Comments

1. On June 4, 2021 at 11:19 am, Paul B said:

   3 to 5 seems to hold up pretty well with the statistics we have. At that range the speed of engagement will make sights moot.

   But we will see I suppose.

2. On June 4, 2021 at 12:17 pm, Robert W. Orians said:

   I practice shooting and quick draw mostly with point and shoot tactics . Anything over 25 feet and I use sights but let’s face it , the point and shoot guy especially if well trained and practiced will win every time over the guy that can only sight . I find that only around 2 out of ten people have the motor skills to accurately point and shoot but if you are one of them then you will be the leader of the pack .

3. On June 4, 2021 at 12:18 pm, Brad said:

   I shoot a lot of steel. 15 yards out to 30. At 15 I don’t think I really use my sights. I think I might actually have a harder time inside 3 yards. I guess I better pick up some paper and work on that. LOL. This is turning out to be a good series.

4. On June 4, 2021 at 12:47 pm, billrla said:

   The statistics on shooting distance in the video seem line up with the idea of “personal space.”

   When thinking about possible self defense encounters with a handgun, it can be helpful to consider experience with unarmed self defense (e.g., krav maga). It’s important to be prepared to handle potentially dangerous situations within one’s personal space. That’s likely to be where the greatest threat to personal safety, including potential loss of life, is found; not always–but typically.

5. On June 4, 2021 at 1:42 pm, Fred said:

   I would rather have both the training and the sights and not need them than any other way around you can slice it, stats or no stats.

6. On June 5, 2021 at 1:04 am, Georgiaboy61 said:

   In empty-handed martial arts, vis-a-vis weapons in the personal space, the “twenty-one foot rule” is taught. That a determined assailant can cover that amount of distance at a minimum, in the time it takes to draw/present a defensive firearm. That’s from open-carry holstered at the waist; from concealment takes longer for most people.

   FBI and other statistics tell us that most defensive handgun use occurs at only a few feet distance, and often in low light conditions. Stupid criminals, the kind in the movies, brandish their weapons – thereby warning the intended victim. The smart assailants keep their weapon hidden right up to the time they intend to use it. Moreover, the smart ones often work in teams of two or three people.

   The foregoing suggests that situational awareness is paramount, and that learning some martial arts or hand-to-hand methods (including weapon retention) would be wise. You may not have the time to bring to bear your defensive firearm, or you may find yourself struggling with the assailant for control of it.

   Herewith, a question: Does the utility of Fairburn-Applegate type “point-shooting” methods suggest that a laser on a defensive handgun is something to be acquired and used? The Fairburn-Applegate method presents the firearm and pivots the whole body to place the muzzle on target. Traditional point-shooting methods often utilize a low hold near waist height. The gun arm isn’t extended, as per modern doctrine, but is instead held close to the body, and often quite low.

   One of the benefits of an aiming laser is that it permits the use of non-traditional shooting stances and positions, while still allowing you to know where precisely your muzzle is pointed with a greater degree of certainty than without such an aid.

   “Shooting from the hip,” as slang would have it, is an acquired skill and not everyone can do it well, in particular as distances lengthen. It is probably wise to train in both methods: The traditional presentation and aimed shot using one’s sights and a good sight picture, and also non-traditional presentation followed by
   a point shot, a la Fairburn-Applegate. With or without a laser aiming device.

   Your doctrine (established practice) would then be to utilize your sights whenever possible, but have the ability to point-shoot instinctively when called upon to do so.

7. On June 5, 2021 at 7:45 am, Heywood said:

   I will never understand these arguments. I couldn’t care less what anybody else carries and am certainly not going to waste any calories trying to change their mind. Buy it. Practice with it. Get proficient. Then practice some more.

8. On June 5, 2021 at 8:55 am, MARIO V ALBANO said:

   Reality IS only 3 feet away.

9. On June 5, 2021 at 12:13 pm, billrla said:

   Georgiaboy61: Indeed, I was thinking specifically about Fairburn-Applegate and their writings about point-shooting. Within the 21-foot radius, with an attacker moving forward at some speed, unholstering a handgun, proceeding to full extension, aiming, and firing is going to take some serious practice, skill and presence of mind. An attacker can close this distance in the blink of an eye.

   Training to shoot from the hip has its merits for armed self defense, although, of course, the technique is situation-dependent and should be practiced under safe conditions.

10. On June 5, 2021 at 12:15 pm, ExpatNJ said:

    I am surprised that no commenter mentioned this:

    21 feet – Tueller Drill
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tueller_Drill

    Bottom line:
    Keep an attacker(s) away as far as possible from the defender and those being defended, by any and all means necessary. The closer an attacker(s) is or can get to a defender, the greater the risk of harm (of any kind) to a defender.

    Surviving an armed-home-invasion in the middle of the night, focuses one’s mind to prepare for potential future encounters, like nothing else can. Ask me how I know.

11. On June 5, 2021 at 4:05 pm, George said:

    Training is paramount. Repetition in drawing and presenting the firearm.
    Almost every basic firearms training regimen uses a fixed target directly in front of the shooter. The process of presenting the firearm becomes reflexive with repetition; so much so that sights are not necessary when one is called upon to counter a threat at close range.
    Several years ago I attended a law enforcement match where one stage required the shooter to wear a set of desert goggles that had the lenses painted black to completely block the shooter’s vision. Many shooters were able to place all their rounds somewhere on the target. Some were centered and some not but most of the shooters were able to get rounds on target.
    At close range anecdotal evidence tends to show the defensive shooter was primarily focused on the threat. YMMV.

12. On June 6, 2021 at 7:36 am, EvenKeel said:

    I think I’ll go back to a revolver. Perfect for close work

13. On June 6, 2021 at 11:50 pm, Randy said:

    The video would have been much better titled: The True Distance of a Typical Self Defense Shooting.

    Not all self defense shootings are “Gunfights”.

14. On June 7, 2021 at 7:48 pm, Michael in AK said:

    Regarding close range shooting…some police academies in Cali used to teach shooting “from the hip” for ranges less than 3 yards. It was a basic “back step, pull in off hand (so you didn’t shoot yourself) and draw/rotate the pistol, fire” type of training and exercise.

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