Download This Issue - US Concealed Carry

DRILLS FOR HANDGUN SELECTION
for a handgun that is not suited to the
student’s ability. The handgun may not
be reliable and it may be too powerful
for the student.
We allowed a rather generous score
when evaluating the test. A perfect
score would be 500, with fifty in the
X-ring. As a baseline, the instructors
and I fired the course with the Beretta
92 9mm, Colt Government Model .45,
and a Taurus M 65 .357 Magnum revolver
loaded with .38 Special +P loads.
Instructor-level shooters were able to
clean the course.
While a student would not be able to
do the same, a poor choice would be
evident. As an example, a young student
came to my course with a compact
.40 caliber pistol that she had obtained
as a Christmas gift. The pistol is
a good example of the breed, but she
preferred the snubnose .38 she had
grown up on. To cut to the chase, she
did poorly with the .40 pistol. Switching
to the snubnose Smith and Wesson .38
Special (loaded with +P loads), she fired
the single best score of the class during
qualification. The class included students
of varying experience firing full
size 9mm and .40 caliber handguns.
Beginning
The drill involves firing ten shots at
each step. The first step is to fire ten
rounds at seven yards with one hand.
During this drill the student is encouraged
to discard area aiming and aim for
a finite point on the target. This drill
demonstrates the student’s control of
the handgun and grasp of the basics.
The next step is to move to ten
yards and fire ten rounds again, this
time also with one hand shoulder
point. The handgun is extended
and the student carefully fires ten
rounds. There is no time limit.
Next, the student fires ten rounds at
ten yards with the two-hand hold. The
groups will tighten up considerably,
illustrating the superiority of the twohand
hold. At this range the student
should be able to hold all shots in the
X-ring.
Next, we move to a long fifteen
yards. At this range the student fires
ten rounds with any stance. Some
prefer the isosceles, some prefer the
above: The first consideration is always
safety. Get the student up and running
before we go tactical.
Weaver stance. There is no time limit.
Next, the student moves to a braced
barricade position and fires ten rounds.
There is no time limit. At this range,
faults such as lingering on the sight
picture too long and then jerking the
trigger by rushing to break the shot
are common. The instructor should be
aware of these problems and offer remedial
instruction.
It is a good idea for the student to run
this course with the .22 caliber rimfire
handgun. Running a combat course
below: This student has done well after
a late start in shooting. It is a long way
from the .22 to the lightweight .45.
with the .22 accomplishes many things.
First, the low recoil of the .22 encourages
the student. Marksmanship is
stressed. The student learns the basics
without the distraction of flash, blast
and recoil.
For advanced students, the choice of
the combat gun is underlined, whether
the choice is good or bad. A handgun
that is too powerful for the student
(such as a .40 compact, as one example)
may strike far from the point of aim.
The student may do well with the
48
USCONCEALEDCARRY.COM n CONCEALED CARRY MAGAZINE n MAY/JUNE 2011