The word "position" is used in the firearm community to describe the stance one takes when engaging in shooting activity. For the sake of this blog piece I will just talk about defensive handgun use. There are muliple shooting positions and ways to do them, but if you break them down it come down to three. The Isosceles, Weaver and the Chapman stances. One thing to keep in mind up front. Though there are fundamentals that need adheard to to be a more constistant shooter, we are all built differently and must adjust the position for ourselves. What may work for one person, may not work for another, could be do to body style, an old injury, or just not as comfortable. As with all things, there are pro's and con's to each. I will address them briefly and offer some tips that may help some who are struggling. One thing I will say now, seek some training from a qualified, "competent" instructor to help not just teach you, but break it down so you understand.
The Weaver and the Chapman are both named after the person who came up with and used the position. The Isosceles, is so named because of the shape the arms make which resemble the triangle. No matter the stance you take, we must remember that it all start's at ground level. I see a great many students seem to forget that the feet should be comfortable distance apart and that the weight should rest mainly on the ball of your feet. This will place you into the firearm and assist with recoil. You also should work on your natural point of aim. Basicly, you want to be lined up with your target, naturally. How do we do this? You can do this at home, with a safe backstop and an empty pistol. Take up your position, and aim the safe, empty pistol at a target. Now close your eyes, then open them. Did the pistol move? Resist temptation to move the pistol back on target with muscles, instead simple adjust your feet, in or out untill it comes back in line. Then close your eyes and open to check and see if lined up. Once you have your feet adjusted, to where you close your eyes and open them and remain on target you are good to go. If you will do this a few times a week, you will train your body/brain that when you pick up the pistol, and take a stance it will be natural. This in turn will help you be more accurate and more consistant. Okay, now we have our feet in correct place, now we want to bend are knee's naturally, this helps with recoil as well as blood flow. Now let's take a look at the stance's for our upper body.
The Weaver, was created by Jack Weaver a law enforcement officer back in the 60's. Up to this time, everyone was pretty much using the old standard of shooting one handed. Col. Jeff Cooper held a shoot at Big Bear, California every year. Mr. Weaver came and beat everyone with his new position. Col. Cooper then adopted and became the biggest promoter and Instructor for it and is the very foundation of GUNSITE school. Let's look at the stance. We get a good two handed grip (I wrote about in another Blog), extend your arms out. Now we take and bend our support elbow straight down, like we are resting it on our ribcage, at the same time we pull the pistol inward. Our strong arm is pressing outward, with a slight flex in the elbow. This gives us isometric support in controling recoil. To make this position work best, one foot needs to be placed forward (usually the support side) into more of a boxer stance. This will also "blade" our body more to the side of our target. This stance is often favored by people with strong chest and shoulders. The Pro's are it "blade's" us from target, is usually quicker and handle recoil better. The Con of this is it takes a lot of practice and there is a slight loss of mobility from the boxer type stance. but try it, I have taught many people it and they favor it, but be warned the isometrics will make your tired quicker.
The Chapman, was created by pistol champion Ray Chapman. Mr. Chapman won several regional, state and national titles using his method. In essence, Mr. Chapman used the weaver type stance, with one modification, he thrust his shooting arm straight out, making it more rigid. He also would lay his head more over onto his shoulder, in essence making his arm and shoulder a "rifle stock". This method works a little better for people with some shoulder injury than the weaver. The Pro's are that is it very consistent, strong position. The con's as with the weaver is lack of mobility, and does take a little while to become comfortable with it. If you are cross eyes dominate it take's a lot of practice with both to become comfortable with it.
The Isosceles, is named after the triangle our arms form. This is a more natural and basic way of shooting the pistol with both hands and why it is taught first to many new shooters. This position became popular in the 80's by competive shooters and was quickly adopted by the military. For this position we get a good two hand grip, then we press both arms out in front. One big mistake people make is they lock the elbows in this position, this will cause tendonitis in your elbow's (caller shooters elbow, like tennis elbow). We want are elbow's slightly bent to prevent this and assist with recoil. There is a more modern technique called the Modified Isosceles, this has the elbow's break outward slightly, which in turn makes are elbows shock absorbers. The other big differance with this stance is that is squares us up with our target. So natural point of is more natural. The Pro's is that this is the easiest and quickest to learn, and provides more mobility. The con is that it is usually harder for people to learn to master recoil control.
In all position's the head should still be head erect, to ensure that the eye is naturally centered, to focus on the front sight more clearly. The back should be straight, but the whole body should be leaned forward. The rule of thumb is that the chest should be past the belly button. Though this may feel slightly unnatural at first, you will find a big differance in managing recoil by doing this. In essence we are setting our body up to accept and handle the recoil of the pistol, rather than just holding it in front of us. This is what I call "getting into the pistol", you want to be aggressive, because let's face it, if you need to do it in a life/death encounter you will be more aggresive. You Do Not want to be standing straight up and down. The weight of your body will set on your heals and thus you are not balanced when the shot happens. Another thing you do not want to do is be "leaned backward", this is usually seen by someone who has not had any training and is scared of the pistol going off. If you see a person do this, be an ambassador and stop and nicely explain the problems and issues. Which are they will loose balance, do not have proper muzzle control, there grip will not be substantial to handle the pistol, and long period of doing this will cause back injury.
I hope this helps explain a few things and a few tips to help you out. Feel free to leave a comment.
Train as if your life is worth it!
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