Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Losing a Gunfight: Are You Behind the Power Curve?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/losing-a-gunfight-are-you-behind-the-power-curve/.


PERFECT practice makes PERFECT. Imperfect practice... not so successful.Pretty straight forward. Practice makes perfect.
I've heard it said that if you're in a gunfight, you've already lost. I'm a firm believer in the axiom that the best gunfight is the one I never have.I’ve never lost a gunfight.![]()
I practice my draw daily as well.I've heard it said that if you're in a gunfight, you've already lost. I'm a firm believer in the axiom that the best gunfight is the one I never have.
That said, I arrive at my office early every morning. First one in the building. And every morning, I unload my CCW and practice drawing from the holster, aligning my sights with a clear target (aim small, miss small) and pulling the trigger. I reset the trigger and go again. I generally do 5 reps at a "far" target (Ipad hanging on the wall about 15-20 yards away) and another 5 reps at a short range target (nametag outside an office at 3-5 yards). In the first four reps, I'm deliberate, thinking through all the steps, and reciting a rule of firearm safety with each one. On the fifth rep, I put it all together and go. If I don't get it "right" - i.e., holster cleared with no snags, smooth presentation, iron sights on target, trigger pressed, not jerked - I call it good. If not, I go again until it is (good).
I don't know how anyone who carries a gun expects to get it into a fight quickly without doing something similar. It's difficult enough to shoot well and shoot accurately... to stack a decision to shoot, followed by draw and presentation up beforehand and still do the shooting part well? Perfect practice makes perfect, indeed.
I’ve never lost a gunfight.![]()
I'd lose quickly, i never shoot a gunI’ve never lost a gunfight.![]()
I use the Mantis X10 to get into timed drills when I'm home, but I need to get a PACT timer and get outside. Unfortunately, I don't have many places I can go to draw from the holster and run different scenarios. Shooting ranges frown on active practice (although I see why).I practice my draw daily as well.
I also shoot a lot. Almost all timed drills.
Yep. Those and skill tests for shoot while on the move, reload, malfunction, and all of it together.While skills on drawing, and all that are Important most folks don’t train or practice right. To them a gun is a fire extinguisher or like a security blanket.
The majority if they shoot anything similar to a LE qual it’s not a timed course with large B27 type targets with unrealistic larger than normal of not anatomically correct vital zones (remember that X ring for max points that was doing nothing but hitting the Guts if a person was hit there)
Folks really need to do Cognative decision making drills with tight par times.
Like the 5x5 drill, Dave Spaulding’s Thoracic box or any of the various drills in B8 repair center like the 5 yard round up Range-master assessment the Bakersfield and many others and until hih are at lest 80 (90 if your any type of instructor) your not good enough.