Common Tactical Questions
In my last report I discussed the 7 Principles of Tactics.
In this report, let’s answer for you the most common tactical questions we receive from students at Front Sight …
Frequently Asked Questions/Things to Consider
There are an infinite number of possible tactical scenarios.
After you attend a course at Front Sight, you will be able to analyze scenarios for yourself by simply applying the tactical knowledge, gun handling, and marksmanship skills you learn in the courses you attend with us.
However, here are some frequently asked questions.
Question: Some schools advocate a searching ready position which is pointed in, safety off, finger on the trigger. What’s wrong with that?
Answer:
- Can’t see your opponent.
- Violates Rule 2. (Keep finger off the trigger until sights are on the target and you are ready to shoot.)
- Mentally prepared to shoot even if you see a loved one or police officer.
Question: Should you switch hands as you alternately clear right-hand and left-hand corners?
Answer: If you are truly ambidextrous, then there is some advantage to that. However, remember you may be forced to take a hostage rescue shot all the way across the room. That gun had better be in your best hand.
Question: Should you shoot through walls or other obstructions?
Answer: If you can guarantee Rule 4, (Be sure of your target and what is behind it.) then yes. Otherwise no.
Question: What if you can’t get into the room where your daughter is being assualted (door locked or blocked)?
- Find another way in.
- Kick door in. Kick knob or hinges, not center.
- Go through the wall if necessary.
Question: How about distractions like tossing your keys way over there to distract the bad guy?
Answer: That’s okay if you are reasonably sure it will work and NOT give your position away.
Question: How best to handle lights in your home when there is a bad guy in your house.
Answer:
- Keep all the lights off and use ambient light and/or a flashlight.
- Turn all the lights on to level the playing field. This would require a master switch.
- DO NOT turn the lights on only in the room you are clearing. This would be suicide.
Question: How about warning shots?
Answer: Bad idea. Don’t shoot unless you have a target and are defending your life or the lives of your loved ones.
- Gives away your position.
- Destroys your hearing.
- Reduces your ammo supply.
- May induce a malfunction.
- Destroys the house.
Question: How about racking the pump action shotgun to dissuade the bad guy?
Answer: Bad idea.
- Gives away your position.
- May not dissuade the bad guy.
Question: How about barking out verbal commands like I’ve got a gun and the police are on the way!
Answer: Bad idea.
- Gives away your position.
- May not dissuade the bad guy.
I hope the answers to our most commonly asked questions have dispelled a few myths and given you some good advice.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ignatius Piazza
Front Sight Founder and Director
Four-Weapons Combat Master
Your host of Front Sight Challenge Reality TV Series
P.S. After a Four Day Course at Front Sight, you will have better gun handling, marksmanship and tactical skills than that 99% of the people who carry a gun for a living. You will also want to become equally good with all the different weapons you own and move up into our more advanced tactical courses. For these reasons we offer our lifetime memberships. If you have not yet become a Front Sight Lifetime Member so you too can train to the highest levels in the industry for the rest of your life at literally pennies-on-the-dollar, then take advantage of any one of our six, Lifetime Memberships today: