Hollywood versus Reality: Running with a handgun?

[275RLTW]

Too many variables to say one of the other. The situation will dictate as both methods have their place.

[cstone]

Draw if you believe your life or the life of someone else is in danger.

Don't point it at anything you don't want to shoot.

Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are on target.

If you have the time to holster, do so, but if it is already in your hand and you have other pressing issues, be careful and stay alive.

Find cover and use it. If you need to move and you have already fired, exchange mags before leaving cover.

If you remember all of these things or even half of them while someone is shooting at you or one of your loved ones, you are way ahead of the curve.

Be safe.

[Irving]

I'm very confident that in a real life situation I wouldn't remember to do anything and would just stand right where I was and fire from out in the open like a dummy.

[rustycrusty]

There are some constants between competition shooting and defensive/combative shooting when it comes to movement because the most important goals are the same

1- don't die
2- don't kill anyone you shouldn't
3- win

the third goal is accomplished in very different ways even between shooting sports and will be different every time in defensive/combative situations.

The first two goals are rather unchanging. 1 is pretty easy. Even novice shooters are generally aversive to pointing pistols at themselves. I did say 'generally' and we all know exceptions to this.

The best and most instinctive way to not point a gun at yourself while you are running is to not jerk the gun around a lot. You don't see videos of competitive shooters or combat shooters running wih a full sprinters arm pump. The pistol is always held with less movement than the arm without it.

Second to that, the pistol is held in a manner where is can easily be controlled when falling. this seems to be instinct for many shooters as well. I notice that every champion shooter and combat shooter I watch runs with the pistol floating away from the body and generally in front of the face, or with the pistol held close and controlled by both hands 'sul' position.

Last, I notice that the pistol always points in the direction of travel unless it is held on target. Comp shooters tend to point towards a target of they have one, but when they don't they point forward. It is hardest to manipulate a gun to point at your torso when the gun is pointed directly forward and held there purposefully. I know this from grappling with sim guns. It is much easier to have it torqued into your body if it is pointed across body. Even in sul position, the gun points down, but at midline with energy most easily directed out straight forward into a isosceles stance.

Number 2 is all about trigger control. If if you are to slip the instinct is to shoot hands out to catch you. Getting limbs out while falling would give best probability for missing yourself with an ND. also remember- when falling, you don't have to pull the trigger for the gun to go off. There is plenty of shit around in the real world that can pull a trigger on a gun being pressed into and skidded along the ground or any other surface. Trigger control goes beyond keeping your finger off the trigger. Wrestle with a gun or fall in a bush with a gun and you will understand what I mean. I have had a t shirt pull the trigger while grappling. No solid advice here other than to practice awareness of what's around the trigger.

[RMAC757]

Sounds corny but I use a replica Airsoft of my XDm to practice in my basement. I do this a lot and it has cut down on my draw time and reload times. Target acquisitions has been a big focus of mine. Making the right call to shoot in a crowded area. Rule #4 which is often plays last on our list of priorities. I've also practiced engaging multiple targets while moving towards cover. It's amazing what just a little practice will do in a non-threat environment. A buddy old me "it ain't worth killing for if it ain't worth dying for". Pretty profound, and sound advice. Coloccw hit the nail on the head. Every situation is gonna be different. I just try to improve the areas I can while maintaining proficiency. The Airsogt gun is just a tool, like a blue gun. I want muscle memory to take over so my brain can focus on task at hand.

[MarkCO]

That is not corny at all. Dry-fire is a proven skill builder as is airsoft. Anything that increases your weapon familiarity and overall skill is of great benefit. While there are certainly crusty old trainers that put down the action shooting sports, the fact of the matter is that all of the top trainers of Mil and LE are in fact involved in competitive shooting in one form or another. They all agree that the cross-over is not only beneficial, but almost imperative. Spend any amount of time with Seeklander, the AMU, etc. and you will see that the more you know about the use of weapons at speed, shooting on the move, etc, the better your chance of survival will be if you do in fact end up needing to use a firearm.

[Irving]

There are guys that have treadmills in their garage/basement that they use to practice shooting on the move with their airsoft guns.

[HoneyBadger]

There are guys that have treadmills in their garage/basement that they use to practice shooting on the move with their airsoft guns.

Hilarious.

[boomerhc9]

There are guys that have treadmills in their garage/basement that they use to practice shooting on the move with their airsoft guns.

I wonder if that is what Harry Reid was secretly doing when he had his, ahem. accident.

[MarkCO]

Are you peeping on me Irving.