MCS Combative Pistol AAR

[mercop]

The Combative Pistol class this past weekend at Eagle Creek Range in Indy was great. We had 12 students and all but 2 were MCS Alumni. The alumni had all taken Edged Weapon Survival to include Spontaneous Attack Survival for Edged Weapons and Inverted Edge Tactics but were new to Combative Pistol. Here is what we covered-

Day I
Use of Force
Combative Anatomy
Combative Fundamentals
Introduction the MCS Drop Step
Pro & Cons for defending with one and two-handed grip against CQC attacks
Drop Step with drawn gun
Drop Step draw, shoot, move
Drop Step draw, shoot, move while taking control of another person
(All drills done with Blue Guns, Airsoft, and live fire)
Force on Force

Day II
One Gun Drill
Vertical Bracing (fighting off vertical surface)
Fighting off your back
Fighting off your stomach
Gun Grappling (fouling the attacker draw)
Panic Push & shoot
Fight off back live fire
MCS 21 Foot Drill
Force on Force

Thoughts- with the exception of one M&P, students were carrying Glocks or 1911s. Most concealment garments were t-shirts or button down shirts. On the second day some were wearing jackets as well. One student was left handed, the rest right. Most guns were carried strong just behind the hip using IWB holsters.

While using a traditional two hand grip and attacked with the open hand, knife or club students were slow to release the support hand to defend themselves. They also seemed less likely to move at all.

When moving with a loved one (spouse, child) they need to be on your reaction/weak side and about one 1/2 step behind. If they fail to be in that position the chances of being able to take physical control of them are very slim. Most students found that the best way to access their pistol was using their entire right hand to pull the conceal garment up as far as it would go and bringing the hand back down to the pistol. Using the thumb had a very high failure rate and resulted in one dropped gun and several guns being drawn with the pistol wrapped over the gun. The only safe way to remedy the latter is to grab the slid with your weak hand and then regrip the grip with your strong hand.

During force on force with 100s of rounds fired one head shot was recorded and no engagements occurred outside of 10 yards. One student was very adept and putting the first round into the head during live fire but was unable to do so during FOF. The vast majority of rounds struck the arms/hands and belly button to high chest.

Students found that a gun concealed by an open shirt or jacket can be easily exposed if forced up against a vertical surface or the ground. Drawing the pistol requires the rearward movement of the elbow. The farther the gun is carried behind the hip the more room needed and the higher the elbow must travel. This becomes problematic up against a wall/vehicle or on the ground.

Movement to the rear is a luxury often not afforded by our “back against” the wall mentality. And if you can move backwards you are likely to loose your balance especially when moving to the side since this encourages you to cross your feet. If confronted in a confined space (between cars, in and ally) with a knife, impact weapon your best bet is forward movement in and hard 45-degree angle to your left, your attackers right.

At no time during the call was an audible que used to provoke drawing the pistol or to fire. All drills and Force on Force started with a visual que. No students were ever told to go faster or timed yet they always tried to go as fast as possible.

I am sure more will come to me later but that is it for now.- George