Point shooting with Drills Included
Shooting a handgun consists fundamentally of aligning the gun with the target and then operating the trigger without disturbing that alignment. How the alignment is achieved really doesn’t matter, as long as the method used is reliable and consistent
No matter what shooting technique you use, the basic process begins by using body mechanics to orient the weapon toward the target.
Remember, the sights are not used to align the weapon; rather they are used to verify an alignment already achieved by means of a trained presentation.
Origins
The best-known system with the strongest lineage began with W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes, members of the Shanghai Municipal Police during the first half of the 20th century.
They were later called upon to teach British commandos and the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (the predecessor of the CIA) during World War II. In their latter role, they passed the point shooting torch to the equally legendary Colonel Rex Applegate, who continued to teach and preach his version of the technique until his death in 1998.
They understood what happens to average people when someone’s trying to kill them.
In response to life-threatening stress, the body activates the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the fight, flight, or freeze instinct automatically kicks in. Physiologically, several things happen, including crouching, squaring up to face the threat, loss of fine-motor skills, pupil dilation, loss of near-vision acuity, and a natural tendency to visually focus on the thing that’s trying to kill you.
Because people instinctively square up with a lethal threat, their method aligned the gun with the body’s centerline. This took care of windage. Since the shooter was already instinctively focused on the threat, they emphasized raising the gun to the line of sight before squeezing the trigger. That took care of elevation. Windage plus elevation equals aim.
Modern Day:
Point shooting has been criticized by some so-called authorities as outdated and only capable of providing inaccurate, unaimed fire. However, statistics compiled from shooting incidents on today's streets continue to show that it is what most people instinctively rely on in the stress of a gunfight, regardless of their formal training in sighted fire techniques.
My Opinon:
I personally use both point shooting and sighted fire.
Big target, close target (10 yards or closer), small penalty for a miss. I use point shooting.
Small target, far target, big penalty for a miss (kids walking behind bad guy). I use sighted fire.
I use my sights when I need to use my sights.
Training:
If you include point shooting technique in your arsenal of defensive skills, it is highly recommended that you practice it regularly.
On the ground drills
Simulate being knocked down and assume the coil snake position on their strong side, execute a kick to create distance, draw and then go into one of the following shooting positions
Supine Position
7 Yards 36 Rounds
Two handed firing; 2 rounds in 2 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 4 rounds.
Strong hand only; 3 rounds in 3 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Support hand only; 3 rounds in 4 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Two handed firing backwards; 2 rounds in 4 seconds. Repeat twice for a total of 4 rounds.
Fetal Position
15 Yards 36 Rounds
RIGHT SIDE
Two handed firing; 2 rounds in 4 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Right hand only; 2 rounds in 5 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Left hand only; 2 rounds in 5 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
LEFT SIDE
Two handed firing; 2 rounds in 4 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Left hand only; 2 rounds in 5 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Right hand only; 2 rounds in 5 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Prone Position
25 Yards 18 Rounds
Two handed firing; 2 rounds in 5 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Strong hand only; 2 rounds in 6 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Support hand only; 2 rounds in 7 seconds. Repeat twice, for a total of 6 rounds.
Handgun Retention:
3 yards 4 rounds no time limit. The shooter will simulate someone grabbing his firearm, drop his center of gravity while securing his firearm in the holster, then start the pin and spin retention technique, stepping to his left then draw and fire 4 rounds.
3 yards 4 rounds no time limit. The shooter will simulate someone grabbing his firearm, drop his center of gravity while securing his firearm in the holster, then start the pin and spin retention technique, stepping to his right then draw and fire 4 rounds 3 yards 4 rounds no time limit.
The shooter will simulate someone grabbing his firearm, drop his center of gravity while securing his firearm in the holster, then start the pin and spin retention technique, stepping to his rear then draw and fire 6 rounds on the move. (the shooter will not stop moving to all 6 rounds are fired.)
Out of Battery drill:
*This drill is designed for auto pistols only and is an optional drill.
This drill is to simulate someone grabbing your slide if you push the gun out to far in a close quarter environment. It will be demonstrated and executed one shooter at a time for safety reasons.
The shooter will draw at 3 feet from the target and present the pistol with a two handed grip. Then with his off hand firmly grasp the slide of his own pistol. On the command up he/she will fire one round. This will place the pistol out of battery. Then the shooter will rack tap and access before engaging the target. This is a 2 round drill.
Number of rounds: 70
This course emphasizes 1-handed combat shooting and reloading techniques under stress. The time frame may be adjusted as proficiency increases.
STAGE 1: 3 yards 16 rounds No time limit
1. On command, fire 4 rounds strong hand, extended hip position. (Do not re-holster.)
2. Repeat twice more. Total of 8 rounds.
3. On command, fire 4 rounds off/ support hand, extended hip position (Do not re-holster)
4. Repeat twice more. Total of 8 rounds.
STAGE 2: 3 yards 16 rounds 35 seconds
1. Execute a high block draw and Fire 6 rounds, strong hand, unsupported.
2. Execute a strike, step to the left and fire 3 rounds
3. Execute a strike, step to the right and fire 3 rounds
4. Execute a kick, step back and fire 4 rounds
STAGE 3: 5 yards 16 rounds 30 seconds
1. Transition from O.C. spray to deadly force, and 5 rounds, strong hand unsupported.
2. Transition from O.C. spray to deadly force and fire 6 rounds, using both hands.
3. Transition from O.C. spray to deadly force and fire 5 rounds while holding your O.C. spray.
STAGE 4: 7 yards 7 rounds 16 seconds
Transition from non lethal to deadly force and fire 2 rounds, then step right.
Transition from non lethal to deadly force and fire 2 rounds, then step left.
Transition from non lethal to deadly force and fire 3 rounds, then step backwards.
STAGE 5: 3 yards 15 rounds no time limit
Starting on the ground in the coil snake position execute a kick to create distance and roll to your support side and fire 3 rounds.
Starting on the ground in the coil snake position execute a kick to create distance then roll to your strong side and fire 4 rounds.
Starting on the ground in the coil snake position execute a kick to create distance then lay on your back with your knees flexed (modified supine) and fire 4 rounds repeat course of fire for a total of 8 rounds.
200 Rounds needed
Keep your head down and keep the faith,
Reno
