GUNFIGHTING AND NEUROSCIENCE: WHY USING YOUR FRONT SIGHT MIGHT KILL YOU

[ProgSpear]

An alternative training take, but it makes sense.

Gunfighting and Neuroscience: Why Using Your Front Sight Might Kill You - Tier Three Tactical

Success in a gunfight doesn't depend on how well you shoot. It depends on how well you see. Unfortunately, everyone in the tactical and self defense communities trains endlessly on the mechanics of shooting, while completely ignoring the more important aspects of seeing. In this article we will...

www.tierthreetactical.com

 

[wizrd]

A book by Jim Cirillo - "Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights, - tales of a modern day gunfighter" - covers this topic of learning to shoot WITHOUT using your sights, - excellent book. Jim had the dubious honor of being the NYPD officer, in a special undercover unit, with the most 'shoots' in his career.

 

[fresch]

Didn't read it but I get the point, like pointing your finger.

 

[wirehairfan]

A book by Jim Cirillo - "Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights, - tales of a modern day gunfighter" - covers this topic of learning to shoot WITHOUT using your sights, - excellent book. Jim had the dubious honor of being the NYPD officer, in a special undercover unit, with the most 'shoots' in his career.

Jim Cirillo was a close friend of my dad's. We went shooting with him many times.

 

[prambo]

Didn't read it but I get the point, like pointing your finger.

This is the way I learned.

This also illustrates that it is better to have your sidearm slightly tilted. When you point your finger, the "blade" of your hand isn't perpendicular to the ground, it's slightly tilted toward the centerline of your body. This is natural.

Forcing yourself to hold your hand at an unnatural angle when presenting your sidearm isn't beneficial to fast and accurate shooting.

Although there's no training up here, I still practice drawstroke, presentation, etc. Virtually never look at my sights, but when I check alignment with my desired POI, it's always very close.

This is just the way I was trained, and it works for me, as far as I can judge. Might change quite a bit when there's incoming.

 

[Cooolone]

Instinctive shooting has been around and works very well... No different than throwing a ball, or yes, pointing your finger. Especially upon initial engagement, follow up can be precisely placed shots

But the NEUROSCIENCE extends beyond being able to shoot. It's all the small things that occur during a fight/flight body alarm reaction! Tunnel vision, muffled hearing, loss of fine motor skills, adrenaline dump, etc... These are all the things that just need to be overcome.

Now... Seeing? Yeah, of course! But I disagree that shot placement be put on any level "less" than the TOP! In ending a threat...

You can train ocular nerves! You can train to desensitize the body alarm reaction, fight/flight instincts! But even if you removed all that, it doesn't mean you'll place shots on target. That doesn't mean you will be able to shoot, or shoot what you're targeting, or be a good shot, follow up shot, etc.

So shot placement still rules the day!
All my $.02

Nuff said...

 

[General Malaise]

The same reason so many dump mags and keep clicking when empty. This type of training goes beyond the gun range. It’s psychological. Great reading by Robert Sopolsky called “Behave” on this type of behavior. A little challenging to keep up with, but I liked it.

 

[Phauxtoe]

REPETITION wins the day.
AND...
Shoot in dynamic situation if you want to be good at shooting in dynamic situations!

 

[fresch]

I just hold mine sideways,

 

[Paxal]

So, I suck. I know that. I came to this too late in life to ever be really good. But, I have noticed something at times. The less I aim, the better I shoot. This usually happens after I’ve taken some warm up shots, drawing from a holster. If I draw, then try to aim, then pull the trigger, shots are harder to make. If I draw and take the shot without trying to stop the gun to get precise aim, I can do better. What does that mean? I have no idea. It’s just that I’ve noticed that letting instinct and perception play a roll, rather than just trying to perfectly align the sights plays a role. It’s probably obvious to most of you already.

 

[spat]

It's all a matter of range.

Anyone up close enough and point shooting wins.

At a distance, better focus on that sight. Only hits count.

If you practice you can change what range that transition occurs. Of course that training is going to come at the expense of other training that's also important. So you need to find the balance.

If you can reliably hit COM at 10 yards point shooting, I think that's pretty good.

I think anyone practicing point shooting at 20 yards is wasting valuable training time that would be better spent with the sights...