CHAINSAW OR CHISEL?

     Firearms are tools. As such, they are used for different purposes; and with each purpose, comes different techniques. When you need to cut wood you can choose between a number of tools from a chainsaw to a chisel. The type of cutting to be done dictates which tool you will use. If you want to fell a tree, you would normally choose a chain saw, as they can perform this task in the least amount of time, with the least amount of effort. However, you wouldn’t use a chain saw to cut and shape a balsam wood car or airplane, the wood will cut, but the results will not be desirable. The same applies to firearms. You can use a .50 caliber muzzleloader on a whitetail deer with acceptable results; using a .50 caliber muzzleloader on a squirrel would fetch the same results as using a chainsaw on a balsam wood car or airplane. Make sure you have the right tool for the job. Some tools are multifunction, if you are using a set of lineman’s to strip the ends of a length of wire, you only use enough pressure to cut the plastic tubing, if you squeeze to hard, you end up cutting the wire. After you have selected the right tool for the job, you need to use the proper technique to accomplish the task at hand. Again the same holds true for firearms. If you are inside your home, and need to fend off a burglar, you wouldn’t use your deer rifle, or any single projectile weapon for that matter, a miss would send the round straight through the wall and potentially injure a loved one. For this instance a shotgun, a cartridge containing multiple projectiles would be better. The bird shot would not go straight through walls; they will be trapped in between them if they even make it through the first layer of sheet rock. If you are hunting mule deer out in the high desert, you wouldn’t use a 12 gauge; it is not capable of firing at the kind of distances you would encounter. For this purpose a high velocity rifle is better suited. When hunting, you normally have all the time you need to make full use of the weapon’s sights or scopes. If you are ambushed by a bear from the bushes 10 feet away, you do not have time to make any use of the weapons sights, let alone a scope. You would need to shoot instinctively or “from the hip”. I have read too many times about how this method of karate is unbeatable, or how that method of shooting is infallible day or night, in any situation. WRONG. Unless that unbeatable style of karate combines hand strikes, foot strikes, throws, joint manipulations, bricks, sticks, or anything close to hand, then it has weaknesses that can be exploited. Proof can be found by watching any mixed martial arts match. Watch a kickboxer or brawler try to grapple with a wrestler or jiu-jitsu fighter, chances are he’s not having a good time. And vice versa, watch a wrestler or jiu-jitsu fighter try to stand up and brawl with a kick boxer, he’s not fairing much better. All of the successful mixed martial arts champions train to punch and kick, but also to trip, wrestle, and grapple. They train to fight on their feet as well as on the ground.

     The same holds true for shooting. Up-close, like the bear, you do not have time to use your sights; you shoot instinctively. At 50 yards, you have more than enough time to use the sights; use them that is why the engineers put them there. The point is like the mixed martial artist, you have to be able to shoot short or long range, and you have to be able to shoot with or without using the sights. And you have to be able to determine when to use the sights or not. Firearm selection, usage, and technique are drawn from a toolbox. Use the correct weapon for the job and apply the proper technique to accomplish the task at hand.

     For the purpose of self defense, you don’t need to drive tacks; you need to hit the six inch area encircling the heart, lungs, diaphragm, and xyphoid process (solar plexus), the area known as “the vitals” or “center of mass” of the threat. As far as point of aim and accuracy is concerned, it makes no difference whether the threat is a sow grizzly charging at you to protect her cubs; or drug-crazed adolescent with a knife or gun of his own. Hitting center of mass is what ensures us that our adversary has been effectively neutralized; the reason for shooting specifically for the solar plexus is because it controls the central nervous system. If you break the small bone at the bottom of the sternum, you will shut down the central nervous system.

     It has been long thought that in order to prevail in an encounter with firearms that you had to be the first to draw or the first to get your weapon on target. Due to the Wild West craze of the middle third of the last century, we tended to believe that whoever drew first would win a gunfight. What they failed to realize is that it wasn’t the blinding fast draw that dispatched the villains; it was the accuracy of the first shot that ensued. It would do you absolutely no good to be able to draw your gun, fire, and re-holster so fast that you barely appeared to move at all, if your shot missed the target by a foot. Where defensive marksmanship is concerned, it would prove more valuable to be able to draw smoothly, and fire your first shot directly into the solar plexus of an attacker, even if this draw, fire, and re-holster took you one and a half seconds. In defensive marksmanship, speed is a necessity, but not the sole factor. You must also have accuracy. The quest of the defensive marksman is to find that perfect balance of good speed in presentation and unerring accuracy.

     In practicing a good smooth draw you will notice that you are committing this movement to muscle memory, you will also notice that the more you practice this, the smoother and faster you will become. For most basic handgun certifications in the country you are allotted 1.5 seconds to draw and fire one round. With practice this time can drop by .5 seconds or more. This philosophy was proven by Deputy Sheriff Jack Weaver during shooting competitions in the 1950s.

     At that time everyone was point shooting with one hand. Jack Weaver made some observations and changed the positioning of his feet, as well as the way he drew and utilized isometric tension by the weak hand to control recoil. He determined that a “pretty quick hit was better than a fast miss”. This stance, known as the Weaver Stance, became the gold standard of police training, and after some modification by Jeff Cooper, it remained the standard until the 1980s when the isosceles stance was developed, the difference between the two is that the isosceles stance takes the Weaver Stance, spreads the legs out wider, turns the torso square to the target, and keeps both elbows bent, utilizing the centerline and natural physiology of the body to control recoil and get on target. Both require a two-handed grip, non-firing foot slightly forward (isosceles is less forward), both allow for rapid sight acquisition, both are equally reliable.

     Presenting yourself as a hard target will seem to quicken your ability. Drawing and firing while backing up, crouching, dropping down to the ground (if distance allows), or side stepping, while moving to cover will cause an attacker to have to refocus his aim, slowing him down. The days of the Wild West are over; there are no more fateful meetings in the square at high noon. Do not stand still in any engagement or encounter. We don’t stand still if a man is trying to punch or kick us, we move backwards or to the sides, while natural self preservation causes our hands to come up and protect us. Why would we try to stand still if that same man is trying to shoot us?

     Soldiers learn very quickly that when you are getting shot at, you “pop and drop”. You fire two quick rounds, then get in the prone or kneel, and seek cover from which to return fire. This has worked in every armed conflict in history; a projectile cannot hurt you if it can’t hit you. In our normal everyday lives, there are more opportunities to find cover than I have seen in two years spent in the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan. We have automobiles, buildings, light poles, mailboxes, etc, and yet we can constantly see shootouts on TV where people are standing upright behind a three foot trash can trying to fire their weapons.

     As Soldiers we see the same thing when teaching new Privates. We will be on a patrol walking through the woods, and get ambushed. The new Privates will invariably duck and crawl to the only tree in the area that is narrower than his rifle, and think that the “enemy” bullets wouldn’t hit him. It would take, on average, three or four of these “field problems” before these young Soldiers would get it right, and realize that it is ok to crawl to a tree that is 20 meters from you- if that’s your best cover; use it. Seeking a good covered position should be as automatic a response as drawing your weapon. If your situation doesn’t allow seeking cover, then move laterally and at angles, moving straight back doesn’t really help you if your attacker already has a bead on you. And if he is looking at you, his hips and/ or shoulders are squared to you, then he has a bead on you. Forcing him to alter his position will put him off balance, and may slow him down quite a bit. During your lateral movements, taking up a bit of a crouch will also force your adversary to reacquire his point of aim, which will slow him further.
 
     If you are to physically use lethal force, you must be mentally prepared to use it as well. If you are carrying concealed, but do not feel you are prepared to take a human life, DO NOT CARRY. If you are accosted by armed or simply menacing assailants, and you are not prepared to do whatever you have to do in order to survive the encounter, your only option is to flee while calling for help, or submit to their whims. If you feel you are mentally capable of taking a human life in self defense, as a last resort, then by all means, take the proper classes, obtain the appropriate licenses, and invoke your Second Amendment. This is the area where the adage “there’s never a cop around when you need one” comes in.

     Criminal elements do not operate in full view of police, the ones that do are easily found in your local detention facility. You need to be able to protect yourself and your loved ones until the police can come to your aid. The following analogy comes from a Vietnam Veteran, I do not remember his name, but it talks about the relationship between our Police, Military, EMS, and armed citizens; the criminal element; and the average, every day person.

     “In this world there are good people, descent people. These people always obey the law, they don’t bother anyone. And unfortunately in the face of danger, they deny the danger exists, or they make rules to take the danger away. They are the ones who insist that all cars come with airbags, so their kids don't get hurt in accidents. They are the ones who insist you must be warned of the small pieces in board games so their children will not choke on them. They are the ones who refuse to believe anyone would take a firearm into a school, or otherwise victimize their children. These people are sheep. Then there are those who use oftentimes use extreme violence to prey upon the good and descent people of this world. They have no remorse, nor care, nor concern for those they victimize. They feed upon the sheep without end. These people are wolves. Then there is different type of person altogether. There are people whose sole motivation in life is to stand in front of the sheep and confront the wolf; these people are sheepdogs. These are your Policemen, Firemen, Paramedics, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. These are the average everyday citizens who place themselves in harms way without hesitation, without pause, against man’s subconscious, feral sense of self preservation, to come to the aid of a complete stranger. Now sometimes sheep have a hard time telling the difference between the sheepdog and the wolf. They fear both equally. The sheepdogs are always there, nipping at the sheep’s heels, growling, telling the sheep where they can or cannot go, they don’t trust the sheep dog. The sheepdog looks a lot like the wolf. Both have fangs, both have claws, both growl and bark; both are killers. Wolves kill sheep; sheepdogs kill wolves.”

     No one is predestined to be a sheep, a wolf, or a sheepdog. Everyone is somewhere in the grey area between them; we all make a conscious choice on which side of the line we stand. The point is that sometimes the minimal amount of force required to defend yourself is lethal force. It is not a first choice, rather a final or only option. Lethal force used as anything other than the minimal amount of force necessary to stop a threat, or the final option when all else has failed, constitutes negligent homicide or manslaughter. The right to carry a gun is not the right to use it indiscriminately without repercussion. However, if you carry one, you must have the capacity, physically and mentally, of using lethal force; of taking a human life.

     In most defensive marksmanship, targets present themselves with such quickness and surprise in very close proximity, that the use of the sights is too slow to allow a successful defense. Even in the days of the Wild West, most shootouts occurred at a distance as such that the gunfighters of the day began using instinctive shooting, and fanning methods. Draw and cook the hammer all in one motion, press and hold down the trigger, then slap the hammer with the weak hand. They didn’t use the weapon’s sights, they just pointed and shot.

     Captain Fairbairn and Captain Sykes of the Shanghai Municipal Police further improved this theory with the use of the semi automatic hand gun. Using lessons learned on the streets of Shanghai, they developed what has become known as the FSA (Fairbairn, Sykes, and Applegate) instinctive shooting method. The two took what they had learned on the streets and began teaching it to the Soldiers of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) the precursor to modern CIA. Their book, Shooting to Live, was the first time anyone had printed a method of teaching instinctive shooting specific to handguns. They ascertained that man’s innate ability to look at an object and point his finger directly at it without having to place their arm in the line of site would produce similar results if a man were to point a handgun in the same manner. They took note of the positioning of the arm, hand, and finger when you turn your hand to the side as if holding a gun and point at an object. They noticed that the arm will come to the center line of the body, and that the hand would be bent slightly to the dominant side (righties bend to the right, lefties to the left). They took this hypothesis and attempted it with a handgun, with outstanding results. Since they knew that most armed encounters happened at extremely close range, they observed officers in the field in combat, or under duress. They watched the natural reactions of the officers’ bodies. They noticed an instinctive crouch; they noticed the tendency to keep the arm slightly bent and well below the line of sight, but pointing in the direction of the threat. They noticed the non-firing hand held out to the side for balance. They saw how the officers naturally squared to the threat, weak side leg slightly in front of the strong side, and approximately shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. They developed the ¾ hip, ½ hip and ¼ or close hip firing positions based off of these observations. These positions allowed the officer to rapidly and instinctively engage threats at what would be considered extreme close range (1/2 hip was to be shot “not more than 3 yards”, the close hip was meant to be used against “attempted grapples by the adversary”). They also saw that these methods could be learned very quickly, with amazing proficiency, the reason: They were using man’s natural instincts and defenses as the basis for their methods, every part of the FSA theory is derived from witnessing men in actual shootouts, and watching preternatural responses. In other words they were not teaching their pupils to do anything that they wouldn’t have instinctively done on there own, they brilliantly found a way to harness, sharpen, and focus those instincts.

      Another improvement to point shooting techniques, known as Quick Kill, came from Bobby Lamar “Lucky” McDaniel and a former business associate, Mike Jennings in 1967. This method is sort of aimed point shooting. The weapon is held normally, but instead of using the weapon’s sights to aim with, you look over the top of them with both eyes open, and focus on a single point on the target. They figured out that the way the body works; you must give a single point on the target your complete, undivided attention for at least .10 seconds. Lucky McDaniel, being a trick shooter, discovered that we have a tendency to shoot below flying targets and above ground targets. So his method teaches the shooter to concentrate on the top edge of aerial targets, because you are looking over the top of the sights, this will raise the actual point of impact to meet the target. Targets on the ground are the opposite. Since we have a tendency to shoot over the top of grounded targets, the Quick Kill method teaches you to focus on the bottom edge of the point on the target. This makes shooting over the top impossible, as you would completely block out the target with the gun in order to shoot high. Mr. McDaniels and Mr. Jennings developed this method for use by the US Army during the Vietnam War. Training began with 3.5” metal discs and a Daisy BB gun. Once the Soldier was able to hit 8 of 10 discs thrown into the air out in front of him, he moved to smaller discs, then to stationary targets at 15 feet. When the Soldier was proficient in the fundamentals, he would transition to the service rifle. This method was designed to hit targets at 50 meters and closer with the rifle; however the method applies to shotguns and handguns as well, though the ranges will differ. Lucky McDaniels was able to teach a ten year old girl to shoot an Alka-Seltzer tablet out of the air. According to an article in Time Magazine from July of 1967, in an interview with Colonel William Koob, then Director of Weapons at Fort Benning, GA, the “Home of the Infantry”, “after one day of training about half of the trainees can hit a penny in mid-air, and five percent could shoot a BB with a BB. The Army was so impressed with the results of this shooting method that it became part of the Basic Infantry Training Course in late fall of 1967.

     The Infantry today no longer teaches the Quick Kill method. Infantrymen are now taught what is referred to as Reflexive Fire. In essence it is the same concept, the butt of the rifle is kept in the pocket of the shoulder and the weapon is held at the modified low ready, meaning the barrel is pointing downward three to six inches below parallel. When a target presents itself, the Soldier brings the weapon up to high ready; cheek firmly on the butt stock, weapon pointed at the target, looking over the sights with both eyes. When the target is identified as a threat the safety is moved to semi and a controlled pair of two rounds is fired at the target. Many Soldiers go one step further and will extend the index finger of the non-firing hand either along the side of the forearm, or along the underside of the forearm, to assist with rapid acquisition. Infantrymen conduct Reflexive Fire Drills extensively on a 25 meter range, however a threat out to 50 meters can be effectively eliminated with this “aimed” point shooting. These are the most efficient methods if moving side to side or toward and away from the threat, it is easier to concentrate on the threat in front of you than on whether or not your sights are aligned properly. This holds true even with the use of the red dot Close Combat Optic.

     Reflexive Fire is used in an isosceles stance. Basically the firer’s feet are shoulder width apart, with the non-firing foot slightly forward. The knees are slightly flexed and the upper body is bent forward of center. The weapon is held high enough that when you come to the high ready position, the butt stock of the weapon should naturally mold to your cheek, you do not move your cheek to the weapon. The elbows are both bent and pointing downward. This position gives the best recoil control for follow on shots, and it also places the weapon as close as possible to the centerline of the body. When engaging targets on either side of center, you pivot at the waist, or if a lot of adjustment is made, you pivot on one foot, never coming out of the isosceles position. The other plus to this type of shooting posture is that since the weapon is basically aligned with the center of your body, then if you keep your head and eyes forward, pivoting at the hip or feet as necessary, wherever you are looking is where your barrel is pointing. This method works with the same for the pistol and shotgun; close quarters or longer range with the proper use of the weapon’s sight apertures.

     Of the instinctive shooting methods described above, all of them involve keeping the firearm aligned with centerline of the body. They all say to keep both eyes open to focus on the threat. And they all use man’s innate ability to look at an object and point his finger directly at it without having to look down his arm first. Applying these principles will get you on center of mass very quickly at close range. In armed defense, rapid hits on center of mass are what we are trying to achieve. We achieve this by keeping our weapon just below line of sight; feet shoulder width apart; both elbows bent downward with a rifle or shotgun, or to the sides with a handgun; upper leaning, at the waist, forward of center; head up. This gives the shooter maximum control of the weapon’s recoil, making any necessary follow on shots easier and more accurate in rapid or accelerated fire. This stance is also the basis for aimed sight shooting. Fairbairn and Sykes, and Lucky McDaniels taught their methods to Soldiers BEFORE they learned to use the weapon’s sights.

     Whether we fire instinctively or line up our sights on a threat depends on how much time we have to eliminate that threat. Instinctive shooting is not meant for long range, it is utilized when eliminating threats at very close range. Depending on what type of firearm you are using, that range is relative. With a rifle 50 meters is close range, with a handgun that range drops significantly. There is a grey area where you have slightly more time to make minimal use of your sights, but still is too close to allow their perfect alignment. For this grey area we progress to the flash sight method. A flash sight means that you focus entirely on your front sight, your rear sight and target should be blurry, since the eye can only focus on one distance at a time. You take enough time to ensure that your front sight is centered laterally in the rear sight, without worrying about vertical alignment. Again for defensive purposes, the goal is simply center of mass. By taking the extra .10 of a second to obtain the flash sight picture you will hit the target at normal range. You may strike a little high or a little low, but you will be somewhere in the center of mass. The reason for lateral alignment instead of vertical alignment is that being off center by 1/8” or ¼ “will cause your shot to miss the torso, striking the arm or missing altogether. This is basically shooting your handgun like you would a shotgun, which only has the single bead.
The time difference between firing instinctively versus obtaining a flash sight picture is actually so small that there is a long argument as to whether or not instinctive shooting may be obsolete. No it is not. At extreme close range, meaning with in arm distance, one would be a fool to take a weapon and hold it out fully extended, it is too easy to either disarm or move out of the line of fire, which is why Fairbairn and Sykes created the ¼ or close hip position, you will retain control of your weapon, and may use the other arm to fend off an aggressor while firing instinctively. As long as the barrel is not pointed at you, you will not get shot, and by applying the force of your entire body against the strength of an aggressor’s thumb, guns are relatively easy to take away. This is the theory behind 90% of disarms taught to martial artists and Soldiers. The other 10% utilize a sharp and powerful blow to the nerve center roughly three inches above the wrist. The force and direction of the blow cause the hand to open spasmodically and send the weapon flying off to the side. Flash Sight should be used well outside of arms reach, but when there still is not enough time to acquire a proper sight picture.

     When a threat is not at close range for the weapon being utilized, use the sights. Whether they are peep sights, or open sights, they work on the same principle. Align the front sight both laterally and vertically in the rear sight, and then adjust point of aim as necessary for elevation. There are basically two ways to use open or peep sights, either placing them directly on the target, or by placing directly below the bottom edge of the target. The easier of the two is the 6 O’ Clock Hold or “Pumpkin on a Post”. Whatever part of the target you want to hit, align the front sight laterally and vertically in the rear sight aperture, then adjust the point of aim, while maintaining proper alignment, to the bottom edge of your intended target. If you are using the standard ¼” grid zeroing target, you want to hit the center of the box in the center of the paper, so you would align the front sight in the rear sight as previously described, then you would use the line made of the top of the front and rear sights to split the center box in half, effectively you will only see the top half. The other way is to place the sights directly over the intended target, not above or below, but centered on the target obscuring it from view. This is not a big problem on large targets such as center of mass, but if you are only afforded a half head shot at 50 meters, it may prove more difficult. Longer range shots also require the application of the BRASS technique. The acronym BRASS stands for Breathe, Relax, Aim, and Squeeze the trigger Slowly.

     Breathe: As you breathe in and out, the chest rises and falls. This movement makes it very difficult to hold the sights on target. To counteract this movement you pay attention to your natural breathing pattern, inhaling causes the sights to move up, exhaling moves them down. When you have your sights aligned where you want them take a couple of normal breaths, and then exhale and you will notice a natural pause in your breathing cycle. During this natural pause is where you want to take your shots. The longest natural pause occurs between the exhale and inhale; however there is another natural pause between the inhale and exhale. When engaging multiple targets, you would use both of these natural pauses. One can comfortably take three or four shots during the long pause between exhaling and inhaling, and another two or three between inhaling and exhaling. This is the method the Army teaches its Soldiers, it has kept our nations enemies at bay from the Argonne Forrest to the Hindu-Kush Mountains, and will work for you as well.

     Relax: When our muscles tense they cause minute vibrations. These vibrations cause the side to side movement of the sights on the target. Make every attempt to utilize the skeletal structure for support, not the muscles. Only flex the muscles necessary to raise the weapon and pull the trigger. If shooting from the standing position, turn ¾ to the firing side, lean your upper body slightly back, but not off center, and push the non-firing hip toward the target slightly. Rest the non-firing elbow on the hip or against the ribs; elevate the firing elbow to the side for balance. This way the weight of the weapon is supported by the hips and legs, with only a minimal amount being supported by the muscles of the arms. When shooting in the prone position, bend the firing side leg, and push forward slightly with the toes. Position the arms in an isosceles shape, and keep the back muscles as relaxed as possible. The position of the arms will allow the bones of the forearm bear the weight of the weapon, not the biceps, and pushing forward slightly with the toes while pulling slightly to the rear with the non-firing hand will help combat recoil, and provides a steadier shooting platform.

     Aim: There is more to this than simply aligning the sights. If you zero your rifle with your cheek sitting three inches from the rear sight aperture, and then try to shoot using the same alignment but placing the cheek two or four inches from the rear sight aperture, your shots will not be on target, why? Because you have changed the sight picture, even though they are aligned as when you zeroed the rifle, you are actually aiming lower or higher than you were with the three inch relief. Find a distance from the rear sight aperture, a spot on the butt stock that feels comfortable to you, and memorize it. Shoot from that spot every time. When you are zeroing your sights, find a sight picture that feels natural to you, yes the front sight should be exactly centered laterally and vertically in the rear sight, but if you don’t like the way that feels, change it. What is important is that no matter what sight picture you like, make sure you use that same sight picture every time, and make sure to adjust the sights accordingly to keep you on target. I have an old Remmington Model 33; it has a simple “v”notch rear sight and a bead on an adjustable front ramp. I have been shooting this rifle now for 22 years. My Father would always tell me to put the bead in the bottom of the “v” and put it directly on whatever I was shooting at. I do not like to shoot when I cannot see the target, so I actually look over the top of the rear sight, then put the bead even with the top of the rear sight and centered laterally. That is not a “correct” sight picture as far as the way the sights were designed to be used, but as my Father has seen on occasions to numerous to recall, it works for me.
 
     Squeeze the trigger slowly: With a shotgun you slap the trigger, if you are shooting bird shot or buck shot, it doesn’t really matter if you are a little left or right. With a rifle or pistol, or shotgun with a slug, it matters quite a bit. Slowly pull the trigger directly to the back of the trigger guard. If your finger is curving to the strong side, as is quite common, it can throw your shot off to that side. If you know you are doing this and notice that your “flyers” are missing to the weak side, this means that you are pushing the trigger in order to compensate. Another way to make sure that you are not slapping the trigger is by following through on each trigger pull. You follow through the trigger pull by keeping the trigger depressed throughout the recoil. If using a semi-automatic you will hear a distinct metallic click, as on the M4. In any case, whatever gun you are using should have a noticeable reset of the trigger when you release it slowly after firing.

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