point-shooting drill

[WolfMansDad]

Hey guys and gals, try this exercise. The idea comes from shotgun shooting, but I've been trying it with a pistol for fun.

With an unloaded pistol, stand in a ready position with the gun down or holstered. Pick a target. This can be something small like a light switch or large like a door; large is probably best to begin with. Now close your eyes, and, keeping them closed, draw or raise the gun, aim at your target by feel, and prep the trigger. (You did remember to double check that the gun was UN-loaded, didn't you?) Then open your eyes and check your sights. Could you align the sights with your eyes closed, by feel alone? With a little bit of practice, you can.

What got me thinking about this was the idea that most gun fights occur in low light. When I was a kid I loved to go bird hunting, and sometimes we would stay out later than we had planned and wind up walking back to the truck in the dark. Dogs don't understand shooting hours, and I've seen many birds killed in the dark after a point and a flush, if you could see any trace of the bird against the sky. (I've heard of people shooting them by the sound, but I've never seen it done.) You can't see the bead on a shotgun in the dark, but you can shoot by feel if you are familiar with your gun. I wondered if the same thing wouldn't be possible with a pistol.

[Rob P.]

It's all about muscle memory. When I go to the range I shoot 5 round "sets". Before each set I start at ready and then try to be smooth as I present the pistol to the target. I do this until I feel I am smooth and the sights are aligned with the target consistently. I call it "aiming practice" and the bonus is that I get to spend more time at the range for no additional money.

When I feel as if I can go from ready to on target consistently, I load the mag into the pistol and then commence. It pays off. My average is about 3" groups over all distances and I can fire all 5 rounds within 5 seconds. (well, 3 seconds in actual practice but the range only allows slow fire 1 round/sec so I say 5 seconds to stay within the rules.)

You can do this at home dry firing too. Excellent practice but beware that you can cause a flinch if you over do it. Pow-pow-pow = flinch, flinch, flinch. (Yes I know, it's actually "heeling" but what the hay...)

[BigDogatPlay]

I go back far enough in law enforcement to be able to say we were trained to "point shoot" without bringing the weapon up anywhere near to sight line. The routine was to draw and present at about chest height. Emphasis on good grip and proper forearm / firearm alignment. As noted, it is all a function of hand eye coordination and muscle memory. I'm still able to keep pretty much a full box of ammo inside the nine ring of a B27 competition target from 3 out to 15 yards out of the holster and never once see the sights.

What you could consider as a training aid is a cheapy laser like this one from Cheaper Than Dirt.... http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SCP328-46214-1447.html

Instant visual feedback especially when dry firing.

[sorensen440]

Great Exercise

[desertram800]

Sometimes when I go to the range I practice point shooting by covering my sights with electrical tape. I also practice shooting while my pistol is in different positions, so that I can't use my sights at all, ie holding the pistol at stomache level, or chest level. Usually no more than 5-7 yards while doing this. With just the electrical tape and normal shooting stance I'm fairly accurate out to 25 meters.

[ybz]

What you could consider as a training aid is a cheapy laser like this one .

wow, talk about cheaper than dirt...