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old military training for handgun combat
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stantheman86
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Very cool! Thanks for posting this, I enjoyed watching it.
The "teacup" two hand hold is pretty much dead now, but in the 40's this was something new it seems.
I guarantee we were the first nation to do any kind of offensive handgun training, although I don't think many soldiers received much more than a familiarization, let alone the combat handgunning course shown in the video. I was in the Army Infantry from 2007-2010 and I fired 0 rounds through an M9 or any handgun for training.
I also like videos and pics of old revolver training, back when single action shooting was still the preferred method.
The "teacup" two hand hold is pretty much dead now, but in the 40's this was something new it seems.
I guarantee we were the first nation to do any kind of offensive handgun training, although I don't think many soldiers received much more than a familiarization, let alone the combat handgunning course shown in the video. I was in the Army Infantry from 2007-2010 and I fired 0 rounds through an M9 or any handgun for training.
I also like videos and pics of old revolver training, back when single action shooting was still the preferred method.
ContinentalOp
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Was I the only one yelling, "Keep your finger off the trigger!" at the screen?
I like watching these old training films. My favorites are the OSS ones.
https://youtu.be/5Yp8ZrirsLc
I like watching these old training films. My favorites are the OSS ones.
https://youtu.be/5Yp8ZrirsLc
sgtsandman
US Veteran
I remember seeing this one. Youtube has quite a few of those old videos. They have ones one using a gun sling and the original AR-10 that I've seen along with a few others. Pretty interesting and interesting to see how shooting methods have changed since then.
Harkrader
Member
Wow! How fascinating to see how pistol craft has evolved.
My dad was WWII Navy, a pilot flying off carriers in the North Atlantic.
I asked him what gun, semi-auto or revolver, was issued and he said he didn't remember. His description of the training lead me to believe it was the semi-auto. He said they thought of it as just one more heavy item that was going to drag them to the bottom of the ocean when they ditched!
He disliked guns and did not want one after the war. But, when I was a toddler there was a big problem with feral dogs and careless owners letting their dogs run free at night. He got a small revolver, I have no idea what it was, which he kept in a tool drawer by the back door. I remember him grabbing it and yanking the door open to snap off a shot.
I think he disposed of it when the city finally cracked down on the dogs.
Fast forward to the year he turned 44 and I headed off to Vietnam. He had received some serious threats so he bought a S&W 37 which he kept by his bed for a number of years. When I found out I asked him if he remembered how to shoot it. He claimed he did, but when I asked him to demo it he held it at arm's length to his side, one-hand. When I asked if he knew how to do a two-hand hold he cupped his weak hand under his strong hand. Yikes!
I offered to train him, but he just gave me the gun. I still have it.
The video shown here is Army and my dad was Navy, but I can almost see him holding that big Government Model one-hand and moving to shoot.
My dad was WWII Navy, a pilot flying off carriers in the North Atlantic.
I asked him what gun, semi-auto or revolver, was issued and he said he didn't remember. His description of the training lead me to believe it was the semi-auto. He said they thought of it as just one more heavy item that was going to drag them to the bottom of the ocean when they ditched!
He disliked guns and did not want one after the war. But, when I was a toddler there was a big problem with feral dogs and careless owners letting their dogs run free at night. He got a small revolver, I have no idea what it was, which he kept in a tool drawer by the back door. I remember him grabbing it and yanking the door open to snap off a shot.
I think he disposed of it when the city finally cracked down on the dogs.
Fast forward to the year he turned 44 and I headed off to Vietnam. He had received some serious threats so he bought a S&W 37 which he kept by his bed for a number of years. When I found out I asked him if he remembered how to shoot it. He claimed he did, but when I asked him to demo it he held it at arm's length to his side, one-hand. When I asked if he knew how to do a two-hand hold he cupped his weak hand under his strong hand. Yikes!
I offered to train him, but he just gave me the gun. I still have it.
The video shown here is Army and my dad was Navy, but I can almost see him holding that big Government Model one-hand and moving to shoot.
Retired LTC USAR
US Veteran
I did not know that they had tracer 45's. Also, did you notice when they drew their 45 how they always secured the flap bac into place.
Well, that may be kinda difficult since the training video was from WWII and Israel was not founded until the late 40's (48?). However I am sure that they may have surpassed us in combat pistol training, at least for the average soldier. (Special units don't count.)
This video has surfaced now and then over the last few years as more people discover it and post it for others to see. It is a great look into the past and helps lay the groundwork for modern day pistol craft. Some of it is dated but that is to be expected. The Army started with a concept and probably drew upon what techniques were around, most notably formalized pistol competition of the day. But experience and the appearance of interested practitioners such as John Dean Cooper refined the techniques into what we have today.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Carried all tracers in my pistol in Vietnam. Very handy little tools.
I rather liked the part at 4:50 - 5:20 that describes the revolver's grip as being 'a natural pointing gun', whereas the 1911 'requires a slight upward cocking of the wrist, to bring it on target.' Hmm...
... and people insist that pistols with a 1911 grip angle are more naturally pointing than that of the steeper angled Glocks?
... and people insist that pistols with a 1911 grip angle are more naturally pointing than that of the steeper angled Glocks?
When I qualified with the 1911, (1969), the Army taught standing off-hand. It was the only time in basic or AIT when we were encouraged to put our off hand in our pocket. Two handed grips of any kind were verboten. Till arthritis reared up in my right shoulder, I was as good or better shooting my 1911 that way than any two-handed stance.
elpac3
Member
Like the old OSS training film. They were ahead of the times in 1944 having a double stack 1911 - counted 14 shots between reloads!
Interesting that the military taught the cup-and-saucer method (support hand under the gun). We were taught this was a no-no in basic range training at the PD. It allows the weapon to twist in your grasp and slows down follow up shots.
Yes, and someday shooters will be laughing at the way we are doing it today.
Darkenfast
Member
There's another youtube video that shows an FBI training film from the 50's. Colt or S&W four-inch barreled revolvers and mostly point shooting, drawing from simple hip holsters. Very interesting. There's also another from the 30's (in color, no less!), of the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Office shooting range. Here it's one-hand single-action bulls-eye, but with a dose of DA point-shooting as well. Six-inch Colt OP in this film. I wish more of these were available.
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