What Really Happens In A Gunfight?

[U.S. Patriot]

That's why training is so key. It creates muscle memory. Not saying that things still, can not go wrong. Also being scared, or nervous can keep you alive. Normally when you are nervous or scared, you become more focused. Time seems to slow down, and you get a rush of adrenaline which is your friend. If you can control it. Panic, and anger tend to make people loose focus. On a different note. When I tested for my Black Belt in Taekwondo, I was so nervous I was sick. I used my nerves ,to keep me focused.

I remember one time when I was in the service. I had to assist the cutter, to make a positive control boarding on a propane tanker. I have never been a fan of tall ladders. So I get in the cutters small boat. They escort my team over to the tanker. The jacobs ladder was about, 20' or so from the water line to the deck. It was dark, windy, and we where getting tossed around like rag dolls. I was nervous as ****. It helped me to stay focused though.

Things never happen, like in the movies. Most defensive shots are 8-10 feet. So time and shot placement, on top of controlling your emotions are key. Train how you are going to fight, and train as much as you can.

[jediagh]

And the debate of 9mm vs 45 will continue...

It is safe to say that the larger the bullet, the more effective it will be. I do not feel that it is a real dramatic difference, but bigger is better. At the same time, it is safe to say that hollow-point ammo is more effective than ball. This seems to be the result not of expansion, but from the bullet's energy being dumped in the body and not exiting.


While not trying to place a percentage on how often they will be effective with one or two shots, I have seen certain rounds be effective over and over again. They are the .38 Special 158-grain lead hollow-point; 9mm +P+ jacketed hollow-point; .40 155- and 165-grain jacketed hollow-point; .45 ACP hollow-points; .223 55 grain FMJ and hollow-point; 12 gauge 00 buckshot; and 12 gauge rifled slugs.

Ouch on that last one! Hum.. not birdshot on this list.

Any pics on what he means by this?

Objects that are large and of contrasting color are easier to see under stress, which makes the current generation of semi-auto sights on the wrong end of the sight plane. I, for one, have highlighted the front sight of all my pistols with bright orange emergency warning tape. It offers a contrast that is large and bold and I feel is the reason that I can recall my sights during high stress events.

[Paxton383]

good read!!!

[gomez.ra8]

Originally Posted by Bruenor

Not sure if this has been posted before, but it's a good read. The article is kind of long, so I'll just post the link and first couple of paragraphs here.

What Really Happens In A Gunfight?

thanks, im going to print this and take a 15 minute vacation to the throne.

[ChalupaCabras]

I would imagine that for most people the part-time cookie-cutter square-range training flies out the window and everyone starts shooting instinctively as fast as possible.

That conclusion jives with reports given by police officers, and explains the high-round count experienced in most shootout events.

[Serial Crusher]

I saw a fairly interesting documentary with the physicist Michio Kaku. He was talking to some people conducting testing on fear and adrenaline. The test was that a subject would have an LED readout strapped to his head while he was dropped a great distance into a net. Under normal conditions the subject could not read the display as it was flashing to quickly. When dropped the subject was able to read and remember at least part of the number, which was four digits.Video: YouTube - Can time slow down?

[Indyal]

In regards to memory, there was a Japanese film in whick 4 people witness the same crime and all 4 have different memories. I have read where memory is plastic and is remolded depending on what happens in your life after a particular event.

[Steve]

Excellent post! Just goes to show that the phrase that pays is "Pratice, Practice, Pratice."

[Bushido Devil Dog]

Originally Posted by Indyal

In regards to memory, there was a Japanese film in whick 4 people witness the same crime and all 4 have different memories.

The film you are referring to is Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon", the central element of which (people's different memories and/or spin-doctoring of the same event) was ripped off and used in Denzel Washington/Meg Ryan's "Courage Under Fire".

[MoTown]

Thanks for this.