In my classes I have a drill each student shoots to see if the gun/caliber they carry is compatible with their level of skill. I call it the “Two Second Drill” and it is merely four rounds fired at twenty feet into a 6 x 9-inch rectangle.
This represents the high chest region where many vital organs are located, twenty feet is the length of a typical confrontational distance and four rounds fired in two seconds is a reasonable time limit based on the history of armed conflict.
Broken down, the drill is the first-round hits in one second from a ready/muzzle diversion position with the final three spread over an additional second or in splits of .33 seconds. To me, this shows the student can control the recoil of their chosen pistol and caliber.
It is amazing how many people cannot accomplish this simple drill because they are shooting “too much gun” for their individual skill level.
After all these years, I have come to understand that the secret to handgun stopping power is where you shoot your adversary and how many times you can shoot them. This requires training, practice; skill and a level of ruthlessness that permits you to stand up and exchange potentially life ending rounds with another human being. Some old west gunfighters called it “deliberation” a word I am trying to bring back when combative pistol craft is discussed.
No amount of new gear or “wonder” gun will change this. In the end, what will a person be doing after you shoot them? Probably the same thing they were doing before you shot them, a harsh reality indeed.
Mark my words: If you carry a handgun for self-defense and you are not integrating Force-on-Force CQ combatives, point shooting and weapon retention into your training, you are cutting yourself short.
All of us like to think we would never let somebody “invade our space” or be close enough to need these skills, but the REAL WORLD and Mr. Murphy always have a way of disappointing us in that regard don’t they?
I always tell people that if they want to know if a technique is Keyboard Warrior BULLSHIT or not, test it with a Force-on-Force drill!
We all have a plan until we get punched in the mouth!
The Modern Technique of Pistol Craft that Colonel Cooper invented and taught revolutionized Handgun Training forever.
The MT can be divided up into four major parts:
1. The Big-Bore Autoloading Pistol
Cooper favored this pistol for its proven fight-stopping characteristics, its ease of handling, and the ability to reload it very quickly. While he personally preferred the Colt 1911 in .45 ACP, he also gave the nod to the CZ-75, the Browning Hi-Power and a few other guns. He was not a big fan of the 9 mm, however, and called double-action semi-auto pistols the answer to an unasked question.
2. The Weaver Stance
Cooper borrowed this technique from Deputy Sheriff Jack Weaver, who was consistently beating them all in the combat matches. It is a balanced combat stance that uses a two-hand, isometric hold on the handgun. The shooting hand pushes forward and the support hand pulls back. It is the key to fast, multiple shots using full-power ammunition.
Early on, Col. Jeff Cooper realized that when shooters focused on their front sights, their number of center hits went up dramatically. He also realized that, at close range, you really don’t have to carefully line up both the front and rear sight, nor do you have the time to do it in a gunfight. Just get the front sight on the target as quickly as possible, see the front sight clearly, and launch your shot. The effectiveness of this technique is amazing.
4. The Surprise Break
Cooper taught his students to press the trigger instead of giving it a healthy jerk that would throw the sights off target. In practice, one begins this technique very slowly, pressing gently until the shot is launched. Done properly, the shot should come as almost a surprise. With further practice, one learns to compress all the right moves and deliver his shot quickly and accurately. The combination of No. 3 and No. 4 is why you hear instructors admonish their students with “Front sight, Press. Front sight, Press.”
News Piece from 1979 on Cooper and Gunsite Academy.
Jeff Cooper’s Handgun Fundamentals Instructional Video (1985)
Recent events in FUSA like the Greenwood Mall shooting in Indiana earlier this year have made it evident that if you carry a handgun for self-defense you need to be ready and able to make a long distance shot if called upon.
Here is a general overview of four small carry guns and how they hold up to distances out to 75 yards.
As Colonel Jeff Cooper was fond of saying:
“Any Weapon will do in a pinch if YOU WILL DO in a pinch!”
The Tactical Hermit 
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