"Don't Outrun Your Headlights"
A timely reminder...from Steve Moses.
https://ccwsafe.com/news/dont-outrun-your-headlights/
Quote:
Master instructor Tom Givens urges his students to not teach their own students to “outrun their headlights” by shooting faster in a lethal force encounter than they can perceive and respond to a change of circumstances which may call for complete cessation of shooting or shooting at a more deliberate speed. I was aware of this concept and had experienced it during a Louis Awerbuck defensive shotgun course when he caused a 3-D target to move only a few inches a nano-second before I fully pressed the trigger on my Benelli shotgun, resulting in a complete miss at five yards.
Much emphasis is put on speed-shooting in defensive shooting classes, and most of us nod in appreciation of the skill shown when a shooter can draw from the holster and put six rounds in an eight-inch circle at seven yards in less than three seconds. One of my favorite drills is the Larry Vickers Half-Test, which we shoot from concealment. The goal is to shoot ten rounds into a five and one-half inch circle at five yards clean in five seconds or less. In order to meet this standard and shoot it clean I personally must shoot one round after the first round about every 1/3rd of a second or so. This may be faster than I can perceive and respond to a sudden change of circumstances (most especially in low light) where I am responsible for the backstop of each single round...continued
Avoiding Conflict with SA and Non-selection
I suspect my experience is not unique within this group. It goes like this;
- I start with learning how to shoot a pistol
- I continue with learning to shoot a pistol as quickly and accurately as possible
- Daily concealed-carry enters the picture as a means of self-protection
- I focus on the legal and moral use of deadly force
- I learn that both pre-shoot and post-shoot actions (mine and others) can have lasting impact on my life
- Rolling the dice, I calculate I might be better off spending a few days in the hospital vs. the legal aftermath of an unjustified use of deadly force
- I embrace that fact that a fight avoided is a fight won
- I study what it takes to avoid the fight
- I arrive at the conclusion that 90% of self defense is the art of avoidance and not being selected
In the larger picture of personal security and well being, my split times on-target are mostly irrelevant. That said, my confidence in being able to defend myself with my EDC pistol likely contributes to not being selected in the first place.