Armed Service Handgun Technique

[OIS]

I realize that most of the military do not conceal carry. I am curious if there is a universal method in our military of handgun control. Weaver, modified Weaver stance. Targeting. Reloading, Gun retention, etc.

[X-ffdo]

Well, lets see. My GI 45 manual is from circa early 1960. I think that has not changed much, For CQC they used to teach a variation of Applegate's Point Shooting, rather than Sight Shooting, some recent studies point it as a better, more instinctive, effective method at short range. Most handgun fights happen fast and at short range. Bull sights don't shoot back. I ended up using it out of necessity. It is all like caliber wars, lots of theory. Everyone has a different opinion. Do not know if it is taught at present
The 1911 type was carried by the military with an empty chamber. Military personnel, like MPs were adept at one hand racking, using the rear sight, which were not ramped (Ramped sights, like Novaks, are a "bill of goods" in my opinion, they are ramped so that the gun will not snag when you holster it. It should be the other way, You do not want it to snag when unholstering, that is when you need it for business) I prefer the rear sight in a single action pistol to have a square configuration, you can catch it on your belt, the seem of your pants, pocket, etc and rack it with lightening speed. It works like magic. The square sights are now installed in the Kimber SIS. Someone knew what they were doing and reason prevailed.
Other countries that used the Browning Hi Power, another single action, were doing about the same.
Maybe someone here will update us.

[X-ffdo]

Did a little internet digging.
try Force Science® Institute, Ltd. and search for study number 66.
Also AIMED Point Shooting or P&S For Self Defense
These studies used data obtained from hundreds of LEOs encounters where firefights ensued, as well as studies with participants that knew very little about shooting a hand gun, who were given guns for the research at pistol ranges, with very basic instructions for safety. They utilized data from FBI research. For example, no holsters were used when the new participants of the studies performed at the pistol range, as most criminals do not use holsters, etc.
Have fun!!

[Quietpi]

I had to change MOS's several times, and carried a .45 in two of them (armor and medic). I always qualified easily, but never had any training regarding rapid deployment. The holsters weren't designed for rapid deployment, only as convenient and secure means of carrying the weapon. There was nothing in any manual that I ever got that even discussed deployment.

A teacher I had in junior high school told us boys once that he had carried a .45 in the Army. He said that the holsters had a small leather step inside, and the purpose of it was so that you would draw the weapon half way, then hook the front sight on the step and push down, thereby cycling the slide. He said that they got pretty good at it. So when I first saw a .45 holster I looked, and sure enough there was small piece of leather sewn in just as he said. But when I was first issued the holster and weapon, and tried it, all I did was just about rip the holster apart.

The tanker's (shoulder) holster had nothing of the sort. And all the holsters were right handed. That didn't help anything.

Maybe MP's and the like got more training in the line of deployment.

[paul0660]

The 1911 type was carried by the military with an empty chamber.

I always thought so. It never made sense to me that John Moses Browning intended Condition 1 to be the method of carry.

[X-ffdo]

If we ever meet, I will be glad to show you.
It will happen fast, like lightning!
A couple of years ago we went to the shot show, I was wearing blue jeans stile pants. I showed the person I was with how we used to do it. A smile and look of wonderment came over this individual's face. It is so simple it is almost an oxymoron. The thing is though, usually someone has to show you, like monkey see monkey do.
I used the rear sight against the side of my upper leg, by the area of the pants where the pocket seam joins the seam that runs down the leg, you lean forward in one sudden move while pressing hard against the upper leg and, snap it. Voila! it happens. We were taught to do it while driving a car, using the right leg pants, left hand on steering wheel. You can use any surface that has a right angle, like a table, bottom of your shoe ,etc. Can not do that with a ramped sight. The theory went, if you lose usage of a hand in a fire fight, you can rack the slide single handed. it works!
Now with the advent of DAO guns for law enforcement it is gone from training. Mine was more of a paramilitary environment. I personally, to this day, will avoid buying guns with ramped rear sights, a bunch of BS, a marketing gimmick that could cost you dearly, in my book!. My opinion!
Ps. Using a military gun belt is a perfect set up to perform a single handed "racking" as well.

[CA PI]

My NEC (yea, I was Navy - The Marines are looking for a few good men... They found them, Navy Corpsman!) was 8404 - Combat Corpsman and my issue weapon was a handgun, at least on paper (I was friends with the Armory Sergeant). I started with a 1911 and then transitioned to the M9. We were trained to carry with an empty chamber on both, but were never trained on rapid deployment. But I am familiar with the method X-ffdo describes and agree with 100%, very easy and very fast, it was what my Gunny taught me and what I use to this day.

[Jarhead1978]

CA PI - Well I know who to yell "Corpsman" at now...

When I was in the US Marine Corps (M.O.S. of 0311 and 0331) late 1970's to early 1980's/ Beirut Era Marine here.

My 'Guidebook For Marines' - 1978 edition, does not show anything as to tactical use of the Colt 1911A1 pistol. I always did qualify as a Pistol Sharpshooter, missing the Pistol Expert by just a few points, at each range qualification. I seemed to have the same problem wirh rifle qualification/ with Rifle Sharpshooter on my USMC Dress Blues.. Now years later, I feel that I am a much better shot. Even with a weapon that I am not familar with, that is equipped with either fixed or target sights..

At the times when I was assigned to interior guard duty, and was issued a Colt 1911 with a full flap leather holster on a web gear pistol belt. We always carried our weapons with an empty chamber, as per the "Orders Of The Day". There was no training on "quick deployment", of our issued weapons. I also was shown the "trick" with the Colt 1911, as to chambering a round by one of my 1st 'Corporal of the Guard' in charge of us snot nosed green as grass P.F.C.'s - way back in the day.

[X-ffdo]

Yeah, back then we had muscle cars, no cell phones and no breast implants. The real thing!

[Ken_In_Colo]

In the Navy, standing PO of the Watch (mid 60's), we had 1911s. The Navy must not have trusted us b/c we stood the watch w/o even a magazine in the gun!