How To Shoot a Handgun

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Rob Leatham is certainly a master who could outshoot me blindfolded, in his sleep.

I DO have one bone of contention with him, however.  I, me, myself, think you should really learn to shoot well with ONE hand if you are carrying a gun for self-defense.  There are too many situations that can arise where you only have one hand available.  You are opening a door.  You are pushing a loved one or bystander out of the line of fire.  You are behind cover where using both hands exposes too much of your upper body and head.  Don't neglect practicing with your off hand, too.   You might get injured in your strong arm/hand.
That is only MY opinion, but there's a reason they call it a "HANDgun."

In any event. Rob gives EXCELLENT advice!!!

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Agreed.

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Jul 4, 2017 19:08:12 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

Agreed.

FTR,   I     have that bad habit of always putting 2 hands on the gun.  I'm trying to break myself of it.

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I practice dry firing endlessly because its the only way to know if you're moving the gun when you pull the trigger. It's abundantly clear when I move the gun off target during the trigger pull during my dry fire drills.

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Jul 4, 2017 20:36:39 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

I practice dry firing endlessly because its the only way to know if you're moving the gun when you pull the trigger. It's abundantly clear when I move the gun off target during the trigger pull during my dry fire drills.

When you are shooting in a hurry, as in self defense, you are going to move the gun.  My goal is not to knock out the bullseye, but to hit center mass at 7 yards or so, point shooting rapidly.  Things are gonna happen fast in a real situation, which makes a 1911 so ideal.  The pull is short and consistent, and if tuned properly, light and smooth.  BUT ...... I don't carry a 1911 because they are big, even my Commander.  With the Glock I give up a little in the trigger department but gain 3 rounds.

If I'm shooting for pure accuracy, I'll use the 1911 or my Uberti SAA.   Now THAT is a sweet gun, super accurate, and with a trigger you don't press at all until you are ready to fire. 

Like Leatham said, there's two different kinds of shooting, and I personally concentrate on the up-close, hit 'em fast, but not perfectly style.  IMHO, that's what will save my life, not hitting a teacup 25 yards away.  For me, hitting a 7"W x 9"H area consistently and rapidly at 15 yards or less is all I need.

[daleko]

Jul 4, 2017 20:36:39 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

I practice dry firing endlessly

 

[daleko]

Jul 4, 2017 18:51:55 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Rob Leatham is certainly a master who could outshoot me blindfolded, in his sleep.

In a real life stress, someone's gonna die, situation, maybe, maybe not. I don't know you or him. Real life isn't tactics or comp shooting. You need basic training in both for capability to protect yourself and define if you need to do so. BUT, It's also a willingness to shoot someone w/o hesitating, w/o any concern for the implications, w/o any concern for that other person's life. In the citizen world, tactics as an aggressor are not as important. Awareness allows you to avoid and stack the odds in your favor but once you're in the mix.... and it's usually over in under a minute. It's why hit men are so effective. They can bounce you, then go out to dinner and later sleep well. And you'll never know how you'll react until you have to do it. Again I'm not talking about LEOs or the mil. But every day John Q Citizen. 96% would hesitate. The good news is most thugs aren't well trained so you get that extra 3/10 of a sec. Just my thoughts. 

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Jul 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT -5 daleko said:

Jul 4, 2017 20:36:39 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

I practice dry firing endlessly

 

That there Dokker done a good job!   Good news is, your wife say you don't no more needs her target.    She be gone shoppin'.

                      

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Jul 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT -5 daleko said:

Jul 4, 2017 20:36:39 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

I practice dry firing endlessly

 

Use it or lose it I always say.

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Jul 4, 2017 23:32:11 GMT -5 daleko said:

Jul 4, 2017 18:51:55 GMT -5 @muttthemaster said:

Rob Leatham is certainly a master who could outshoot me blindfolded, in his sleep.

In a real life stress, someone's gonna die, situation, maybe, maybe not. I don't know you or him. Real life isn't tactics or comp shooting. You need basic training in both for capability to protect yourself and define if you need to do so. BUT, It's also a willingness to shoot someone w/o hesitating, w/o any concern for the implications, w/o any concern for that other person's life. In the citizen world, tactics as an aggressor are not as important. Awareness allows you to avoid and stack the odds in your favor but once you're in the mix.... and it's usually over in under a minute. It's why hit men are so effective. They can bounce you, then go out to dinner and later sleep well. And you'll never know how you'll react until you have to do it. Again I'm not talking about LEOs or the mil. But every day John Q Citizen. 96% would hesitate. The good news is most thugs aren't well trained so you get that extra 3/10 of a sec. Just my thoughts. 

Rob has 40 years or so of muscle training.  Look at his targets.  He KNOWS where his bullets are going to go, at least close enough for a disabling hit on a human.  When your gun becomes an extension of your arm, you've got the major battle won.  Few of us can afford the money and time to develop this type of precision, and it's one reason why I like the "one gun" idea, especially with a handgun. If you find the one you shoot best with, and you practice with it exclusively, you and the gun learn to know each other.  My Glock and my 1911 feel different,  and even my 1911's are different from each other, having both flat and rounded mainspring housings.  
The Old West saying is very true.  "Beware the man who owns one gun.  He knows how to use it."

I like most people, enjoy owning and shooting quite a few different guns, so I will never be as good as the guy who shoots one gun on a regular basis.

I have been in that "shoot -- don't shoot" situation, and even though I didn't have to that day, I know that I CAN.

Going back to training .......  it's imperative to learn to point shoot.   Wasting time to get the sights up to eye level and using them can get you killed.  A proper fitting gun should point as naturally as your index finger.  I can't tell you what that gun would be, either.  We all have different hands.

I DO know one thing .......... if you draw and fire from the hip, if you try to hit your opponent in center mass, you will probably hit him below the belt.  You have to train yourself to point the gun HIGHER than what you think is the correct level.  I have to remember this every time I qualify at the 2 yard line (touching distance actually).
Bill Jordan talks about this phenomenon in his book "No Second Place Winner."  Find a copy and read it.   Bill was a revolver man, but the principles are the same.

Main point ---------  there is no perfect self-defense handgun.  There is a perfect one for YOU, but it won't necessarily be perfect for me.  Same with the caliber.  IMHO, as long as you are using .38 Special or better with a good hollowpoint bullet, it beats fists or a stick.