Tried hip shooting...It works!

[Owen Sparks]

I have seen cowboys shooting from the hip in old movies and thought it was just Hollywood bunk... until I tried it.

It was too muddy to go to the range Sunday so I was fooling around in the back yard with a CO2 BB pistol that is a replica of a 1911 and feels exactly like my Kimber except for the weight. I bought it for inexpensive back yard practice and within 15 yards or so it does a fine job on paper plates.

Anyway, I had run out of plates and started shooting at random tree trunks. I found that as long as I kept my wrist straight and elbow tucked in close to my body that I could easily hit a tree that was the width of a thin mans torso. Even though I was looking at the target tree trunk, I could see the pistol and forearm in my peripheral vision and was lining it up like a sight. Sometimes the BB would hit a little higher or lower than where I was looking but the right/left was dead on.

Am I going to hip shoot in the next IDPA match? No, but I can understand how someone who practiced hip shooting could very reliably hit a man in the body at ten yards, and do it fast!

If you try this with a BB pistol, PLEASE USE EYE PROTECTION! Steel BB's tend to bounce back.

 

[dfariswheel]

As was conclusively proved by Jack Weaver, Jeff Cooper and the other 1950's California combat shooters, hip shooting is not really all that effective in "the real world".

It does have one very valuable place, one that few people really thing about, and that's at absolute point blank range.
Specifically, within the range where its possible for an attacker to actually grab or knock the gun from your hand.

For this technique, press your gun hand tightly against your chest, just below your rib cage as you turn slightly away from the threat.
Don't press the gun itself against you, and keep the barrel/cylinder gap away to prevent burns and auto slides free to operate.

This keeps the gun back from a grab or knock, braces it for solid shooting, and gives you an aiming "index".
Another advantage, in the typically dark conditions the "average" defense situation takes place in, unlike shoving your hand out toward the attacker, this can prevent them really seeing that you're armed.
Pushing your hand toward someone is much more noticible than what may appear to be a natural flinch away from trouble.

 

[Ben86]

People can shoot instinctively without sights. However beyond 1-2 yards I plan to at least put my front sight on target.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

t does have one very valuable place, one that few people really thing about, and that's at absolute point blank range.
Specifically, within the range where its possible for an attacker to actually grab or knock the gun from your hand.

Agreed, although I would put the range out a little further, say three yards. Of course, that is only one, two steps at most away.

 

[Logos]

I hip-shot the first deer I ever shot. He was running fast through brush and he was a tough target.

His hip was really shattered and he hit the ground hard.

I was able to put one in his neck as he struggled to get up.

 

[medmo]

For up close and personal it is fast and accurate especially when practiced. Check out the writings of Bill Jordan.

 

[Mad Magyar]

From when you were a little kid playing w/clothes pin guns and toy pistols, pointing your index finger in the firing direction is "instinctive"! However, shooting from the hip I use when backing up from an aggressive, close-up grab....