Whistlebritches wrote:Vince you would be correct but overwhelming evidence suggest most shootings occur inside 10 FEET.I see guys practicing all the time with their pocket sized handguns with targets set at 25 yards.You will never be proficient in self defense doing this.I've surprised many people when I placed them in front of a silhouette at 3 FEET and told them to draw,making sure you keep the weapon close to your body to prevent it being taken away from you,and fire two rounds center mass.I've got some crazy looks .........that being said I have seen some miss the silhouette entirely......AT 3 FEET.However most do strike target but without some instruction they are no where near center mass.This is extremely important as seen in the graph in the link below biggest majority of officers killed in gunfights were 0-5 FEET..........That's what we call in my previous line of work "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL".I hope none of you are ever have to realize just how stressful an encounter this close can be but I would suggest to all "PRACTICE FOR REAL WORLD" and "always be vigilant distancing yourself from suspected danger.I can't remember the exact time but an attacker with a knife at 7 FEET can kill you before you clear leather.........and thats from a situation your sensing danger.Think about this coming at you out of the blue.
Your overthinking it buddy. "You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight." A pocket pistol? Yeah, 5 yards. Max. The PPk and PP's have the absolute worst sights, but at point range they're fine. I think of that style pistol as more of a remote knife honestly. And I'm not a huge fan of those for new folks either. They are harder to manipulate and shoot. The last thing a new shooter should be fighting.
But those aren't what I'm talking about.
If a shooter can keep their shots in a the coke bottle (fletc target), or a 6 inch circle out to 15 or even 25 yards, 3 feet is nothing. Good fundamentals will kick in under duress if ingrained. They will also develop familiarity with the controls and reloads. Basics. Make those solid first.
The personal contact range is why I mentioned drawing, weapons retention and distancing. UCQB is a separate skill set that one needs some exposure to to do well. Using the weapon to get some clearance and the indexing isn't hard, but it's not a natural instinct for most folks. It takes a trainer that actually knows what they're doing. Which pretty much eliminates most of yahoos on youtube.
Starting folks out up close makes for sloppy handling and shooting in my experience.
Build a solid foundation, then build on that. A good toolbox doesn't just have a jewelers screwdriver in it. Get a good pistol. Get a case (1000) rounds of ammunition, and at least 6 magazines, number them. Practice. Go out and shoot all the ammo. Slowly, aimed. Worry about shot placement, not speed. Speed will come. Buy more ammunition.
Put up 2 to 5 targets next to each other. 15 yards. Put a small dessert paper plate or 3x5 index card on each. Shoot one round at a time on each plate/card and swivel/move to the next (depends on range and backstop). Keep working back and forth until all your mags are gone. Focus on keeping a good group on each target. Evaluate the groups and do it again.
Repeat. This is a great drill. When you're shooting raggedy holes? Get a timer and speed it up. Buy more ammunition.
There are a lot of great drills out there. Get out and shoot is the biggest thing.