Avoid and Escape!

This is an excellent article and excellent advice.  This is something that I always stress and highlite during my level 2 and more advance handgun classes.  Thanks Tiger for passing this information along.

Skill Set: Avoid and Escape

Often, with all the training and practice we do - using our weapons or body to defeat the threat – we tend to ignore our number one tactic: Avoidance and Escape. Fighting is the last thing we want to do. Anytime you fight there are great risks. Avoiding or escaping allows you to win the "fight" without risk.

In his books Dave Grossman talks about the four natural responses to danger: Submission, Posturing, Fight and Flight. Submitting and allowing the threat to harm you or family members is not acceptable. Posturing, puffing up and trying to scare the threat without being ready to back it up isn't a good idea either. That leaves us with Fight or Flight.

We train and practice in order to fight, learning how to use our weapons as efficiently as possible to stop the threat. The presence of the weapon and verbal commands may provide a "psychological" stop. The situation may require you to put accurate hits on "target," physically stopping the threat. At the same time we need to be learning how to move, use cover, manipulate your weapon and all the other skills required to employ your weapon effectively.

"Flight," avoidance and/or escape, must also be thought about and practiced in advance. Fleeing may not be as simple as you first think. You pay attention to the environment so that when you spot a source of potential trouble you modify your plans to completely avoid something that might happen. A situation explodes right in front of you without warning. You immediately "haul ass," running as quickly as possible to get to a safe area. A "tactical" retreat may be called for, visually and physically covering an area or possible threat(s) as you back out to safety.

Even if you are forced to "fight" part of your response should still include "flight." As you engage the threat you back up to create distance. The fight is sudden and unexpected and you're trapped, but once the threat is down you leave for a more secure area. Plus, just because a threat is down doesn't mean the fight is over; they could have partners, so again you leave for safety.

When it comes to "flight," or avoidance or escape, there are a lot of different variations. If your plan includes family members then it becomes even more complex, requiring additional thought, planning and practice in order to be prepared.

As you think about your response remember that it's much better to be mobile than stationary. If you need to escape run fast and far. Moving targets are hard to hit. Distance greatly reduces your chances of being injured, regardless of what type weapon the threat has. Dropping down to the ground might not get you out of harms way. Start making it a habit to know where exits, cover or easily defended areas are located. Keep track of where all your family members are at all times. Initially these things will require conscious thought, constantly plugging back in to the task. Eventually they'll become habit. Then, like with all your other skills remember to practice.

For an armed citizen the list of reasons to fight is very short. Avoidance and escape are your tactics, so studying them accordingly.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of "The Book of Two Guns" - http://shootrite.org/book/book.html writes for several firearms/tactical publications, and is featured on GunTalk's DVD, 

Handgun Caliber - Again.... Rich Grassi

Editor's Notebook: Handgun Calibers – Again?

What's old remains old: the old ".45 versus 9mm" again rears its ugly head.

A friend raised an interesting point as to defensive handgun calibers. He noted that an argument against the .45 ACP is that it's "no longer effective due to advances in bullet technology in 9mm (and like) calibers." He wondered if that same technology upgrade didn't produce "better" .45 ammo.

I have friends in the bullet business and in the ammunition business. I imagine when they realize that I'm hitting the keyboard in a discussion of defense handgun ammunition, the stores of intoxicants dwindle because I don't believe in 'handgun stopping power' – and I say so.

It's not like religion. Faith involves believing in something you can't see, touch, smell, measure, test . . . in terms of people getting shot there is quite a bit of scattered information accumulated over a century.

Keeping empties in the air with a 9mm is a little easier than with a .45 -- especially as we age. That's not necessarily the best metric for fight-stopping potential.

But, let's go back to the technologically challenged .45 ACP. You can measure and collect data about the new-issue .45 Auto. Various bonded HPs, all-copper rounds and improved bullet designs make for some impressive performance in the artificial environment of the FBI tests – just like in smaller calibers. There are things they seek, among them penetration, and the new ammo is built to pass a test. How the test relates to the world varies: for many of us, no longer on the job, much of the test lacks relevance. For many police shootings, the test doesn't really say anything – but it is a test and it gives one a basis for comparison.

One argument against the .45 is "less barrier penetration" including vehicle engagements. I've not seen compelling data to indicate that non-law enforcement has a compelling need for 'barrier penetration.' As to cars, those who shoot lots of them tell us that handgun calibers really don't "kill cars:" there are too many intervening variables (braces, supports, steering wheel cores, etc.). There is a difference on auto glass which, again, is largely irrelevant for most of us.

Another thing is "less recoil, higher capacity" for the 9x19. Sure. That's a thing for a good many (see the FBI), but the capacity argument is not a big deal overall according to the few who examine shooting reports in some detail. Does this mean a two-shot 'derringer' type pistol is a good idea?

You might ask why I nearly always carry a compact-service auto with a spare magazine – and it's a fair question. It's unlikely I'll need a gun at all: if I knew I was going to need any gun, I'd avoid the situation completely. The battle never fought counts as a victory.

A shotgun or rifle-caliber carbine is a better choice if fighting is actually necessary.

It's said that bigger handgun projectiles have a bigger impact and "transfer more energy." – No, they don't. Look at the size and speed of the projectiles: 147 grains weight versus 230 grains weight: that's nearly no difference, at 83 grains (.19 ounce). Compare both to a one-ounce (437.5 grains) lead Foster slug at around 1400 fps – well, there isn't a comparison. The difference in diameter is likewise irrelevant: 0.097" is nothing about which to write home.

Remember, if it "knocks" the attacker down it has to knock you down too.

Staying away from crossed platforms, by comparing Glock 21 to Glock 17, S&W M&P45 to M&P9, Ruger American .45 to Ruger American 9mm is helpful. If you throw the whole 1911 versus "fill-in-the-blank" thing in there, it's a whole different kettle of fish.

Likewise, measuring the difference in split times is of little help. The difference between .15 and .30 is one-half the blink of a human eye. And no fight stops on a fraction of a second – it takes more time for the human attacker to close up shop.

Is the .45 Auto a good cartridge? Sure. It's not for everyone, no more than the 9mm is – and we should be glad we can make the choice (in Free states). It's one of the most accurate handgun rounds in existence due to its extensive development as a match round as much as anything. It's as good as anything else for defense use, but my standards are pretty basic and have been often repeated here.

The load selected should fire, function the gun, penetrate enough and hit to the sights -- the last being critical as bullet placement is king.

Suffice to say, the round has to fire every single time (the best single reason for premium defensive ammo), it has to function the gun, it has to go deeply enough in the attacker to wreck important stuff and it needs to hit to the sights. Expansion, barrier penetration and other stuff is okay I guess but it's hardly critical.

If there's just got to be a fight – and I really don't recommend it – I'd prefer a slug-loaded 12 gauge or a centerfire rifle-caliber carbine and some people with good attitudes who are likewise equipped.

I greatly respect many of those who stake out one position or another as to handgun ammo, but it's just handgun ammo: it sucks in a fight. The pistol is handier than a rifle/shotgun and there's where we hit the wall. There's no significant difference in results downrange regardless of the service handgun calibers. And there's no need to give up if you have to use a 9mm for defense – or a .380 or a .22.

If you ask why I carry 9mm, it's because it's cheaper, it's plentiful, and it'll do if you will. If carry of the .45 (or .40 or .357 SIG or .38 Special) warms your heart, I won't disparage you anymore than I would if you chose the 9mm.

-- Rich Grassi 

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