The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - I think I've had it wrong all these years

**Frank Ettin** · October 18, 2008, 08:54 PM

There's a difference between target accuracy and self defense accuracy, and there's a difference between acceptable self defense accuracy and poking a whole lot of holes all over a big silhouette target.

In classes I took recently with both Louis Awerbuck and Massad Ayoob, they each stressed the need to be appropriately accurate. For one thing, the things you need to put the holes in to maximize the likelihood that you will stop the fight are grouped in a relatively small area. For another thing, your performance will deteriorate significantly under stress, so to stand a good chance of getting the hits you need when you need them, you need to do better at the range.

So you don't need everything in one ragged hole, but you also don't want holes all over the paper. You want pretty much all your shots in the A zone, and you want them there quickly. The good news is that you can learn to do it. That's what training and practice are all about.

BTW, it's a good idea to end each practice with some precision shooting. That's how you program and confirm good trigger control.

October 18, 2008, 08:54 PM	#24
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	There's a difference between target accuracy and self defense accuracy, and there's a difference between acceptable self defense accuracy and poking a whole lot of holes all over a big silhouette target. In classes I took recently with both Louis Awerbuck and Massad Ayoob, they each stressed the need to be appropriately accurate. For one thing, the things you need to put the holes in to maximize the likelihood that you will stop the fight are grouped in a relatively small area. For another thing, your performance will deteriorate significantly under stress, so to stand a good chance of getting the hits you need when you need them, you need to do better at the range. So you don't need everything in one ragged hole, but you also don't want holes all over the paper. You want pretty much all your shots in the A zone, and you want them there quickly. The good news is that you can learn to do it. That's what training and practice are all about. BTW, it's a good idea to end each practice with some precision shooting. That's how you program and confirm good trigger control.