Confidence in your shooting ability

[Ironman8]

Excellent topic Grant.

I was actually talking with my wife about something very similar to this last night. We were talking about what she would do if an intruder broke in and she was in the bedroom, or able to get to the bedroom, where her pistol is stored. She gave a pretty good answer to that scenario, but I tweaked it to tell her that she should train the handgun on the door waiting for the intruder to come into the bedroom while taking "mental cover" behind the mattress (crouching/kneeling behind).

I got this "mental cover" concept from LAV at the HD class when he was talking about one of the humanoid targets that was partially hidden by a wall. While that wall, or mattress, is not actually cover, it screws with most shooters' minds into thinking that they can only shoot at what they can see...thus the term "mental cover".

I think this plays into a shooter's mindset. They think of a target as a full silhouette but when they have anything blocking that "perfect target" and maybe only have 4-5" to make the shot in (or have to shoot through concealment - not cover), their mind gets thrown for a loop...even if they have the physical ability to make the shot.

As for training on this, I (now, after the HD class) only think of targets in terms of partials, and train accordingly. I'll shoot at 2" circles, 3x5" index cards, or the B8 target at distance to hone my BSA into a smaller zone. Unless I'm doing a specific multiple string, rapid fire drill (ie. Bill Drill) where I'm simulating COM, I don't go any bigger than a B8 target from 3-25yds. If I'm drawing from concealment at around the 5-7yd mark, trying to make a shot within <1.75sec, I'll train on the 2" circle or 3x5" card....simulating the Head A-zone...because that's all you may have in real life.

Anyway, just my observations. I still have PLENTY of room to improve and can only hope that my preparation will make the difference should I ever find myself in a shoot situation.

[C4IGrant]

I would love to have that kind of set up or a shoot house to train on but my club doesn't offer it.
It is an all purpose range that I can draw, move etc on but they don't have any barricades or frames to shoot through.

No need to have a shoot house. Take two targets and put them together to form a door. Or use the large plastic barrels to create a door. Then you can work on pieing corners and making shots (just like it would be in your home).


C4

[C4IGrant]

C4IGrant & Tennvol12345:

How much time do you allow for the shot at 25 yrd?

Usually we want people to do it from a draw in 3-4 seconds.

For myself it's about 5 sec from holster to breaking the shot. If i try to speed up my accuracy starts to suffer. I know that's not fast, but I never claimed to be "high speed"

If you can do it cold (as in havent fired a shot in MONTHS), on command, then I would say you are good.




C4

[C4IGrant]

Excellent topic Grant.

I was actually talking with my wife about something very similar to this last night. We were talking about what she would do if an intruder broke in and she was in the bedroom, or able to get to the bedroom, where her pistol is stored. She gave a pretty good answer to that scenario, but I tweaked it to tell her that she should train the handgun on the door waiting for the intruder to come into the bedroom while taking "mental cover" behind the mattress (crouching/kneeling behind).

I got this "mental cover" concept from LAV at the HD class when he was talking about one of the humanoid targets that was partially hidded by a wall. While that wall, or mattress, is not actually cover, it screws with most shooters' minds into thinking that they can only shoot at what they can see...thus the term "mental cover".

I think this plays into a shooter's mindset. They think of a target as a full silhouette but when they have anything blocking that "perfect target" and maybe only have 4-5" to make the shot in (or have to shoot through concealment - not cover), their mind gets thrown for a loop...even if they have the physical ability to make the shot.

As for training on this, I (now, after the HD class) only think of targets in terms of partials, and train accordingly. I'll shoot at 2" circles, 3x5" index cards, or the B8 target at distance to hone my BSA into a smaller zone. Unless I'm doing a specific multiple string, rapid fire drill (ie. Bill Drill) where I'm simulating COM, I don't go any bigger than a B8 target from 3-25yds. If I'm drawing from concealment at around the 5-7yd mark, trying to make a shot within <1.75sec, I'll train on the 2" circle or 3x5" card....simulating the Head A-zone...because that's all you may have in real life.

Anyway, just my observations. I still have PLENTY of room to improve and can only hope that my preparation will make the difference should I ever find myself in a shoot situation.

Right you are and thanks for bringing up the "mental cover" discussion. It is important for people to understand this (both for their benefit and when shooting at people that are not giving them a full body shot).



C4

[WickedWillis]

I have been on the lookout for 3D shoot and move classes because I want to be supremely confident in my handgun skills in defense situations. I try to keep 100 rounds on hand of both the pistol caliber I own, and if I do find more in stores then I go out and shoot at a standard range where I am not allowed to draw. I am confident enough with my carry gun that If I got in an engagement within 25 yards I feel I would be able to properly defend myself and those around me, but never being In a stressful or combat shooting situation I cannot say for sure without more training. Seems to be lacking in my area.

[T2C]

Threading the needle is tough. You should only shoot as fast as you can make a precise hit in this situation. Speed is not always your friend.

[Hmac]

I only know a few CCW holders personally, but the few I do know don't practice very often- maybe once every month or two.

In my experience, it is a very rare PTC holder that practices even that much.

The majority of them don't actually carry on a regular basis anyhow.

I agree with this. In my experience, the vast majority of them rarely carry.

What I have noticed at my local indoor range, though, is that a lot of people are satisfied with being able to get all of their 15 round mag inside an FBI "Q" target from 10 yards or less. I almost never see anyone move their target out to 20-25yds unless they are shooting a rifle.

I agree with this too. I also rarely see PTC holders take any advanced defensive pistol courses. Part of that is there aren't that many available around here. The ones that are available are very good, but they don't happen very often.

[glocktogo]

The more you train, the more you should understand what you aren't capable of on any given day. To me, that's more important than what you can do. Knowing the difference is everything.

If it's a skill you need but don't have, work it until you do, then keep working it.

[Ty_B]

Usually we want people to do it from a draw in 3-4 seconds.

If you can do it cold (as in havent fired a shot in MONTHS), on command, then I would say you are good.

C4

It's funny you mention this. I'm at a very strange place with my shooting now. For some reason, and I only see this at 20+ yds, my groups are better when I'm in a hurry than when I take all day. I'll figure it out eventually.

I agree though, people don't practice enough. Hell, I have trouble getting fellow IDPAers to practice. When I put the B16 in front of the IDPA target, the wheels often come off.

At least the guy knew his limitations, but then again, if you're referring to the LAV HD, I would have thought the prereqs would have filtered that out.

[Ironman8]

It's funny you mention this. I'm at a very strange place with my shooting now. For some reason, and I only see this at 20+ yds, my groups are better when I'm in a hurry than when I take all day. I'll figure it out eventually.

It's called over-sighting the weapon system