TexasCHLforum.com

I have posted elsewhere that a gun grab may not be the right option since the odds might not be in your favor. I also stated that if you are going to add this to your bag a tricks, you better practice it with a good partner. And I still stand by those statements, even though I probably didn’t explain my reasons well in the original post, so I’ll try to do a little better this time.

Paladin, Austin, and several others have stated they practice these moves, and that’s a good thing. Their chance of success in a real situation is much better then someone who hasn’t practiced, but has read about it on a board/blog somewhere and tries it for the first time in a real life/death situation. And make no mistake about it, regardless of how the situation was, as soon as you go for the gun it became life and death, especially for you.

If you feel you are about to get shot, or that the situation is only going to go down hill and your chances are not going to get any better, then definitely go for the gun and try to deflect it, but don’t get fixated on taking the BG gun, and don’t get fixated on getting your gun into the fray. In regards to him, taking his gun off you is the initial goal, not necessarily getting possession of his gun (although that’s not a bad outcome!).

In regards to your weapon, not all self defense situations are best served by resorting to your concealed firearm. If you are at bad breath distance, a reasonable assumption if you’re going for a grab, drawing will often be the wrong response. Hand to hand may be the better initial response (which is in keeping with the article above). Too often, in an attempt to get our gun in play, we take move back following the mantra “Distance is our friend�, but that may also allow the BG to regain control of his gun, which doesn’t exactly better your odds.

Better to move in closer and rain as much violence on his body as you can. His eyes, nose, throat, solar plexus, family jewels, knees, insteps, shins, and anything else you can hit, kick, ram, or bite is fair game. And here’s the key, don’t quit until you’ve won. Make him back up, make him think distance is his friend, let him keep trying to bring his gun back into the fight instead of raining damage on your body.

As for the grab, notice I did not say it’s never the right answer, only that it may not be the right answer. Only you can answer that question for yourself.

But be honest…after all, your life may depend on it. Like Gabe said, if he just wanted to kill you, he already would have, you probably have a second or two to evaluate the situation. It’s not generally in the BG’s best interest to kill you. Be sure the grab is the best option available to you.

If he’s carrying the gun to intimidate you, and you’ve practiced the move, and you’re both in equivalent shape, I bet you can beat him 99% of the time, and those are good odds.

But look at your physical shape, and be honest. Are you in good form? When’s the last time you worked out, or tested your speed in hand to hand?

Action always beats reaction is a good sound bite, but I suspect it’s also assuming most variables are held equal (that’s certainly true in Gabe’s test above). But what about if you’re in your mid 50’s and haven’t seen your toes in 10 years and a flight of stairs has you huffing and puffing with your heart rate somewhere in the 140-150 range?

Further lets have the BG in his 20’s, in prime shape, and just 1 week before had finished his physical training and advanced combat course in the local federal penitentiary, and had proven himself to be an excellent student.

How do the odds look now? As I said above, if it’s your only option, go for it. At least you’ll die a warrior, which in my book is a noble way to go, and besides, you may get lucky.

Most incidents will fall somewhere between those two scenarios for most of us, and so will the odds of success.

Unless you feel you have to go for it, or that you’re sure you can win, then wait for a better moment…it will come. He reaches for the wallet you’re handing him, or he looks to the side to see if that car is coming his way, or he glances down to make sure it’s your wallet you’re going after. All you need is an opening, and the odds just got a lot better.

Heck, even forcing the opening by the age old trick of looking behind the BG like there’s someone there works most of the time, looking up works too. Dropping your wallet, faking a heart attack, telling him you like his haircut, anything to get inside his OODA loop will help move the odds in your favor.

So my suggestion is get a partner, and if you can, one in better shape then you are. Somebody it will be very hard for you to beat, and practice your moves. Don’t get fixated on bringing your firearm into the fight. There will be a right time to do so, but it probably won’t be immediately.

And practice, practice, and then practice some more. It will be time well spent. Even if you never use it, which I hope is the case, you will be in better shape and your abilities will improve every time you practice. There’s almost no downside to it…

Hopefully this explains my view a little better.