Flash Sight a Pistol (Handgun)
(in this article).
Steps
Drills
- Position yourself about 7-yards (the distance the FBI determined a man could move in a second and a half; about the time it takes to draw a pistol and fire) away from a large (10+ inch) target.
- In a lowered gun stance (ready position), pull your gun up, as quickly as possible, to firing position and focus hard on the front sight of your gun, wait until you see a bit of the front sight between the rear sights and pull the trigger (this is the primary drill to help your get in the habit of flash sighting).
- You should be able to land a hit in the 10-inch target every time. If you are missing try going a little slower. The key is to practice perfectly, and the speed will come naturally.
- The next stage is to put bursts into the target. Take a few steps back (go for 10 yards). Do the same things as before, but this time, put two or three shots quickly into your target. Between each shot, get the flash sight again. Once you are able to get to firing position and put three quick shots into your 10+ inch target consistently in under a second-and-a-half, you can move on.
- Practice with multiple targets. You want to start by setting up three or more targets a yard or two apart. Quick to firing position and go down the line. One shot at each target.
- Change it up: maybe try it in a different order; have a friend tell you which one to shoot ("one!", "three!", etc.), but the key thing to be sure of is that you hit your target; once you are sure you can hit your target every time, try to accelerate your pace.
- At first when you fire move the gun with the recoil. As soon as the recoil is completed you should be on the next target already. As you get faster you can force the gun into position and be ready before the recoil is complete.
- Practice while moving. While moving, you should still be able to hit targets at 7-yards. Set up three or more targets about a few yards apart from each other. Start about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} back. Run up to about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (from your first target) while drawing your gun to firing position. Fire a two-shot burst, side-step to engage the next target, and so on.
- Each time you run the course, try to do it faster; try to pause as little as possible when shooting (even while moving you should be able to get a flash sight), the longer you pause the more accurate you will be, but in a gun fight, the clock is always ticking quicker than at the range.
- Integrate the Mozambique Drill. If a friend is calling out target numbers, and they call the number of a target you have already shot, this time you go for a head shot. This is also known as "failure to stop" practice.
- The idea is, you have shot the target, but he isn't impressed (i.e. he is on drugs, is wearing body armor, or is just plain determined) and keeps coming, so you have to take a head shot. Read Human Targets for more information.
The Basics
- These are the basics.
- While Point Shoot a Pistol (Handgun) sounds like a great idea (to be able to naturally point at a target), it is (for 99% of people) a very bad idea at less than touching distances. Past three or four yards, it may be impossible to get reliable hits on center-mass of a target. And remember, they say: think of the worst day at the range, you will be twice as bad as that in the middle of a gun fight!
- The other option is called "flash sighting". This means you pull the gun up to the standard shooting position; focus hard on the front of your gun and when the front post (sight) is somewhere in between the rear sights, you fire! It doesn't matter where; at three to seven yards even the worst flash sighting gets center-mass hits.
- Studies in police departments which train with flash sighting against departments who teach point-shooting have shown staggering results. The flash sighting police hit their targets four times as much as those who point-shoot. Average first shot times were less than one-tenth of a second slower (for those who flash sight).
- Most people can use that one-tenth of a second to get that guaranteed hit instead of just putting a bunch of holes in the walls behind the bad guy. Flash sighting is something that needs to be rigorously trained, else you might return to point-shooting.
- Ultimately the "point of the gun" (mentioned in choosing a good sidearm) is still important as it will decrease the amount of time required to flash sight, but since you are still using the sights it is less important.
- The above info may be OK for shooting on the range, but that does not mean it will work in a real close quarters life threat situation.
- That should not come as a surprise to many as Bill Lewinski of the Force Science Institute had the following info about the eye in his 2002 Police Marksman article titled: Stress Reactions Related To Lethal Force Encounters: "The eye undergoes three changes under high stress. The pupils dilate, the lens flattens and the eyes begin to move in a "saccadic" fashion...."
- The thinning of the lens causes the loss of near vision and the ability to focus on the sights, so Sight Shooting won't be able to be used. And with the result that one will have no effective shooting method to use in their self defense in those situations where there is the greatest chance of being shot and killed. That is, unless they are taught an alternate shooting method such as P&S.
- Sight Shooting has been taught for over 100 years, yet there are no pics or videos of it ever having been used effectively in a close quarters armed encounter.
- P&S is an effective method of instinctive, fast, and accurate aiming at close quarters distances, and it can be learned with little or no training, and maintained with little or no practice. Common sense and safe gun handling apply to its use.
- Basically, the index finger is placed along the side of the gun, pointed at the target, and the trigger is pulled with the middle finger.
Tips
- A slow hit is always better than a fast miss. Be sure to take a little extra time for the first shot, or between shots if you are missing.
- While practicing: "slow is smooth; smooth is fast".
- The more you practice the better you will get.
- All the drills can be augmented by adding a draw from a holster. This will add a little time to the drill, but will give you some great practice for concealable carry.
- While practicing for tactical readiness or for self defense, most practice should be quick draw and flash sighting rather than slower-paced sight-shooting. Distances should be {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or less (any further, and flash sight shooting becomes unreliable).
- Next: learn to choose the right handgun and bullets, and be sure to practice using your pistol with drills (accompanying articles).
Warnings
- A pistol can inflict serious injury or even death. Be sure to always point the pistol in a safe direction and never point it at something you do not intend to shoot.
- Be sure to know what is down range. Bullets can travel for miles or can bounce and ricochet into unintended directions.
- All practicing should be done at the shooting range obeying all safety rules, or in a legal and private location with an unloaded gun (or you can replace the rounds with snap-caps).
- Any firearm should only be shot in a safe and legal location. Be aware of state and local laws on use and transportation of a firearm and follow them carefully. Laws change drastically between states and can change between counties or even cities.
- Safety should come first! Firearms are very dangerous if used improperly. If you are not an experienced shooter, make sure to have a certified firearms instructor or a very experienced shooter directly supervising you.
Related Articles
- Point Shoot a Pistol (Handgun)
- Get Better Using Your Pistol (Handgun)
- Maintain a Pistol (Handgun)
- Become a Marksman (Snipe) With a Pistol
