Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Cover Concepts for the Armed Citizen” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/cover-in-a-gunfight/.
Cover Concepts for the Armed Citizen
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
not a bad reminder of some basics - the author's first pic above exposes half his body. The second one of him behind the barrel is much better - very little exposed. One thing that can be mentioned is that the prone position, under the right circumstances is a very good choice. Also, someone is going to say it - getting the hell out of there is even better.
John Sotiridy
Alpha
The practice of situational awareness is crucial to the avoidance of most negative situations. Colonel Jeff Cooper has a color coded threat level awareness method, which is a good read and practice. Stay safe.
"Even though concealment does not afford protection against incoming fire, it may cause an adversary to momentarily hesitate,"
According to some studies, between 1 and 5% of criminals have combat training. 99% of criminals without combat training will aim at the part of the person they see, or might not shoot if they do not think they can hit the person they see. They will not usually consider that they could just shoot the part of the person they cannot see.
According to some studies, between 1 and 5% of criminals have combat training. 99% of criminals without combat training will aim at the part of the person they see, or might not shoot if they do not think they can hit the person they see. They will not usually consider that they could just shoot the part of the person they cannot see.
Articles here should be based around civilian self defense and not law enforcement. We (retired FED LEO) know what to do. The vast majority of civilian self defense situations take place within 5 feet. Don't tell them to train any further than that. Point and shoot. No they don't need an optic or flashlight mounted to there handgun. Do they need a 17 round magazines and 2 spares? No. Civilian self defense should be simplified and door kicker stuff left to curb.
Bassbob
Emissary
Plenty of us non LEO know that stuff too. And there are a lot of LEO on this forum. The content within should apply to as much of the membership as possible. It's always your choice to read or scroll on down.
And it's not my decision what a civilian "Needs".
Good points with the standing clear of cover suggestion and the random alarm for situational awareness. It may seem obvious to mention, but be sure you have a wheel/tire combo between you and danger if a vehicle is your cover. The assailant might have actually seen some of those old shows where a bad guy is taken out by a shot under a vehicle to the foot or ankle. After all, they're obviously spending quality time watching those shows or they wouldn't have coined the phrase "Five-0" for LEOs. (BTW: 5-0 isn't a real police designation - not even in the 50th state.)
Much appreciated sir.
My CCW instructor, a cop, was a maniac about maintaining situational awareness at all times in all places. Maybe that's a bit over the top, but it made a big impact on me. He even emphasized practicing in the dark at home if someone broke in. "What's your plan?" he'd bark. And I learned that it takes the average miscreant about 1.5 seconds to cover the 7 yards between you and them. Almost instantaneous at five feet. So I am now always looking around, not paranoid, just aware. Nothing's guaranteed but thankfully I'm better prepared these days.
Quick story: Sitting with our relatives during the holiday at their home, I was the only one aware of what could transpire thanks to their refusal to lock the door ("It's an upscale neighborhood," my sister-in-law said).
Understanding this stuff has been a blessing.
Quick story: Sitting with our relatives during the holiday at their home, I was the only one aware of what could transpire thanks to their refusal to lock the door ("It's an upscale neighborhood," my sister-in-law said).
Understanding this stuff has been a blessing.
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Mr. Untactical
Master Class
Agree that I'd like to see more articles on practical civilian self defense. On the equipment side, maybe I've drank the Kool-Aid, but (for me) night sights are mandatory and a red dot is highly desirable. Even if I can't get a clear sight picture before firing in a home defense scenario, those glowing Tritium vials help me find my firearm quickly if I'm waking up to a threat (or any other time in the dark). And, since I practice target acquisition with a red dot constantly, I would argue that it will also help end a threat in a low light encounter. If a home-breaker is on me before I can get a sight picture, our German Shepherd is falling down on the job!
No. You don't get to dictate what we read and share here on this forum. The article was posted by Mike H, editor of the Armory Life, and he can post what he likes. We? FED LEOs know what is best for everyone else act is getting old. You don't get to dictate what civilians or retired service, law enforcement decide to use or carry. People will train for whatever distance they desire. You're new here, how about getting to know the site and the people first before sharing your superior opinions on whatever.
HansGruber
Ronin
Isn’t that special.
Mr.W.
Professional
I wonder what absurd notions you'll share on your next visit, considering there are any to follow. Bated breath, all around. . .
PAGunGuy
Custom
I agree and noticed that right away. The article does say.
That is how we are are trained in my agency. We are about an arm's length behind cover. We come out only as much as necessary. Also, if we are right-handed, and have to come out of the left side, we are encouraged to think about putting the gun in our left hand, so we don't have to expose ourselves as much (or vice a versa for lefties).
And as the second paragraph says, if we go behind cover, we are to come out different somehow, higher if we were down, lower if we were up, of out of the other side if possible. Pretty much every refresher training we do (several per year) goes over this. We just did this at our dim light shoot, and uses a handheld flashlight adds a whole other layer of things to consider.
Maximumenforcement
Alpha
Great write up, and it’s nice to see someone covering simple tactics like cover and concealment.Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Cover Concepts for the Armed Citizen” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/cover-in-a-gunfight/.
Great write and it’s nice to see cover and concealment covered as important, yet simple tactics. I often think about these differences and my team will regularly train on the effectiveness and realistic options.Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Cover Concepts for the Armed Citizen” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/cover-in-a-gunfight/.
When my team and I were ambushed, the only type of protection we had that was imminent was a simple wooden fence. The simplicity of utilizing the fence as concealment temporarily hid our bodies as targets creating a short break in gunfire and causing confusion. This allowed us to re-adjust, focus and address the suspect.
Knowing that the fence was not hard cover, we also had our vehicle and gravitated toward certain areas like the engine block, A/B/C Pillar and door panels that we “thought” were armored.
Bullets do strange things and even without armor in some areas, the 9mm rounds deflected off plastic that caused a sudden and tremendous stoppage to it’d velocity, and caused a change in direction.
4 of us made it out alive out of 16 rounds fired and it’s important to recognize that when a threat has the drop on you with violence and surprise, you gotta find the nearest thing whether that’s cover and/or concealment and use it to the best of your advantage if not in a readily available armed position to address the imminent threat.
I saw a comment on here about civilian defense “not needing Additional training beyond 5 ft, additional rounds or magazines, etc, door kicking, etc”
As a cop that’s been on a fast acting tactical street team, I highly encourage all people to seek training because it might just save your life or someone else. Anyone claiming to “know it all” is simply incompetent and probably spent their years riding a desk and submitting warrants. God speed and stay safe out there!
Mr.W.
Professional
And, thank you. Personally, I don't enjoy getting a little "heavy" with folks, but that fellow was definitely deserving.
Mr.W.
Professional
Ditto!
Welcome to the forum, from Ohio.
BassCliff
Professional
Hi,
Lots of new folks in this thread. Welcome one and all.
My most intensive and enjoyable training sessions are when we get to utilize cover and concealment. We will "slice" around barrels or shoot from behind a wall with our off hand in order to present the smallest target possible.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Lots of new folks in this thread. Welcome one and all.
My most intensive and enjoyable training sessions are when we get to utilize cover and concealment. We will "slice" around barrels or shoot from behind a wall with our off hand in order to present the smallest target possible.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff