It's time to beat feet.

Today's subject is shooting stance. There are a few accepted methods to be discussed, but before we get there it's important to note that our focus thus far has been on defensive handgunning. The wise say no one rises to the occasion, rather we all sink to our level of training. What you practice at the range will probably go out the window if you ever find yourself in a situation that you might have to shoot your way out of. Technique will be the last thing on your mind, which is why we practice skills to the point that we don't think about what we're doing. We just do it. So let's do it.

The Isosceles stance has become popular in many shooting circles these days.  It's fast, accurate, and very common in competition shooting.  Jessie, Julie and Jerry all shoot from this stance, as I showed you in my last post on grip.  As the name implies, imagine creating an Isosceles triangle with your feet and hands pointing at the target.  Your torso and hips are squared off, making it easy to quickly engage targets both left and right of center. With the advent of body armor, Isosceles has become the preferred stance for law enforcement and soldiers.  It's far better to be struck square in the vest, than be shot in the armpit.  Having said that, I don't wear body armor, nor do I go looking for a fight.  I'll use the Isosceles stance at the range, where I'm pretty sure targets don't shoot back.  Let's talk about something a bit more practical.

The Weaver stance was developed in the late 50's by Jack Weaver, LA county Sheriff's department. It's the stance you should practice for unsavory encounters, and offers a few advantages.  Simply, the Weaver stance has the body turned or bladed from the target with the left foot forward (mirrored for lefties.) This closes the body profile and presents less to shoot at. The Weaver stance also allows you to draw your gun from concealment, presuming you don't have a chance to run away.  If you have to draw and shoot, the first and last thing your target should see is muzzle flash.  Speaking again to options; the most successful gunfight is the one we avoid.  If you can run from danger, it should be considered option #1, miles ahead of shooting someone so desperate as to attack a stranger.


Rather than attempt to describe how to achieve perfect stance, lets take a look at a few pics of some doing it better than others.  It's nearly always easier to see flaws than perfection.

People seem to want to get the big loud gun as far away from themselves as possible, and it leads to "The Lean."  (note NO ear protection) The lean is tiring and makes it hard to find the right sight picture.

Better.  Lean into the gun.  Shift your center of gravity forward to better manage recoil and put your head in the right position to see the sights.

Great.  Kippi Leatham, wife of pro shooter Rob Leatham and a national Champion of her own, shows great posture.  Bend your knees, lean into the gun, head up, even when you're negotiating a flight of stairs.  Gunfights happen in the worst places, so it's a good idea to vary your practice conditions.

er, not so great...  I know it's not a handgun, but it may as well be.  Extra points for the sleeveless Canadian tuxedo, but it's kinda hard to align the sights when you can't see them.  

Um, yeah.  I hope he hits what he's aiming at, because that life jacket offers the same bullet resistance as meringue, or perhaps cotton candy.  Perhaps he should consider running for cover instead of wasting ammunition.

Come back next time when we finish up with sight picture and trigger control. They both take a minute to explain, and plenty of range time to master. Now I'm craving lemon meringue pie... Perhaps a pie crust recipe is in order. That's another post.