Accuracy

Alright, we're going to move away somewhat from pure concealment topics and talk about training a little bit.

When I got to the range, I'm not looking to key hole the target at 25 yards, I believe I've made that clear in the past. What I'm looking to do it put a round on paper at a reasonable distance, maybe 7 yards at the most. I don't stage the trigger and really sight in with my carry gun either, I just, basically, point and shoot. The reason being is I won't have time in an engagement to really get a bead on the target. I'll have to "shoot from the hip" as it were. So I try to practice in as loose a manner as possible. The less I have to remember and work on; the less I'll forget should the unfortunate event ever befall me.

You see, when your adrenaline gets running, you lose fine motor skills, so really careful aim is right out. Your accuracy will decrease by about 100% (not scientific, just my guess) when the poop really hits the fan. So if all you practice is slow methodical sighting, staging, squeeze the trigger, etc... you're in for a serious awakening when you're under stress.

Remember, there are hundreds of reports of shoot outs with police where dozens of shots were fired at distance of 15 feet and less where no one was injured at all. And these are trained professionals.

I'm not telling you not to train to be accurate, I think you should. I'm also not telling you not to have proper form when your practicing, you should. In times of stress you will revert to the highest level of training you've mastered...and I mean mastered, it has to be second nature.

You want an example, don't you? Alright... Let's say someone yells "Look out!" and you see some runaway car coming towards you. Well, you're gonna bolt out of the way, right? Right. You aren't going to do some ninja back handspring with a twist to get out of the way, you're gonna run... because that's what you know how to do best.

Practice, practice, practice... Get to where you can hit center mass every time in, I would say, an 8 inch circle on a target. That way, if you're accuracy goes to poop, you'll still be hitting something fleshy regardless of whether it's the shoulder, the leg, neck, bladder (especially nasty wound), etc. Also, practice off-hand, one-hand, and if you can, practice while drawing as well.

All of those things can be useful in a fight, not that we want one. By the same token, I don't want to be in a car wreck, but I have insurance...just in case.