Point vs Aim shooting

grab1

Looking for info on point vs aim shooting (self defence). Pros and cons. Which do you use for self defence shooting?

budreaux39

IMHO Point shooting is (a 95+% probability) the only type you will use in self defense, therefore to use it correctly and save your life or the life of another, you need to practice this type of shooting. The gun should become an extension of your arm and muscle memory has to take place. Experts say it takes approximately 2500 repititions to create muscle memory. This means practice live firing and dry-firing.
Hope this helps,
Scott

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nunn

In a high stress situation, the natural response is to focus on the THREAT. It takes A LOT of training to overcome that tendency. Much easier to exploit it and work on making the bullet go where the eyes look, that is, point shooting.

With practice, you can hit reliably at 7 yards on a target the size of a sheet of copy paper. With moderate practice you can hit it out to 15 yards.

SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net

Myjack

A few factors enter in to the equasion, target distance?, available light?, am I under fire? etc. etc, if its dark and the guy is 20 or 30 feet maximum - hit him - hit him two or three times, watch the target and compensate you point to the reaction of the target or POI of the bullet
point and shoot isn't my first choice for a defence situation, however the likelyhood of such a situation warrants pratice for the occasion.
Some folks are rremarkably accurate with pointing, and some can aim all day and not hit a barn - know your weapon and your abilities
jmo

mballai

I used to have all sorts of problems shooting even with aimed fire. It really embarassed me because I had spent more than year shooting with air pistols before I picked up a firearm and was very proficient. Then I shot 22LR and was super accurate. Once I started with centerfire everything went to hell in a handbasket. Different guns would make the matter worse. While I can't say that these problems have been completely overcome, the more I applied Jeff Cooper's "Front Sight and Press" did everything turn around. I also could engage my target faster.

If you practice point firing, point first and see where your front sight is. You don't initially have to fire a shot to see if you are close. Chances are you will shoot wider than you might prefer but still hit a perp. At close combat distances, you should not have too much trouble.

Many see point firing as sloppy. All basic techniques such as grip holding and trigger control still apply whether you are aiming or pointing.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

Edited by - mballai on 06/17/2002 06:56:15

SSG ZAG

My reply doesn't automatically assume your under attack from some foreign invader, as my obvious, Soldier of Fortune, readers before me have. A skunk was eating the food out of my daughter's cat's food dish one night,about dusk. I shooed it away from the house a safe distance, carrying my trusty 10/22. When I went to deliver the fatal shot, I found the light had faded to the point where I could no longer see my sights. Having fired this particular rifle many thousands of times, I trusted my instincts as to where to "point" the gun in relation to the skunks visible white stripes. Result, one shot, One kill. Summation: practice, practice, practice.

ericthered

A friend who is a really great shot, underwent combat training
that insists on aiming with every shot. You just learn to acquire
a sight picture immediately.
Half of every day is night time.
Tritium night sights make that a possiblity at night and I see
some logic in it. 80 dollars to put them on.

However, I also learn to shoot from the hip. I use a laser attachment that shoots a spot of light when you hit the trigger. It allows many
hours of shooting at no cost. It is possible to learn to feel the
gun with extreme accuracy this way, then switch to live ammo and
really learn it. Either way, I draw the pistol out of my pocket for one shot every time I shoot live ammo, because that is what I have to know how to do. The laser is called beam hit. It works, if you are really interested in fast shooting under pressure.

My instructor taught us that if you have to stand in front of a jury, you never say you have time to correctly aim. This will be used to
accuse you of not being afraid for your life. You also, never ever
cock a weapon, or you will be accused of having time to fool around and not being afraid for your life.. You also can't say you just picked it up and shot by reaction, or you are irresponsibly threatening to harm innocent people.
Your only claim can be that 1. You were afraid for your life 2. You picked up your gun and shot as fast a you could to survive. 3. Your intention was to STOP your opponent NOT ever wound or kill or threaten. 4. Never use your reloads for defense or you will be accused of making bullets to be as deadly as possible because you just like the idea of hurting people. Always use good factory ammo for self defense.
Our current culture is a stinking mess right now. You are guilty if you are the victim. Even if cleared, you can be sued
in civil court by the criminal or his family.



Eric

thats'me

sealyon

I'm not sure I was taught correctly but I was instructed to keep both eyes open, concentrate on a spot approx. 6" above the belt, get the front site on it and keep shooting until threat is gone. Not a bullseye method but it works well for me.....fast way to hit center mass. With practice, you can go from a holstered weapon too two body hits very quickly....