I've been dwelling on this for quite a bit. Wondering if other people have similar thoughts or inputs. I apologize for the somewhat unstructured nature of my thoughts.
Here are some thoughts I have about defensive/practical handgun use:
1) The skill set can be divided relatively neatly into a handful of procedures/techniques (e.g. draw, target acquisition, trigger control, ..)
2) The practical return on investment on these skills quickly diminishes as the shooter approaches the bio-mechanical limits asymptotically
3) Most shooters don't seem to practice their skills strategically, they basically just shoot for fun. I catch myself going to the range, banging out a few magazines, and then scratch my head about what else I should do before I leave.
4) The exceptions to 3) are typically super into it, either (former) LEO/Mil or competitors (USPSA/IDPA), and often also are instructors (another incentive to gain high skill level)
5) While I can see myself doing USPSA/IDPA as a sport, it would seem there is a pretty big gap between "messing around at the range" and "competitor" (even amateur)
6) The social/competitive aspect of these shooting sports is great. We're social animals, we help each other, give each other tips, copy better techniques, get inspired by what's possible. It also helps us get out of hypothetical magic thinking land and actually test our opinions and theories.
7) The sport side has some big practical/logistical downsides. In my area there is no USPSA at all. There is 1 IDPA match per month, which I'll try to go to and check it out. A sport requires commitments in time, effort, equipment, giving up valuable weekend hours..
8) I'm unlikely to be held up at a gas station by Ben Stoeger. Therefore, the "competitive kick" of the sport-style structure eventually turns from an upside (motivation to practice skill) into a downside: you can pour an infinite amount of time/resources into the sport without becoming noticeably better as a defensive shooter, paying huge opportunity cost. Kind of like working out is great for health, but if you go crazy and work out at NFL or Olympic levels, the benefits for your health goals are probably not worth the cost unless it's part of your job (e.g. LEO)
9) The sports are a great way to put your skill set to an objective test - can you perform this skill as good or better than other people?
10) Never putting your skill set to the test is almost a guarantee that you will stagnate and live in magic wonderland ("I think I'm an amazing shooter! I never miss the bullseye at 3yd!", "My draw is super fast... probably under 1s.. or 5s.")
11) I like some of the "benchmark drills" that people are using. BILL drill, FAST drill, various coins. You can do them on your own, on your own time, on many ranges, without having to set up a stage. So logistically they're much easier than setting up a match. But you can still do them in a group, help each other, get tips, have fun with them.
12) The benchmark drills, IMO, more accurately reflect the asymptotic nature of the skill set. If you can hit the benchmark times, you're a better shooter than 99.9% of people on the planet. All the people better than you are guaranteed not to rob you with their race guns, as the frame-mounted optic and giant magwell would be a dead giveaway on the security video.
13) So it seems my ideal training program to develop a practical, defensive handgun skill set would be one that:
- divides the distinct fundamental elements (draw, target acquisition, reload, maybe even clear malfunctions?, recoil control, ..)
- gives practical exercises and progressions for each of them (some of the USPSA books give great exercises here, but more oriented to the sport obviously)
- gives practical benchmark drills to test yourself objectively against (like BILL, FAST) incorporating all the fundamentals
- gives you practical, asymptotic standards so you know when you're "good enough" and can begin investing your time/resources into something else (these would be e.g. the benchmark times, like 2s BILL, 5s FAST)
- can be done solo with relatively little investment of time/equipment
- can still be done socially with friends, or competitively
It seems to me like most of the pieces exist in various places. I've been reading tons of websites, forums, some books (e.g. Stoeger, Anderson), listening to podcasts, and so on for months. Now I kind of need to put all the puzzle pieces together for myself so I can know a) what I can reasonably achieve and b) how.
Anyone else think about these things? Suggestions? Improvements? Pieces I'm missing or wrong about? Has someone already put together this mysterious training plan?
Here are some thoughts I have about defensive/practical handgun use:
1) The skill set can be divided relatively neatly into a handful of procedures/techniques (e.g. draw, target acquisition, trigger control, ..)
2) The practical return on investment on these skills quickly diminishes as the shooter approaches the bio-mechanical limits asymptotically
3) Most shooters don't seem to practice their skills strategically, they basically just shoot for fun. I catch myself going to the range, banging out a few magazines, and then scratch my head about what else I should do before I leave.
4) The exceptions to 3) are typically super into it, either (former) LEO/Mil or competitors (USPSA/IDPA), and often also are instructors (another incentive to gain high skill level)
5) While I can see myself doing USPSA/IDPA as a sport, it would seem there is a pretty big gap between "messing around at the range" and "competitor" (even amateur)
6) The social/competitive aspect of these shooting sports is great. We're social animals, we help each other, give each other tips, copy better techniques, get inspired by what's possible. It also helps us get out of hypothetical magic thinking land and actually test our opinions and theories.
7) The sport side has some big practical/logistical downsides. In my area there is no USPSA at all. There is 1 IDPA match per month, which I'll try to go to and check it out. A sport requires commitments in time, effort, equipment, giving up valuable weekend hours..
8) I'm unlikely to be held up at a gas station by Ben Stoeger. Therefore, the "competitive kick" of the sport-style structure eventually turns from an upside (motivation to practice skill) into a downside: you can pour an infinite amount of time/resources into the sport without becoming noticeably better as a defensive shooter, paying huge opportunity cost. Kind of like working out is great for health, but if you go crazy and work out at NFL or Olympic levels, the benefits for your health goals are probably not worth the cost unless it's part of your job (e.g. LEO)
9) The sports are a great way to put your skill set to an objective test - can you perform this skill as good or better than other people?
10) Never putting your skill set to the test is almost a guarantee that you will stagnate and live in magic wonderland ("I think I'm an amazing shooter! I never miss the bullseye at 3yd!", "My draw is super fast... probably under 1s.. or 5s.")
11) I like some of the "benchmark drills" that people are using. BILL drill, FAST drill, various coins. You can do them on your own, on your own time, on many ranges, without having to set up a stage. So logistically they're much easier than setting up a match. But you can still do them in a group, help each other, get tips, have fun with them.
12) The benchmark drills, IMO, more accurately reflect the asymptotic nature of the skill set. If you can hit the benchmark times, you're a better shooter than 99.9% of people on the planet. All the people better than you are guaranteed not to rob you with their race guns, as the frame-mounted optic and giant magwell would be a dead giveaway on the security video.
13) So it seems my ideal training program to develop a practical, defensive handgun skill set would be one that:
- divides the distinct fundamental elements (draw, target acquisition, reload, maybe even clear malfunctions?, recoil control, ..)
- gives practical exercises and progressions for each of them (some of the USPSA books give great exercises here, but more oriented to the sport obviously)
- gives practical benchmark drills to test yourself objectively against (like BILL, FAST) incorporating all the fundamentals
- gives you practical, asymptotic standards so you know when you're "good enough" and can begin investing your time/resources into something else (these would be e.g. the benchmark times, like 2s BILL, 5s FAST)
- can be done solo with relatively little investment of time/equipment
- can still be done socially with friends, or competitively
It seems to me like most of the pieces exist in various places. I've been reading tons of websites, forums, some books (e.g. Stoeger, Anderson), listening to podcasts, and so on for months. Now I kind of need to put all the puzzle pieces together for myself so I can know a) what I can reasonably achieve and b) how.
Anyone else think about these things? Suggestions? Improvements? Pieces I'm missing or wrong about? Has someone already put together this mysterious training plan?