... where action pistol is being derided and action pistol guys are called "trigger-slappers" and such. It would pretty much ensure that my reaction to Appleseed would be "these guys don't want me, I'm out" - and instead of bringing a shooter to the line, you've pushed me away.
Like I said, I don't really care what you say about me - I'll just crawl a little further into my bottle of bourbon. ;-) What I care about is making sure that shooters don't get alienated from our sports.
The chance of you stumbling on a post disparaging any kind of shooting techniques on this forum is very small. This thread is an exception. And it was not about methods, just people. This was just a chance to thump our chests and have some fun, at your expense,
but even here, as you see, there is nothing malicious, just poking fun.
We don't waste time talking about other methods of instruction. We find we have precious little time as it is to even get
our techniques across and further the program, let alone diss anyone else, so this is a rare exception.
I am not sure which post you are talking about on the "pistol trigger slappers", I must not have read it yet, but I can tell you from instructing quite a few folks who went to some of the tactical courses, that they all had one thing in common, trigger jerk. They had been trained to shoot reaction style first, and it hurts when they are shooting for accuracy.
Nothing really wrong with this if you are standing toe to toe or across the room from your target, but it hurts you if you are 1,500 feet way. Where we tell people to begin engaging their targets if at all possible. We don't want to gunfight fairly, or give the target a chance to get toe to toe.
We don't teach tactics either, just common sense. If you have the chance to hit your target at 500 yards, while the target has no idea you even exust. That is the best option.
We leave the rest (0-25 yards, and tactical) to to people better suited to teach it. Gunsite, Frontsite, all the academies etc. We have enough on our plate as it is.
Glad you are here Ahab
If we did have an ideology, it would probably go something like this;
USMC Rules For Gunfighting [with a few additions by Fred]
1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. [Rule 1.5: Try to make them a TEAM. And make the 'guns' rifles - see Rules 5 & 6]
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive. [Rule 2.5: When targets get plentiful, have a rifle which requires only one shot to take out a target, and fire only one shot per target. Running out of ammo in a target-rich environment can ruin your life.]
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss. [Rule 3.5: A fast hit is better than a slow hit. Rule 3.6: A fast miss is trumped by a slower hit. Rule 3.7: Firing too fast can turn a sure hit into a fast miss.]
4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.) [5.5 Engage beyond 300 yards.]
6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a rifle and a friend with a rifle.
7. In ten years, nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived. [Rule 7.5: But caliber, stance, skill and tactics may determine who lives - and who dies - today.]
8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, or running. [Rule 8.5: As long as you have targets, and rounds in your mag, you should be shooting.]
9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun. [Rule 9.2: Shoot to Rifleman standard. Rule 9.3: A 'kill' hit is better than a 'wound' hit, but a 'wound' hit beats a miss - every time.]
9.5. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. [Rule 9.9 Bring a rifle you can easily clear when it malfunctions.]
10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose. [Rule 11.5. You have to win every time. They only have to win once.]
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won't work. [Rule 13.5 Plan B - accurate rifle fire will save your ass!]
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. [Rule 14.5 Camo clothing, skin, rifle.]
15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours. [Rule 15.5 Be part of a team!]
16. Don't drop your guard.
17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees. [Rule 17.5 Target Detection is #1!]
18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them) [Rule 18.5 Simplify! Keep them them 300+ yards away and once ID'd as enemy, shoot them - fast and well!]
19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet. [Rule 21.5 Plan consists of SOP and immediate action drills.]
22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
23. Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation. [Rule 23.5 Win the soft war now, and you avoid the hard war, later. Rule 23.7 Learn to shoot like a Rifleman now; it's your number one Option for Personal Security when avoidance, deterrence, or de-escalation is not an option.]
24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a "4." [Rule 24.5 Do not get close enough to use a pistol -or even a carbine. Distance is your friend. See Rule 5.]
25. It is not a movie. If you catch a round, save the dramatics, ignore the hit, and keep shooting. You have nothing to lose, and you might even survive.
