Posted by Webleymkv: I've often wondered, when the subject of multiple attackers comes up, just how quickly and accurately the people advocating one type of handgun or another could engage multiple moving targets that are shooting back at them regardless of what gun they're using.
Good high performance defensive pistol training is designed to assess and develop the
skills needed to engage more than one moving attacker very quickly at self defense ranges.
I took such a course last year. After one long day of shooting with one-on-one instruction, video recording, and timers, both my speed and hits on target improved by more than 30%.
The instructors, who were ranked competitors, were able to shoot each of three torso sized steel targets twice, replace the magazine (a skill necessary to address malfunctions), and repeat the cycle, all in about four seconds. Obviously, a lot of practice is required.
I used a seven shot Commander length .45 with an Officer sized grip frame with extra magazines. I was advised that I would be handicapped by my choice of weapon, and that advice proved correct. Students using service-size 9mm and .40 caliber handguns had an advantage.
I did not participate in the second day of the class, which involved drawing, presenting, shooting at multiple targets, and reloading while running forward, backward, and sideways, and from cover.
Obviously, if someone is shooting at you, you are in real jeopardy.
I cannot place my electronic hands on the data right now, but I recall from some DoJ stats that when street attacks occur, they involve one attacker about 60% of the time, and two or more attackers, about 40%.
There were no data showing any further breakdown by gender of the victims. My unsubstantiated assumption is that an attacker may be somewhat reluctant to engage a fit male victim without an accomplice unless he is confident of achieving surprise.
