@John Hearne and I are working on this issue right now. We‘ll each probably be publishing something soon.
@John Hearne and I are working on this issue right now. We‘ll each probably be publishing something soon.
I had an ER nurse in a class. I noticed she kept taking all head shots. Her response when asked why, "'I've seen too many people who have been shot in the chest putting up a fight in the ER." Point taken.
My favorite is the Five Yard Roundup. It tests four different skills in ten rounds. In terms of assessing pistol shootability, it tests how well the pistol comes up and indexes, how it handles repeated rounds, and how well it shoots in either hand. I've changed the backstraps on my M&Ps based on how they shoot one-handed in this drill.
"Everything in life is really simple, provided you don’t know a f—–g thing about it." - Kevin D. Williamson
As long as it is reliable, I don't think the pistol makes all that much difference. Recently, I shot the same match on successive days, using my full on Limited Optics 320 on Saturday, and my Macro on Sunday. I shot 90 something percent on Sunday of my Saturday result, first time shooting a match with the 365.
The reason I edc a Macro now, is I am competing with a 320 based gun, and want something that points the same, without being a 320. A Glock or PDP would also be great choices. I will note that I shoot a Macro and 19 about the same, but both better than a 26 because of the longer grips. To restate it, as long as it reliable and has Givens 3 bad guys capacity, I really don't think the gun matters that much. You can waste an awful lot of time and ammunition doing tests that amplify small variations in performance, which could just be random, or you can train up devoting your time and ammo to getting as good as possible with your carry peace.
Likes pretty much everything in every caliber.
There are some people with really huge hands that have legitimate struggles with a G26 length grip but otherwise yeah.
When I chase personal improvement in drills I do it because otherwise it ceases to be training. I don't really compare it across platforms because I chose the platform for a specific reason, not because of performance.
I think most people are capable of reaching 'doesn't really matter' levels of performance with most quality modern carry pistols and some weird old hipster ones for that matter if they train with focus.
Looking back decades, Cooper wrote about a “Standard Controllability Test, or SCT”. It went something like this: shooter at 25 yards. On signal, “aim in” and fire 5 rounds of “full power” ammo at a 10 inch circle at 25 yards. I’m quoting him from memory: “If all 5 rounds impact in the circle in time, that pistol with that load is controllable by that shooter”(yikes!). Various written accounts suggest multiple successful runs for confirmation. Duty/carry ammo is expensive, so I’d lean towards 4 of 5 runs as an evaluation.
A few caveats, if you will: 1) there is no mention (as I recall) of running it cold; cold runs show a lot about where the operator is at with the piece and is a “snapshot” of competency, IMHO. 2)Cooper was heavily involved with the Southwest Combat Pistol League and the 1911in .45acp at the time. So, my interpretation is that this was usually run unconcealed, out of a range holster. 3)the art and science of “pistol craft “ has advanced, and the gear more so. And, as said elsewhere, businesses want/need to make money, so that drives some aspects.
Note I’m a confessed Glock fan and drill/qual nerd. I’d respectfully suggest the following to the OP:
1)with a nod to @GJM, the OP stated he shot Glocks for years. I think that suggests the 26 is the pick, possibly running mags w/a “+” baseplate.
2)If the OP has convinced himself he has to compare, run each candidate piece, cold, from personal concealment, on separate days with whatever ammo that will be carried.
3)With respect to noted teachers like Cooper and Givens, I’d say, if the OP must, run the SCT as above and Givens Baseline Assessment Drill, as stipulated an above.
And, a little tongue-in-cheek, if I was pretty sure there was a gunfight in the future, I might:
A)be somewhere else,
B)have a carbine/rifle and/or shotgun at hand and
C)try as hard as I could to have some other like minded and equipped friends around!
The Gabe White Standards might be a good option?
Last edited by Clusterfrack; 03-16-2024 at 11:02 AM.
“There is no growth in the comfort zone.”--Jocko Willink
"You can never have too many knives." --Joe Ambercrombie
My current cold standards are passing the iHack, VertiHack, and 90% on Prep Time. If I fail, I isolate and work on the component skill.
I need to be able to do that with my carry gun.
Participation does not equal Proficiency
- Mike Pannone
I'm trying to generate content for my upcoming YouTube channel and was comparing different size guns. So far, I've used Five Yard Roundup and Bakersfield on "my" target with the 6" 10 ring and smaller oval. Five yard has a precision draw, a four shot string, and strong and weak hand shooting. Bakersfield emphasizes speed and accuracy and pushes the guns out to 20 yards. If I add anything, it will be a quasi-Bill Drill - draw and see how many points you can get on a B-8 in 3 seconds.
- It's not the odds, it's the stakes.
- If you aren't dry practicing every week, you're not serious.....
- "Tache-Psyche Effect - a polite way of saying 'You suck.' " - GG
I dunno.
After seeing several body cam videos of cops experiencing stoppages, apparently due to a possible compromised grip acquired during the haste of reacting to a spontaneous threat (according to DB and John Hearne), I'm wary of small, short grip auto pistols.
I bought a .327 Magnum LCR to experiment with and to get experience with a lightweight snub revolver. I've found this revolver easier to carry, comfortably, and to conceal, than a small auto pistol. Loaded with Federal .32 H&R Magnum 85gr JHP ammo, it's pleasant to shoot and achieves adequate penetration. I don't have to worry about a stoppage due to a compromised grip because it's finger powered.
I carry an LCP II .22 LR for backup, a spare magazine, and a speed strip loaded with the Federal .32 HRM for the LCR.
What this boils down to is I'm not sure drills and tests will objectively provide the metrics you're seeking because they're unlikely to reveal the unexpected stoppages we're seeing caused by reaction to real-life spontaneous "OH, FUCK" threats.
Last edited by Shawn Dodson; 03-18-2024 at 10:44 PM.