Top ten list for surviving a gunfight

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R1145

New member
I apologize in advance for pulling out a horse that has been beaten to death, but I did a search, and could not easily find the information I was looking for.

My agency is doing some training in the next few months. Talk is cheap, but I want to contribute a list of tips to distribute, to stimulate discussion and perhaps serve as a basis for future training.

I am not looking for a rehash of the usual humorous "[your name here]'s Rules of Combat", nor specifics on gun or ammo choices (which are constrained by department policy).

While clearly I am looking at this from the perspective of a LEO, I think much of this information has broad usefulness.

My main talent is overstating the obvious, it seems, but I appreciate any additions and commentary.

After brainstorming last night, my Top Ten list has 27 entries so far:

1. Get to cover;

2. Deploy your long gun;

3. If feasible, wait for backup before contact;

4. Establish fire superiority;

5. Distance is your friend;

6. Run away;

7. Stop the bleeding;

8. Move laterally;

9. Maneuver on the enemy's flank;

10. Watch their hands;

11. Be slow quickly: Find the front sight, and pull the trigger.

12. The radio will not save your life;

13. Get out of the car before the bad guy does;

14. On a contact, make a habit of being in a position of tactical advantage;

15. At night, use light to conceal you and blind the suspect;

16. At night, move after shooting;

17. Avoid crossfire situations;

18. Be conscious of other officers' positions, and stay out of their line of fire;

19. Maintain your equipment and wear your vest;

20. Keep back away from your cover;

21. Slice the pie;

22. If you go a little slower, you're a lot quieter;

23. Try to see people before they see you;

24. Shoot low, skip bullets;

25. Stay away from walls;

26. Get out of the kill zone;

27. Conspicuously identify yourself to backup officers, especially when plainclothes.
 
Don't most large police agencies now mandate the wearing of body armor?

I thought there was something where departments had to mandate it or lose federal funding.

For a police officer I would think body armor would figure into surviving a gun fight...
 
Is this a recipe for all scenarios/situations? Doesn't look like a close combat formula to me--but then I don't know much about anything.
 
How about 7 rules?

If there is going to be a gunfight

1: Be somewhere else

2: Have a gun. A gun that works and you know how to use.

3: A rifle is better than a pistol

4: Bring a friend, have him bring his rifle.

5: Know the difference between cover and concealment

6: Stay behind cover as much as possible.

7: First guy to die, looses.
 
Not bad Willie, sounds good to me

Willie Lowman said:
If there is going to be a gunfight

1: Be somewhere else

2: Have a gun. A gun that works and you know how to use.

3: A rifle is better than a pistol

4: Bring a friend, have him bring his rifle.

5: Know the difference between cover and concealment

6: Stay behind cover as much as possible.

7: First guy to die, looses.
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I'm going to say for Police and civilians alike NOT getting in a gunfight should always be Rule#1.

If you are the Police and someone has the temerity to fire upon you...don't just call one, or two freinds, call everyone. 11-98 Code 3
 
Look at getting some training in a Gun Fighting School. There are many out there and some may travel to your area. However since you live in California your choices may be to travel to a school. I know there is one in Nevada and more than one in Arizona. There is also a list of schools in this section of Tactics and Training.
 
1. See it coming and if you can avoid it, do so, if you can't avoid get the advantage and shoot first.

2. Only good hits count so speed is fine, accuracy is final (per Bill Jordan.)

3. Always cheat, always win (as per Clint Smith's rule.)

4. If you can't hit with the first shots when will you have time to hit with the rest of them?

Deaf
 
Thanks for the responses.

Don't most large police agencies now mandate the wearing of body armor?
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In our agency, it is recommended but optional, which is reasonable given the variety of tasks performed. Patrol officers almost universally wear theirs.

1. See it coming and if you can avoid it, do so, if you can't avoid get the advantage and shoot first.

2. Only good hits count so speed is fine, accuracy is final (per Bill Jordan.)

3. Always cheat, always win (as per Clint Smith's rule.)
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We're the good guys. We can't cheat. We (hopefully) stay within policy, shoot straight and tell the truth. Also, we generally have to be reactive and wait until the facts would lead a reasonable and prudent person to believe a crime has been committed.

I like #2, though, but I think that's kind of what I was getting at with my #11: Be slow quickly: Find the front sight, and pull the trigger.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! Skills unused are lost.
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Again, sound advice, but more strategy than tactic, I think.

Is this a recipe for all scenarios/situations? Doesn't look like a close combat formula to me--but then I don't know much about anything.
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I'm not sure what a "close combat formula" is. Every situation has a unique set of circumstances and many possible outcomes. I'm trying to put together a list of helpful hints to enhance the chance of survival when an officer is involved in a use of lethal force.

Look at getting some training in a Gun Fighting School.
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More sound advice, but the officers are undergoing training. I'm just putting together a list, basically of discussion points. I fully realize, though, talk is cheap...
 
R1145 said:
I like #2, though, but I think that's kind of what I was getting at with my #11: Be slow quickly: Find the front sight, and pull the trigger.
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Modify your #11:

SQUEEZE the trigger. A pull is associated with a jerk. A jerk causes a miss, or worse an unintended hit (innocent bystander).

Also with the practice, they need to learn how to call their shots (lots of info about that from various successful IPSC/USPSA shooters).
 
Move obliquely. In an unpredictable manner. An oblique move gives two elements to deal with when moving. Jerkly random moves prevent precise aiming.

One of my instructors, Silver Star winner, had the ability to move across the battle field with out getting hit.

He never moved in a predictiable manner, never broke cover for more than 1 second and his moves were allways at a diagonal.

If memory serves, it takes a trained infantryman 1.5 seconds to acquire, aim and hit a target. This is the reason for the 1 second exposure.

Finally, a definition of trees vs bushes. Per a Special Forces Captain when asked how many types of trees existed. "There are two types of trees. Biguns and littleuns. Biguns you can hide behind and they will stop a bullet. Littleuns you can hide behind but they won't stop a bullet.

Cover is the same.
 
Looks like a good list



5. Distance is your friend
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Not if the BG has a rifle or .44/357 mag and all you got is a 380


16. At night, move after shooting
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I would say use common sense there, moving out of cover and exposing yourself even at night can be deadly (to you)
 
4: Bring a friend, have him bring his rifle.
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I'm partial to these:

1.Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring their friends who have guns.
2.If you can, make friends with those on the crew served weapons. Bring them as well. Borrow money from them, it gives them an added incentive to protect you.
3.Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
4.Only hits count. Close doesn't count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
5.If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.
6.Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
7.The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
1) Be smarter than your gun
2) Cover is better than concealment, concealement is better than nothing at all.
3) If you love the guy enough to shoot him once, shoot him twice.
4) Don't train for the "normal". Getting shot at is not normal.
5) Carry every day.
6) Make your gun go to work.
7) When the bad guy is ready to take a shot, don't still be where he last saw you.
8) Get off the X. X marks the spot, and if you stand on the X, X will mark the spot where the police find your body in the morning.
9) Make every shot count.
 
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