IS P&S SUPERIOR TO USING A LASER?

David Armstrong's blog (the "thinkinggunfighter.blogspot.com"), is featuring an article on lasers: Looking at Lasers: Myth and Reality.

The article was written by Todd Green, and contains pics to help explain both the pluses and minuses of using a laser.

Here is a link to the blog. Look down quite a ways on the blog, for the article.

After reading the article and thinking about the pluses and minuses, The brand of Point shooting that I favor and call P&S came to mind. With it, the index finger is used much like a laser to aim a gun.

The index finger is placed along the side of the gun, and used to aim the gun by just pointing which we can do naturally, automatically, and accurately.

There is no need to spend time or mental energy to look for a laser dot or adjust the dot's location on a target. So with P&S, you get the pluses of a laser, but without the minuses. And there is no requirement for practiced trigger manipulation to assure that the gun stays relatively stable and is not pulled off target when shooting.

Here's what the US Army says about pointing and aiming: "When a soldier points, he instinctively points at the feature on the object on which his eyes are focused. An impulse from the brain causes the arm and hand to stop when the finger reaches the proper position. When the eyes are shifted to a new object or feature, the finger, hand, and arm also shift to this point. It is this inherent trait that can be used by the soldier to engage targets rapidly and accurately...."

Just grab your gun, point your finger, and pull the trigger.

As a negative, there is no laser beam or dot for a threat to see, and then decide to stop or cut and run; or for use as an aid when shooting at distance.

P&S is for close quarters, where most all gunfights and injuries occur. If you are going to be shot and/or killed, there is an 80% chance that it will happen at less than 21 feet. Also, the sights still can be used if time and circumstances allow.

This quick, natural, and accurate method of shooting has been around since 1835, so it certainly is not a new way to shoot. But, it usually gets lots of boos, humbugs, and much worse from US shooters.

I believe that's because the US military manuals on using the 1911, cautioned against placing the index finger along side the gun.

Here is the language from the first instruction manual on the 1911 that was published in 1912.

"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."

That caution, in those words, or words close to them, is found in manuals on the 1911 dating from 1912 to 1941.

So, beginning with the adoption of the 1911, a new dogma was writ against using the index finger along the side of the gun for aiming. And by 1941, it was "etched in stone" after 30 years +/- of written affirmation.

With P&S, some or all of the index finger and thumb are used to grip the gun as tightly or loosely as one wishes; the ring and little fingers add tenacity to the grip. The middle finger pulls the trigger.

Extending the index finger helps to lock up the wrist which improves recoil control. Also, the bore is lower in the hand when the middle finger is used to pull the trigger, which helps to control recoil. And the middle finger pulls back straighter in the hand than does the index finger, and that helps keep the muzzle in line and on target.

The 4 fingered P&S grip gives you a strong and level shooting platform. You can use the gun and forearm as a blunt axe, or to make forward punches and/or elbow smashes as the situation dictates.


This target, shot at when moving at a distance of about 15 feet, shows that when you focus on the target and point-n-pull, the muzzle stays in line with or close to COM. (FYI, the gun was modified because the stock grip was 2 big and 2 fat for me.)


P&S can be learned with little or no training, and maintained with little or no training. It can be used when stationary, when moving, and even on aerials. When shooting at aerials (do not shoot aerials with a real firearm), there is no time to do anything but point-n-pull, using the sights or a dot to assist in accurate aiming really is out of the question.

Always use common sense and safe gun handling practices. For example, don't use P&S with a gun if your index finger will extend beyond the muzzle, be hit by the slide, or rest over the ejection port. And don't use it with the 1911 or a gun of a similar design, as the slide stop pin can be depressed with firing and jam it.

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