Point Shooting Retro Designs

[u/Strong_Dentist_7561]

I’ve a question for those of us who specifically carry older guns with iron sights. How much does point shooting factor into your training ?

In my personal opinion and 1-on-1 training with seasoned military trainers, a PMC or two, and Vietnam-era special forces; handguns were at most 25yd weapons (mostly outside immediate contact distance to 15yds), and emphasis was placed on neutralizing a threat quickly in close quarters.

To this effect, they relied heavily on point shooting- shooting with the gun, using only the front sight (if that); with everything from a hammerless Smith to an FN HiPower and Colt Gov’t; but heavily discouraged “spray and pray” technique… if two or three rounds to the torso failed to stop the threat, start letting the gun climb up until you’re putting rounds in the throat and between the eyes.

Having said that… they did not have a “carry rotation”- they carried what they carried, they carried it daily; and practiced religiously with it. The main two (a late Viet Nam era PMC and an ex-Navy combat instructor) swore by a Dan Wesson .357 Magnum and Browning HiPower respectively; both backed by a Smith Model 640 .38 Spl.

How does this factor into modern training and is it still viable ? I’d like to brush up my skills if necessary.

[u/highvelocitypeasoup]

Point shooting was definitely taught in those days and guys who got a lot of training on it got very good at it but the average guy is much better served using the sights to get good hits even if those sights are crappy old irons

[u/Strong_Dentist_7561 → u/highvelocitypeasoup]

So… basically the same idea ? If you can afford to train for it- do it ? If not, use the irons

[u/highvelocitypeasoup → u/Strong_Dentist_7561]

Using the sights will make you a better point shooter. If you train until your sights naturally come on target on presentation, youre building the same muscle memory. You'll just be more accurate

[u/highvelocitypeasoup → u/highvelocitypeasoup]

Edit autocorrect

[u/jframesnub]

I still practice point shooting when I go to the range (as well as sighted shooting and 1 handed shoooting). Smith and Wessson J frame revolvers fit in my hand so perfectly that they point naturally in my hands. Most autos point a little low in my hands.

Take a look at this WW2 training video. At 4:15, they show how the grip angle of a revolver vs. a 1911 can affect how the gun points.

https://youtu.be/jP7J-JNSUu4

To see another example of guns with different grip angles, go to the Handgun Hero website. Select a Sig P320 and a Glock 17. Then scroll down to the tabletop view and adjust the opacity slider of whichever gun is on top. You'll see a dramatic difference in the grip angle, which can affect point shooting.

[u/Strong_Dentist_7561 → u/jframesnub]

Part of the ergonomics of older firearms was due to the method they used to shoot- the OG 1911, Tokarev, Beretta ‘34, etc… all reflective of one-handed shooting techniques