As the world turns - Ranging Shots

Guns Magazine, Feb, 2004 by Clint Smith

In the Nov/Dec issue of GUNS' sister publication American Handgunner I wrote a column attesting to the fact that rifles are better for fighting than handguns. They are. There were a few folks who didn't read the article or who manipulated it to suit some out of context venting like, "my wife can't carry a rifle to the grocery store."

Again, I think some of these folks didn't really read the article. But given the fact that such spirited discussions promote real thinking which is so much more beneficial than the usual "9mm versus .45 ACP" rehash, I then have another couple of thoughts for you to ponder. First, rifles are better for fighting than handguns. But since I can't always have a rifle--perhaps due to location, availability or early warning of potential trouble--a handgun will have to do in some cases. Duly noted.

But as another thought, do I really need a multiple thousand dollar semiautomatic pistol with a goofy red laser something screwed on to the stock panel? The reason for this expensive pistol over say for example, a $300 S&W four-inch Model 10 S&W .38 special revolver for home defense or personal protection is what? "That old fashioned revolver only holds six rounds. I wanna shoot a lot of ammo."

Or do I? High capacity semi-automatics can in fact spew a lot of projectiles down range and I see it in every class I teach here at Thunder Ranch. Generally a shooter's biggest enemy in my opinion is the four letters or what we call the four-letter word--F.A.S.T.

"But I've gotta shoot fast," No actually, what we need to do is to hit the target. Doing so in a timely fashion is a good idea but a fast miss is much worse than a "slower" hit. In our litigation oriented society you won't have much fun after being involved in a shooting where your fast stray rounds hit bystanders.

A point of interest is the lack of grasp of the purpose of a high capacity magazine. High capacity magazines were not made in fact so we could shoot more. A high capacity magazine's true value is in the fact that they reduce manipulation. Sure, a magazine is easier to load than a handful of loose cartridges in a cylinder. But then depending on whose advertising you read most fights are solved with a low number of rounds expended. A low enough number that most potential problems can be easily solved by a simple, reliable six shot revolver. Then of course there are speed loaders and like devices.

If the issue in your head is it takes a long time to load a revolver, one only needs to watch Jerry Miculek load his Smith revolver and this affirms that practice is beneficial. Of course we can't compare ourselves to Jerry as we or our wife could never load our revolver under duress like Jerry. And of course she or we would never practice and she or we should always be considered incompetent because she or we could never learn any new life saving skills. Or could we?

The Sights

Any opportunity to use the sights and place them on the target while firing is a good idea. Granted this is often not easy or even possible in weapon retention type contacts. Very simply the best most effective way to shoot is to use the sights. Is it always possible to use the sights? No. Is it a good idea when possible? Yes.

The Trigger

Most marksmanship problems evolve around the correct use of the trigger. The revolver's advantage (if fired correctly from double action) is the consistent character of the trigger--it's the same all the time. Single action triggers like those of the 1911 and Glock are good because they are the same all the time,

Double/single action triggers like those of the H&K and SIG can be used well but require an attentive operator due to the transition from double to single action. This skill requires effort on the practice range let alone under the duress of conflict.

The trigger is very important. Proper manipulation of our trigger of choice should be practiced constantly.

Around And Around

Maybe, just maybe we all don't need a zoot suit, hi-cap race gun with red lights, bells and a siren. Folks shrieked when I mentioned a rifle for personal defense. So be it but in the same vein maybe we don't need a bazillion dollar race gun to solve the defensive problem either.

Practice makes perfect? I don't know about that for sure but a competent, practiced operator placed behind a reasonably effective handgun--whether it goes around and around or back and forth--may solve our problem admirably.