You all know “that guy”. He is the Tactical Placekicker. He is the guy that expounds all kinds of tactical advice based upon the “average”. His entire being exists at “bad breath” distance with a bad guy inches away. He tells of the “average” gunfight being 1-3 rounds, 1-3 feet, and over in 1-3 seconds. He waxes poetic on all types of scenarios, and all of which fits neatly in the overhead bin of the J frame in his pocket. He often quotes “competition” can get you killed. He also knocks any training as “unnecessary” that is beyond bad breath distance, involves malfunction clearing, or multiple targets. He believes trigger control is overrated, and not really needed for the scenarios involving “Give me your wallet”!
He lurks out there. He can’t run. He can’t catch. He can’t block. He is the Tactical Placekicker.
Alright, that was tongue and cheek. But, on a more serious note. We all know the Placekicker. Training isn’t his/her friend. Everything is based upon “average”. Yet no gunfight is “average”. And there is also much more to a shooting than just the firearm.
It isn’t all that uncommon that we as shooters tend to do the stuff that feels good to us. But, we should still train the stuff we don’t like. If we are a serious student, we should be a serious well rounded student. If we train, or strive for what is “average”, then “average” is all that we will ever have the opportunity to become.
As we launch into 2014, I challenge you guys/gals to get out of that comfort zone. Devote time to honing fundamentals. Shoot distance, shoot strong hand/weak hand only, malfunction clearing, or anything that you don’t like to do. I find when I spend greater than 25 percent of my training time shooting strong hand only, my strong hand supported shooting improves greatly. If you have never participated in a Simunitions based class, go to one in 2014. It opens your eyes to not only your skill level, but what works and does not. If you have never done stress based (physical fitness) based training, give it a try. If you have never shot an IDPA or USPSA match, give it a try. It will also give you an assessment of where you are in your training. Make 2014 the year of something new.
The Tactical Placekicker is a one trick pony. Don’t be the Tactical Placekicker.
Happy New Year!
Funny stuff bro!
You hit the nail on the head. I have seen many Internet posts about people shooting 3-4 inch groups at 7 yards and calling this good enough! When it comes to basic shooting technique ( the fundamentals ) short range shooting can cover up so many errors in technique it is mind boggling ! I often reply shoot that group at 25 yards and it says something- to which the reply I get is that beyond 30 feet is rifle range! Or that is not realistic pistol range. Yet my response is if you can do it at 25 you will be even better at 7 but the reverse is not true. I do carry a j frame a lot, but practice with it out to 25 frequently and even 50-100 yards a few times a year. With practice it literally explodes the myth the snubbie is worthless beyond 30 feet.
Or the person at the range that shoots 7 inch groups at 3 yards, nods head, then packs up for the day.
I know of no drill, no scenario based training which will simulate the physiological stress and chemical release of human compounds in the body when one is confronted with or in a battle for one’s life.
While I agree, quality training time on the square range with our tools is very important, we must remember we are simply engaging two dimensional targets. We are simply rehearsing repetitive actions, the drills. But, as an LEO penned in his thesis, “targets do not challenge, talk back, run, seek cover, or fire a weapon back at you.” I am not advocating implementing some sort of training regime that can lead to injury, or worse. But there are alternatives.
No one can predict how they will react when, God forbid, they are confronted with a life threatening situation. Behavioral scientists can, with a rather high degree of probability, predict the response a particular individual may exhibit, but, only after many many hours of interview, testing and evaluation.
While we can always become more proficient with the tools we choose to defend ourselves, and our loved ones, we can not predict how we will truly function if such a horrible event descends upon us. We hope, we will perform in an appropriate and successful manner. And that the many, many hours of training and rounds discharged on the square range will help us succeed confronting the wolf, but, you will never truly know how you will perform until confronted with the life and death decision.
Developing one’s ability to work through stressful events is a crucial training block. Getting outside your comfort zone will teach you how to analyze, adapt and overcome adversity using whatever tools are at your disposal. Further, and most importantly, developing an awareness and understanding of adrenalin dump and adrenalin stress conditioning will allow you to maintain focus on the critical elements/proper actions in an encounter. An adrenalin dump has caused many warfighters, first responders and ordinary folks confronted with an immediate life and death decisions, to utterly seize and be incapable of reasonable action.
So, I look forward to working on and enhancing stress conditioning in 2014. I put as much time, energy and resources into adrenalin stress conditioning as bullets and range time. Get outside your comfort zone in 2014!
Happy New Year!
I carry my 642 in a pocket, un-holster’d, with no other items in the pocket. Unsafe, safe, certainly a discussion topic. But, it works for ME!
It is my up close and personal solution to highly imminent, deadly threats . The J is completely capable of discharging, all 5 rounds if need be, from within the pocket with no issues. Many old clothes have spent their last day on the range going through “shoot through the pocket” drills.
If I choose to draw J from the pocket, I lock my elbows into the lower rib cage and light up the CTC grip laser. No sighting down a 1.875″ barrel for me!
I know, you ask, what about Murphy? Just as I check to ensure 5 rounds in the cylinder each time I head out, I also check the laser for proper functioning.
Right on for 2014 being the year of uncomfortable & unconditional training. Mix it up I say, weak hand, strong hand, transition drills, ect go outside that box of easy range time.Be that guy no one can understand on the range instead of the zillion key board commandos that are out there.
Great job, and thank you for writing it.
R.White
I think the key here lies in how one trains moreso than one’s choice in firearm.
For example, multiple targets, malfunction drills, and longer ranges are extremely valuable for training. However, some people do take this to extremes, training as if preparing to face the mongol hordes. I think it’s valuable to both be realistic and to prepare one’s self for realities of fighting and self defense.
Also, the 3 shots, 3 yards, 3 seconds statistic is the FBI’s average data for shootings.
Where does this data exist from the FBI? I keep hearing about this “FBI Data”, but the LE Killed/Assaulted annual report doesn’t match it. Can you point me in the direction to where this current Data exists? And how it is collected? There is data on OFFICER involved shootings produced by the FBI, but people take it as a false prophet to further a narrative to which they want to believe. For instance, a percentage of officers are killed/assaulted with their own weapons at contact distance. This percentage is factored into this false “belief” of above and drives down the numbers.
Thanks
Also, there is no block for this data collection on the UOR-1 or NIBERS reporting systems for accurate data collection for each officer involved, or moreover citizen involved shooting.
Any links to where this data exists, and how it is collected from an FBI source would be helpful.