Re: Champer Empty Carry & Weak / Support Hand Injuries

A couple weeks ago I discussed chamber empty carry (condition 3 or C3 carry) and that a lot of persons that carry in that manner don't take into account how quickly an injury can negate "all the training" they put into drawing the gun "The same way every time"

When discussing this on the forums, a lot of the C3'ers will scoff at the mention of such an injury.

Today I sliced my thumb, barely missing some tendons.

Caution, some mild pics below. Not too nasty but if bloody pics make you squeamish, you may not want to look at them.

Click "Read More" below to continue.

Blackhawk Pistol Club April IDPA Macth - 4/28/13

Greetings!

Our 2013 season opening matches are fast upon us. USPSA starts this Sunday and our IDPA match will be on Sunday the 28th. We are running all Sunday matches for IDPA this year, this years schedule is below.

If you've forgotten where the range is, we are located on the west side of RT63, south of US20, across from the John Deere Implement.

For IDPA we will be shooting a full eight stages but are keeping the minimum round count down to approximately 70rds due to the ammo shortages.

For a look at the stages, see them HERE, these are just overviews and actual stages may vary.

Times for the April Match (04-28-13) are as follows:
Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New shooter orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

As mentioned in a previous mailer there is a new Iowa Shooters Forum and we are looking to use it as our "home" forum.

Also, please make sure that the email addresses:
IDPA@blackhawkpistol.org

bhpc@blackhawkpistol.org

Are in your safe list, we will be starting to send match updates from those addresses in the coming months.


STARTING IN JUNE OUR TIME TABLE WILL BE CHANGING FOR IDPA

Also of note is that some time during the year RT63 will be under construction, we will be posting updates as that progresses.

Our match schedule for the year is:

4-28
5-26
6-23

7-28 - IDPA Classifier

8-25
9-22
10-27 - Halloween Match
11-24 Week Before Thanksgiving.

Be sure to "Like" us on Facebook

Hope to see you at our first matches of the 2013 season!

Regards,

JD

First Look: Trijicon HD Night Sights - HK45

I recently ordered the Trijicon HD sights w/ orange front for my HK45 from HKparts.net and had them installed today. Just how "high vis" is the front sight? Here's a picture focused on the rear sight

The front sight looks like a ball of fire landed on it.

I don't think there will be any missing that front.

First impressions on the sights are good. Like all Trijicon products I've had experience with these are well made and installed pretty easily. The sights are taller than I thought. The rear sight has a nice angle to it and is nicely serrated to reduce glare. The lamps are nice and bright (no duh, they're new) will get some shooting in this month with our IDPA season opener.

Blackhawk Pistol Club 2013 USPSA & IDPA Match Dates

USPSA:
April 14
May 19
June 9
Jul 14
August 11
September 8
October 13
November 10
Dec 8

IDPA:
April 28
May 26
June 23
July 28
August 25
September 22
October 27 - Halloween Match
November 24 Week Before Thanksgiving.

 

FOR IDPA

Classifier will probably be in June or July. 

For our first two matches, the times will be the same as last year

Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

STARTING IN JUNE OUR TIME TABLE WILL BE CHANGING

Also of note is that some time during the year RT63 will be under construction, we will be posting updates as that progresses.

Due to the current strain on ammo supply, expect lesser round counts at the IDPA matches, but more stages. We plan on running a full 8 stages with a round count under 75rds.

If you've forgotten where the range is, we are located on the west side of RT63, south of US20, across from the John Deere Implement.

Formal match announcements will be made for each shoot. Also, starting in June match emails will be sent from a new address: IDPA@BlackhawkPistol.org, so make sure that address is on your "safe list" prior to June.
 
See you at the matches!

JD

BHPC on Facebook
IAShooters.org - Blackhawk Pistol Club - IDPA

Squeak, squeak, squeak....SSP Expert

That was the sound of me squeaking by and shooting Expert in SSP at today's IDPA classifier.

120 is the minimum score (smaller number is better score) to make the cut, I shot a 119.99.

What's more amazing is that I shot was is now my best classifier with a gun I had never shot before this morning in 20-30 degrees of weather...I wonder what I can do with the gun in warm weather?


As my P30S is no longer IDPA complaint, I wanted a similar gun that I could shoot at a match without question.

I lucked into a P30LS in LEM that had all ready had a Gray Guns trigger job and the Heinie sights that I prefer. The pistol was received on Wednesday night and with all the Holiday and other activities I didn't get a chance to shoot the pistol until arriving at the range this morning. I got to shoot 20rds on the plate rack and the rest was all on the classifier.

Top: HK P30LS - Light LEM -Bottom HK P30S w/ Leupold Delta Point

For me it was a great end to the 2012 IDPA season, I went in to 2012 wanting to make Expert, but I planned on doing it in the Custom Defense Pistol (CDP) division, never thought in a million years I'd be doing with a P30LS in LEM in SSP.

As stated, this was our last IDPA match for 2012.

Much thanks goes out to those that helped us at BHPC with successful 2012 IDPA Season.

Back to the drawing board for stages to shoot in 2013!!!

Blackhawk Pistol Club's August IDPA Match / 8-26-12: Waterloo, IA

GREETINGS!

The BHPC IDPA monthly match for August is SUNDAY the 26th @ CVPR on Rt 63 between Waterloo and Hudson just west of the John Deere Implement.

Any updates on this match will be posted on the iliowapracticalShooters forum and our Facebook page.

We're looking to do SEVEN stages with a round count between 75-100 (bring more)

Match Fee is $15.00, $12 for BHPC Members. FIRST TIME BHPC Shooters shoot free! Tell your friends! We had 24 shooters at our last match and a couple new faces. I’d love to see match attendance around 30 before the end of the season.

Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

ALSO MAKE SURE TO BRING WATER and hydrate before the match, the weather has gotten a little cooler, but it’s looking to be in the mid 80s on match day.


If you are able to be there early for set up, any and all help is appreciated! No really, we really could use the help, we’re not going to be too prop intensive this match but many hands still makes light work.

Hope to see you there!

Regards, JD

From Pistol-Training.com : Competition Pros and Cons

Competition: Pros and Cons

 

Some points of interest from the article and comments:

So, you need to be honest with yourself about your motivation. Are you there to supplement your training or are you there to compete for the sake of competition? Both are perfectly valid choices, obviously. But the answer to that question is going to have an impact on what you practice. Time you spend working on competition-oriented skills is time you could have used to work on defense-oriented skills.

Another potential snare of competition shooting for the defense-minded shooter is equipment selection. When you go to a match, it’s hard to look at the guys with their tricked out race gear when you’re wearing a Glock 27 in an IWB holster under a sweatshirt (which is exactly how I shot my first USPSA match in the mid-90s). The temptation to compromise a little here and a little there can be strong. First you switch to a G34… because, hey, it’s basically the same gun, right? But it’s not. Seeing how you can shoot with a G34 isn’t the same as seeing what you can do with a much smaller, greater recoiling G27. Then you switch to a faster holster. Now you’re practicing to draw a different way and perhaps from a different location on your body. We said earlier that people will focus more on the definitely-game this weekend than the maybe-fight in the future. So where will your focus be, on your CCW gear or your game gear? On the other hand, if you’re going to run your “real” gear you cannot use it as an excuse or a crutch. You’re making a decision and that’s 100% on you. Don’t try to convince yourself you would have beat the World Champion if only your holster was a little faster or your sight radius a little longer.

 From the comments section.

Stealing a quote from Soutnarc’s forum; “You can’t go as deep training as in a race or a fight. If you don’t compete it’s easy to convince yourself you’re going hard. You’re not.” Mark Twight
I do find that I have to be careful to not let bad habits get into my tactical toolbox, like standing in a doorway port at an IPSC match and just blazing away at targets to get max speed on the string of fire, or running balls-to-the-wall down a hallway at an IDPA match instead of moving as I would in real life.
I almost never win a local match, but I do well, and with IDPA I very often get “most accurate” at the match running a G19 with a NY1 trigger from an IWB holster under a T-shirt, instead of the “concealed carry” guns other guys are running, like a tricked G34 in a Blace Tech holster under a ‘shoot-me” vest.

 It's all about what you're there to get from it and being up front with yourself about it too.

Update: Bowie Tactical P30S w/ Delta Point

Ran the Bowie Tactical / HK  P30S again @IDPA today in Ames, IA with the emitter taped over to get better acquainted with the irons, I could have shot Open Div. in USPSA today, but want to get better with the more familiar sights before really diving into the red dot...well that and I just felt like shooting with the guys in Ames.

I'm having trouble tracking the front sight, need to paint it and may possibly have a tritium vial installed in it. On a good note I was running some hotter ammunition and did not have any failures of any sort. Previously I was having some random failure to feed issues. Not sure if was from the refinished slide which seems to be a little tighter than pre-coating or if the added mass of the Deltapoint had anything to do with it, all I know was that I had no issues while running Winchester Ranger T NATO ammo today. After a couple hundred more I'll try some standard velocity 124gr FMJ and some 115gr FMJ and see what kind of results I have.

On a P30 only note, the slim slide stop lever assy. I installed has fixed my failure to lock open on empty issue.

Had some decent Bill Drill runs @ 10 (4.13), 7(3.53), and 5 yards(2.42), was down 2 for the stage, forget n which strings but think I dropped 1ea on the closer targets.


Head shots with the irons took a little more work. Still need to get to the in-door range and properly sight in the Delta Point.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the gun, I'm still shooting the 1911 better, but it will take some time to get used to something different.

On another topic, Suarez International is holding some Red Dot Equipped Pistol specific training classes,

in October, unfortunately I won't be able to partake this time around but will be looking for these offerings in the future.

Waterloo, IA - Black Hawk Pistol Club July IDPA Match

The IDPA monthly match for June is Sunday the 22nd @ the Cedar Valley Pistol Range (CVPR) on Rt 63 between Waterloo and Hudson just west of the John Deere Implement.
As mentioned previously, any updates/changes to this match will be posted at the  iliowa practical shooters forum (sign up is free) and our Facebook page.

We're looking to do five stages with a round count between 75-100 (bring more).

For a look at the rough drafts of the stages, see HERE.


Match Fee is $15.00, $12 for BHPC members, first time shooters shoot free!.

Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00



ALSO MAKE SURE TO BRING WATER and hydrate before the match.

If you are able to be there early for set up, any and all help is appreciated!

Hope to see you there!

June BHPC IDPA Results

Match Over All

1. Jesse W.     108.02    SSP
2. Rod D.        126.33    ESP
3. JD               129.72    CDP
4. Dean C.       137.99    ESP
5. Mike T.       139.29    SSP
6. Greg C.       148.33    ESP
7. Jeff C.         163.73   ESP
8. Mike K.       153.45    SSP
9. Eric K.         162.8    SSP
10. Brian H.      174.15    SSP
11. K V.             175.45    SSP
12. Mike C.       194.12    SSP
13. Kurt G         197.42    SSP
14. Dean W.       203.27    CDP
15. Melvin S.     217.59    SSP
16. William K.   238.01    SSP
17. Eric R          251.83    SSP
18. Richard H.   256.96    SSP

Average Score
176.58

Points Down        

Brian H.     29 SSP <-- With a freak'n Glock 26!!!
Dean C.     35 ESP
JD              35CDP
Jesse W.    38
Rod D.        48
Mike K.        48
Mike C.        50
Jeff C.        53
Mike T.        53
Kurt G        55
K V.         57
Greg C.        71
Dean W.        77
Eric K.        78
Melvin S.    82
William K.    92
Eric R        130
Richard H.    169

Average Points Down
67

Will link to the full break downs later tonight. Good job every body for a safe and fun match.


***Final scores can be viewed HERE **

Waterloo, IA Black Hawk Pistol Club's June IDPA Match

The IDPA monthly match for June is SATURDAY the 30th @ the Cedar Valley Pistol Range (CVPR) on Rt 63 between Waterloo and Hudson just west of the John Deere Implement.
As mentioned previously, any updates/changes to this match will be posted at the  iliowa practical shooters forum (sign up is free) and our Facebook page.

We're looking to do six stages with a round count between 85-100.

Match Fee is $15.00, $12 for BHPC Members.

Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

IDPA Tips of the month:
Only two magazines may be worn on the belt, additional magazines may be carried on your person, but should you use them, you will receive a 3 second penalty PER magazine used.

Regarding cover garments, they need to conceal your pistol and magazines with your arms raised straight out at your shoulders. This also means that you gear needs to not be visible. Hunting vests etc. that are a majority mesh material are a no go if we can see your equipment under the vest. Mesh vents are OK provided we can not see your pistol and reloads etc.

ALSO MAKE SURE TO BRING WATER and hydrate before the match.

If you are able to be there early for set up, any and all help is appreciated!

Hope to see you there!

2012 MO State IDPA "Back Stoppers" Match...

Getting ready to shoot the match tomorrow.

 Holy crap! LOTS of targets with hard cover!

BHPC May IDPA Match Results

By Division:

JD    CDP    164.35
Dean W    CDP    232.98

Jesse W.    SSP    145.96
Richard G.    SSP    150.8
Michael K.    SSP    188.98
Bryan B.    SSP    190.89
Brad E.    SSP    191.53
Kurt G.    SSP    199.78
Victor C.    SSP    228.73
Mike C.    SSP    232.64

Scott R.    ESP    126.69
Jon F.    ESP    140.85
Jeff C.    ESP    169.82
Rod D.    ESP    162.22
Dean C.    ESP    176.89
Greg C.    ESP    174.85
Gene H.    ESP    197.16
Hakkon R.    ESP    211.01


Match Overall:

Scott R.    126.69
Jon F.    140.85
Jesse W.    145.96
Richard G.    150.8
Rod D.    162.22
JD    164.35
Jeff C.    169.82
Greg C.    174.85
Dean C.    176.89
Michael K.    188.98
Bryan B.    190.89
Brad E.    191.53
Gene H.    197.16
Kurt G.    199.78
Hakkon R.    211.01
Victor C.    228.73
Mike C.    232.64
Dean W    232.98

Average Score: 182.56

Points Down:

CDP    JD    34
SSP    Kurt G.    35
ESP    Scott R.    44
ESP    Jon F.    60
SSP    Richard G.    62
SSP    Mike C.    64
ESP    Rod D.    64
ESP    Jeff C.    66
SSP    Brad E.    68
SSP    Jesse W.    72
SSP    Michael K.    72
SSP    Victor C.    78
ESP    Gene H.    89
ESP    Dean C.    90
CDP    Dean W    94
ESP    Hakkon R.    95
ESP    Greg C.    105
SSP    Bryan B.    110

Average Points Down: 72.3

Division Winners       
SSP    Jesse W.   
ESP    Scott R   
CDP    JD   

 Division Most-Accurate       
SSP    Kurt G   
ESP    Scott R   
CDP    JD   

The full break down of stage by stage info will be sent via email to those I have email addressed for here shortly.

We had a total of 18 shooters and six stages, thanks to all who helped set up and tear down.

Hope to be out tomorrow for USPSA, but not sure if I'm going to make it.

Good shootn' all!

BHPC May 27th IDPA Match Update

We will be shooting six stages with a total round count of 90. See link below for more details

Guns, Guns, and More Gosh Darn Guns: Waterloo, IA - Black Hawk Pistol Club IDPA May Mat...: Our IDPA monthly match for May is on the 27th @ CVPR   on Rt 63 between Waterloo and Hudson just west of the John Deere Implement...

Waterloo, IA - Black Hawk Pistol Club IDPA May Match

Our IDPA monthly match for May is on the 27th @ CVPR  on Rt 63 between Waterloo and Hudson just west of the John Deere Implement.

As mentioned previously, any updates/changes to this match will be posted at the iliowa practical shooters forum (sign up is free) and our Facebook page.

Match Fee is $15.00

Match times are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

We had 25 shooters at our season opener, looking forward to seeing more of you this month! I'm still working on the stage details, we're sharing stage "foot prints" with the USPSA stages being shot at the BHPC Memorial Day match (more info on that can be found @ the Iliowa forum mentioned above.

If you are able to be there early for set up, any and all help is appreciated!

On the Topic of Gun Games and Training....

...And the differences between the two:

USPSA Close Quarters Standards....15, 21 & 30 feet? Close Quarters?

"Training" Close Quarters (skip to 4:30)

Not knocking USPSA, I just got my member packet in the mail, just stating why we need to keep things in perspective between the two.

Pearls of Wisdom From The Greatest Generation Part 1

Pearls of Wisdom From The Greatest Generation Part 1


-Select quotes from “Shooting to Live” –


Fairbairn and Sykes

I am utterly amazed that I have not read this piece before now, I’ve seen it mentioned many times over, have seen it available when shopping for other books but have never pulled the trigger on it so to speak until know. The following is just a list of quotes from the book that jumped out at me for a variety of reasons.

“It must not be inferred on that account that we in any way decry the sport of target shooting. On the contrary, we admire the high degree of skill for which it calls and which we personally cannot emulate.”

…
“Target shooting has its place and we have no quarrel with it. There probably will quarrel, however, when we go on to say that beyond helping to teach care in the handling of fire-arm, target shooting is of no value whatever whatever in learning the use of the pistol as a weapon of combat. The two things are as different from each other as chalk from cheese, and what has been learned from target shooting is best unlearned if proficiency is desired in the use of the pistol under actual fighting conditions.”

Now don't get me wrong here, my reason for quoting this piece of text is not to bash competition shooting in general, during the time when this work was being written USPSA and IDPA were non-existent. Bull's-eye was the pistol sport of the day,  but that being said we still need to reflect on the matter of USPSA and IDPA as well as what commonly passes for training as related to the carrying of arms in this country.

I think we all need a little reminder every now and then that USPSA and IDPA are no substitute for attending proper training when it comes to fighting with a handgun. This is should also reinforce the known that the basic marksmanship class that many take to meet training requirements is just not good enough. I'm very happy to see the widely available training. I think Fairbairn and Sykes would be pleased with the many programs available today.

“…you may find that you have to shoot from some awkward position, not necessarily even while on your feet. There is no exaggeration in this analysis of fighting conditions. Here we have a set of circumstances which in every respect are absolutely different from those encountered in target shooting. Do they not call for absolutely different methods of training?"

Weaver, Iso, Modern Iso, whatever your favorite flavor is, if you sudenly find yourself going for your gun, and incorporate any kind of movement, you're not going to be in your favorite stance. One of the things that I do like about IDPA etc. is that some match directors like to get some unorthodox shooting "positions" in there. 

"To answer this question, we much consider the essential points which emerge from our analysis. They appear to be three in number, and we should set them out in the following order: -

1: Extreme speed, both in drawing and firing
2: Instinctive, as opposed to deliberate aim.
3: Practice under circumstances which approximate as nearly as possible to actual fighting conditions.

Instinctive aiming, the second essential, is an entirely logical consequence to the extreme speed to which we attach so much importance. That is so for the simple reason that there is no time for any of the customary aids to accuracy. If reliance on those aids has become habitual, so much the worse for you if you are shooting to live. There is no time, for instance, to put yourself into some special stance to align the sights of the pistol, and any attempt to do so places you at the mercy of quicker opponent."

 This will be touched on a little more in depth in my review of the Point Shooting Progressions Course I recently attended but some things covered therein and some things seen as something that needs to be addressed in training regarding to close range encounters. Again on the training aspect, I hope this information reaches those that think they're NRA Basic Pistol Course is all they need in terms of firearms training. Don't get me wrong, the Basic Course is fine for teaching fundamentals etc. but it's incredibly lacking in regards to defensive use of the pistol.

"We cannot claim that the system produces nail-driving marksmanship, but that is not what we look for. We want the ability to hit with extreme speed man-sized targets at very short ranges under the difficult circumstances which have been outlined all ready. Nail-driving marksmanship will not cope with such conditions."

I can't say I agree or disagree on this. Again, in the PSP course we worked on a lot of things that I had done in other training classes, such as the Langdon Tactical Inc, Advanced Tactical Pistol Course, some drills / exercises were almost identical expect that we were using sighted fire in one and "point shooting" in another. I would say that I had more accurate hits in the Langdon class, but more hits in the PSP class, and they were not what I would call inaccurate. While we did a LOT of moving in the Langdon class, we did FASTER moving in the PSP course but the lack of waiting for perfect sight alignment / sight picture allowed for a lot more shots on target resulting in more hits, and while they weren't all in the "down zero"

There's a saying attributed to Bill Jordan:

"Speed is fine, accuracy is final."

Where this falls into play...at this moment I'm not quite sure what the correct balance of speed vs. accuracy is. I've been trying to improve my ratio of both speed and accuracy and as of right now I think I have to go with getting good hits and with more time and practice the speed will improve.

"In this training system nothing is permitted to interfere with the development of speed. For that reason we have steadily set our faces against competitions or rewards of any kind. The instant that competitions, with the accompanying medals, badges, etc., are introduced, men will try to shoot deliberately, whether consciously or not, and we find our object is being defeated."

 Man, did this one strike home or what? When you look at the history of the Leather Slappers, USPSA, IDPA, or any kind of scored system...it's impossible to refute the above quote. I got in to IDPA for the "practice" aspect of it and to have a better avenue to apply what I've learned in training and I find myself trying to shoot more for score and competition and I know I'm not the only one. At the end of last season I was pretty determined to leave the game aspect of it behind and I will try to hold myself to that and not care where I place.

HK P30S 9mm & Other Updates

Just a quick update on the P30S. I received my Milt Sparks VM2 for the P30 and have been wearing that pretty much 100% of the time I'm carrying. I am pleased to say that I am not having the issue of de-cocking the gun during the access part of my draw stroke.

I changed out the front and rear sight to a fiber optic front and plain black rear from Dawson Precision and I really like the sights. One thing to note with the P30 is that there isn't much flat, vertical surface to the slide and using a sight pusher can be tricky. I ended up using my 10-8 Armorer Tool as a wedge to keep the slide from canting in the pusher. On a side note, the 10-8 rear sight for the HK45, 45C, P30 and P30L is done and in stock.

I haven't ordered one (10-8 rear) yet, but plan on adding one to the HK45 here in a couple of weeks.

I was kind of worried about my alignment of the sights as the front sight appeared slightly off center, but my initial testing @ 50' from a rest proved the sights to be centered, or at least centered enough for me.

Dawson Precision Fiber Optic Front

Dawson Precision Rear Sight

Five Shots, Rested @ 50 Feet

The gun then went 1200+/- rds of Winchester Ranger NATO @ the Point Shooting Progressions Course I attended in Searsboro, IA with Roger Phillips and Greg Nichols and the sights didn't budge.

An after action review (AAR) of the class is in progress. I apologize for lack of blogging of late but the wife is taking EMT training, which leaves me busy with the kids while she's at class or studying, the IDPA thing, and that pesky thing called a job have been taking their toll on my time for other things.

Blackhawk Pistol Club IDPA - 2012 Match Dates.

 All matches will be held @ the Cedar Valley Pistol Range (See MAP for details)

BHPC has it's own discussion forum where additional match info will be posted.
 April 22nd

May 27th

June 30th* (5th Saturday of June)

July 22nd

August 26th

September 29th* (5th Saturday of September)

October 28th (Halloween themed Match)

November 25th


Match times for the season are as follows:
Setup: 07:00/07:30
Sign in: 08:30
New Shooter Orientation: 09:00
Safety brief - stage walk through: 09:30
Shooting starts: 10:00

The Keith Borders Incident: Why I Love This as a Reference

First and foremost, I regret the taking of any life as I do feel that life is sacred, I feel for the wounded officer for having to take a life, I feel for Mettinger family and all those involved.


But I love this story.  I've referenced this article in two sepearate posts:

An End to the Caliber Debate?
Sometimes "Center of mass" Just Isn't Good Enough...

And I want to take a little more time to address why I find this article so worth hanging onto and discussing any time I can.

It contradicts everything about "average gun fights"

Yes, this is a story about a law enforcement officer, but is it too hard to think of a scenario where this could be you against a felon inside your home with your family that is armed with a shotgun?

From the failure of the .45ACP with six (6) center mass hits (and a severed foot), to the amount of ammo expended, to the fact that a pistol beat a long gun, to the fact that an officer almost had to draw his back up gun, this story smacks down every thing that is erroneously regurgitated by the masses regarding training, prepardness, mindset, and equipment.

"Two shots from a .45 center mass will take a person out of the fight"
WRONG! This guy took 6 hits to the chest and had his foot taken off, AND NO he was not "on drugs"

"But the average gun fight is 3-5 shots"
 TOO BAD! While covering and suppressive fire are seldom found in civilian shootings, it's not a far fetch to admit that it may be required. As gang activity continues to increase and the "issues with Mexico" continue to spill over who knows what some may encounter.

"I don't need to carry a spare mag, let alone two."
THINK AGAIN! This officer was carrying a Glock 21, it has a capacity of 13+1, he almost expended ALL of the ammo for his duty gun and was looking to pull his back up, a revolver holding five (5) cartridges.  He fired 39 times and scored 10 hits, 7 of those hits were to vital areas.

"If the bad guy has a long gun and all you have is a pistol, you're done for" 
NOT IF YOU HAVE THE WILL, AND THE SKILL TO SURVIVE. (a whole lot of luck also goes a long way)

"The basic class I took six years ago was more than enough" 
FIREARMS TRAINING IS NOT A ONE TIME DEAL! 

Firearms Training
Officer Borders credits his firearms training for much of his success. He scored 10 hits out of 39 rounds fired, for a hit ratio of 26 percent, and seven of his hits were to vital areas. Although a 26 percent hit ratio is only about average for a police shooting, Borders' accuracy was far better than his hit ratio seems to indicate. Besides the fact that Mettinger was often more than 20 yards away, never closer than eight yards, and moving or behind good cover for most of the gunfight, Borders also expended a large number of rounds in his successful effort to keep Mettinger from reaching the 00 buckshot stored in the back of the garage. In addition, Borders had to deal with the blood flowing into his eyes, which distracted him, blurred his vision and forced him to pause several times to wipe it away. Under the circumstances, Officer Borders' accuracy was exceptional and that kind of proficiency cannot be achieved without good training.

Did your eight hour NRA Basic Pistol Class prepare you for this? Did the on-line class you took even teach you how to shoot? How long ago was that class? Have you ever drawn from your concealed holster and fired a single shot? Have you ever performed a reload from a magazine carrier on your belt? When the gunsmoke is filling the air and people are screaming, you're not going to have a range bag on a nice tidy bench for your to fish through at your leisure.

Training is paramount.

It is also important to note that Borders is a person who is never content with just being good enough. Rather than settle for the firearms training provided by his department, as good as it was, he trained on his own as often as possible. In addition, he practiced not only his basic shooting skills, but advanced skills as well, like the ricochet shots that served him so well in this case. This is typical of winners. They recognize that police work is a serious business that exposes its practitioners to violent people in desperate situations. Rather than be frightened by that fact, they plan for the day when it may happen by training as hard and as often as possible.

Some key points from the summary of the article:

• Trust your instincts when you detect potential danger signs, and always put safety first. 
• Consider carrying a third spare magazine and a backup gun in case you're ever involved in an extended gunfight involving the expenditure of an unusually large number of rounds. Backup guns can also be invaluable in a wide variety of other situations. Every officer should carry one.*
• Gunshot wounds are seldom fatal. If you are shot, ignore the wound and focus on winning instead.**
•  Besides developing the skills needed to effectively counter threats, training also instills the self-confidence needed to win. Train often, and train hard. 

*I do not carry three magazines, and have on occasion carried a secondary firearm, at least one spare magazine should be the bare minimum for a "civilian" conealed (or open) carrier. For any LE that may be reading, up your mags to at least three, if your agency allows back up guns (BUGs), carry one of thsoe as well.

**This works both ways, both Mettinger and Borders were hit and continued to stay in the fight. Do not expect one, two, or even three rounds to stop an attacker. I'd rather be surprised after the fact that it only took two or three than standing there in bewilderment that two didn't do the job.

 

In closing, "The Average Gun Fight Is..." If you're in a gun fight, the law of averages is all ready against you. The argument of the average gun fight being 7 yards or less, 3-5 shots and over in 3-5 seconds is just that, average. If you want your capabilities to be "average", you're not looking at this self defense thing the right way. Do you really want to be prepard for the "average" situation when defending your life, or do you want to be prepared for an above average situation?