When I shoot at a silhouette target I shoot for the center of mass. I just realized that if I where to get into a gunfight that I would not shoot for the center of mass. I would shoot at the person’s chest, between the nipples. So my very simple question is what do you consider COM?
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Center Of Mass
- Thread starter L-Frame
- Start date
L-Frame.
Most of the targets I see have a COM area bout eight inches wide and eleven inches high. Plus a smaller area in the head.
Shots in either of those areas will likely injure a bad guy to death. BUT not necessairily STOP him. I like to think of a stripe bout two inches wide extending from eyebrow level down to little below belt buckle. In my mind I put that stripe against the spine. A hit there will most likely stop very quickly.
When we can we drill with moving targets, partner starts the motion and shooter doesn't know which target is going to charge. We also vary the lighting conditions.
Your choice of target area is right on my stripe. I have found that extremly rapid fire with .357 or .44 tends to run right up that stripe.
Sam...my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
Most of the targets I see have a COM area bout eight inches wide and eleven inches high. Plus a smaller area in the head.
Shots in either of those areas will likely injure a bad guy to death. BUT not necessairily STOP him. I like to think of a stripe bout two inches wide extending from eyebrow level down to little below belt buckle. In my mind I put that stripe against the spine. A hit there will most likely stop very quickly.
When we can we drill with moving targets, partner starts the motion and shooter doesn't know which target is going to charge. We also vary the lighting conditions.
Your choice of target area is right on my stripe. I have found that extremly rapid fire with .357 or .44 tends to run right up that stripe.
Sam...my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
Gunslinger
Moderator
COM is the widest spot on your target.....particuarlly when it involves a human target. In most cases this would mean the sternum or center of the chest. The idea being, of course, if we miss the spot we are aiming at our chances are greater of hitting the target as a whole then missing entirely. This is the reason we do not take "head shots". If we miss those there is no room for error. A miss hits nothing. If we aim for the center to the chest and miss we still have a large area in which our shot may conect.
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Gunslinger
I was promised a Shortycicle and I want a Shortycicle!
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Gunslinger
I was promised a Shortycicle and I want a Shortycicle!
Bowling pins are approximately the right size and shape of this area in a center of mass target......practicing on smaller targets will improve your accuracy and speed ....
In defensive shooting your not just trying to hit the target (although a hit is much better then a miss,therefore center of mass) you are trying to hit the enemy accurately, rapidly in an area that will have the best chance of stopping the aggressor--as long as they are capable of continuing the attack they are a threat, so accurate multiple shots would seem to be the best way (despite the endless quest for the "ultimate combination" in defensive handgunning a handgun has piss poor "stopping power")...if you go to the face dont aim above the eyes or below the nose its the most likely placement to hit the nerve bundle at the spine shooting from the front, sideways shoot through the ear....fubsy....
[This message has been edited by fubsy (edited September 05, 2000).]
In defensive shooting your not just trying to hit the target (although a hit is much better then a miss,therefore center of mass) you are trying to hit the enemy accurately, rapidly in an area that will have the best chance of stopping the aggressor--as long as they are capable of continuing the attack they are a threat, so accurate multiple shots would seem to be the best way (despite the endless quest for the "ultimate combination" in defensive handgunning a handgun has piss poor "stopping power")...if you go to the face dont aim above the eyes or below the nose its the most likely placement to hit the nerve bundle at the spine shooting from the front, sideways shoot through the ear....fubsy....
[This message has been edited by fubsy (edited September 05, 2000).]
Gopher .45
New member
Most people shoot at "center mass" somewhere in the center of the upper chest. "Between the nipples" is a classic area to try to shoot in silhouetes and in reality, should be a heart shot. Chances are, as noted, you will be lucky to actually hit where you want to be aiming. A little left or right still produces a solid hit, quite likely a major blood vessel or lung shot. A little high or low will still be hurtful in the throat or in the liver area.
Center mass is actually a bit lower than between the nipples, more along the lines of being below the sternum (around the area of the liver). At that central point, you have the greatest range for error while still producing a hit on the target. If you go low, you end up with a gut shot. High results in a good upper chest shot. Left and right have the possibility of hitting a variety of organs.
So a "center mass" aimed shot really has the best chance of doing significant damage although it may not hit where you want it to hit. This will be due to the fact that the target is moving, turning, and possibly altering elevation (i.e. ducking), and as mentioned, your fine motor skills probably won't kick in as much as hoped for.
Just as a note, when doing silhouetes, I tend to shot high chest (between nipples) area as well, although this may not be the most situation strategic area for a real fight.
Center mass is actually a bit lower than between the nipples, more along the lines of being below the sternum (around the area of the liver). At that central point, you have the greatest range for error while still producing a hit on the target. If you go low, you end up with a gut shot. High results in a good upper chest shot. Left and right have the possibility of hitting a variety of organs.
So a "center mass" aimed shot really has the best chance of doing significant damage although it may not hit where you want it to hit. This will be due to the fact that the target is moving, turning, and possibly altering elevation (i.e. ducking), and as mentioned, your fine motor skills probably won't kick in as much as hoped for.
Just as a note, when doing silhouetes, I tend to shot high chest (between nipples) area as well, although this may not be the most situation strategic area for a real fight.
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
There are a lot of good vitals in a Center Mass shot - Liver being a good target.
But note this: The organs in that Center Mass shot will change depending upon the angle of incident that the Target is presenting. Should the target be leaning toward you - center mass will drill right through the heart... If peeking over a window sill. Center mass will be right between the eyes. (If running away center mass will be arseholes and elbows...)
My point being - aim where you have the best chance of hitting. Your bullet selection and caliber of choice can make up the difference as to the placement of the bullet. A less than perfect hit with a .45 can still stop a BG - where as a .22 will need a danged near perfect hit to make the same stop.
But note this: The organs in that Center Mass shot will change depending upon the angle of incident that the Target is presenting. Should the target be leaning toward you - center mass will drill right through the heart... If peeking over a window sill. Center mass will be right between the eyes. (If running away center mass will be arseholes and elbows...)
My point being - aim where you have the best chance of hitting. Your bullet selection and caliber of choice can make up the difference as to the placement of the bullet. A less than perfect hit with a .45 can still stop a BG - where as a .22 will need a danged near perfect hit to make the same stop.
I think COM is a poor choice for people who shoot much, at least past contact range. For a typical LEO or Military person or such that doesn't get to or want to shoot much then I understand the logic of COM.
If you were hunting deer or elk would you suggest COM? What about buff or Brown Bear [ie dangerous game]?
We also know that in a gun fight shots/hits tend to cluster around the weapon [tunnel vision?]. Which isn't always bad, hits to the shooting hand or iron often render person defenseless at least for a few seconds.
I think the arm bones are a problem that should be considered in training and practice for shot placement.
If you were hunting deer or elk would you suggest COM? What about buff or Brown Bear [ie dangerous game]?
We also know that in a gun fight shots/hits tend to cluster around the weapon [tunnel vision?]. Which isn't always bad, hits to the shooting hand or iron often render person defenseless at least for a few seconds.
I think the arm bones are a problem that should be considered in training and practice for shot placement.