Unit 4 Lesson 1 Handgun

"Law enforcement" or "Tactical" grip

Flashlight is held in the support hand with illuminating end projecting from the little finger on the side of the hand. * Rear mounted switch, side mounted switch near the back of the flashlight

Flashlight firearms technique

Focus on your weapons front sight of you can see it. If you cannot, you must use the point shooting technique

Stance

From a steady and efficient shooting stance or stable shooting position, a shooter has the ability to move and engage targets properly

"Watchman" grip

Grip in which a flashlight is held in the support hand with the illuminating end projecting from the index finger side of the hand. *Side mounted switch near the back of the flashlight

"Syringe" grip

Grip used with a small (4-6 inch) flashlight with a rear switch and a ring around the grip to give the index and middle fingers a hold. *held in the support hand between the index and middle fingers

Follow through

Involves maintaining sight alignment before, during, and after firing a round.

Tactical Ready Stance

Is commonly used in close-quarter situations or when the location of the threat is not immediately known.

Point shooting

Is the technique used when you cannot use the sights on your weapon or you have no time to align the sight properly.

Sight picture

It is recommended to keep both eyes open during firing, however this make take time to get used to. Both eyes open improves the focus of your dominant eye and sight picture as well as improve accuracy and increased peripheral vision

Sight alignment

It occurs when the top of the front sight is level with the rear sights top edge and centered in the rear sight aperture it or notch

Sight alignment

Keep your eye(s) centered behind the rear and front sights. This is the most important aspect of aiming

Concentration

Key to accurate and consistent shooting. For improved proficiency, you should apply all fundamentals simultaneously

General flashlight principles

Main function is illumination, including illumination for movement, navigation and searching as well as identification and engagement of a threat

General flashlight principles

May use the flashlight to control someone if the light is bright enough

Isosceles Stance

Most closely represents the instinctive response to a threat. This stance minimizes the exposed areas of the body not covered by armor.

Grip

One Hand or Two hands

Hip shooting stance

Option 1—Shoot your handgun from the one-handed hip stance: 1. Assume the interview stance: a. Stand with head, hips and feet aligned. b. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart with knees slightly bent. c. Angle your body to the subject with the weapon side away. d. Keep your hands above your waist. 2. Draw your firearm. 3. Place the elbow of your weapon arm against the side of your body above the holster. 4. Point your forearm, hand, and firearm against the side of your body above the holster. 5. Put your support hand in a defensive position in front of your body. Keep it close to your chest to guard against attack, should you not draw your firearm quickly enough

Hip shooting stance

Option 2 (less preferable than Option 1)—Shoot your handgun from the two-handed hip stance: 1. Assume the interview stance. 2. Draw the weapon and keep your weapon-side elbow at a 90-degree angle (in an L shape). Keep your elbow against the body, slightly above the holster. a. Keep your forearm and wrist and the barrel of your handgun parallel to the ground and pointed at the subject. b. Grip the handgun a little more tightly than normal. This helps you keep your wrist straight and makes it more difficult for a subject to take your weapon. 3. Bring your support and shooting hands together in a normal two-handed grip. a. Hold your weapon at waist level and both elbows tightly against your body above your gun belt. b. Keep your forearm, hand, and weapon horizontal to the ground.

Shooting stances for handgun

Standing Kneeling Isosceles Weaver Modified weaver Hip shooting Tactical ready Two handed high point Barricade Prone

Fundamentals of Marksmanship

The act of firing without disturbing sight alignment and the muzzle is a fundamental of marksmanship. Failure to control the trigger will result in improper sight alignment and motion in the muzzle when the hammer falls

Point shooting

The handgun becomes an extension of your arm and hand. Use the extension to point to the target or threat and fire

Harries Technique

The key to this method is properly using the law enforcement or tactical grip. This method illuminates the sights fairly well

Stance

The posture a shooter assumes while firing a shot. Important when using firearms tactically or defensively. Gives the shooter stability

Sight picture

The relationship between the eye, front sight, rear sight, and target.

Sight alignment

The relationship of the front sight and rear sight with the shooter's eye(s)

Ayoob Technique

This technique is thumb-to-thumb; it uses the "watchman" grip. It provides some support for firearm control and good illumination in relationship to the weapon.

Respiratory pause

To hold your breath properly, inhale, exhale normally, and stop at the moment when you pause between breaths. The extended pause between breaths is the best time to fire shots

Tactical Ready Stance

To take the stance, you should assume the standing position, and then, lock your arms below your life of sight. In this stance, you will be able to observe the subject's hands/waistline. May also be assumed by bending your elbows while pulling the handgun straight back and holding it close to your body. In this position you should maintain a proper grip while pointing the firearm in a safe direction or towards the threat.

Types of Flashlight Grips

Watchman, Law Enforcement/Tactical, Syringe

Hip Shooting Stance

When you are within arm's reach (three to four feet away) of a subject, use the hip shooting stance. If you extend your arms to prepare to shoot your firearm, the subject would be close enough to grab your firearm or knock your hand and firearm to the side. One handed or Two handed.

Flashlight Firearms Technique

You must be able to identify a threat or target before engaging it with a handgun. Ideally, you should fire in reduced light (night) only at close proximity because of the risk involved in identifying targets and threats

follow through

You must maintain proper grip, stance, and finger placement on the trigger. Must also acquire sight picture, reestablishing it each time you fire a weapon

Harries Technique

hold the flashlight in your support hand and the handgun in your shooting hand. Then, put the backs of your hands together. With your hands braced together, you have more control over the handgun.

Breath control

important in the aiming process. If you breathe while trying to aim, the rise and fall of your chest moves the handgun vertically.

Trigger control

results when the trigger finger pulls the trigger straight back with increasing yet constant and steady pressure until the firearm discharges

Trigger control

the most difficult handgun fundamental to master, often determines a shot's success.

kneeling position

1. Begin in the standing position. 2. Draw your weapon and step forward with your opposite foot. 3. Drop your shooting side knee to the ground, keep the muzzle of your weapon pointed downrange. Keep your finger off the trigger. 4. As you drop your knee, bring your arms up, raising your weapon to eye level. Keep your head erect and your back straight.

Two Hand Grip

1. Follow the steps for the one-handed grip. 2. With your thumb and index finger in proper grip positions along the frame, wrap the fingers of your support hand tightly around the fingers of your shooting hand. 3. Place your support hand's thumb on or just below the thumb of your shooting hand, holding the weapon firmly. Do not overlap your thumbs or placethethumb of your support hand over the back or in the web of your shooting hand.

proper sight alignment

1. Look along the top of the weapon's sight plane. 2. Center the top of the front sight on a line along the top of the rear sight. 3. Center thetop of thefront sight horizontally and vertically in therear aperture or notch.

Sight picture

1. Look through the notch of the rear sight. 2. Align the top of the front sight with the top of the rear sight with equal space on each side. 3. Place the sights on the target. 4. Focus on the front sight. (The target will be blurry.) 5. Use your dominant eye to align sights.

One hand grip

1. Place the handgun in your shooting hand so that its barrel points in the direction desired. Place the webbing of the shooting hand around the handgun's backstrap.

standing position

1. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart. 2. Keep your weight on the balls your feet. 3. Bend your knees slightly so you can move in any direction. 4. Move the foot on your weapon (shooting) side back slightly. 5. Square your head and shoulders to the target. Keep your back straight and head erect (unless you are using the Modified Weaver stance.) 6. Draw your weapon, raising it to eye level. Do not bend your head down to the weapon's level. 7. After you fire the weapon, continue to cover your target and scan for additional threat

Isosceles Stance

1. Stand with your feet approximately shoulder-width apart. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet. 2. Bend your knees slightly to allow for movement. 3. Stand with your head and shoulders square to the target, body weight forward. 4. Lock your arms straight out in front, and bring the handgun to eye level.

Proper trigger control

1. The preferred method is to contact the trigger with your index finger. Be careful not to touch the firearm elsewhere with your trigger finger. After you place your trigger finger on the trigger, keep it there until you fire. 2. When controlling the trigger, make sure to move your trigger finger straight back. This will release the hammer and discharge the handgun. 3. Control the trigger reset after the weapon discharges. Release pressure on the trigger until the trigger reengages. Dry drills help you improve your ability to reset the trigger without disturbing sight alignment or your muzzle.

One hand grip

2. Center the weapon between your thumb and forefinger. It should fit directly into the V of the web of your hand between your thumb and forefinger. Your forearm, hand, and weapon should form a straight line.

One hand grip

3. Apply a firm, uniform grip to the firearm. Use the same firmness you would in a handshake. Gripping too tightly can cause the hand and arm to shake; muscle spasms may begin after a short time. Gripping too loosely does not give you the necessary control of the weapon or its recoil.

One hand grip

4. Rest the thumb of your shooting hand along the frame. Keep the trigger finger (index finger of the shooting hand) outside the trigger guard until on target and ready to fire.

Barricade position

A position behind cover

Fundamentals of Marksmanship

Accurate shooting results from knowing and correctly applying fundementals of marksmanship: grip; sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control and follow through, stancd and shooting positions

Important:

Always positively identify a threat before using deadly force

Fundamentals of Marksmanship

Are the same for both a revolver and semiautomatic pistol

Tactical Ready Stance

At times, you must cover a subject who is ready to take aggressive and perhaps deadly action. In this stance, you can see a subject's hands.

Improper trigger control

Causes more misses than any other action in the firing process. If you put even slightly off center pressure on the trigger, the pressure can cause the firearm to move and disturb your sight alignment and muzzle

Note:

Controlling the trigger is a mental process; pulling the trigger is a physical process

follow through

Do not try to force a handgun down at the time of discharge (anticipating recoil) but rather keep your body and weapon in a controlled position during discharge