If you are attacked, where are you supposed to shoot the perp?

[cedartop]

• .
• If you have to shoot, the primary target is centerline of the body, upper chest area. [Please note: this is not "center of mass." Center of mass of a human body is below the navel on most people].
• .

Tried to rep you, couldn't. I realized after I made my post that I forgot this. Center Mass is a holdover from the MT golden days. Have you ever seen those B27 targets where the x ring is down in the stomach? Yea, that is not what you want.

 

[David D]

• No one when can give you a definitive answer on when it's time to shoot or not. There are too many variables. I wish I could answer that question, but then I would be a psychic and I'd have already won many lotteries.
• If you have to shoot, the primary target is centerline of the body, upper chest area. [Please note: this is not "center of mass." Center of mass of a human body is below the navel on most people].
• If that's not available, choose the geometric center of the biggest piece that you can see/access.
• In some circumstances, the head (preferably brainstem) is a logical choice, but it's tough to hit for a variety of reasons.
• Don't forget that people are three dimensional. If a threat is not facing you squarely, you may need to adjust your point of aim to hit the same potentially vital targets.
• Keep shooting until the threat is no longer a threat.
• Don't stand in one place too long. Keep moving as much as you can and still get good hits.

Perhaps I'm not technically correct when I say "center of mass". I've always believed that when most people use this term, they are referring to the torso as the "mass". Based on this definition, the solar plexus would roughly be the center, and would be a very appropriate place to aim / point.

Obviously to be even more correct in answering this question, one should say that in a "no time to think - instant action needed" situation, the best answer would be to aim for the center of the largest portion of the perps mass that is available.

 

[chezuki]

the solar plexus would roughly be the center, and would be a very appropriate place to aim / point.

The rhinoceros is wise... center-line, upper chest.

 

[ajeandy]

its center of mass on the upper half of the body

 

[Somemedic]

Have you seen the movie "Lone Survivor" yet? The SeAL movie with Mark Wahlburg?

During the shoot out portion of the film it shows the characters being shot MULTIPLE times by .30 cal rounds (faster, heavier rounds than your handgun) and they kept going, kept moving and fighting. I pointed this out to my GF and said those AK rounds are wayyy hotter than your 9mm and those guys are still up and fighting. My point was that hollywood would have you believe being shot once will stop a fight. THIS IS NOT SO. It will take several well placed shots to stop a would be felon. If you do happen to sever the brainstem on the first try youve just made a one in a million shot but it is rare and unlikely. Be prepared to follow up your first round with another until the threat becomes incapacitated. Lying on the ground with a gun in his hand... he's still a threat. Proceed accordingly.

 

[other dave]

Straight up the middle between the nuts and the nipples. Keep shooting until it doesn't go bang. If the perp is still moving / resisting reload and repeat!

 

[Csquared]

Thank you all for the solid information. I need to get signed up for some training ASAP!

 

[rbMPSH12]

Thank you all for the solid information. I need to get signed up for some training ASAP!

Also look into Force on Force training. These classes teach you about the mindset required for carrying a gun, safer gun handling, and then put you in scenarios in which you have a gun that shoots marking rounds and you have to make decisions under stress with bad guys that shoot back. Shooting paper at a range doesn't train you to react under combat stress, but Force on Force training is the closest you can get without actually firing real ammo. Check out Mindset Laboratory in Indy (Mindset Lab | Real Training + Real Testing). You can find reviews of the classes on INGO. Shay is a great teacher and his classes are very helpful. Look into taking the Introduction to Force on Force class and follow it up with the all-day scenario class Dynamic Force on Force scenarios. The price is cheaper ($225) than the majority of handgun classes and you don't have to bring any ammo. The money is totally worth it.

 

[TWalker]

Training!!! Who needs training? If you just shoot operator grade high mag capacity handguns and wear the right gear it should all just work together. I say just grow a beard and then shoot that perp right in the dick...

until slide lock...

then make fun of him...

then put him out of his misery...

 

[Ruffnek]

Humans are just like cars,in order to stop them you take out the engine,or the computer.

 

[rhino]

Perhaps I'm not technically correct when I say "center of mass". I've always believed that when most people use this term, they are referring to the torso as the "mass". Based on this definition, the solar plexus would roughly be the center, and would be a very appropriate place to aim / point.

Obviously to be even more correct in answering this question, one should say that in a "no time to think - instant action needed" situation, the best answer would be to aim for the center of the largest portion of the perps mass that is available.

If that's all you have fine, but the solar plexus is a little too low to be your primary intended target. You want to go higher to cause more bleeding more quickly.

The reason why you train and practice is that when you don't have a lot of time, you are conditioned to aim for specific targets if they are available.

The rhinoceros is wise... center-line, upper chest.

Thanks! Perfect illustration!

 

[rbhargan]

It is my understanding that you need to shoot them at the time of the attack and at that location. Tracking them down and shooting them later, at a different location - is frowned upon and may result in legal complications.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Perhaps I'm not technically correct when I say "center of mass". I've always believed that when most people use this term, they are referring to the torso as the "mass". Based on this definition, the solar plexus would roughly be the center, and would be a very appropriate place to aim / point.

Obviously to be even more correct in answering this question, one should say that in a "no time to think - instant action needed" situation, the best answer would be to aim for the center of the largest portion of the perps mass that is available.

I have always taken 'center of mass' to be absolutely, completely synonymous with 'center of chest'. I believe that is also true of most.

 

[cedartop]

I have always taken 'center of mass' to be absolutely, completely synonymous with 'center of chest'. I believe that is also true of most.

You may be right, but most people I have seen start out shooting way too low and I have to encourage them to raise their point of aim.

 

[45fan]

Somewhere between the 8 and 9 on a standard B-27 target should put you right about the heart on an attacker. Second easiest shot would be the "T" Zone, anywhere in the line that connects the eyes, and connecting line that extends down the bridge of the nose to the upper lip. Either of these areas should put an attacker down fast, assuming your bullets penetrate deep enough to hit something important.

The next fastest way to stop an attacker after that is the pelvic region. Break a pelvis, and it will almost certainly slow them down, if not stop them in their tracks.

Personally, I train with my wife to shoot center of upper chest. I have spent many many hours, and quite a few rounds practicing the Mozambique drills, El Presidente, and many others. Even as practiced as I am, and confident in my abilities, I will still most likely go to the default COM shot, as it is the largest target, and most likely place I will put lead to stop an attack.

If ever put in a situation that shooting is the only answer, have a plan to know where you are shooting. Have a backup in case the first plan doesnt work, or is unavailable. When you have both of those in place, work on a third plan, just in case you have expended the first two, and the attacker is still a threat.


Train, practice, and train some more, then pray, hope, wish(whatever your beliefs might persuade you to do) that you never have to find out if you have trained and practiced enough.

 

[PRasko]

Was always trained to shoot the triangle. Nipple to nipple to navel.

 

[cedartop]

Somewhere between the 8 and 9 on a standard B-27 target should put you right about the heart on an attacker. Second easiest shot would be the "T" Zone, anywhere in the line that connects the eyes, and connecting line that extends down the bridge of the nose to the upper lip. Either of these areas should put an attacker down fast, assuming your bullets penetrate deep enough to hit something important.

The next fastest way to stop an attacker after that is the pelvic region. Break a pelvis, and it will almost certainly slow them down, if not stop them in their tracks.

Personally, I train with my wife to shoot center of upper chest. I have spent many many hours, and quite a few rounds practicing the Mozambique drills, El Presidente, and many others. Even as practiced as I am, and confident in my abilities, I will still most likely go to the default COM shot, as it is the largest target, and most likely place I will put lead to stop an attack.

If ever put in a situation that shooting is the only answer, have a plan to know where you are shooting. Have a backup in case the first plan doesnt work, or is unavailable. When you have both of those in place, work on a third plan, just in case you have expended the first two, and the attacker is still a threat.


Train, practice, and train some more, then pray, hope, wish(whatever your beliefs might persuade you to do) that you never have to find out if you have trained and practiced enough.

I was really liking that until you got to the pelvic shot part. What was after that was pretty good too. If you are talking about pistols, good luck in breaking the pelvic girdle. Even if you do, it is not a reliable stop. Rifle, different story.

 

[46201]

Shoot for the leg? Are you serious??

 

[Slawburger]

Caesar was stabbed in the rotunda, I hear that's a pretty painful place.






Edit:
If you don't remember Wayne & Schuster see the link.
http://www.informalmusic.com/latinsoc/rinse.html

 

[Birds Away]

I agree to have a plan and train for it. That adrenaline dump may wipe out your ability to think clearly. At that point you want training and muscle memory to take over not just fear.