THE FLACK HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY HEAVY OF LATE
Since I put up a video on U-tube that discusses the fatal flaw of the 1911, and also announced that I had done that on several web sites, the flack has been especially heavy.
The 1911 is a fine tool when fired as instructed, but it has a flaw that can prove to be fatal for a 1911 user.
Due to the design of its slide stop, a 1911 user does not have the option of using a simple, fast, and deadly method of shooting with it in close quarters situations, which is where there is the greatest chance of being shot and killed. The shooting method provides a user with automatic and correct sight alignment, plus an automatic and correct sight picture. I call it AIMED Point Shooting or P&S.
Unfortunately, P&S can't be used with the 1911. To get hits with a 1911, a user must perform the must-be-met marksmanship requirements of Sight Shooting, which are: 1. getting a proper grip with the thumb being held alongside the gun but not pressing on it, and with the index finger being held aloof from the gun, 2. locating and aligning the sights correctly, 3. getting a correct sight picture, 4. regulating breathing, and 5. squeezing the trigger to the rear. And that must be done for each shot taken.
All a P&S user has to do to get a hit, is: 1. grab their gun, 2. point their index finger at a target, and 3. pull the trigger. It works as stated by the US Army in its Combat Pistol Manual of 2003 about pointing: "It is this inherent trait that can be used by a soldier to rapidly and accurately engage targets."
So, in a gunfight, a P&S user will have a real and distinct advantage over the 1911 user because of the simplicity of P&S, and the economy of actions needed to get hits. And if you are the 1911 user, you could end up dead before you completed the must-be-met marksmanship requirements of Sight Shooting that are necessary to insure a hit with the first shot, and every shot.
The reason why P&S can't be used with the 1911 is that the slide stop pin of the 1911 sticks out from the side of the frame. And if the index finger is extended along the side of the frame, and presses on it when the gun is fired, the 1911 can jam. It is as simple as that.
Also, as to the reliance on Sight Shooting for use in close quarters gunfights, based on the study of thousands of Police combat cases, it is not used in most all close quarters shootings due to: 1. the time available for sighting and shooting, 2. or environmental conditions, 3. or the activation of our instinctive Fight or Flight response, or 4. the dynamics of the situation.
The NRA recognizes this, and supports the use of Point Shooting in close quarters self defense situations.
P&S or AIMED Point Shooting, can be used to enhance other Point Shooting methods, and Sight Shooting as well. And it can be learned and maintained with little or no training.
Here's a link to the video.
And here's a link to a short article about it.
..........
Below are some snippets from recent thread posts which were made by the usual suspects (web thugs who are ever vigilant in their duty to derail, stop, or squash any and all threads that run against the traditional grain).
Usually, their inputs are just opinions which are sprinkled with value laden words, miss-statements, and a bit of slander now and then. Also, in most cases, there is no objective information and data to support what is said.
Most if not all of the criticisms, have already been responded to via articles that are freely available on my site. The articles were written with the express purpose of responding to identical or similar criticisms that have been received over the years.
That the same issues keep coming up, attests to the effectiveness and the power of the established dogma to control both actions and thinking.
..........
..........
"This gentleman, 5shot, has been banned from virtually every forum on the internet for spamming this nonsense.
It seems he bases his premise on some grossly incorrect training that he received in the US army some 55 years ago, and on a book written in 1835, along with his own selective misinterpretations.
My God, a book from 1835 before there were even metalic cartridges vs the entire body of shooting and training knowledge.
Here is the bottom line with regard to his middle finger trigger pulling that is central to his obsession:
1. If point shooting is appropriate for the situation, the guns slide or barrel is what is used to point. You do not need to have your trigger finger along the gun to point it. The finger curled around the trigger does a fine enough job of pointing it because enough of the finger is pointed forward. The rest of the gun, be it the slide or the barrel (depending on the type of gun) becomes one large pointing finger as controlled by the hand.
2. When pulling the trigger with the middle finger, you do not have nearly as solid a grip or control of the gun since you only have two fingers on the grip. This is important in rapid firing and handling guns that have *any* type of recoil.
3. Using the middle finger is not ergonomic or natural while using the trigger finger is.
4. Keeping your pointing finger along the frame and pulling the trigger with your middle finger means that you must draw the gun with only your last two fingers. This is an extremely weak and fumble prone way to draw.
5. If you need to hold someone at gunpoint, holding a gun with two fingers around the grip is a very weak way to do it.
6. Here is another clue--people shoot with two hands--trying to pull the trigger with your middle finger while firing with two hands is an ergonomic abortion."
..........
..........
"This whole notion of a fatal flaw of the 1911 is nonsense. 5shot was banned from ____ forums by ____________, a federal agent and tactical trainer and one of the top 1911 gunsmiths in the world.
I've been to countless shooting classes including a 1911 specific class given by Larry Vickers, another top 1911 gunsmith, and did not witness this issue which 5shot describes-because people used their proper finger to pull the trigger."
..........
..........
"OK, even I have to agree with ____ this time...although the the book is fairly interesting to read from a historical perspective however John has turned that around as well.
One needn't be the professor of pistol-craft to see all the obvious flaws with 5-shot's theories either.
For those of you here who are unfamiliar with 5-shot I will add a bit to what has already been stated. He doesn't join forums to be a part of the group, make friends or just shoot the bull, he simple wants to hawk his little finger holding device that mounts on the pistol and his "book". Not to mention that he has really hurt the practical close-combat shooting movement by attempting to claim that what he does/sells if really point shooting.
In the interim he is a disturbing element and I am amazed that it took him so long to find ____ place.
As for myself, I said my piece and good luck John, hawk you book and finger jig and more power to ya Pal...
..........
..........
"You had been warned repeatedly that this place is not like all the other forum sites from which you had been banned. That should have been a clue. Your fatally flawed agenda is entirely unwelcome here. Frankly, it was a matter of courtesy to permit your entry to this forum - a nod to your military service, albeit from 1954-56. You have unfortunately shown me the error of my generosity in all 10 of your posts. The fact that you must cite references that date back into the 1800's to back your theory tells me that you need to spend some time studying and training modern pistol doctrine from the latter part of the LAST century before we can even have intelligent discourse with you. Your obvious and apparent lack of relevant, modern firearms training shows through in every one of your posts.
Since you are unwilling to listen to reason or modern experience, provide nothing but heartache and useless controversy for our members, and make no attempts to contribute something useful to this forum, you are no longer welcome. Your forum privileges are now revoked. Don't bother emailing us, we have nothing to say and have wasted enough time with you.
..........
..........
I always revert back to Paul Howe on this.
When do I use my sights....from zero meters on out
Go to his web site and search is articles, look for "combat shooting a few thoughts", he speaks about why he doesn't like point shooting, makes a lot of sense."
..........
..........
"I wouldn't waste my time or money. Stick with Pat Rogers or any of the ____ crew."
..........
..........
"In the real world and not the play shooting world, I would really stick to what works best.
None of the Big Boys (Delta, SF, Seals, Marine Recon, FBI HRT, LAPD Swat...etc..etc) in the tactical community subscribe to this point shooting/combat focus/ etc..
These are the guys who do it for real every day, 24 / 7 and they all subscribe to sighted fire.
First round accurate hits is what puts an adversary down. "
..........
..........
"Emanuel, the "technique" of balance between speed & precision seems to me to be nothing else than "Frontsight & Press".
If your front sight is on target and you pull the trigger correctly, you will hit your target.
If your front sight is NOT on target and / or your trigger manipulation is not correct, you will not hit your target.
Simple as that.
We already have broken it down to the fundamentals: Sight Alignment, Sight picture, Trigger control, Follow through".
..........
..........
My Comment:
The P&S method is not mine. P&S is not theory as my gun tests and videos prove. And, the shooting/killing of Oswald confirms that it is practical and doable in real dynamic close quarters situations.
What is theory, and bad theory, is the notion that Sight Shooting or FSP can be used effectively in close quarters life threat situations by your run of the mill shooter or Officer. The recognized CQB hit rate of less than 20%, and total lack of pics, films, or videos, showing Sight Shooting being used effectively in CQB situations, proves that.
This is not to say that a SEAL, or Special Operations type, or a gun professional who sends thousands of rounds down range, year in and year out, won't be able to attack and kill, and with or without the use of the sights. That's their job.
..........
To not recognize the difference between "world class" performers and the "average class", is another hallmark of the traditionalist true believers.
They also seem to have a superior attitude toward others. The following comment from a recent web thread is an example:
"I've noticed that a few of the point shooting crowd manage to get themselves banned from various forums. Not for what they say, but how they say it."
Well sir, when folks are looked down on, or dismissed as being theorists or nut cases, or slandered, some of them may tend to get a bit upset, and not respond with words of kindness and light. Some also may not have the smarts and writing skills that make for clear and calm discussions with others, who are smart and skilled in writing.
..........
As to the P&S index finger rest, anyone is welcome to add one to their own personal firearm/s at their own risk and expense. And ditto for Police Agencies and Agency firearms.
..........
This SS vs PS thing has been going on since the early 1800's, and hasn't been settled to date. That may change due to the internet with its instant access to and sharing of information. It's a new mode of communicating ideas that is a clear departure from the past.
In the past, a new idea or innovation had to be hand carried from pillar to post in the world of the gun. And its acceptance or not, was governed by the established dogma and the powers that be.
In the olden days, innovative thinking was dealt with harshly as in the cases of Galileo and poor Gioedana Bruno. Gioedana dared suggest among other things, that the sun and planets were just one of many similar systems. He was tried by the Inquisition, condemned, and burned at the stake on February 17,1600. And his works were banned by the Church in 1603.
That was then, this is now.
The fact that P&S has survived the efforts of zealots since 1835, is clear evidence to my way of thinking that it is sound, and practical.
It is not theory to those who believe that pictures and videos are real, and not just the work of sorcerers and devils.
..........
The next time you attend a training session by one of the Big Boys identified above, or one of their x-members, ask to see some pics and videos of Sight Shooting or FSP being used effectively in CQ life threat situations by those like you and your classmates. :-)
Or the next time you visit a gun forum, look for threads on Point Shooting methods or Point Shooting vs Sight Shooting. Better yet look for pics or videos or film clips of Sight shooting being used effectively in CQB situations. Or, make a web search and see what you get.
As said above, the study of thousands of Police combat cases has established that Sight Shooting is not, or cannot be employed in most close quarters life threat situations, due to: 1. the time available to sight and shoot, 2. environmental conditions, 3. the activation of our instinctive Fight or Flight response, or 4. the dynamics of the situation.
The NRA recognizes this, and supports the use of Point Shooting in close quarters self defense situations.
Stay safe.
Use your go back button to return to the prior page, or click here for the index.