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As we settle in for this weekend, and busy ourselves about our various plans and parties for the new year celebration, I think it's always important to reflect on the passing year. I do it on a personal and professional level, but in this week's newsletter, I want to do it on a "USCCA-Level"! So, I will be giving you the 'best of the best' from all the weekly newsletters from this year. Get ready to laugh... get ready to cry...
2007 was a big year up here at the USCCA head quarters, and for the USCCA as a whole. We have implemented a new online forum, made a ton of improvements to our website, had some really cool sales featuring some really cool products, and picked up a lot of great USCCA members and newsletter readers.
Well, what do you say we get started! I'm kicking this newsletter off with what was my favorite 'video of the week' throughout the whole year. It was a tough call, because they were all VERY good... but here goes!
If you have ever had any formal defensive Handgun training from a top notch firearms instructor, you probably heard them say, "Shoot to Stop the Threat". What do they mean by this? Well the first thing you need to understand is the difference between Target Accuracy and Combat Accuracy.
1. Target Accuracy= is defined as "any shot that has precision; exactness when it hits a pre defined place on a specific target..." Hitting in the exact center of a target. 2. Combat Accuracy= is defined as "any shot that significantly affects the targets ability to present a lethal threat."
There is a myth in the handgun community. The ONE shot stop myth: "is it reasonable to expect a single round to stop the attacker or any danger?" This may sound good however we know that this is not a reasonable expectation from a single bullet, especially a handgun bullet. I have a saying, "A handgun is a tool. A tool to fight your way back to the long gun or shotgun you should have had if you knew you were going to be in a fight." You can read more about this in my article "Handgun Stopping Power".
Combat Accuracy has several important key points to remember.
1. When training with 'Combat Accuracy" one is not required to shoot the proverbial 2 inch group on a target but instead, bullet placement on the upper torso can span the width of the shooter's hand. If we are shooting perfect 2 inch groups we are shooting way to slow, taking precision shots- or "Target Shooting". One needs to get bullets down range on the target with the goal of prevailing in this gunfight. 2. Hits anywhere on the target that cause the attacker to stop or disengage are considered "Combat Accurate". If, for example, your attacker has a knife and he attacks and you are able to get off two rounds that hit him in the pelvic geretel and he drops the knife and disengages that is 'combat accurate', and you have stopped the threat.
However you must also have a "Combat Mindset," which is also discussed in a previous article. 'Shooting to stop the threat' means that you continue to stay in the fight by shooting until the threat stops. However realize this may be 10, 15, 20, 25 or even 30 rounds, all the while placing hits on the target anywhere that will stop the threat or fight. But once the threat stops you must also stop shooting.
You may only use force as a last resort- especially deadly force. Not stopping once the threat has stopped is using excessive force. You may also only use the amount of force that is REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN YOUR SITUATION. By understanding Combat Accuracy most shooters will be able to shoot faster by not overemphasizing concepts that come from target shooting and therefore prepare themselves to stop threats faster in a real world incident. I know some people will have a hard time with this approach, because you have been taught for decades to go to the range and shoot at the center of a target. You need that gratification that comes from shooting and being able to measure your idea of successes. Also, remember that the root word in Gun Fight is Fight. Fights are dynamic and you are moving and your hits will be few. I teach that in a gunfight a 100% shooter becomes a 70% shooter due to stress, tunnel vision and sheer dynamic movement. Understanding the actual goal of each round you are firing makes it clear that you need to be prepared to fire as many rounds as it takes!
So when you go to the range and practice your shooting, you need to focus on a few key things. You must present the handgun as quickly as possible I teach the (5) points to the draw at Perroni's Tactical Training Academy. You need to start shooting as soon as the handgun is on target. This could be as early as step # 3 in the (5) points of the draw. We continue to fire all the way through the draw stroke. "Zipper Method": Placing rounds in the upper torso are in the width of a hand span and also trying for the perfect head shot. Moving to cover and reloading as necessary because we know the average number of rounds fired in a gunfight is 10 and of those 10 rounds only 2 hit the target. (80% miss-rate)
1. SHOOT as many rounds as necessary to stop the threat. 2. Move to cover while shooting reload from behind cover. 3. Keep Shooting While communicating (for the subject to stop, for someone to call police, to find out where the subject is.) 4. Only when the threat stops do you stop shooting! 5. Handgun goes to low ready; you scan for bad guys and shoot to stop the threat.
Live the way you train, and train the way you live. Because when you are in a fight for your life, you will not rise to the occasion, you will default to your level of training. (How good was your training?)
Going to the range and shooting at a piece of paper that is not moving or shooting back, while putting perfect holes in a nice group, is not training for the fight. While I think accuracy is important you must train to prevail in a real world gunfight. You must shoot to stop the threat! Also always remember:
"Conflict is inevitable; Combat is an option"
Tom Perroni is the owner, President and Chief Instructor of Perroni's
Tactical Training Academy. Pulling on a five-year law enforcement
operational background, Tom has spent the last fifteen years delivering
training to government, military, law enforcement and private security
companies. Tom is also the lead contract instructor trainer for the
Virginia Dept. of Criminal Justice Services, responsible for vetting private
security trainers approved by DCJS. Tom is also a Contract Instructor for
Blackwater Training Center. Tom appreciates feedback and can be reached
through the Contact page on his company website at
http://www.perronitactical.com.
www.TheBoxoTruth.com Ammo Penetration Testing USCCA Gear Review
You know, this week's gear review is a little abstract. Rather than an actual piece of equipment, I'm featuring a REALLY cool website. But I promise you that you are going to find this information VERY useful- and quite intriguing!
If you're anything like me, at one time or another you've probably just wanted to shoot something just to see how the object would react to a bullet, and how your bullet would react to the object. For example, I've got an old Kevlar US Army helmet, and I've always wondered how much protection it offered. But it's my cool Army helmet- I don't want to ruin it! Well believe it or not, a retired gentleman who goes by the name of Old_Painless over at the AR15.com forums has committed a website called "The Box O' Truth" (www.theboxotruth.com) to doing just that! Shooting stuff up!
Now here's a guy who knows how to have fun. But beyond that, the tactical knowledge that one can gain from his "experiments" is enormous! For example, my personal favorite is a lab called "The Buick O' Truth", which was conducted by Old_Painless' friend, John_Wayne777.
Here, these guys practiced shooting at targets from inside the car through the its windshield, from outside the car at targets behind the wheel, and even did tests on the car's ability to stop bullets from MANY different calibers. I can't believe how little protection car doors offer!!
Great site though- my only caution is that when you visit The Box O' Truth, be sure to have a lot of free time, as you'll probably be stuck for a while!
This is the part every week where I ask you to send this newsletter to any friends or family members who might find its content handy!!
It's easy to do- Just click on the big envelope!!
Forum Highlights
Every Deluxe Member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over twenty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!
Most Of Time: S&W 642CT Pocket Holster (love that little red laser dot)
Often: Glock 19 IWB Holster
Occasionally: Sig 229 Belt Holster or (SmartCarry for deep concealment)
(Quite often the 642 is my back up bug)
Ammo for carry: Sig 229 (Cor-Bon 9mmLuger+P 125gr JHP)
Glock 19 (Cor-Bon 9mmLuger+P 125gr JHP)
S&W 642CT (Cor-Bon 38Special+P 125gr JHP)
I always carry at approximately 2 ½ o'clock position (except SmartCarry) so my weapon is in the same general area.
Always locked & loaded (one in the chamber).
104 replies
Defending the Homefront - What weapon?
I've gone through somewhat of a transition lately in my thinking concerning "Which weapon am I going to grab when I hear the glass break?"
My previous plan was that, provided I had the time, barracade in the bedroom since we don't have any children, call the police on the cell, and guard the door with my Mossberg 590 12 GA.
Assuming I wasn't "certain" it was a breakin, and I didn't want to call the police immediately, I would have to go "house clearing", in which instance I'd take my handgun, because it would be easier to retain, and corner with. I didn't want that long barrell of the shoulder mounted weapon out there inviting a snatch.
Well, a good friend of mine says to me . . . "You have a AR Carbine don't you?". I replied "Yeah but I don't like the long barrell sticking out there inviting a snatch, and besides If I want to use a long gun, I'd just as soon have the extra stopping power of the shotgun."
To which he says:
"Firstly, when you get home take your handgun out and sight it like you would normally then walk up toward a wall until your muzzle just touches the wall. Then mark where your feet are for reference, go get your rifle and step back into the same place on the floor and mount your rifle to your shoulder, you'll be suprised how little difference there is in where the end of the muzzles are when you're in a fighting stance with either weapon."
"Secondly, as for the shotgun. It's great for when you have the time to barracade, but could you make a hostage shot with it? Once you leave the bedroom and your wife, you open the possibility for the necessity of the hostage shot."
I tried what he said with the Pistol and Carbine, he's absolutely right, the carbine muzzle doesn't stick out more than an inch or so past where the pistol muzzle is when both of them are in a fighting position. You can turn the muzzle of the carbine down to corner, just like you do the pistol, and I actually have a greater confidence in my ability to make the hostage shot with a carbine than I do with a pistol because of the longer sight radius.
I'd like to know what you ladies and gentlemen think about Pistol vs. Carbine for home defense. I know there are no "right" or "wrong" answers, but listening to everyone's choice and justification for that choice should be entertaining, and very educational.
Chip
68 replies
Quote of the Week
Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they'll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week...
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
-John F. Kennedy.
Closing Thoughts
Well ladies and gentlemen, I hope you've enjoyed this all-star edition of the best of 2007. Above all, I hope 2007 was a good year for all of you. Here's to 2007!
And here's to 2008! Your year will be as good as you make it! Talk to you next year friend... Happy New Year!
The USCCA has a FREE weekly newsletter for YOU! We discuss self-defense, guns, knives, tactics, family, friends and life. These weekly tips are valuable, entertaining and politically incorrect... and they're FREE. Sign up now or "pay the price."
Your name, and e-mail will NEVER be sold or rented to ANYONE. Click here to check out the USCCA Newsletter archives.
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