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The following chart shows at varying distances, how far off the center of a target a bullet will strike, if the gun muzzle is not exactly on the center of the target when the gun is fired.
It is a matter of physics, not conjecture. The only assumption made, is that the rear of the gun stays in a relatively fixed position, which I believe is reasonable.
Muzzle 1/8 in 2/8 in 3/8 in 4/8 in 5/8 in
Movement
Distances
to Target Amt. bullet will be off target center.
5 feet 1 in 2 in 3 in 4 in 5 in
10 feet 2 in 4 in 6 in 8 in 10 in
15 feet 3 in 6 in 9 in 12 in 15 in
20 feet 4 in 8 in 12 in 16 in 20 in
25 feet 5 in 10 in 15 in 20 in 25 in
.................................................
For example: If your gun muzzle is 2/8 in. off of the exact center of a chest sized target (11 in wide x 17 in tall), and you are at a distance of only 15 feet, you will miss.
If you consider the data along with the recoil forces that are experienced while shooting, and the conditions of close quarters shooting situations, such as poor light, rain, a foe who may be moving, effects of the Fight or Flight response, etc., it is no wonder why shooting accuracy is as poor as it is, and why it makes sense to use an alternate shooting method like P&S.
For more information on this subject area with pics, check out the page: Is Front Sight Press, Front Site Folly?
http://www.pointshooting.com/folly.htm
Here's How The Table Values Were Determined:
1. The values are actual values, or very close approximations.
2. The circumference of a series of circles was determined using the table distances as radii.
3. The circumferences were halved to get the lengths of 180 degree arcs that corresponded to the distances.
4. The muzzle point was considered to be 7 inches out from zero, and the length of a 180 degree arc with a 7 inch radius was determined. By chance, each degree of that arc equals 1/8 inch. Inches in eighths instead of degrees were used on top of the muzzle movement columns for ease of understanding the data.
5. The muzzle movement amounts expressed as percentages of the 180 degree arcs, (1/180, 2/180, 3/180 4/180, 5/180), were applied to the arc lengths to get the off of center amounts.
6. Because an arc is a curve rather than a line, the off of center amounts shown are approximate values. However, they are very close to the exact amounts because the arcs at the distances shown, are very large relative to the off of center amounts.
The table shows why most gunfights take place at distances under thirty feet. Only the exceptionally good shooter would be able to shoot well enough to hit a chest sized target at a distance beyond 30 feet. And particularly so, given the effects of stress on shooting ability.
That means that your safest course of action is to move away, run away, or scram as fast and as quick as you can.
With P&S, your chance of hitting the target will increase, and even at extended distances, as it is not necessary to have the rear of the gun stay in a relatively fixed position for sight alignment.
The barrel of the gun will be aligned with and slaved to the index finger, and as such, it will aim at what the index finger is pointing at.
The table, also shows that handguns can be very effective at close range.
Unless there is a need for you to physically restrain a person, there is no reason to have a gun up close to that person. Up to a distance of 5 feet, the muzzle would have to be more than an inch off the target center for you to miss a chest shot. Also if the person is about five feet away, there will be less of a chance that the person will try and grab your gun or attack you.
The table also shows that it makes sense to turn sideways or semi sideways in a shooting situation if you can.
If you are half as thick from front to back, as you are wide from side to side, and you turn sideways, your chance of being shot will be reduced by 50 percent. Why give an adversary the largest possible target when he or she is trying to kill you?
The source of this article is; http://www.pointshooting.com/muzzle.htm
- Janq
It is a matter of physics, not conjecture. The only assumption made, is that the rear of the gun stays in a relatively fixed position, which I believe is reasonable.
Muzzle 1/8 in 2/8 in 3/8 in 4/8 in 5/8 in
Movement
Distances
to Target Amt. bullet will be off target center.
5 feet 1 in 2 in 3 in 4 in 5 in
10 feet 2 in 4 in 6 in 8 in 10 in
15 feet 3 in 6 in 9 in 12 in 15 in
20 feet 4 in 8 in 12 in 16 in 20 in
25 feet 5 in 10 in 15 in 20 in 25 in
.................................................
For example: If your gun muzzle is 2/8 in. off of the exact center of a chest sized target (11 in wide x 17 in tall), and you are at a distance of only 15 feet, you will miss.
If you consider the data along with the recoil forces that are experienced while shooting, and the conditions of close quarters shooting situations, such as poor light, rain, a foe who may be moving, effects of the Fight or Flight response, etc., it is no wonder why shooting accuracy is as poor as it is, and why it makes sense to use an alternate shooting method like P&S.
For more information on this subject area with pics, check out the page: Is Front Sight Press, Front Site Folly?
http://www.pointshooting.com/folly.htm
Here's How The Table Values Were Determined:
1. The values are actual values, or very close approximations.
2. The circumference of a series of circles was determined using the table distances as radii.
3. The circumferences were halved to get the lengths of 180 degree arcs that corresponded to the distances.
4. The muzzle point was considered to be 7 inches out from zero, and the length of a 180 degree arc with a 7 inch radius was determined. By chance, each degree of that arc equals 1/8 inch. Inches in eighths instead of degrees were used on top of the muzzle movement columns for ease of understanding the data.
5. The muzzle movement amounts expressed as percentages of the 180 degree arcs, (1/180, 2/180, 3/180 4/180, 5/180), were applied to the arc lengths to get the off of center amounts.
6. Because an arc is a curve rather than a line, the off of center amounts shown are approximate values. However, they are very close to the exact amounts because the arcs at the distances shown, are very large relative to the off of center amounts.
The table shows why most gunfights take place at distances under thirty feet. Only the exceptionally good shooter would be able to shoot well enough to hit a chest sized target at a distance beyond 30 feet. And particularly so, given the effects of stress on shooting ability.
That means that your safest course of action is to move away, run away, or scram as fast and as quick as you can.
With P&S, your chance of hitting the target will increase, and even at extended distances, as it is not necessary to have the rear of the gun stay in a relatively fixed position for sight alignment.
The barrel of the gun will be aligned with and slaved to the index finger, and as such, it will aim at what the index finger is pointing at.
The table, also shows that handguns can be very effective at close range.
Unless there is a need for you to physically restrain a person, there is no reason to have a gun up close to that person. Up to a distance of 5 feet, the muzzle would have to be more than an inch off the target center for you to miss a chest shot. Also if the person is about five feet away, there will be less of a chance that the person will try and grab your gun or attack you.
The table also shows that it makes sense to turn sideways or semi sideways in a shooting situation if you can.
If you are half as thick from front to back, as you are wide from side to side, and you turn sideways, your chance of being shot will be reduced by 50 percent. Why give an adversary the largest possible target when he or she is trying to kill you?
The source of this article is; http://www.pointshooting.com/muzzle.htm
- Janq
