bamaranger
New member
hip shooting
I don't want to pick an arguement with 44AMP, only add some comments about hip shooting that I have seen. Back in the stone age I described earlier, the shotgun course had 12 total rds. Part of the shotgun course was 4 rds as : 2 rt side, 2 left side, from 7 yds, from the "hip". It became clear that hip shooting was not the best terminology to use, as shooting literally "from the hip" caused problesm, and we changed language to "assault position".
Shooting literally from the hip, with the arms locked out or nearly so, created elevation problems for some folks, and shots often went high, as the postion created with the shooting hand locked against the hip, and the off hand forward on the forend, the muzzle was almost always presented high, as if advancing with a bayonet. Additionally, as most of our trainees had a holstered revolver on their strong side, recoil could drive the shooting hand into the holstered handgun, damaging either the hand w/ the trigger spur, or in a couple instances, the rear sight of the revolver, struck by the shotgun trigger guard. And the "wide swing "described by 44Amp gave instructors fits when there was a firing line of a dozen or so shooters!
We taught "hip shooting" thusly:
The shotgun was tucked HIGH and TIGHT into the armpit, with the shooting hand holding the stock conventionally at the wrist. the wrist/shooting hand was in contact with the upper body just forward of the armpit. The forearm, upper arm/biceps/triceps of the shooting hand, clamped down on the butt stock. A good portion of the butt was actually behind the shooter when this position is assumed. The off hand grasped the shotgun at the forend, either in a conventional manner, if the trainee had enough strength to hang on to it, or with the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger trapping the barrel down. The feet were bladed with the off foot forward as much as practical. The lead knee was bent slightly, and the entire body was leaned forward into the gun. The rear leg was locked out. The bosy rocked with recoil.
Advantages became apparent. The shotgun was essentially reduced in length and easier to manipulate. Because it was "shorter" the leverage to induce swing was reduced. As the gun was closer to the center line of the body, tight at the hip, and the body was bladed, recoil was more rearward and up as opposed to up and wide. Most importantly, the muzzle was closer to the shooters line of sight to the target, and more accurate pointing resulted.
The hip /assault portion of the shotgun course was removed during my career, and a reload stage shot from the shoulder was instituted in its place. I always liked the hip assault stage, and thought the postion allowed slightly faster snap shooting hits at close range on the move. But "low ready" and snapping up on to threat, replaced the hip/assault shot.
I don't want to pick an arguement with 44AMP, only add some comments about hip shooting that I have seen. Back in the stone age I described earlier, the shotgun course had 12 total rds. Part of the shotgun course was 4 rds as : 2 rt side, 2 left side, from 7 yds, from the "hip". It became clear that hip shooting was not the best terminology to use, as shooting literally "from the hip" caused problesm, and we changed language to "assault position".
Shooting literally from the hip, with the arms locked out or nearly so, created elevation problems for some folks, and shots often went high, as the postion created with the shooting hand locked against the hip, and the off hand forward on the forend, the muzzle was almost always presented high, as if advancing with a bayonet. Additionally, as most of our trainees had a holstered revolver on their strong side, recoil could drive the shooting hand into the holstered handgun, damaging either the hand w/ the trigger spur, or in a couple instances, the rear sight of the revolver, struck by the shotgun trigger guard. And the "wide swing "described by 44Amp gave instructors fits when there was a firing line of a dozen or so shooters!
We taught "hip shooting" thusly:
The shotgun was tucked HIGH and TIGHT into the armpit, with the shooting hand holding the stock conventionally at the wrist. the wrist/shooting hand was in contact with the upper body just forward of the armpit. The forearm, upper arm/biceps/triceps of the shooting hand, clamped down on the butt stock. A good portion of the butt was actually behind the shooter when this position is assumed. The off hand grasped the shotgun at the forend, either in a conventional manner, if the trainee had enough strength to hang on to it, or with the web of the hand between thumb and forefinger trapping the barrel down. The feet were bladed with the off foot forward as much as practical. The lead knee was bent slightly, and the entire body was leaned forward into the gun. The rear leg was locked out. The bosy rocked with recoil.
Advantages became apparent. The shotgun was essentially reduced in length and easier to manipulate. Because it was "shorter" the leverage to induce swing was reduced. As the gun was closer to the center line of the body, tight at the hip, and the body was bladed, recoil was more rearward and up as opposed to up and wide. Most importantly, the muzzle was closer to the shooters line of sight to the target, and more accurate pointing resulted.
The hip /assault portion of the shotgun course was removed during my career, and a reload stage shot from the shoulder was instituted in its place. I always liked the hip assault stage, and thought the postion allowed slightly faster snap shooting hits at close range on the move. But "low ready" and snapping up on to threat, replaced the hip/assault shot.
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