Little Man Technique

Silhouette Target 

This week my shooting partner and I tried something different.  Inspired by current events (If you follow the news, you’ll know to which event I am referring; if you don’t, go back to reading your horoscope.), my partner rigged up some targets that simulated a normal sized man at 125 yards.  At least that’s what he claimed, I didn’t check his math.  That left us with a torso and head target approximately nine inches tall placed at a distance of fifteen yards.

My first shots were taken with my Colt’s Combat Commander .45 ACP pistol.  I was seven for seven with one shot to the arm and the rest to the torso.  I was pretty pleased as I do not normally shoot at that distance; more on that later.

S&W Mod 66

I followed up with attempts using a Smith & Wesson model 66 .357 Magnum revolver (using .38 special ammunition) and a Glock 9mm semi-auto pistol.  I do not remember the model number of the Glock, but it was of standard size… they all look alike to me.  With these guns I had some passed rounds… that is shots that completely missed the silhouette; not by much but misses just the same.

Lessons learned:

Colt's Combat Commander

One – familiarity breeds competency:  Although each of the guns I shot is of excellent quality, the Colt’s .45 caliber pistol is my carry gun of choice and the one with which I am most practiced.  And the results show it.  There is nothing intrinsically superior about my gun.  The difference is my ability to shoot it well (practice, practice, practice).

Two – One hundred twenty-five yards is a long shot for a handgun, particularly a combat handgun (as opposed to a target or hunting firearm).  I don’t believe I would ever take a shot like that in a real-life situation.  There is too much room for error and it is hard to justify a shot at that distance, when running away (seeking cover) would be the more prudent option.  Any choice involving attempting a shot like that, particularly by an armed civilian, could be considered attempted murder or at least assault with a deadly weapon as self-defense requires a reasonable assumption of imminent danger.

Three – There is a significant departure from reality when shooting at a target reduced in scale to simulate distance.  First, there is no way to account for the natural bullet drop that would occur in a shot over that distance.  Second, there is no way to simulate wind deflection.  Third, with standard velocity handgun ammunition a live target could take one step right or left at the time the shot was fired and move himself out of the path of the bullet.

“So Dale,” you ask, “why did you do this exercise if it has no practical value in the real world?”  Did you read the second paragraph?  I went seven for seven at 125 yards!  Now that’s something to brag about.  Questions?  Good, then get out there and practice.

PS  In last week’s blog I included a link to a You-tube video that I now understand was not blatantly obvious.  Here is the link if you missed it:  “The Cowboy and the Poet”