously this is more common with certain carry methods than others. Some people object to appendix carry for this reason. Any carry method is subject to this "problem" at some point though. Try drawing from the four o'clock position while seated and engaging a target at nine o'clock without pointing the gun at any part of your body and simultaneously avoiding flagging people sitting across the table or room from you. In many cases, it can't be done. If we're on the second floor of a house, there may be no way to avoid having the muzzle at some point cover something we don't want to destroy. There are also certain training techniques (again, I realize this is going to be controversial) that would would not be possible if this rule was followed religiously.
#3. Again, too simplistic. Generally speaking it's best to keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target, but getting a sight picture is not always possible. Anyone who has done any close quarters gunfighting training will know what I'm talking about. If you can get your sights on the target, then by all means do so but there is not always a guarantee that you will be able to use your sights. Contact shots and the ever popular revolver technique of shooting through a pocket are a couple examples.
#4 This one I am largely ok with. I would add "be aware of what or who is to the sides of your target, and where and how fast it/they may go" to that rule.
These are just my somewhat scattered thoughts on the subject. I recognize that this is bucking long standing tradition a bit and I mean no offense to anyone here. In our CCW classes we tell the students about the four NRA rules, but we want them to remember two basic rules that cover all the bases when taken fully to their logical conclusion. Those two rules are:
1. Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
This one is self explanatory. When you it's time to actually fire the weapon, that's when you put your finger on the trigger. Otherwise, keep it off.
2. Always maintain active muzzle awareness.
This one requires some more explanation. Active muzzle awareness means always knowing where and at what, your gun is pointing, whether you're in the act of shooting are just transporting the weapon. I know that when I sit down, my appendix carried Glock 19 is pointed at my right testicle. I know that when I dry fire practice in my house, I don't point the weapon at the wall of my kids bedroom, I point it toward the back yard. I know that when I'm doing a three to five yard bound, peeling to the side behind my training partner, that I don't flag his legs as I run behind him. Those are some examples of active muzzle awareness.
Let the games begin!