Shooting on the Move

[Shoot_First]

[youtube][/youtube]

This video captures my incompetence during multiple attempts to shoot on the move. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions as to how I could improve. Keep in mind that I'm an age 72 fat guy so what may be easy for you youngsters is not so for me.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm certainly no expert, but I might be inclined to walk less upright, knees bent a little, body inclined a little forward at the waist.

[mr surveyor]

From watching the little magic yellow dots appear, looks to me like you're doing might fine.

[RJGold]

The only thing I would add to what's already been posted is try to move backward without setting yourself up to trip and fall. I think bending at the knees and taking what I can only describe as "probing strides" backward (i.e. moving your foot and leg backward before you shift weight to them so if there is a curb, hole, drop off, you find it before you stumble). Maybe thats what george was saying below about dragging your feet. It's pretty awkward so it takes practice...

I agree with mr surveyor that the end results appear to be very effective.

Thanks for sharing a very cool video with us...

[Beiruty]

slow down, take baby steps and try not walk backward, better sideways. Come join us competing at DallasPistolClub.com

[MoJo]

The main thing I see is you need a little coaching.

1. You are drawing before you start moving. In a gunfight you are dead.

2. You are shooting a little too quickly train to fire a shot when your left or right foot hits the ground.

3. Practice shooting going both to the right and to the left.

4. You have a good grasp on how important lateral movement is.

Are you shooting at Golden Triangle Gun Club? If so contact me and I'll give you some pointers.

[mewalke]

slow down, take baby steps and try not walk backward, better sideways. Come join us competing at DallasPistolClub.com

Start slow to get the movements down, then work your way up to "real life" speed. Different trainers will tell you different things as far as how to move - the big thing is to find what seems comfortable and accurate and then stay consistent as you increase your speed.

[drjoker]

Yeah, do join the Dallas Pistol Club weekend shooting soirees. Main thing I can see is DO NOT WALK backwards. You cannot see where you're going so you may fall or run into something or someone. (fleeing bystanders). Walk sideways and see where you're going with your peripheral vision. If you need to go backwards, turn so that you're actually going sideways. In other words, you're shooting towards the left while walking towards your right. "backwards" is really your right because you're walking sideways in the direction that was oriiginally backwards before you turned. Take small steps so that if there is something on the ground, you'll hit it and know to stop instead of tripping over it. You could run into civilians on the ground diving for cover.

Summary; take small steps (shuffle and slide, don't run or even walk) and walk sideways.

[jmra]

If you need to go backwards, turn so that you're actually going sideways.

the above also makes you a smaller target. I don't use the two straight arm shooting stance As I don't want to square myself to the shooter. I'm right handed so I bend my right elbow and turn my body to the right placing my left foot forward of my right foot at about 45 degrees (to the left). This brings the sights closer in and presents a smaller target to the would be shooter who unlike the target would be turning in the direction you are moving. I would then arc to my right. This keeps the BG turning as I am moving. It also gives me a better field of view in the direction I would be moving. This stance may affect your accuracy somewhat but greatly affects the size of the target the BG has to aim at. Doing everything you can to make sure he misses is just as important as hitting him.
I would also run this exercise with a concealed firearm. I doubt you will ever draw from an open carry position in a self defense situation in the state of Texas.
BTW, you are doing great.

[Shoot_First]

Thanks to all for your recommendations.

TAM… good points, smaller target and better stability. mr surveyor… thanks, but the target was not moving and if it was my hit probability would be lower, perhaps much lower. Beiruty, dr joker, mewalke, and jmra… shuffle sidewards with smaller steps instead of backwards steps or sideways while moving backwards, slow down, and shoot with one hand as to not be squared off (= bigger target) and use IWB per concealed carry. Mojo… move first then draw (= get off the X), slow down shots to one per step, practice moving both left and right, and a coaching offer.

I will try to put these suggestions into my practice routine. Mojo, if your offer to coach could be at the Orange Gun Club off 1442 (might even be closer to Vidor) then PM me to arrange a day and time. Soon I will have an Alien Gear Holster per Mojo’s comments on another post and want to try it vice the Crossbreed IWB I am currently using.

[cbunt1]

I'm not sure I can add much USEFUL to what has already been said here, but I'll try -- at least these are the techniques *I* use for shooting on the move...

1) Knees bent, slightly flexed (as has been mentioned) for cushioned movement, and I try to mix a "shuffling-drag" with a "rolling foot" movement (depending on the direction I'm going, the terrain, etc.) In short, I want to "feel" a curb, pothole, rock, whatever, before I try to put weight on it.

2) I see the point you're making about draw, then move, however, (for me) if I am doing that, it's likely to be at contact distance, and I'd be making a retention shot, then getting the heck out of dodge -- That is to say that if I "Stand and draw" I'm going to fire the first shot standing, then begin moving backwards. Again, it's all about the hits on target, and stopping the threat. One way to stop a threat is to be far enough away from it that it's no longer an imminent threat, and another way is to take the fight out of it. This technique combines both.

3) Spend some time with a water bottle. Fill it about 1/2 full, and hold it at arms length in a shooting grip. Now start moving. See how much the water is bouncing around? Your sight/muzzle are doing the same thing when you're shooting on the move. By moving around with the water bottle, you can learn to control this effect somewhat, and find out what works for you without firing hundreds of rounds. The water bottle is neat, clean, and makes no mess -- the first time someone mentioned this technique to me, it was described as a "hot cup of coffee over your wife's white rug." Of course, the technique works either way, because you get direct visual feedback, and practice is key to shooting on the move.

4) I second the suggestions above to shoot with some of the action pistol groups (IDPA/USPSA, etc.) because they do a good bit of shooting on the move. Granted not as much as we used to in IDPA (new rules and such), but it's a great exposure to the techniques, and you get to watch several other people doing it too, and get tips, hints, and an opportunity to see what works and what doesn't.

And most importantly, don't beat yourself up over it. Shooting on the move is probably the single most difficult handgun skill to master. It combines all the fine motor skills of shooting a handgun well, with all the fine motor skills of walking well -- most of which we take for granted individually, but stack up to make it difficult! It looks like you're doing pretty well, and that you want to improve is the single most important factor to success.

[texanjoker]

Didn't seem that bad to me. I know I was taught you can only move as fast as you can get accurate rounds onto the target. That means slow down if you are not hitting the target. Speed will come as the accuracy increases.

[Redhat]

This video captures my incompetence during multiple attempts to shoot on the move. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions as to how I could improve. Keep in mind that I'm an age 72 fat guy so what may be easy for you youngsters is not so for me.

A little late I know, but I would ask what you hope to achieve by shooting on the move? In what scenario do you think you would employ this tactic?

[Shoot_First]

This video captures my incompetence during multiple attempts to shoot on the move. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions as to how I could improve. Keep in mind that I'm an age 72 fat guy so what may be easy for you youngsters is not so for me.

A little late I know, but I would ask what you hope to achieve by shooting on the move? In what scenario do you think you would employ this tactic?

Almost any close range scenario where the BG is armed and I don't have cover or need to move away from my family so they won't become a target. If you remain motionless as in shooting at a paper target on a square range you are likely to get shot and unlike a LEO, I don't wear a protective vest. It is not smart to stand still and trade shots with a BG, you need to get off the X to gain a tactical advantage or to get behind cover. Actual close range gun fights are not like TV where GG and BG stand still and trade shots and the BG drops after the first hit. Do a search for Gabe Suarez or shooting on the move and you will find plenty on the subject.