The "Center Mass" Myth and Ending a Gunfight

GunsAmerica ^ | 12 February 2010 | Jim Higginbotham

[Erik Latranyi]

Surviving a gunfight isn't what you think it is. Don’t let conventional wisdom get you killed. A well place round to "center mass" in your attacker may not take him out of the fight. Lots of people stay in the fight after "center mass" hits, and some even win it. If you expect to win your gunfight, you have to make sure that you have effectively ended the threat of your attacker. One, two or even several well placed "center mass" shots may not do what you think it will, and learning to recognize this before you gunfight may save your life.

There is a self styled self defense “expert” under every rock, and perhaps two behind every bush, these days. If you have a pet theory on what might work on the street then you can probably find a champion for that idea who actually charges people to teach them that skill. But few of the experts out there have ever been in gunfights, and even fewer have studied real gunfights to see how things really work out when the bullets really fly for blood.

There are more misconceptions out there than I can cover in one article but the one that probably gets to me the most, even over all the caliber wars that rage interminably in the print and cyber media, is the nearly universal acceptance that shooting a miscreant “center mass” with ________(fill in your favorite make, model and caliber) shooting _________ (fill in your favorite ammunition) hyper speed truck killer is practically guaranteed to get the job done.

[Erik Latranyi]

there are a whoooole bunch of common folk who have successfully stopped their attackers with small calibre old rustbuckets with only one or no shots fired..

The point of the article is to never assume anything in a gunfight until you have clearly ended the threat.

[SargeK]

Murphy’s second law of internal ballistics; Recoiless ain’t really, like, recoiless. It may be recoil, less...

[Erik Latranyi]

The head may be a difficult target, but if you have already shot the chest twice without effect, you think the 3rd time will do the trick?

As the article clearly states, nobody knows what it might take to stop the perpetrator. Assumptions do not end gunfights.

[Erik Latranyi]

What's juvenile about understanding that if your facing an opponent who most likely has body armour on...

If the perpetrator has body armor on, that means he is better prepared will most likely win the gunfight.

[Erik Latranyi]

How many gunfights have you survived?

Well, if I have not survived all of them, then you are posting to a dead person.....or didn't you think that through before typing?

[Erik Latranyi]

Well, sometimes folks who pick a bad time to open fire on LEOs can get hit many many times — though 106 seems like half the police department is on scene spraying and praying.

IF I remember the incident correctly, the police only had shotguns and pistols. Nobody had a decent rifle that could have ended the incident quickly.

[Erik Latranyi]

He says even the cops are now training 2 to the torso then one to the head...are you saying he’s wrong?

Yup.

[Erik Latranyi]

Way to set off a fecal matter storm.

That's why I like the article. The author starts off trying to dispel all the crap that is dispensed as information, but people still post it around here.

[scottdeus12]

“He says even the cops are now training 2 to the torso then one to the head...are you saying he’s wrong?

Yup.”

Well, tell that to the Police and Military Trainers once your done chastising everyone here...

[Mad Dawgg]

I was always taught that 'Aimed" head shots are used in three (and only three) situatuions. "Close" Sniper shots (target is sitting and not moving much) and "Close" kill shots wherein you have downed the target and it can't fight back, and finally when its all you can see.

Rest of the time its aim where the target is widest, shoot fast, move fast and reload faster!

[ichabod1]

This guy claims that head shots are unreliable as the skull is difficult to penetrate. Apparently about the only thing that will take someone out IMMEDIATELY is hitting them in the upper third of the spine. Even lung or heart shots may not take them out fast enough to prevent them from returning fire. But isn’t that the point of a high caliber, exanding round. You want to hit them with something the weight of a sledgehammer. Knock them down while mortally wounding. Fire plenty, but avoid finishing shots - they are frowned upon.

[GonzoGOP]

Recoiless ain’t really, like, recoiless. It may be recoil, less...

True, the video didn't show if he actually hit anything. Just a guy pop up over the top of a berm with a 75mm, then a whole bunch of dirt flying around behind him.

Goes with Murphy's other military law. If it looks stupid and works, it isn't stupid.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Showy, cool, and economical."

We can stop posting now.

Laz wins this thread!

[SargeK]

Couple of simple but good rules there.

Don’t be there in the first place.

Understand the difference between concealment and cover.

The best weapon is the one you have at hand.

The best place to shoot the enemy is wherever you can hit him.

The correct number of shots to fire is the one that gets you out alive.

[erman]

Best place to shoot - whatever you can hit.

Best gun to use - whatever you’ve got. (Bad guys don’t usually wait for target a

analysis/acquisition and weapon selection.)

you have the best post so far. I think you should shoot till you run out of ammo or the threat runs away or runs out of blood.

They are confusing center of mass with point/shoot. I think once you make a decision to shoot then you pull, point and trigger pull is the key.

IIRC most fights with guns last less than 4-5 seconds and are within 6 feet.

I like to shot IPSC but that's just me.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Don’t be there in the first place."

And I'm thinking if I pop two to CoM and he is still moving then I should revert back to rule one and seek to disengage!

[ichabod1]

TV constantly perpetuates that “Bang bang you’re dead” nonsense that gives the public no insight into what the killing and dying process is like.

[SargeK]

A wise move.

[GonzoGOP]

Understand the difference between concealment and cover.

That one can't be emphasize enough. Hollywood makes people think that a car door or a 3/4 inch layer of sheet rock is going to stop an AK-47. The only parts of a car that will stop a bullet is the engine block and trans.

A car door = concealment.
20 ton concrete planter = cover.

[B4Ranch]

Come Cutie, tell us “How many?”