ExcitableBoy
US Veteran
About a year ago my Lady Co-Pilot finally took the class to qualify for her CCL. As I've had mine for a while (always carried, anyway), for $50 and a copy of my DD-214, I had/have no "official" reason to plunk down the $75 cost for the session, which consisted primarily of ethics, laws, responsibilities, CC methods and suitable handguns. Range-time with instruction was an extra $75, which she opted out of because I have been providing plenty of each at home out here in the sticks. She trusts my experience and knowledge, and takes instruction well.
Just for grins, I sort of hung around "offstage" and was able to hear what was going on. The instructor was an ex-LEO patrolman/detective from Milwaukee with over 30 years under his belt. His presentation was very competent, clear and succinct. I felt that all were in goods hands, so I wandered the huge farm-type superstore which also sold most everything Wally World does except groceries. This included a great sporting goods section with a nice assortment of guns, ammo and accessories. After getting my fix of ogling guns, I drifted back to my former eavesdropping position to listen to the class progress.
The instructor was in a Q&A portion of the class and I tuned in sharply. In a group of twenty, or so, there were the usual know-it-alls, the sidewalk commandos, the bubbas, the new guys and gals (who were asking the most intelligent questions), and then I heard a voice pipe in which I recognized, my aforementioned Lady Co-Pilot. The question to the instructor I heard, roughly, was: "What is you're opinion of the use of laser sights if you have to defend yourself at night, or in a dark house? Wouldn't using them just give your position away? Isn't the idea of personal defense to stay hidden, and shoot from some kind of cover, if possible?"
You've heard of a pregnant pause? Well, this one was about a month overdue and getting painful! I damn near broke out laughing... and felt quite proud of my Lady. She had really been absorbing my instructions! It took quite a few seconds, but the instructor finally answered, "I had never really thought about it that way. Tell you what... let's take a fifteen minute break and I'll think about it."
I scooted out of there and found some boots to look at while waiting for my phone to ring so my Co-Pilot could find me and talk about what had gone on in class...
This brings me to the value of point shooting, which I have been teaching her, in conjunction with accuracy on target, moving to cover, and if you don't have decent cover, go as low as you can and still be able to shoot, different shooting techniques for different situations, etc. I taught myself point shooting with my first handgun, and became good enough to put rounds where I wanted them 95% of the time, never bringing sights in alignment with my eyes. Snap-shooting, or instinct shooting, it's sometimes called. I always figured it was the best technique in certain situations... keep the gun close to the body, sometimes with the elbow locked into the ribs. I don't know if it still is, but the FBI used to teach this.
My thinking, and self-training, on this technique is that sometimes you just won't be able to pull up and get a good sight picture... it could be too late for you if you don't get off a fast accurate shot or two. And, on a dark night, or in a dark room scenario, aligning sights is pretty much a no-go, even with Trijicons (Yes, I've had them.), or whatever, because you can't see the target anyway. But you CAN see shadow movement and hear where the bad guy might be.
Shooting paper in a static position is all well and good for primary firearms training, learning gun control and marksmanship (I do my share), but for serious up-close self-defense stuff I practice/train a lot of point shooting with all of my CC guns.
Okay, brothers and sisters, I would love to hear from you. Anyone else use the above techniques described? Different methods toward the same goal? Flashlights/lasers vs. staying behind cover and springing a big surprise?
Just for grins, I sort of hung around "offstage" and was able to hear what was going on. The instructor was an ex-LEO patrolman/detective from Milwaukee with over 30 years under his belt. His presentation was very competent, clear and succinct. I felt that all were in goods hands, so I wandered the huge farm-type superstore which also sold most everything Wally World does except groceries. This included a great sporting goods section with a nice assortment of guns, ammo and accessories. After getting my fix of ogling guns, I drifted back to my former eavesdropping position to listen to the class progress.
The instructor was in a Q&A portion of the class and I tuned in sharply. In a group of twenty, or so, there were the usual know-it-alls, the sidewalk commandos, the bubbas, the new guys and gals (who were asking the most intelligent questions), and then I heard a voice pipe in which I recognized, my aforementioned Lady Co-Pilot. The question to the instructor I heard, roughly, was: "What is you're opinion of the use of laser sights if you have to defend yourself at night, or in a dark house? Wouldn't using them just give your position away? Isn't the idea of personal defense to stay hidden, and shoot from some kind of cover, if possible?"
You've heard of a pregnant pause? Well, this one was about a month overdue and getting painful! I damn near broke out laughing... and felt quite proud of my Lady. She had really been absorbing my instructions! It took quite a few seconds, but the instructor finally answered, "I had never really thought about it that way. Tell you what... let's take a fifteen minute break and I'll think about it."
I scooted out of there and found some boots to look at while waiting for my phone to ring so my Co-Pilot could find me and talk about what had gone on in class...
This brings me to the value of point shooting, which I have been teaching her, in conjunction with accuracy on target, moving to cover, and if you don't have decent cover, go as low as you can and still be able to shoot, different shooting techniques for different situations, etc. I taught myself point shooting with my first handgun, and became good enough to put rounds where I wanted them 95% of the time, never bringing sights in alignment with my eyes. Snap-shooting, or instinct shooting, it's sometimes called. I always figured it was the best technique in certain situations... keep the gun close to the body, sometimes with the elbow locked into the ribs. I don't know if it still is, but the FBI used to teach this.
My thinking, and self-training, on this technique is that sometimes you just won't be able to pull up and get a good sight picture... it could be too late for you if you don't get off a fast accurate shot or two. And, on a dark night, or in a dark room scenario, aligning sights is pretty much a no-go, even with Trijicons (Yes, I've had them.), or whatever, because you can't see the target anyway. But you CAN see shadow movement and hear where the bad guy might be.
Shooting paper in a static position is all well and good for primary firearms training, learning gun control and marksmanship (I do my share), but for serious up-close self-defense stuff I practice/train a lot of point shooting with all of my CC guns.
Okay, brothers and sisters, I would love to hear from you. Anyone else use the above techniques described? Different methods toward the same goal? Flashlights/lasers vs. staying behind cover and springing a big surprise?
