Flash Sight Picture_Are You Training this Way?

Are You Practicing Defensive Shooting with Flash Sight Picture Technique?


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Hi Brasky!

And thank you for your reply!

RE: Eye's open: I have a lot of trouble with parallax error with boths eyes open. Although right-handed, my left eye is very dominant. And when using both eyes open , still tend to line up with my left, and squint with my right: that just seems natural to me now.

RE: front sights. Yeah: definitely gonna have to do something with my basic iron sights on my S&W BG 380: Either paint or modify the front, it just seems to add delay to acquire the target with the fixed sights the same color as the weapon.

Thanks again!

Rich

I am cross eye dominant as well. It was a pretty big obstacle to get over with shooting handguns, especially since my left eye is not completely dominant (I can still sight with my right eye with both eyes open, it is just much harder and takes a little bit of time). Because of this it became the #1 goal of my training. After a couple of months I finally got it licked. Now I shoot with both eyes wide open every time without even thinking about it. Unfortunately rifles are still a big issue. I pretty much have to close my left eye to effectively get a sight picture. I am contemplating learning to shoot left-handed.
 
Writing with the Other Hand

I am cross eye dominant as well. It was a pretty big obstacle to get over with shooting handguns, especially since my left eye is not completely dominant (I can still sight with my right eye with both eyes open, it is just much harder and takes a little bit of time). Because of this it became the #1 goal of my training. After a couple of months I finally got it licked. Now I shoot with both eyes wide open every time without even thinking about it. Unfortunately rifles are still a big issue. I pretty much have to close my left eye to effectively get a sight picture. I am contemplating learning to shoot left-handed.

Hi Jascott!

And thank you for your post!

Wow! Awesome that you were able to change your shooting technique not allowing your dominant eye to remain dominant.

I would equate that to learning how to write with my left hand (versus being right-handed my whole life).

Learning to shoot left-handed: well, I think I would just end up hurting myself!

:)

That would be a Herculean effort, indeed!

Good luck with that, and thank you for the post!

Rich :)
 
Aggressor Methodology

The above statement may, or may not be true. The problem is that in the race between remaining entirely politically correct and continuing to remain alive, if you guess wrong ....... you might not be around for either the coroner's inquest, or the fascinating court case which could follow; and, who knows, you might, also, miss your chance to meet Massad Ayoob. ;)

Another thing: Anyone who still thinks that most CQB pistol gunfights, all, occur at very close range is, sadly, well behind the times. The most recent gunfighting data reveals that many victims managed to survive by acting sooner rather than later.

Many, if not most, unfortunate victims of gun violence are, invariably, the same righteous, upright, and politically correct people who: (1) Were, themselves, unarmed, (2) were armed but, nevertheless, still got themselves unexpectedly ambushed, (3) were naïvely unprepared and/or overconfident, (4) foolishly trusted in either, 'the system' or someone else to protect them, (5) simply weren't paying attention, or - in the alternative - (6) were either unable to think fast enough to form a viable survival plan, or (7) regrettably had no practical means of adequate self-defense available with which to save themselves.

'Street survival', and/or CQB pistol gunfighting ain't, 'rocket science'! Out on the street, out in the real world, attempting to remain politically correct, and/or hesitating in order to verify the parameters of whatever potentially violent (life or death) scenario you're confronted with is no different that the driver of a dragster waiting until he's sure the light is green before he releases the clutch!

Any drag racer who feels compelled to wait, who needs to verify his own behavior to himself before he acts, is sure to end up looking at the back of the other driver's dragster; and, even though it's currently politically incorrect to talk about it, the exact same rationale behind drag racing, also, applies to CQB pistol gunfighting.

Don't believe me? OK, do an internet search for any of the FBI reports on how armed criminals think, and are most likely to behave. Then read retired Sheriff's Deputy Lieutenant Dave Spaulding's incisive analysis of what really happens in a gunfight.

In brief: An armed opponent who intends you harm will always try to shoot first, as well as BEFORE you do. Hence the practical, real world value of using: (1) a, 'flash sight picture', (I don't like that term.) (2) speed shooting, and/or (3) firing sooner and at greater distance rather than waiting to be absolutely positively 100% sure that you're doing, 'the right thing'.

Excessive time, excessive doubt, confusion, inexperience, and uncertainty are, all, intrinsically dangerous intellectual dilemmas that no CQB pistol gunfighter can afford to indulge in. As my mother once said to me,

'Son, you can't rely upon other people to give you the right answer.' 'Other people aren't going to save you.' 'The smart move is to always be prepared to save yourself.' 'You constantly need to be ready; and the solution should always be available beforehand.' 'Anything else, any other sort of personal behavior, is a recipe for disaster.'

(At the time Mom was talking about financial investments; but, it didn't take me long to appreciate that my mother's advice enjoyed a much wider application!) :)

Hi ArcAngel!

Thank you for your thoughtful input!

And I like your Mother's far-reaching advice!

When I got my CCW, I understood the police officer teaching the course say most fire fights are within 10 feet, in dark lighting, and over in 3 seconds. So I kinda went with that at face value.

If I read your post correctly, it seems that may not be the case.

Would you be so kind to post some links regarding FBI/other results for us to look at?

I reviewed the very good Dave Spaulding article, link below, thank you for that.

What Really Happens In A Gunfight?

Take care, and thank you again for the good post!

Rich :)
 
Point_Flash_Sights

NRA courses are available all over the country. Enter your zip code for a search.
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The books are also sold separately:
NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection in the Home (HANDBOOK ONLY)

For defense use, contact range is no sights, then flash sighting further out, then sight picture at range. The exact distance to transition depends on the individual. I would not expect a novice to point shoot at the distance I do.
For any of this to work, much practice is required to be effective, because the whole point is to do it quickly without stopping to think about your shooting technique. Like riding a bicycle, the mechanics of shooting should be instinctive and smooth.

Hi again, OK!

Thank you for the grreat links!

I like your transitional approach--it makes a lot of sense to me.

BTW, as a side note, have you taken any courses at Gunsight? (link below:)

http://www.gunsite.com/

If so, your thoughts?

Thanks again!

Rich :)
 
A lot of the conveniental approaches arise from guys who do only range work. They shoot from static stances at non-moving pieces of paper and draw conclusions from there. The problem is an assailant will not likely be standing still and you will very often be moving as well(to escape, to get to cover or simply not to be an easy target). He may be moving laterally and/or often closing in. This should be given strong consideration. You have to constantly visually track and confirm the movement and activity of the threat under compressed time frames and you simply can't do that if you are focusing on your sights. For almost any realistic scenario you will encounter and the distances they occur at, threat focused shooting is the best approach and prioritize your training accordingly to what you're most likely to face.

I'd recommend highly finding an instructor/class that incorporates Force on Force scenario based training into their curriculum to best understand the dynamics. WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: Sights-What and Why? Gabe Suarez and Rob Pincus

The first two minutes are what I want to highlight...

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k_AbAfZtTpk[/ame]
 
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Hi ArcAngel!

Thank you for your thoughtful input! ....... Would you be so kind to post some links regarding FBI/other results for us to look at?

I reviewed the very good Dave Spaulding article, link below, thank you for that.

What Really Happens In A Gunfight?

Take care, and thank you again for the good post!

Rich :)

Sorry! I'd have answered this sooner; but I didn't remain subscribed to the thread. Standby, I'll search my hard drive for it. Broadly speaking, what I, personally, got from Dave Spaulding is that things tend to happen very quickly in a CQB pistol gunfight;* and the concept of, 'Semper Paratus' applies.

You've got to be alert; and, even if you're wearing a uniform, don't be overconfident. Always anticipate the possibility that things can very quickly go wrong. The closer the other guy is to you, the more potential danger you're going to be in. (Proximity to danger is a common hazard of police work.)

It seems to me that survival often comes down to correct anticipation, as well as accurate prior knowledge of what to, and not to do. You've got to know, beforehand, the most favorable way to proceed. It's insightful observations like these that I've gleaned from reading Spaulding's (actually) seminal article on unexpected assaults and street gunfighting.

'Close' is bad. 'Close' always seems to be more applicable to victims than it does to survivors. People who react sooner, AND are able to formulate some sort of escape or attack plan with which to advantage themselves are more likely to survive a potentially deadly close encounter than others who are caught, 'flatfooted'.

I'll look for the 2007 FBI report on how criminals use guns; but I do remember that relatively unsophisticated, seldom practiced, street gunmen are able to exhibit a higher than expected, 'hit probability' against their selected targets. (Good guys like you and me!)

One demonstrably viable technique armed street criminals use it to almost immediately, 'throw lead' at the target. I was always taught NOT to, 'throw lead' downrange; and to make each of my shots count; but, apparently, when it comes to CQB street gunfighting I was taught wrong! Drawing sooner rather than later, in the same way that you see so many police officers do on these TV police videos, is the more correct, mutually armed, confrontational response.

So is NOT taking the time to, 'nest' your front sight; and, then, compensating for your high front sight by taking an immediate, 'low hold' on COM as you begin to tap the trigger. The caveat? The farther away you are from the target the more you've got to watch THE VERY TOP of your elevated front sight!**



* NOT to be confused with a pistol ambush in which the victim, probably, won't have any reaction time at all!

** Don't worry about the rear sight. Whenever the front sight is properly viewed, the rear sight will automatically take care of itself.

OK! Here's a synopsis of that FBI article: Force Science News: FBI Report On How Criminals Use Guns. This is only part of the original article; but it makes the point.
 
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Hi again, OK!

Thank you for the grreat links!

I like your transitional approach--it makes a lot of sense to me.

BTW, as a side note, have you taken any courses at Gunsight? (link below:)

http://www.gunsite.com/

If so, your thoughts?

Thanks again!

Rich :)

With TDSA and the United States Shooting Academy both located right here in Oklahoma, I see no need to go elsewhere for ANY type or level of training desired. Not to mention Mike Seeklander's classes and training materials.

Gunsite, in Arizona, is a handy location for the west coast people. Compared to TDSA, I find gunsite prices to be high.

The Defensive Shooting Academy of Tulsa Homepage

https://www.usshootingacademy.com/

Shooting Performance | Michael Seeklander | Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun Firearms Training and training books and DVD's
 
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