The “Four S” Guide to Practical Shooting

Our Video on Practical Shooting

Practical shooting is shooting with a purpose, another end in mind than just getting hits on target. That end can be surviving a gunfight, winning a competition or putting meat on the table. In any of these practical situations time is just as important as accuracy. Distance, angle and position can vary from moment to moment in practical shooting. There are four principles that I have discovered are the key to success; (1) Safety (2) Stability (3) Sight Picture (4) Squeeze. Practical shooting is a “loop process” in that- as soon as you engage one target you start the loop over again with safety.

I Safety

Guns are dangerous, no doubt and safety comes from a rigid application of Colonel Jeff Cooper's four rules of gun safety. But strictly speaking, firearms safety is not the only concern here. Practical shooting does not happen on a square range. When you think safety you have to think about the positions of the other shooters, your buddies or an enemy. You also have to think about cover and concealment and security.

II Stability

The first step to hitting a target is building a good shooting position, stable but relaxed. It pays to master “traditional shooting positions;” the offhand (standing), kneeling, sitting and prone. Practical shooting rarely happens from these traditional positions, if you have a good position you probably aren't behind cover or moving fast enough. BUT your modified positions should be built off the same principles..

III Sight Picture

Sight picture is hard to discuss, because sighting apparatus varies so much now-a-days. It also varies dramatically with distance. If you are shooting a pistol at a seven yard target the entire square frame of your pistol, superimposed over the center off mass of your target is a good sight picture. Seven yards with a red dot? Your target will fill the sight and this is good enough. Microseconds matter. Obviously this changes as the target is further away... a head-shot with iron sights at 100 yards requires a centered and carefully placed front sight.

IV Squeeze

A lot of people think that shooting fast requires jerking the trigger fast, or when you start timing them, they will start doing just that. When the target is close the effect of this is somewhat hidden, as the target moves away (or the target is obscured) it becomes an issue. It is important that when you manipulate the trigger it is a steady pull backwards, producing a surprise break. For fast shooting you need to understand how your trigger resets.

A loop?

Yes, when you are done engaging a target (you are done when your target is down or disappears) you actions need to be immediately moving to the next target. Safety- engaged, where are your buddies, are you under cover? Stability- do I need to move to a new position- am I in as stable a position as I need? And so forth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CQB and Home Defense for Civilians

Image
 The best way to contact me “currahee(at)live.com"  I'd like to recommend a couple of videos that cover “CQB” and home security for the civilian. It's always good to think about tactics. It takes a lot for me to recommend a YouTube video (these guys should be on Rumble) but last night I watched a couple of vids with Drew Estell of Baer Solutions . The first vid is “ 3 Ways To Secure Your Home ." The video is broken down into 4 points, simple things to think about for home defense.  I'll share them, but after reading you should definitely check out the video. 1) Use the Outside (vs) Inside Lighting of Your Home: If you have inside lights on in your house, people can look inside your home and you are seriously hindered looking out. And visa versa. If you keep your porch light on anyone that comes to that part of your house will be illuminated and if you turn the lights off inside your house they will not be able to see in, for several reasons. Obviously if yo
Read more

Traits of the "Modern Munuteman"

Image
 The best way to contact me “currahee(at)live.com" This article and the accompanying video were spurred by a similar video from Risky Chrisky on Rumble . It's a really good channel for this type of stuff and you should check it out. I've wanted to cover “skill areas” for the prepared. I think far to many folks probably collect gear and think that's good. But, its skills, experience and mindset that will keep you alive. I used Chrisky's term “modern minuteman” because it seemed appropriate. The Minutemen were the best equipped, trained and generally experience of the militia at the opening of the American Revolution. These are the things that will set you apart from everyone else. I'm mostly sticking with Chrisky's list but will offer my own take and suggestions on how to achieve them. I also think of them as “traits” rather than skills. Skills suggest something that can be objectively measured and is more specific, skills would be within these t
Read more

The "Five B's" of Logistics

Image
It is easy for a nation state to plan for the logistics of the future, logistics and economics are topics at the war college. Dedicated smart professionals study this, and the nation state has more resources than you can imagine. How can a citizen soldier prepare for an uncertain future? This uncertain future can include economic collapse, local disaster or an asymmetric war against an oppressive regime. We do this by balancing our efforts, we do this by thinking of the “five B’s.” I first heard of the “three B’s” (the first three on my list) before I was in the army in books about Vietnam- the resupply consisted of the three B’s. That stuff that keeps an army fighting. It has been expanded in prepper circles to include things for the family, to protect us from natural disaster, and as a last resort, to fight. I am going to explain them here with my own thoughts. I. Beans Even in the worst conflict, you will be eating more than you will be shooting. Food (and water) should be you first
Read more