Barricade or Cover Shooting – Preferred Method?

[kilogulf59]

As of late, I have considered the options available for firing from cover i.e. a doorway, large tree, vehicle, etc.

My query seeks one or two simple procedures of shooting from a barricaded position. The techniques sought should be ambidextrous and, as stated, straightforward. Concern over off-hand side shooting, in this case, stems from the position that one never knows from which side of cover they will have to engage.

I am sure you knowledgeable and experienced individuals have at least a few preferred methods.

[Brownie]

Stand back from the barricade, tree etc about one arms length with your feet. Peek the corner looking for threats by pushing off with either foot [ the ball of the foot pushing off is opposite the side you're going to shoot or peek ].

My preferred is two handed barricade with the strong hand either side using the above. Went through two seperate swat entry/search schools and used the above for both all week.

Prefer to peek low on one knee and shoot standing but you can reverse these as long as I don't peek from the same height twice in a row.

I'm not much for switching hands and prefer to stay with the strong handed shooting unless forced to do otherwise.

[Gunslinger808]

As Brownie said stay back away from the cover/concealment you are using, if you're right up on it you actually expose more of yourself when you come around the side to shoot.
I also keep the same grip regardless of which side I'm shooting, I do however use whichever eye is closest to the side I'm shooting.
If you use your right eye to shoot left side your exposing pretty much all of your noggin to the BG.
Another trick is to plant the knee of the side you shoot from, that way you don't inadvertently stick your leg out from behind cover.

[Guantes]

I agree with what has been said including staying back from the cover, switching eyes and keeping the outside leg in. I prefer to change hands and eyes. I don't like the inside hand being the primary hand because of the bend in the wrist, just personal preference.

[Brownie]

I don't like the inside hand being the primary hand because of the bend in the wrist, just personal preference.

G, Thats understandable shooting the cannons you use;)

[Guantes]

MOI:o

In the interest of consistency (also affected by the economics of reloading) I have eleminated all .38s from all my practice and now shoot nothing but .357s.

[sweatnbullets]

As said before, "do not crowd your cover." Not only do you leave yourself open for exposure, you are more likely to take a ricochet. I prefer at least two yards and as far out as is logical.

I do it two ways depending on the situation, they can also be done in conjunction with each other.The first is from kneeling, the second is while standing. The distance, difficulty of the shot, height of cover, and the desire to be instantly mobile are factors to take into consideration.

I used the outside eye along with the outside firing hand. The kneeling technique as pretty much been described. The outside knee is planted the inside leg is used as a counter balance as you lean out. The only thing that should be visable to the adversary is the muzzle and the outside eye. Watch the outside elbow, tuck it tight to the body. Do not lead with the gun!

While standing I use a technique called "pressing out" it is very much like the kneeling and works in conjuction with each other very well. The outside knee is bent as you lean out to see what needs to be seen. This is a clearing method along with a shooting behind cover method. The height of the head can be changed with the depth of the knee bend, all the way down to kneeling.

Here is what you need to do to check your technique.

Get a training partner and have him stand seven yards or so down range.

Get in position behind your cover and work to get a bead on the adversary, with red/blue guns.

As you do this have your training partner call out when he sees you and what he sees. The goal is to have nothing exposed but the muzzle and the eye. (the area right around the outside eye)

For those that prefer to stay dominate side only. When you are clearing to the non-dominate side cant the hand gun to a 45 degree angle to the non-dominate side. This will mitigate your exposure by pulling in your non-dominate side elbow and shoulder.

Test your findings in FOF.

[kilogulf59]

Thanks guys for the information...now in the notes and I will be conducting some training as soon as I'm up to it.

Any more advice...don't hesitate to post.

[Dave James]

Never crowd the barricade,,shrapnel can and will hurt you and stop the function of said weapon

[Low Drag]

Never crowd the barricade,,shrapnel can and will hurt you and stop the function of said weapon

Not to mention you can get your weapon grabbed if you're too close. It also takes longer to get back behind cover if you have to retract your weapon and then go back behind cover if you're too close.

Saying back makes sense for a lot of reasons. Oh, it's not easy either. :D
Being close to cover gives comfort when taking incoming. Staying back can take some effort.

[sweatnbullets]

Shoot around your cover....not over your cover. If your adversary mashes the trigger and the round hits low, you could take the ricochet.

Hoods of cars are notorious for this.

[Brownie]

Shoot around your cover....not over your cover. If your adversary mashes the trigger and the round hits low, you could take the ricochet.

Hoods of cars are notorious for this.

Yes, no sense in becoming a "popup target":D if you go over the top :eek:

[Guantes]

Not to mention that car hoods are conducive to leaning over which has lead to the unfortunate demise of more than one, wearing a vest when the opponent's projectile went in over the top of the vest.