Worlds Collide: Competitive vs Defensive Skill Sets
Rob LeathamDescription
Shooting skill sets: Which ones matter only in competition shooting, and which ones matter only in defensive shooting? And where is the overlap? Rob Leatham and Rob Pincus discuss the differences and similarities.
Competition
Competitive shooting is all about the score, so the most important thing is the points on the target. Accuracy is only as needed for each particular course of fire versus the time. For example, in an IPSC match, where shooters hit the target is not important, as long as they hit it really fast. IDPA matches are the opposite: Missing the center zone adds a second to the time.
Defensive
In a defensive shooting, the skills are more like IPSC: Just hit the target and do it fast in order to stop the bad guy.
Rob and Rob take some shots to demonstrate the differences and conclude that for the defensive-minded person who is also interested in competition, the accuracy standard in IPSC is closer to what they will train and practice for defensive shooting.
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2 Responses to “Worlds Collide: Competitive vs Defensive Skill Sets”
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Absolutely have to watch every "worlds collide" video. This is a great series. I have learned more from this series that anything I've watched. Not only is it comp vs. reality, but in most cases, it can be applied to training range vs. reality. It makes you think about what you do at the rules-intensive range that will help or hurt you in the real world. Again, great series, great job!
Interesting discussion on the two shooting styles. It's nice to have the techniques and style all perfected, but what if the cardboard silhouette has a loaded gun, pointed at you. Do you really want to stand the adversary down and have a shootout? There may be a time when that is the only option. IF you are not fast enough it will be your last time. The crook, usually a hardened one with multiple arrests, does not care if you are alive or dead. Police, civilian gun owner, military, whatever, he's getting out of there. Even if he is not John Dillinger, a common thug with a gun can hurt you. Teach some defensive maneuvers to get out of the line of fire, while having your weapon trained on the target. Return accurate fire on the target. Find concealment (hard cover) from the fire and wait for the opportunity to terminate the threat. Best of all, don't put yourself in those situations in the first place. Thanks.