Defense Accurate or Range Accurate?
Defense and Safety can be two different things…Range Time IS that important!
We often think in this crazy world, that things happen like the movies…that is simply NOT TRUE!! I know that many of you know that reality, but there are still plenty who do not.
Something that was mentioned in the first few chapters of the DVD set I received from the NRA, is about “Combat Accuracy” and is defined as such: “Any hit that significantly affects the target’s ability to present a lethal threat.” I really like this definition, because it invokes the reality of an attacker and the importance of what a “hit” should do when concerned with defense.
So when we talk about “Center Mass” its not just blowing smoke folks. Now one might think, “shooting faster will decrease the accuracy” well, in most cases it will, but remember that most heightened situations will happen within 15 feet or less, SO, having shots placed in the correct area is essential. I have heard people talk about shooting a larger caliber, because of the knock down power and so on …and so on… Well, if that is true, how do you explain the offender who continues forward with a half-dozen .45 slugs in his body? So we can see, that every situation is different and that the caliber size is not the only determinant.
Hitting-The-Paper Defense
There have been plenty of times, when at the range, I see or hear someone who is disappointed with their accuracy or performance. I wasn’t sure why they were thinking that way until I realized that most people don’t go to the range with the proper mentality or preparedness in mind. One problem is that we tend to shoot at targets, which draws us towards hitting a bullseye and that can detract from the purpose of hitting the paper. If you take a normal sized paper, (8.5×11) and put it on your chest, either landscape or portrait, you will find that it covers the area nicely. In fact, there is plenty of room around the paper, and that indicates that the center-mass area is decently large; that is the area you are working with in a real life situation. It is great to hit the bullseye, or have a grouping that is competition worthy, but it may not be as important in a life threatening situation. Keeping your focus on what is important and why you are there is the key to starting your defense training. Working toward a tighter grouping is what you do after you figure out why you are there and actually hitting the paper.
Defense Distance And What It Means…
The distance you are shooting in practice can make a ton of difference. Using the distance wisely, or knowing how to use the distance for your training can help you to evaluate your progress and accuracy. One thing to think about is, if you are practicing at 15 feet or 30 feet, or farther, you are programing yourself to take more time to align the sights and shoot the gun…BUT if you are practicing at 10 feet, or 6 feet, or 4 feet, this is actually more realistic and your shots will have to be much quicker. If you program yourself to shoot very quickly and hit a sheet of paper, then you’re doing it right. No one expects anyone to group shots in a tight “2 inch” circle during a bad situation. The great part is, if your stance is good, and your grip is good, then when you shoot at a quicker pace, your shots will most likely not be in a tighter grouping, but will all be within the paper, which is considered center mass, thus being more effective at stopping the threat and saving your life. Only when you have accomplished accuracy with the close ranges, should you then take it back a bit and retest your speed and accuracy for defense again.
Remember, under most realistic circumstances, combat accurate hits are achievable.
Efficiency = Accomplishing a goal in as little time and with as little effort as possible.
“Increased consistancy leads to increased efficiency” – so keep practicing, keep up your awareness and practice realistically.
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Great article and right on the money. I am wondering about one thing regarding this topic. What are good draw, fire, and placement times when a threat or attack happens? An instructor recently told me that one of the critical scenarios is that, even with two direct 9mm/115gr chest hits, the person might not be stopped at 10ft or less. This is a concern that I have and that I am trying to find the answer to. How can I train for this situation? Two direct hits to the chest will possibly stall the person, and I guess I need to add to it by double firing rounds 4-8? Will this be seen as excessive deadly force when the intruder shows 6-8 shots to body and head??
I would appreciate some feedback at de1996@aol.com.
Dirk…
Let me see if I can answer that. Understand that there are lots of guys, like Steve Beckstead, who are more experienced than myself..but since I wrote the post…let me attempt the answer here.
Now…when training for an unexpected scenario…what can you expect? Who knows…right? So the training we learn is only what we can learn. I wish we could predict what would happen, but all we can do is all we can do!
When talking about hitting a target twice in the chest (center mass) there are just so many things to consider here…like: Where in the chest? Upper or lower. Some experts say the “real center mass” is a triangle from the throat to each nipple, for this is the best and most damaging area, and thus the best part of the “center mass” for reliable “stopping power”. However…how many of us are that good really?
What I tend to rely on is the book by Chris Bird, “The Concealed Handgun Manual” where he states specifically that “…shot placement is the more important focus” (paraphrased there) I have read many times where attackers have continued to move forward and have actually caused harm with a half dozen .45 bullets in their center mass…WOW is all I could say to that!
SO…does caliber size have an effect on stopping power? Of course it does. A .45 cal. can be much more effective than a 9mm, or even a .22 for that matter. But do they both work in a bad situation? Of course they do.
Here is my trade off for carrying a 9mm instead of a .45 cal. To conceal, I like the smaller cal, thus a smaller pistol. What I don’t like is having a larger caliber with less ammo to go with it. I carry the Springfield XD9 sub. which carries 16+1. I use the extended grip mag. of course, which gives me a better grip area…which means more comfort, which means more weight, which means less recoil, which means better and more accurate shot placement…get the line of thinking here?? If I only had 6 to 8 shots in a .45 cal. and then I used them up quickly… then what? I may need more than 2,4 or 8 shots with a 9mm, but you see…with the XD, I have them when I need them.
SO… if presenting your “emergency tool” and placing a “double tap” into the center mass of a quickly approaching attacker is what is needed…but since they are drugged up or just have a lot of body mass, you find you may need more than 2 hits??? Then hit em’ again!
One problem we have found with using the “double tap” is that shooting at the range…that is what is practiced with all the time…therefore, when something happens, they fall back on the double tap and actually have been known to reholster their sidearm simply due to the habitual practicing at the range.
SO…what do you do if more than 2 shots are needed??? Well…shoot again and again until the threat has ceased/stopped. (until the threat is deceased is another definition entirely..hahaha)
NOW…will that have an impact on the trial when all is said and done…maybe! That is something you can never know about until it is presented. It will also depend on the state in which you live and the laws they have in that state. This is where it is imperative to have a great attorney at your side, with their number in your cell phone. Make sure you call 911 first as well…this is very important…essential to your overall situational condition with the police and when the facts are presented.
Once the autopsy is completed and the court knows if the attacker was drugged up or not can also have an impact on the case…but there again…get a great lawyer to represent you!
SO…does a bigger caliber have better stopping power? Yes
Can shot placement be more effective than caliber size? Yes
Can shooting many times to stop the threat have an effect on your case? Yes and No
Does the quality of your lawyer have an effect on your case? Absolutely!
How do you train for such a scenario? Here is where its tricky to answer…because becoming a better shot is always a good thing…but the truth is that what something happens…even with years of training, you still may do things you have never practiced and you may not even remember them at the time of the attack! You just don’t know what is going to happen. It may play out just like you thought it would, but it may play out completely different as well. Train hard, hope for the best and check your six often.
One thing, I think is not talked about often enough, is that of the 21 foot rule. “An attacker can get to you from 21 feet away in about 1.5 seconds” however the average drawing speed, especially for concealed carry is from 2.5 to 3.5 seconds. SO, by that alone, you are down about 1 second. What do you do? Be alert, try to be aware before it goes down! The realism here is the many people are attacked by people they know, which indicates that the 21 foot rule is not considered…THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER than 21 feet…so having some knowledge of force on force or martial arts training can be applied and much more effective. Combining the two, meaning, having the ability to maneuver quickly and then present your emergency tool, will probably be what saves your life. Drawing quickly is great, but how long can you keep that up??? honestly…???
What you never want to see is an attacker with 25 shots in them when police arrive…now that is the kind of number that raises eyebrows for sure.
I sure hope I helped you out Dirk…let me know if you have any more questions.
Damon
Combat accuracy is keeping your hits, under stress in about a group the size of: a paper plate (9 inches), a hand-span group or on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 typing paper. That correlates to the upper thorasic cavity of the average human adversary. You will be about half as good under stress-or deadly attack-as you are on a good day at the range. You can only do what you have trained to do and will fall back on the most basic, lower brain function action you have practiced and honed your skill level to. Law enforcement in general, will miss 87-90% of the time, so we need to be better practiced than that!