Doing The Training Macarena

Nearly every Monday morning we start a new class here at Thunder Ranch. With that start, there is almost always a first-timer at the Ranch who has attended no-small number of courses at other schools. We kindly refer to these new first-timers as “gun camp junkies.” All is usually well until we go to the range and the staff and I are exposed to the newest in “gunfightin’” techniques.

In a recent class, several of the junkies demonstrated “the pistol rolled sideways muzzle tucked into their groin technique.” It’s got a name but we won’t honor it here. In this position, the muzzle points at their crotch and feet, and I was pointedly advised the “gun at my crotch thing” was used by SWAT-type guys. This technique, it seems, was for working around each other and when doing cross over and button-hook door entries and such. After pointing out the shortcomings of pointing the muzzle at the tool of their ability to reproduce life, we proceeded— and were met with yet more surprises.

Next, our new friends showed us the “bodyguard with their back to the bad man” technique. The response was to draw, bend over at the waist and shoot the pistol upside down. After the initial first round response, a stand-up swivel at the waist and shoot over the shoulder shot was delivered. This was followed by a gyration and a jump to the left, shoot, jump to the right, shoot, and then dart to kneeling and shoot. Slightly stunned I asked what this whirling dervish dance was about? I was promptly told the jumping bean thing was to be used to “protect principles and make the bodyguard hard to hit by incoming fire.”

Uh, huh.

They asked me what I thought about it all and I asked them what their true, everyday professions were. “Banking and computers” were the chirped replies. Hum, I was slightly confused. Without drawing a breath their next statement was approximately: “This stuff is really cool, you know, all the jumping running and gunning.” Duly noted.

But here’s a thought: Why not simply quit your dance, turn around — and shoot the cause of the problem?

Technique, Environment and Marksmanship

There is a continuing controversy over which shooting technique is best. It is, in fact, a moot point. Application of various correct techniques could exist for the trained, the untrained, for law enforcement officers, and even lawfully-armed civilians. What is, in fact, the best technique? Based on whose opinion? And, what is their opinion based upon?

As an example, the Harries flashlight technique is good, except on hard right corners. A Weaver-like stance is good —until maybe you apply it while shooting prone under a vehicle. Almost all range techniques work perfect until they are applied in a fight. Both Weaver and Isosceles are excellent, until you add body armor, gas masks, moving targets, low light and incoming fire. Survival is not based solely on technique. Survivability may hinge on the use of the correct technique appropriate to the environment you are fighting in.

Oh, and yes, marksmanship is always valuable.

Mystics And Magic

There are no mystics and no magic — and no shortcuts. But Americans like magic, just look at Las Vegas. With some regularity, training magicians come to live here in the land of the free, generally from a homeland where private firearms ownership is not even allowed. Many of these self-proclaimed wizards-of-wonder poof some lateral-axis-centerline-dynamic-multi-func-tional-handgun-technique on us and we belly-up to the bar.

You gotta’ love us. We Americans are renowned for our great, national sense of humor, but our work ethic in some areas is sometimes questionable. Honestly? For most of us, all the scientific studies and Zen of shooting should be replaced with a little hard work, a case of ball ammo and applied funda-mentals. Ask yourself a question:
“How many of you get to shoot as much as you like?”

In the little time — and with the little ammunition available to you — wouldn’t it make sense to practice the undeniable fundamentals of marksmanship? So, let’s not be stupid. Why not consider, instead, the option of working hard with our minimal time and ammunition to develop good fundamental skills?

And, if the time comes — heaven forbid — quit dickin’ around and just shoot the guy.

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