On Shooting

Largely because I'm tired of listening to the latest liberal diatribes and don't feel like giving them any space here today, I decided I'd like to talk to you about something fun.

Let's talk shooting!

For starters class, if you are still shooting Weaver, it's time to step into the 21st century. Yes, Weaver was a great advancement over shooting one handed. But that was decades ago. If you attend a class by a tactical trainer and he/she is teaching you to shoot Weaver, walk out and demand a refund.

What, little Johnny? You have a question? Why is Weaver so bad? Well, I'm glad you asked.

1. Weaver is slow, and follow up - for you ninnys who don't shoot, that means the ability to rapidly put more rounds on target - is practically impossible.
2. Weaver does not allow for you to move quickly. Instead, the tactical church that teaches Weaver will have you do the infamous "step drag" when you're moving, because in real life, you'll magically lose your ability to walk or negotiate obstacles unless you're dragging a leg behind you. So, instead of giving you the ability to haul ass and present a more challenging target to the individual trying to put you in the ground; or negotiate a course of fire rapidly, they'll have you move slowly and present an easier target.
3. Weaver is counter-intuitive. For example, Johnny, why don't you come up to the front of the class. Act like you're going to run into me, or try to push me to the ground. You'll note, as I push you back, that I don't extend my right arm to full extension and keep my left arm bent at a 45 degree angle to your attack. You'll note that as I push back, I'm doing so equally with both my hands. Now, after you dust your ass off Johnny, you can go back to your desk. And use some deodorant tomorrow, will you?
4. Weaver does not allow you to transition from your strong hand to your weak hand without some serious attention.
5. Weaver does not allow your upper body to act as a turret - yep, turning to your weak side is easy. Try turning to your strong side, or shoot around a barricade on your strong side. Not so easy, is it?
6. Weaver does not allow you to transition to other weapon platforms, like rifles or shotguns easily. And if you thought putting your pistol in your weak hand was hard with Weaver, try doing that with a long gun.

I could go on for days, but suffice it to say class, that Weaver is outdated and inefficient.

Now, yes, Sarah you have a question? How should you be shooting if Weaver is so bad? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Let me introduce you to the modern isosceles. Take note of this picture of me taken yesterday at the monthly Waco uspsa match. The picture was taken instantly after pulling the trigger, or should I say, about .15 seconds after. You'll note that there is no muzzle flip. You'll note that an on target follow up shot is possible. If I was kneeling or sitting, nothing in this picture would be any different (only shorter). If I were moving, nothing would change (only blurry). If I were shooting left handed, nothing would change (other than holding the gun in my left hand). If I was holding a rifle or shotgun, very, very little would change.

Now, I see that you, back there hiding in the corner have a question. If this is such a great way to shoot, why do people continue to teach Weaver?

That's probably the best question of the day. There is a deeply ingrained doctrine still taught by those advocates of the tactical church. Think France. 1940. Maginot Line. Despite all sorts of evidence to the contrary, they continue to preach their outdated tactical doctrine. You can usually spot them on their rare forays to competitive shooting by the following:

- they shoot slow.

- they miss a lot, especially on that second shot of the double tap. For you ninnys not familiar with that term, a double tap is when you pull the trigger two times in rapid succession, but only take one sight picture. Yeah, I'm a historian and my math skills are usually not very good. But even I can see that's a bad, piss poor idea. Where's that second shot go? If you're up close, say within 3 yards, it's probably going to be ok, but the farther away you get from the target, the farther away that second shot gets from the first. By 10 yards, it could very likely be completely off the target. Unless you're just lucky and sadly, you can't count on luck. You CAN count on skill, and I'd rather rely on that.

- they don't usually come out to play at a match, whether it's uspsa, or idpa. (in fact, they'll practically NEVER attend a uspsa match, and you are much more likely to see them out and about at an idpa match) When you ask them why, they'll tell you because the skills you'll use in a match will get you killed in real life. Right, Johnny, shooting fast, accurately, and on the move is a bad plan.

- they'll move around and change position, albeit slowly, when they're shooting from behind cover including kneeling and going prone. Because in real life class, the sheetrock in your house and office will provide you with plenty of hard cover to hide behind. You will of course, note my sarcasm.

- they have a complete lack of ability or skill to perform even simple, routine shooting drills, like an el presidente. For those of you non-shooting pukes out there, an el prez is a drill practiced by shooters world wide. There are 3 targets, 10 yards downrange, and each of the targets is 2 yards apart. You start with your back to the targets, turn, draw and engage each target with two rounds, reload, and re-engage each target with two rounds. I have yet to see a tactical god, shooting Weaver, do anything faster than 12-13 seconds. I'm down in the high 5's, low 6's day in and day out, and I'm only getting better. My goal is to get it down in the high 4's, low 5's and that'll come with more practice. There are guys out there that are doing the drill in the low 3's, repeatable, with all their hits on paper. And guess what, they ain't shootin' Weaver style.

Now, if someone continues to shoot Weaver style, even after being presented with the facts as outlined above, that's fine. Because that's just one more person that I will crush at the match.

Let's recap, class, shall we?

If you shoot Weaver style, you'll shoot slow, move slow, and tend to miss that ever important second or third or fourth shot (because contrary to what you see in the movies, handguns are notoriously poor manstoppers). You'll not be able to easily transfer the weapon to your weak hand, and you'll not be able to easily transfer your skills to a long gun.

But hey, if you want to continue shooting old school, you go right ahead. I'll look for you at the bottom of the heap, and not the top. Your choice.