A DESIGN FLAW OF THE M1911 COULD BE FATAL 4 YOU
Per Wikipedia, the Colt automatic pistol caliber-45, was adopted by the U.S. Army, Navy, and National Guard in 1911. It was the standard-issue side arm of the U.S. armed forces from 1911 to 1985, and it is still carried by some U.S. forces.
The drawing above is from the April 1, 1912 publication: Description Of The Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, Model Of 1911.
Because of a design flaw in the 1911, AIMED Point Shooting or P&S can not be used with it. And the following explains why that may prove fatal for a user.
1. In most all Close Quarters life threat situations, Sight Shooting is not used due to lack of time, bad lighting, or the loss of near vision caused by the automatic activation of our Fight or Flight response, etc.. And 2. there is a 80% chance that if you are going to be shot and killed, it will happen at less than 21 feet, that is at Close Quarters.
So knowing of, and using an alternative, practical, and effective shooting method, could be critical to your survival.
And AIMED Point Shooting or P&S (my term), is such a method. It utilizes our natural ability to point at things fast and accurately at Close Quarters. And when you use P&S, you get automatic and correct sight alignment, plus a correct sight picture.
It is the easiest of shooting methods, can be used at day or night, when moving or standing still, and it is not dependent on a specific stance, grip, body index, aim point, locked arm, trigger manipulation, and etc..
Also, it can be learned with little or no training, and maintained with minimal practice, and it can be used to enhance other shooting methods.
P&S calls for placing the index finger along the side of the gun and pointing it at a target, and pulling the trigger with the middle finger. It works because the barrel will be in line with the index finger, and as such, accurately aimed at anything pointed at.
And therein lies the rub, as the design flaw of the 1911 excludes the placement of the index finger along the side of the gun for fast, natural, and accurate aiming.
The DESIGN flaw is in the slide stop. Specifically, the slide stop pin projects out from the right side of the gun, and if it is pressed when the slide recoils, the gun can jam. The slide stop was added by Browning to his pistol in 1902, and incorporated into the 1911.
Specific cautionary language against using P&S with the 1911 is found the 1912 military publication - Description Of The Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, Model Of 1911.
Here is the language as it appears with highlighting added by me:
"3. The trigger should be pulled with the forefinger. If the trigger is pulled with the second finger, the forefinger extending along the side of the receiver is apt to press against the projecting pin of the slide stop and cause a jam when the slide recoils."
Similar cautionary language is repeated in other military manuals of that time and later manuals as well. Those that I have found are dated: 1912, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, and 1941. And I am sure that there are many many more that I am unaware of, and which are out of print or relegated to the dust bins and dark recesses of history. Click here for a listing of books that caution against the use of P&S, and to others that mention its use.
I believe that the result of the cautions against the use of P&S in a variety of military manuals in the 30 year period of 1912 to 1942 as proven in the chronology, was to effectively squelched the use of P&S during the time the 1911 was the Standard Issue Sidearm of the US Military.
I also believe that prohibiting the use of a real and effective shooting method to accommodate a weapon, rather than making a minor modification to a weapon to accommodate those who go in harms way, makes no sense.
There is no doubt in my mind that over the past "100 years" of army and Police combat, the 1911 design flaw has resulted in countless injuries to, and many deaths of our Armed Forces members and Police.
Further, institutionalized practices and behaviors once established as dogma, can be almost insurmountable obstacles to change, and particularly so in strict heirarchical organizations which deal with life and death matters.
You can expect those who were taught, and who now teach the dogma of using Sight Shooting at Close Quarters, to defend it. And they and their associates also can be expected to slam any upstart who questions that dogma.
And you can expect their lock-step behaviors to continue even if the dogma has been proven by scientific investigation and studies, to be UNABLE TO BE USED in those situations where there is the greatest chance of being shot and/or killed.
Could it be used? Are there exceptions? Sure, but they should be few and far between, and not something your average shooter, or Joe the home defender should count on.
BUT WAS WHAT YOU CALL AIMED POINT SHOOTING OR P&S, KNOWN OF AND USED?
Yes - P&S was known of and used, as verified by the caution language against its use in the military publications.
Mention of it also can be found in publications as far back as 1804.
Publications that I know of that verify that it was a known shooting method, by describing it briefly or in some detail, are dated: 1804, 1810, 1816, 1829, 1835, 1870, 1885, 1898, 1900, and 1903. For more on the chronology of the method click here.
Detail on it plus rationales for its use, can be found in the 1835 book: Helps And Hints - How To - Protect Life And Property, by: Lt. Col. Baron De Berenger. The book was recently digitalized as part of the Google project.
Here is a pic of the cover:
Here is a link to it.
This is the URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=jSiQEVNLMMoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22He lps+and+Hints%22+Berenger&lr=&as_brr=1
See pages 237, 238, and 239.
The author states that the method is best used with dueling pistols, and in self defense situations against highway robbers, housebreakers, and etc., who will not allow one to take the time to deliberately aim with the sights.
Another reason for its use in those situations, is that per the author, ..."can you be certain of your usual steadiness of nerve, when you look into the muzzle of a pistol presented at you, and menacing a fatal blaze."
Also, in poor or bad light, or given a dark or mottled target, one may not be able to make out the sights for aiming.
Basically, "his" shooting method calls for the use of the forefinger for aiming, and the use of the second finger for trigger pulling. And it is easy to learn, and with very little practice.
Here are pictures from a 1902 Patent and a 1908 Patent:
Here is wording from the 1908 Patent:
"This invention relates to a device adapted for attachment to fire-arms of various kinds, more especially to shot - guns or hunting rifles, and has for its object to facilitate quick and accurate pointing of the weapon without being obliged to adjust the gun-stock to the shoulder for aiming at birds just rising from the bush or in flight, or at other game.
The invention is based largely upon the fact that the conscious or sub-conscious faculties intuitively enable men to point the index finger directly and accurately at any visible object without bringing the outstretched finger into alinement with or between the eye and the object."
It is also mentioned in Joseph Renaud's self defense book: "la Defense Dans La Rue" 1912, as translated by James Farthing and Herve Dautry. Joseph Renaud was a professor of La Canne, Savate, Knife, English boxing and Jiu-Jitsu. The following is from the chapter: "The Revolver." The full text can be found at http://defensedanslarue.wordpress.com/history/the-revolver/
Special handling
Some people will find it useful to press the trigger with the middle finger while keeping the index finger against the cylinder, parallel to the barrel. This technique relies on the habit of using the index finger to point at things.
I heard the General de Chabot tell that such a method of shooting had saved his life in several occasions. For example, the day before the battle of Sarrebruck in 1870, he found himself face to face with a Prussian captain while seating in a small canteen. They both shot at each other straight away. Mr de Chabot had a single action weapon while his foe had a double action one. Nevertheless, the German missed five times while the French lieutenant mortally wounded him with his second shot. It must be noticed that both had fired hastily but this technique for handling the revolver makes instinctive shooting more accurate. Always used this technique with a good quality revolver, as it will prevent any spit of lead from between the cylinder and the barillet that would burn your fingers.
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The following quote is from a review of the Mauser C-96 "Broomhandle" Machine Pistol by David M. Fortier. In it, he said that the C-96 was extremely popular in china. It was used by the military and Police from the early 1900's up through the 1940's and beyond.
"....Special commando units were armed entirely with the C-96, and later the selective fire variants, as well as a large beheading sword carried in a leather scabbard on their back. Recognizing the Mauser's weak and strong points, the Chinese developed the following technique for using the C-96 and later the 712. They would hold it sideways (what we would today refer to as "Gangbanger style"), with the index finger lying on the magazine well pointing at the target, and pull the trigger with the middle finger.
Click here to see a copy of this excellent "historical" article on the C-96. It appeared in Gun World -February 2001, and is reproduced by permission. This is the URL: http://www.pointshooting.com/c96ok.pdf
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The following paragraph is from John Minnery's 1973 book: "Kill Without Joy" The Complete How To Kill Book (not a read for the weak of heart or squeamish).
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a World War II organization of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed to conduct warfare by means other than direct military engagement. Its mission was to encourage and facilitate espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines and to serve as the core of the British resistance movement.
Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, SIS provides the British Government with a global covert capability to promote and defend the national security and economic well-being of the United Kingdom. It is also known as MI6.
Here's the pic of Oswald and Ruby, just a split second before Oswald is shot.
Ruby, the two Officer who were escorting Oswald, and Oswald, were moving and the target area was small. So, there was no time to use the sights or do any of the "standard" requirements listed above. Only time to point-n-pull.
This pic shows Oswald just after he was shot. In it, you can see that Ruby's middle finger is sticking out from the trigger guard, and his gun is way below eye level.
NOW, BRINGING US BACK TO THE 1911:
The dueling pistols of the 1800's usually had no sights, and they were closed at the back. So, using the index finger to aim one fast, naturally, and accurately, made sense.
But, that was not the case with the 1911 due to the design of the slide stop. Users were not be able to use that fast, natural, and accurate shooting method. And 4 them, the consequences could be fatal.
Here is a picture of a Tokarev TT-33 with the end of its slide stop pin held in place with a two pronged clip. The Tokarev has features that are similar to those of the Browning pistol. The Tokarev was used by the Soviets and over 1.5 million were produced. Apparently the Russians believed that practicality and survival should drive gun design. The Tokarev photo is by: Mike Killebrew.
As to the use of the sights, we now know that they are not used in Close Quarters encounters by most all shooters. That is due to the triggering of our instinctive Body Alarm Response (BAR), AKA the Fight or Flight response.
With the triggering of the BAR, there will be an immediate increase in the heart rate. And with the increase in heart rate, fine motor skills, which are necessary for Sight Shooting, will be lost to use.
Also, your vision will change so your focus will be on far objects. That and bad light, and/or obscure targets, or movement, can make the use of the sights moot.
Further, just as in days of old, the housebreaker or highway-man of today, will not allow you the time needed to take a proper stance, get a proper grip, align the sights, breath properly, and squeeze off a shot. And the encounter may occur at night or in bad light.
So, armed forces members, Police, and others who are not versed in Point Shooting, will be "on their own" in life threat situations. And according to the literature and the stats, the shooting method they will employ, is instinctive shooting. Not a bad choice given no other, but most likely an ineffectual one, as the acknowledged hit rate in armed encounters is only around 20%.
The only saving grace is that gunfights are rare, and most likely the perp will not know Point Shooting. So unless one is having very bad day, he/she will not be in a gunfight, and if so, will probably survive.
There are those who say that you can accurately point a gun by just pointing it at a target, but that is not reality. You can easily prove that to yourself the next time you are at the range. I have tried that, and my results were very poor.
THE MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE 1911
Criticism of the 1911, does not take away from its pure mechanical performance. It was the winner of the 1910 shoot off test.
This link is to the test info. And this is the URL: http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/background.htm#IMAGE
Here is language from it:
"...In November 1910, the second competitive range test was held on weapons improved as a result of field trials, but problems were still noted with both designs. Both firms went back to the drawing board preparing for the next round of testing. On 15 March 1911, an endurance test was held. The test involved having each gun fire 6000 rounds, with cleaning after every one hundred shots fired, then allowing them to cool for 5 minutes. After every 1000 rounds, the pistol would be cleaned and oiled. After firing those 6000 rounds, the pistols were then tested with deformed cartridges, rusted in acid or submerged in sand and mud.20
By the end of the test, the Savage design suffered over 37 incidents of malfunction or breakage; the Colt did not have one. On 23 March 1911, the evaluation committee's report stated,
"Of the two pistols, the board was of the opinion that the Colt is superior, because it is more reliable, more enduring, more easily disassembled when there are broken parts to be replaced, and more accurate..."
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One might think that in the past 200 years or so, since the early 1800's, the question of which shooting method to use in Close Quarters combat, would have been studied fairly and at great length and settled, since it deals with life and death.
But as bizarre as it seems, that is not the case.
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