Thinking Man's Corner

Article by: William G.

What is a gunfight? It is a situation when one or more persons, using weapons (specifically guns) that can inflict greatly bodily harm or death, are actively trying to use said weapons to inflict great bodily harm or death on you; and in which you use your own gun to stop them, or at least try real hard. It generally consists of both sides exchanging rounds, with one side (preferably the good guys) are left standing (and relatively unscathed) when the smoke clears. 

This is different than a “shooting,” in which only one party gets rounds off, there by terminating the proposed actions of the other before they can complete their willfully intended malice. It also differs from a gun battle, which tends to be a prolonged event, moving over/through various terrain, with lots of ammunition expended by multiple parties. 

Problem with all of that is, no one can predict if or when you will be involved in a shooting/gunfight/running gun battle, or what it will look like for you. Best we can do is take what has worked for others, and integrate it into training, so that at least some skills are imparted to the point they may save your life. 

Now you are asking, ok Slick, so how do I prepare? Pretty good question, by the way. Some old guy named Jeff Cooper gave us a blue print called the Combat Triad. Mindset was at the top, and equally supported by marksmanship and gun handling. So, getting your mind right first is step one. 

From there, the rest can come into play. Simple things like how to present the gun from the holster, how to hold it in your hand/s, find the sights/dot, press the trigger, rinse and repeat. Without going into that whole program, what are some things to work on? 

Presentation of the gun from seated, on your back, on your side, different positions other than standing in general. Try starting with busy hand drills (something in your hands, or your hands in your pockets – anything but the fence or “interview” positions).

One hand shooting and manipulations. From the holster, from the ready, retrieved off the ground. Both with primary and support hands. 

Hitting small, but reasonable size targets (6-8” for the upper torso, and 2-3” for the eye box), at reasonable distances (up to 15-25 yards, and sparsely at 50) in reasonable amounts of time (don’t dilly dally). Now the distances will more than likely be closer in (under 15 yards), but you should not neglect the skill of the 25 yard head shot, or 50 yard body shot. Even if you have to prop on something, or go prone (a lost art with the pistol). 

Moving. If you cannot shoot one handed while explosively getting off the line of attack, then learn to move quickly, pause briefly to shoot, and move quickly again, assessing if you need to shoot again before you take a brief pause to actually shoot. Do your assessment while moving so you have more time to shoot once you stop. This method is much more preferable than moving while shooting and wildly missing. If terrain, enclosures, age, or physical limitations prevent explosive or even mildly brisk movement, then get good at misdirection, and slight of hand. Visual trickery integrated into modern combatives and the fledgling days of gutterfighting dates back to Fairbairn and Sykes in the real bad days of Shanghai (and you thought I could only talk about Col. Jeff Cooper didn’t you). See the misdirection there?  

Proper use of cover and concealment, what it looks like, and how to use it, and how to shoot from around/over/under it. Just because cover is available, does not always mean you should use it. There may not be time.  Don’t run to your death, when the problem did not require running. There are in fact times a man must stand tall and sling lead. Each situation is different, but do not feel compelled to always move because someone on the internet said you had to. I wonder how Jelly Bryce survived before the internet? 

You do not get any of those skills if you do not practice. Go to a class that teaches them, go to matches that require them, or train on your own, and with a partner if possible. There is a hierarchy to what you should practice, and how much. Probability is king, but do not discount possibility. 

It should go without saying, but you do need a gun for a gunfight, at least if you want a chance at winning. However, just having a gun is not enough. The gun needs to be actually useable. While a Keltec P32 may have its place, it is not nearly optimal for the overwhelming majority of reasons you need a gun to save your life. In some cases, a knife is better and more preferable (unless you have physical limitations that make the P32 the only gun you can handle, or, or, or….. – everyone’s situation is different, just like your gunfight will be). On the other end of the spectrum, if you need a compensated, ACRO and X300 equipped Staccato to make it to the grocery store and back, you may want to retreat to an underground bunker and live out your days on internet forums. 

Be practical and reasonable in your on and off duty gun choices. Are you carrying the gun because it is capable, or convenient. Convenience rarely works out well in life or death situations. If you want a talisman, get a rabbits foot or a set of Tibetan prayer beads, and forget the gun. Balance is key, and achievable. Having said that it is possible for a gun to be both comforting and comfortable at the same time, and a lot has to do with holster and clothes choice. 

I can conceal a P365X better than I can a Commander. Put a dot on the P365X, and it is still better hidden than the commander, but not by much. Gun size, optics or not, holster choices, and clothing matter a good deal. Do you need a dot on your concealed carry gun? Maybe, and maybe not. 

I have been carrying an iron sighted 1911 for a while lately. At a match yesterday, it was cold. Like multiple layers of clothes, wool socks, and gloves type of cold. Some stages I shot with gloves, some without. Fumbled a few reloads, had trigger freeze on a couple of targets, and got two C zone hits on a couple of targets that were around 15-20 yards away. The bobbled reloads, and the trigger freeze were a combination of cold or gloved hands (depending), and me going faster than I knew I could. The C zone hits were my eyes. I went at the normal speed I would for the size and distance target, and my trigger press was fine. The sights and the target were a little blurry. 

That means I will be going back to a dot again for most things. I do have the ability to switch back and forth between irons only and dot, but cannot fight age and physical limitations. Could have been a variety of things, but my eyes see a dot better than irons more often than not as the days march on. Clint Eastwood said a man needs to know his limitations. 

What about when you cannot carry your G47 w/ COA, or even your G43X? There are times you cannot conceal those, or you can, but the heavy coat won’t let you get to it? A J Frame in an overcoat pocket, or your shorts – weather dependent of course. In those cases, you have to make concessions, just like all of life. Just don’t get lazy or confuse what you can do vs what you should do. 

It is easy to fall into a trap of not bringing enough gun. It is easy to tell yourself that you will be able to handle any situation that arises with a micro 380, or be able to avoid it. A lot of people have told themselves those lies, and are now dead, or crippled, or watched their loved ones be hurt and killed as a result of them lying to themselves about reality. 

If you can only reliably get away with a mouse gun, or J frame, that is ok, seriously. As long as you know your limitations, use your head, and get the right training. Claude Werner and Chuck Haggard have the two best programs on small guns I have seen. Ed Lovette (may he rest in peace) wrote the Old Testament of the snubby – you should buy and read it multiple times. Subscribe to Claude’s patreon. Find where Marshal Haggard is teaching a class, and take it. 

If the only option you have is a small gun, genuinely, not out of laziness or from lying to yourself; then go forth well trained and well prepared mentally. I have had times when I could only get away with a Beretta 21a, a J Frame, or a Glock 42. I didn’t like it, but did I die? I guess not, but do concede I never had to use a 22LR or 380 for keeps, yet others have and are eating lobster rolls on the beach right now. 

Do what works for you, just make sure that you are not lying to yourself about why you made the choices you did. Be as prepared as possible, train, train, train some more; and get your mind right. Seeing the problem before it occurs, or not vapor locking when you are surprised, are highly important. Learn to make correct decisions under stress. Those soft skills are learned through reading, in person classes, and adjusting your brain to read your situations in real time through field study. Mindset can be taught, but it is hard. Don’t get too worked up, it’s only a lousy little gunfight. Prepare for it, but live your life doing what matters, for what matters.