Art Of Firearms: Beyond Basic Shooting Skills

The art of shooting and the reality of gunfighting are two distinct entities, a fact we’ve reiterated time and again. Mastering the technical aspects of shooting is crucial when exercising concealed carry rights, but it doesn’t automatically qualify you as a gunfighter. Similarly, owning a plane and knowing how to take off doesn’t make you a fighter pilot.

The preparation for a gunfight goes beyond shooting skills. It encompasses situational awareness, a defensive mindset, a consistent draw, balancing speed and accuracy, footwork, transitioning between multiple targets, and stress management. It may also include skills that are seldom practiced in a typical “flat range” setting, such as one-handed shooting, shooting from retention, and clearing malfunctions.

“Shooting and gunfighting are not the same thing — this is a statement we’ve made countless times in this column and elsewhere in our magazine, and it’s always worth reiterating.”

Recently, I attended a Core Pistol class led by Chris Vermeer of Core Dynamics Firearms Training, where all these essential skills were addressed.

The class kicked off with a discussion on defensive mindset principles. We were reminded of Murphy’s law (if it can happen, it’ll happen), the OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, act), and Hick’s law (the more choices you have, the longer it’ll take to make a decision).

“Above: We were reminded that our ability to observe our surroundings before and after an incident can be just as important as our shooting skills.”

These principles emphasized the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios, continuously observing our surroundings, and mentally “pre-gaming” situations to streamline our defensive decisions in the heat of the moment.

We were also reminded that violent criminals don’t think like us. They could be desperate addicts, mentally unstable, or ruthlessly determined, and the presence of a gun might not deter them. In such cases, lethal force may be the only way to stop an attack.

Once on the range, we practiced the classic five-step draw process from concealment, followed by three ready positions: low ready, temple index, and compressed.

Shooting drills started with slow and precise single shots to test our fundamentals, but quickly moved on to multi-shot strings with varying cadences based on target difficulty. We tested ourselves at distances from 5 to 25 yards, and even practiced no-shoot situations to simulate an opponent who surrendered before a shot was fired.

“Malfunctions — which should be rare but are never impossible — were an important component of the class due to the aforementioned Murphy’s law.”

The classic tap-rack technique, which Vermeer says most shooters don’t practice frequently enough, was emphasized. To make it a reflexive action, he recommended integrating it into our daily dry-fire practice routine.

“Above: Students drew from concealment, transitioned between multiple targets, and carefully balanced speed and accuracy.”

As the drills progressed, students began sidestepping while drawing, issuing verbal commands to the hypothetical assailant, and scanning a full 360-degree radius after firing. We kept our weapons pointed downrange, but turned to look over each shoulder past the usual 180-degree “scan and assess” range.

To ensure this wasn’t just range theatrics, Vermeer quizzed us about what we observed once we had scanned our surroundings. In the final exercise, students paired up for a simulated fight, inducing stress and making us aware of the consequences a fumbled draw or missed shots might have in a real gunfight.

Our Thoughts

The distinction between being a shooter and a gunfighter is a critical one. Mastering the technicalities of shooting is indeed a requisite, but it doesn’t automatically elevate one to the status of a gunfighter. This notion is a fundamental truth that can’t be overstated.

Preparing for a gunfight demands a comprehensive approach that goes beyond mere shooting skills. It’s a cocktail of situational awareness, a defensive mindset, speed, accuracy, footwork, stress management, and more. These are skills that aren’t typically honed in a standard “flat range” setting, but are essential for a real-life gunfight scenario.

The Core Pistol class led by Chris Vermeer of Core Dynamics Firearms Training seems to take a holistic approach to gunfight training. The class not only focuses on shooting skills but also underscores the importance of mindset principles like Murphy’s law, the OODA loop, and Hick’s law.

The fact that the class also emphasizes the unpredictability of violent criminals and the potential need for lethal force underscores the gravity of real-life gunfight situations. This is a sobering reminder of the stark difference between shooting as a sport and gunfighting as a survival skill.

The range drills, with their focus on varying cadences, distances, and even no-shoot situations, seem to offer a well-rounded training experience. The integration of the tap-rack technique into daily practice routines is an insightful suggestion, as it emphasizes the importance of reflexes in high-stress scenarios.

The focus on situational awareness, even post-firing, and the simulated fight exercise, adds a layer of practicality and realism to the training. It’s this kind of comprehensive, real-world approach that truly prepares one for the realities of a gunfight.

The Core Pistol class appears to be a valuable resource for anyone looking to elevate their self-defense skills with a concealed handgun.