The "Center Mass" Myth and Ending a Gunfight

GunsAmerica ^ | 12 February 2010 | Jim Higginbotham

[Erik Latranyi]

Long, but great reading for those who seriously carry and who give real thought to the process.

[livius]

That may be true, but if you’re not a good shot and don’t shoot a lot (most people don’t), if you aim at the center mass at least you’re probably going to hit something.

If you can’t follow up well, you might have time to seek cover and try again. The perfect is the enemy of the good...that is, anybody who can shoot and hit something is way ahead of somebody who can’t, but if they’re “aiming for perfection,” they may not be able to do even the basic stuff (stopping/slowing the attacker). I say this as a lousy shot who has only had target success by aiming at the center mass.

[goseminoles]

“Shooting at center mass in order to stop him” is what you tell the cops and judge.
I would prefer to shoot between the eyes.

[mnehring]

Good in theory, but center of mass recommendations really are about the easiest way to hit your target in the heat of the moment, with minimal time to aim. Even being shot with a .22 would have a psychological impact on an attacker, even though it may do minimal physical damage compared to other options.

[mnehring]

+1

[freedumb2003]

If you are fortunate, the bad guys will use that stupid 90 degree firing (butt parallel to the ground) hold that they think looks so cool.

I am pretty sure you can’t even hit a 12 story building with that approach. Unless more frequent weapon handlers know more...?

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I’d rather just perfect my shooting skills and go for the head shot. Much harder to survive those.

Problem with centre mass aiming is that criminals, both private and especially those working for the state, can wear body armor.

[Erik Latranyi]

I would prefer to shoot between the eyes.

Then you know nothing about self-defense.

[rellimpank]

--confirmed incidents in which people have been shot “center mass” up to 55 times with 9mm JHP ammunition (the subject was hit 106 times, but 55 of those hits were ruled by the coroner to be each lethal in and of themselves) before he went down.--

--I find that a little hard to believe---

[shibumi]

Best place to shoot - whatever you can hit.

Best gun to use - whatever you’ve got.

(Bad guys don’t usually wait for target analysis/acquisition and weapon selection.)

[Erik Latranyi]

I’d rather just perfect my shooting skills and go for the head shot.

Another poster who knows nothing about self-defense.

[Erik Latranyi]

I find that a little hard to believe

Fine. I just hope you or your family don't die because you refuse to believe something that conflicts with your Hollywood-induced paradigm of gunfights.

[Lurker]

For later.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Another poster who knows nothing about self-defense.

What are you babbling about? You think you're some sort of expert on the subject, because you think we should shoot crooks in one particular location?

Seriously, dude, take your meds.

[Erik Latranyi]

Best place to shoot - whatever you can hit. Best gun to use - whatever you’ve got. (Bad guys don’t usually wait for target analysis/acquisition and weapon selection.)

You clearly understand gunfights, unlike some posters around here who have Hollywood-induced visions of what it would be like.

[mnehring]

the bad guys will use that stupid 90 degree firing (butt parallel to the ground) hold that they think looks so cool.

Where in the world did that come from and why the heck did the person who first pushed that on the public think it was in any way either intimidating or effective?

[shibumi]

The “parallel to the ground” hold works quite well - if you are lying on your side, parallel to the ground.

[Erik Latranyi]

You think you're some sort of expert on the subject, because you think we should shoot crooks in one particular location?

You obviously have never taken a self-defense class and learned the realities of surviving a gunfight. If you had the least notion of the subject, you would not have originally posted that you would practice and go for a head shot. It clearly demonstrates a juvenile and dangerous attitude.

[oldbill]

If you are aiming at a liberal, adjust lower for the decreased mass inside the head which effectively drops the center mass down to the rectal area, where most of a liberal’s mass is concentrated.

[Erik Latranyi]

If you are fortunate, the bad guys will use that stupid 90 degree firing (butt parallel to the ground) hold that they think looks so cool.

One gang-banger utilizing that technique was found at the hospital because the spent case ejected right into his eye, burning his cornea!

Divine justice at its best!