PERSONAL CONFRONTATIONS

WITH LONG GUNS

By:  Skip Gochenour

I.                   Interpersonal Confrontations With Long Guns

A.         Value of long guns in confrontations.

1.             Intimidation factor reduces the likelihood of blows being struck.

2.             In the event the confrontation does come to blows:

a.         The exceptional power of the center-fire rifle caliber and/or the shotgun cartridge will more readily end the fight quickly.

b.         The long gun is much easier to make hits with in dynamic events.

c.         (a. and b.) Apply at distances from contact to the maximum effective range of the employed system.

d.         It is important to remember that the increased power of the long gun requires strict adherence to Rule 4.

3.             While, for those who do not operate with a sworn duty obligation, the likelihood a Practitioner will begin a hostile confrontation with a long gun in hand is small, there are times when they will be available.

a.         When the encounter begins at the domicile of the Practitioner.

b.         When, during an encounter initiated by a VCA, a long gun becomes available through happenstance or abandonment by others on the scene.

c.         For this reason the Practitioner must be familiar with the operation and manual of arms with a wide variety of long guns.

B.         Primary Competency Skills

1.             The Gunsite 4 Rules must be observed with long guns as well as with handguns.

2.             Because of the power of long guns, Rule 4 must be given particular attention.

3.             With center-fire rifle cartridges, the possibility of projectiles skipping off flat surfaces and continuing to terminus is a particular consideration.  This can happen after an intermediate target has been hit and the projectile passes through.

4.             Practitioners must be able to operate with deployed long guns in venues populated by innocents as well as VCA.  Therefore it is important to be able to execute:

a.         Contact ready.

b.         Engage ready.

c.         360 ready.

C.         Hand skills

1.             The Practitioner must be able to perform the various hand skills associated with any weapons system.

2.             Those skills include:

a.         Loading, unloading and chamber checks.

1)     administrative

2)     critical event operations

a)       includes one handed operations

b.         Stoppage reductions

1)     critical event operations including one handed operations

2)     Transition to alternate weapon system.

c.         Carry methods

1)     Weapons absent a mil-spec, drop proof safety must be carried with the chamber empty, hammer/striker at rest.

2)     The Practitioner must be able to activate the firing system while performing a presentation.

3)     Low profile hand carry

a)       off-side, muzzle down

b)       hand wrapped around the trigger guard on a weapon absent a detachable magazine or around the magazine well of a weapon with a detachable magazine

c)       strong side bladed towards the threat

d)       Presentation is stepping forward with the off-side foot, coming to the firing position as the long gun is brought forward, up and into the shoulder.

e)       Contact ready or engage ready is assumed as the circumstances dictate.

4)     off-side strap carry

a)       strap over the off-side shoulder, muzzle down

b)       strong side bladed towards the threat

c)       off-side hand grasping the strap at about belt level

d)       on the presentation the off-side hand move to the forearm of the weapon and brings the weapon parallel to the deck as the weapon is thrust forward and upward to the firing position on the strong shoulder

e)       at the same time the off-side foot moves forward to the firing position

f)         if the weapon is absent a drop proof safety, the action is operated to make the weapon ready for firing

g)       Contact ready or engage ready is assumed as the circumstances dictate.

5)     strong side strap carry

a)       weapon is slung by the strap over the strong side shoulder

b)       muzzle up

c)       body is bladed toward the threat, off side forward

d)       strong hand grasps the strap at about the pectoral level

e)       presentation is made by extending the strong side arm

f)         off side hand grasps the forearm of the weapon and rotates it into a firing position against the strong side shoulder

g)       weapons without drop proof safeties are made ready by operating the action

h)       Contact ready or engage ready are assumed as the circumstances dictate.

3.             Hand skill operations with various weapons systems.

a.         Shotguns

1)     pumps

2)     semi-autos

b.         carbines, semi-auto

c.         loading, unloading and chamber checks

1)     critical event

2)     one handed operation

a)       one handed operation involves placing the but of the weapon to the strong side of the chest centerline and brining the elbow of the arm that is used to fire the weapon tight against the side of the body

b)       a chin weld is used for aiming the weapon

c)       Acceptable accuracy can be obtained to moderate distances.

4.             Retention

a.         Should a VCA get his hands on the long gun carried by the Practitioner, there is a good likelihood the VCA will be able to acquire the weapon.

b.         In multiple VCA incidents it is likely one or more VCA will approach from the rear.  If the long gun is slung on the shoulder at the time of a rear approach it is probably best to abandon the struggle for the long gun and deploy an alternate weapons system.

1)     Weapons with drop proof safeties that are engaged or weapons lacking drop proof safeties that have not been made ready will likely befuddle the VCA who acquires it in a struggle.  In any event, the VCA will be slowed in getting the weapon into firing ready, expanding the response time of the Practitioner.

c.         Retracted retention position

1)     When operating in confined venues where immediate danger distance contacts with VCA is anticipated it is best to operate from a retracted or collapsed retention position.

2)     Position is assumed by strongly blading the body, off side forward

3)     The but of the weapon is dropped below the arm pit.

4)     The firing hand, grasping the weapon, is placed against the chest just below the pectoral.

5)     The other hand is wrapped around the forward portion of the weapons forearm, palm on the side and thumb over top of the barrel.

6)     The muzzle is depressed towards the deck.

7)     Should a VCA get his hands on the weapon it is possible to bring the weapon to bear by using the forward hand as a pivot point as the firing hand arm pushes the rear of the weapon downward.

D.         Low light operations

1.             Traditional aiming with long guns involves sighted fire using the sighting system and a cheek weld on the stock.

2.             Iron sights are difficult to see in reduced light, especially without the aid of Practitioner operated auxiliary lights.

3.             Weapons mounted auxiliary light systems encourage violation of Rule 2, absent constant practice of contact ready, particularly in very dynamic, uncertain and confusing scenarios.

4.             Weapons mounted auxiliary lights are less likely to be found on weapons that are derivative of opportunity occurring during the process of a critical incident.

5.             In low light circumstances the ability of the Practitioner to identify individuals, their intent and capabilities is regularly measured in a few yards.

6.             The combination of these factors suggests an alternate aiming system using a chin weld and the prolongation of the weapon as the sight.

7.             The firing position is assumed by squaring the body the threat.

8.             The but of the weapon is mounted high on the pectoral, offset from the body mid-line on the firing hand side of the body.

9.             The chin is set squarely on top of the stock.

10.         A target focus is acquired with the forward portion of the barrel serving as the sight and operating in the peripheral vision.

E.         Transition between weapons systems.

1.             There are occasions when the Practitioner must transition from the long gun to an alternate weapon system.

2.             Usually, transition is required because the long gun is no longer operational and time does not permit remediation of the problem.

3.             If the weapon is damaged beyond anything but prolonged repair efforts by a competent gunsmith, it is probably best to abandon it.

4.             If the weapon has experienced a stoppage that can be remediated by a competent operator, it is best to avoid, if possible, abandoning it.

5.             Just as Practitioners can make use of weapons found in a critical incident venue, so too can VCA.

6.             Upon discovering the long gun is no longer operational and the critical incident is still operational, the Practitioner uses the off side hand to dismount the long gun from the shoulder and rolls the weapon inward towards his body, clutching it firmly against the off side chest wall.

7.             At the same time the Practitioner uses the firing hand to execute a presentation of the alternate weapon.

8.             The practitioner assumes the form of ready position indicated by the operating circumstance.

II.                 Summary

A.         Training with long guns.

1.             It is just as important to be competent with long guns as it is with handguns.

2.             The same skill sets are involved.

3.             Practitioners operating with long guns and confronted by VCA are most likely to find the engagement distances approximately the same as similar incidents where handguns are employed.

4.             While the need to engage VCA at distances measured in the hundreds of yards is very unlikely in domestic incidents, the Practitioner should still have the skills resident to execute accurate shots at such ranges.

5.             With the exception of home defense incidents, long guns employed by Practitioners who do not have a sworn duty obligation, may well be opportunistically acquired during the course of a critical incident.  For that reason the Practitioner must have sufficient knowledge of a variety of long gun operating systems to permit exploitation of any system available through opportunity.

6.             Those with a sworn duty obligation could find themselves in a critical incident where opportunity presents a long gun.  Sworn duty obligation Practitioners should familiarize themselves with the several operating systems of long guns.

7.             Just because critical incidents with VCA are “come as you are parties” does not mean there will be no opportunity to upgrade your attire.

HANDGUN V. CARBINE

PROFILE REDUCTION

Pit:  Rifle Range

Props:  (6) IDPA Targets and electronic timer

Purpose:  To study the effect of “reducing profile” as a time interval enhancement when responding to a threat of a rifle against a handgun.

Process:  Three banks of two IDPA targets are placed at each of three respective distances from the line of fire.  The distances to the targets are 25, 50 and 75 yards.  At each distance, one target will be reduced in available impact zone to shoulders and head, the other target will present a full profile.

Two practitioners will assume the firing line.  One will be armed with a handgun.  The other will be armed with a slung carbine.  On the electronic, audible start signal, each practitioner will deploy his assigned weapons system and fire on his assigned target.  The carbine armed practitioner will fire on the reduced target; the handgun armed target will fire on the full profile target.  Time and hits will be recorded for each practitioner.

The two practitioners’ will switch weapons systems and repeat the exercise.

HANDGUN V. CARBINE

MOVEMENT

Pit:  2

Props:  (8) IDPA targets and electronic timer, green and blue paint.

Purpose:  To study the effect of “stepping off the line of force” as a time interval enhancement when responding to a threat of a rifle against a handgun. 

Process:  Two banks of (4) IDPA targets are placed at respective distances of 25 and 40 yards.  In each bank the targets are arranged with three of the targets one “step” apart and the 4^th target is two “steps” to the side of the nearest of the three targets.  In the set of three targets, the center target is plain in color, of the two targets on either side of the center target of the three, one target is painted green, the other is painted blue.

Two practitioners assume the firing line.  One is armed with a holstered handgun; the other is armed with a slung carbine.  On the audible signal from the electronic timer, the handgun armed practitioner deploys his weapon and places multiple hits on the (4^th) target.  The carbine armed practitioner deploys his carbine and brings it to bear on the center target of the three.  When the RO sees the carbine armed practitioner has oriented on the center target, he calls out the color of the target to either target to the side of the center target.  The carbine armed practitioner re-orients on the target identified and fires one shot on that target.  Time and hits are recorded for each run.

TRANSITION TIME INTERVAL

Pit:  3

Props:  (3) IDPA targets, electronic timer.

Purpose:  To study the time interval involved in transitioning from a disabled carbine to a handgun.

Process:  Three IDPA targets are placed randomly at a distance of about 25 yards from the firing line. 

The practitioner is armed with a carbine and a handgun.  The carbine is loaded with one round which is chambered.  The carbine is deployed and at contact ready.  On the audible start signal the practitioner engages one of the IDPA targets with the carbine.  Upon the failure to fire a second round, the practitioner transitions to his handgun and engages each of the other two targets with multiple rounds.

Time and hits are recoded. 

The practitioner repeats the drill three times.

HOUSE EXERCISE

Pit:  L range

Props:  Several IDPA target with threat identifiers and non-threat identifiers.

Purpose:  To allow the Practitioner to practice using a carbine in a dynamic exercise involving close ranges and portals.

Process:  Targets with threat level identifiers are placed at various locations throughout the shoot house that will create opportunities for the practitioner to practice engagement with a carbine in confined areas.

Force on Force

Pit:  Indoor range

Props:  Simulated weapons and ammo.  Protective equipment.

Purpose:  To use a dynamic exercise with role players to allow the practitioner to identify the presence of hostiles with various weapons, including a long gun.  The practitioner will use such techniques as he finds useful to solve the problem.