Where do you shoot?

Boris Bush

Moderator
Not the static range you go to. I want to know where you plan on shooting and how much if you ever have to. By where I mean placement of your shot.

We all preach shot placement but what exactly do you shoot for, how many times and what will you do if it fails?

I shoot like most will. COM. I practice 2 COM, assess the situation and plant one COF (center of face) if the first two fail.

Some go for the hip and some keep on blasting COM no matter the result.

Do you practice failure (to stop the BG) drills?

Anyone got a story to tell, not many do but we can learn from every real life happening..............
 
I don't go center of mass, I go center of chest. Usually in groups of three.

For headshots I go for a 2x4 inch rectangle that is between the outside edges of the eyes between the top of the eyes and bottom of the nose.

Up to seven yards NP. At paper targets geared towards DEA or FBI qualifications, not the super human silhouettes used for most CHL stuff.
 
Center chest, at the nipple line. Shoot until the threat is negated. I don't know how many I'd fire at first, probably two quick ones, BAMBAM, then reevaluate.
 
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My personal routine is "3 on 3" ... always.

Focus is on a quick three shot string in a triangle from the Adams apple and nipple to nipple and here's why. Picture a high centerline between the shoulders.

This area holds four opportunities for successfully cessation of hostilities. Heart, two lungs and spinal column. If I miss high it's the head. Miss low and it's the COM. Miss left or right and it's a potential incapacitation of the gun shoulder or arm. If I'm doing my part I'll be moving off center and Bg could be turning or bobbing around and I now have the potential to hit significant multiple internal areas (ex: shoulder, lung, heart transgression) with any one through shot.

There is nothing wrong with a COM point of view and it has been taught and practiced for a very long time with success. I just choose to practice a few inches higher and always in threes.

Focused "3 on 3" weekly practice with a purpose yields excellent results.



I need to add one very important point about my practice. I don't shoot full-size human silhouettes targets like most. I use the rifle silhouette target scaled to 25 yards. Visualize a half size torso target. With the half size target I practice shooting at the normal 3,7,15 yards. The idea here is:

Think small.
See small.
Aim small.
Shoot small.

Equals tighter hits on smaller target area.




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I practice 2 and 1's (2 to the chest and 1 to the head) EVERY time I go to the range. Since I carry a revolver (S&W J frame) most of the time, shot placement and ammo conservation are critical;)
 
COM/head mostly, and that can differ with distance and gun.

Up close, I tend to shoot for that little depression under the nose, head on, or anywhere along that horizontal line that intersects the base of the neck.

As the distance increases, COM first.

If your range allows, and I know a lot dont, realistic targets with people on them are much better to practice on than most other types. Bullseye targets are pretty much a waste. You can also get targets with views different than most usually shoot, like off to the side and side, which give a different perspective. Not all shots will be head on.
 
When I go to the range, I practice accuracy, function, reliability and safety. I do not focus on how I would kill another human being!! I'll leave that to the internet Machismo's here that don't have a clue what they would do in a real life threatening situation!!
 
Avenger11


Keep in mind some people here go to a job everyday where they might need to use a pistol to end a life. When I go to work I practice for a "real life threatening situation", thankfuly not in this country. This internet "Machismo" has used lethal force in a life threatening situation.

Everyday the war goes on there is even more that have, just something to keep in mind......
 
"Where do you shoot?"

COM and head.

"We all preach shot placement but what exactly do you shoot for, how many times and what will you do if it fails?"

I shoot for the COM of the best target presented, as rapidly as possible. Depending on rate of fire, I practice to transition, as necessary, from COM to head after 2-4 shots.

"Do you practice failure (to stop the BG) drills?"

Yes; COM to head. (95% of my failure drill time is spent on COM and head with COM to pelvic girdle worked in occasisonally. My "default" is COM to head, though.)
 
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I never really thought about precise shot placement, to be perfectly honest.

I always imagine that I'd shoot COM (first time using that acronym) but I'm not sure. My range does not allow the use of anything but their own targets, which are just orange rings and a bullseye.

I'm not sure where I'd shoot a person, but I can sure shoot the heck out of a piece of paper! :D
 
My range is all about the fun and hobby of the shooting sport. Not about how best to kill someone!!

Ditto here. I would like to take some tactical training classes, but this is different to me than my (usually) weekly range shooting.
 
My range is all about the fun and hobby of the shooting sport. Not about how best to kill someone!!
Theres plenty of the fun and hobby stuff too. Not knocking that at all, I shoot a number of different disciplines of the "sport". Its just that things are not always about fun and hobby, and if you carry one, you had better be in the right mind and be proficient with it.
 
Going for the bull

Maybe I'm boring but I shoot Bullseye targets at my local indoor range. I practice two-handed, dominate hand and weakside for the bullseye, just trying to keep good groups.
 
Center of chest.

By the time you're going for a head shot,the perps going to be so close,he's committing suicide anyway.

I practice with the hostage target as well at seven yards.

Just in case,I have to save my wife's life from a burgular or attacker one day.

I can guarantee you I won't be discussing options with him if that ever happens.
 
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