Target Shooting

[vthompson_25704@yahoo.com]

Whenever you are target shooting your pistols, do you just try to punch out bullseyes or do you go for center of mass? I go for center of mass shots, because I figure thats all you are going to have time for in a real life situation. How do you shoot?

[gorknoids]

I usually start out with the small, 25-yard pistol target in close, mid-distance, and then at the back of the range (45-50 feet depending on the range), followed by the same thing using the large transitional head/torso silhouette. I rarely put more than 15 rounds into a target, because after that you can't tell which is the new hole so there's no way to evaluate what you're doing right/wrong.
There was a guy a couple of lanes over on Sunday who had made a square donut out of 1 target, which made no sense to me.

[oldie]

I usually use a silhouette at about 15 yards and always go for the center of mass. I also go for head shots. I like to shoot groups of five rounds. No particular reason for doing so.

[shipdriver65]

I wouldn't waste time on more than two shots to the lungs/heart area, then begin moving and scanning for his friend who may shoot you while you are otherwise standing there enjoying how tight your 5-shot group was . Then if the first two haven't stopped the bad guy, a well-aimed third shot in the eye-nose triangle will but if you are shooting a heavy load .45ACP FMJ or HP that shouldn'tbe necessary. Lighter loads or smaller calibers could be problematic.
Above all, practice like you expect to shoot for real because under pressure you will shoot no better than you practice. Never just shoot and stand still. Begin moving for cover (not just concealment) as soon as you start to draw. Practice shooting on the move, if allowed on your range, and expect to be hit and still keep shooting. Combat mindset should make sure that you are no earlier than second in line at the pearly gates if you have to end up there.

Ive been wanting to find some old mannequins and set them up at differnent distances/placements.
I have been wanting to concentrate on head and thigh shots and thought this would be a great way to do it. if I cant find any really cheap I guess the paper sil. will have to do. mannequins would be fun though.

[wuzfuz]

I was taught to shoot center of mass to stop someone from doing whatever it was that made me shoot at him. If it killed him, that is not my problem, legally, ethically or morally. He dears the onus of losing his life on the basis of posing a threat to the safety of others. When I was on the job, it became apparent that many BGs were wearing armor. the shooting changed to a double tap in the center of mass, lower your sights an inch or two to fully view the BG, and if he is not going down, raise the aim to the cranio-ocular cavity (twixt moustache and eyebrows and fire one shot. This led many to chant, "Two in the chest and one in the head, That way you know he's dead." Not politically correct, and technically it should be he's stopped, but that doesn't rhyme, does it? Not being rich, I get black stickers, and cover the bullet holes on the black on white sillohuettes I shoot at. Five shot strings can be easily patched for the next string. I am trying to find someplace convenient to Lacey, WA that I can go and target practice. Ineed to put a lot of ammo through my SA XD-45, and wish to play with my Ruger 10/22. If there are any other Washingtonians who might know of a place, PM me and give me an idea, please.

The armour situatioin was what got me to thinking about head and thigh. the thigh area, even with typical protection ,is still vaunerable and is a local where a lot of damage, muscle, nerve and artery can be done.