Some thoughts on point shooting

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I've been getting a lot of questions from students in recent shooting classes regarding "point" or "instinctive" shooting. Bottom line: sights were placed on firearms for a reason. Use them whenever the opportunity presents itself - and train to that standard!

-Kyle

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• Point Shooting
• Instinctive Shooting
• pistol
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[gunsgalore762]

Kyle, I love your videos. When i graduate high school i will be joining the Army as a Ranger. I would really love to work all the way up to CAG/ 1st SFOD-D. And i believe in myself. I am doing several of your drills and they have helped big time, Thanks so much and got a question on grips. Should i use a vertical fore grip or an angled one like the Magpul AFG. Thanks so much and best of wishes to you.

[VikingTactics]

@gunsgalore762 I would use whatever feels best to you. The way I hold my weapon, either would work until I need my light.

KL

[torinhill]

Had a question about zeroing, SGM.

As a proud owner of GEs&BRs, I know you're a proponent of the 200m BS0.

I'm trying to reconcile a 200m vice Howe's recommended 100m+3" zero.

Howe's method (as best I understand it) equates to 100m hits by lollipopping on the FSP, and closing in with 25m hits at POA. as I understand, his plan is easier eye relief for longer ranges, and more intuitive holds.

Trying to integrate the advice of two Great shooters… and my Zero is bedrock. What are your thoughts?

[VikingTactics]

@torinhill The more space between your optics and bore the farther out you should zero.

If you zero an ACOG on a Carry handle at 25 M you will be 18 inches high at 100M, not cool for any kind of work. I prefer a 50/200 simply because it is easier to hit at all other ranges. 25M zero is going to put you high at 100M even if you are shooting iron sights. How high is determined by your ammo of course.

Keep your target in mind as well. A threats face at 5-300 Meters.

Kyle

[ColdWarScout]

I have yet to meet a point shooter who recommended just firing blindly at a target with no idea where their rounds were landing.

[grizzerr]

I find it disconcerting that an instructor of your calibre would completely discount/ignore point shooting as a valuable tool in defensive firearms training. You are doing a discredit to your students by not being progressive in what you teach them.

Perhaps if you would attend a Point Shooting class you'd have a better understanding of what is being taught and it's effectiveness.

[cutmonn]

It's better to just panic and pull the trigger until the mag is empty. Oh yea, make sure you scream real loud like in the movies.

[billyshob]

@billyshob However...there is a time and a place for everything. Conditions dictate which method to use and P&S shooting should not be a shooters soul and only method of self defense training.

[billyshob]

@billyshob "Everyone has the ability to point at an object."..."When a soldier points, he instinctively points at the feature on the object on which his eyes are focused. An impulse from the brain causes the arm and hand to stop when the finger reaches the proper position."..."When the eyes are shifted to a new object or feature, the finger, hand, and arm also shift to this point."..."It is this inherent trait that can be used by a soldier to rapidly and accurately engage targets."

[billyshob]

@billyshob The point and shoot method of shooting in a CQB situation has been referenced in many books dating all the way back to 1804 and mentioned in ,1810,1816,1829,1835,1870,1885­,1898,1900,1903,1912,1915,1917­,1918,1920,1921,1922,1925,1926­,1927,1929,1941. It is also specifically referred to in U.S. Patents: 694969, 896099, 2109993, 2270707, and 5166459. In addition, it is directly mentioned in the US Army's 2003 Field Manual 3-23.35: Combat Training With Pistols M9 and M11.

[billyshob]

@VikingTactics In an CQB scenario where you don't have a chance to look down your sights. In a scenario where the flight or fight response is activated. The ciliary muscle becomes relaxed due to an adrenaline dump triggered by the ancient human flight or fight survival mechanism. And the shape of the eye lens will be thin for focusing on objects that are not up close, causing your sight picture to become out of focus, and a 70% reduction in peripheral vision.

[boxdoutfoot]

I was hoping that he was just going to say "don't."

[LaRueDeeko]

........You have a really nice home.

[grizzerr]

@apw100 , I can agree with that in reference to SPECOPS and SWAT. I believe the precision shot is important for all shooters, but it doesn't apply in every situation.Training in both precision and point shooting are important because the situation will dictate which you use.

[apw100]

@grizzerr Teaching point shooting wouldn't exactly be "progressive". The unit that KL served in, Delta/CAG, originally utilized point shooting techniques but abandoned them in favor of utilizing the pistol's sights.

Point shooting is probably fine for the average cop, citizen or infantryman. However, for units such as CAG/DevGru/SWAT, point shooting can't guarantee the accuracy that is necessary to safely deal with hostage situations.

[DamoclesCH]

KL, Very good video and thoughts on a controversial issue. Thank you.