Dave Arnold: Shoot a Handgun A Manual for South African Men and Women on how to Shoot a Handgun Chapter One: How to Use this Book The purpose of this book is to help the reader learn how to use his, or her, pistol safely, effectively and within the law. This will not be achieved by reading through this work once and then returning it to the bookshelf to gather dust. The book should first be read through to get an overview of the subject even though there may be certain aspects that may not concern the reader. Each chapter that is applicable to the reader's needs should then be studied and what has been learnt put into practice on the range. The sequence of instruction follows that is used by the author in teaching police and civilians how to shoot a handgun. It is important to follow the same order as the more advanced techniques should only be attempted after the basics of pistol shooting have been thoroughly mastered. Obviously, those aspects that the reader will not use can be skipped. None of the methods of shooting described in the pages that follow are new. All are accepted techniques of shooting and, where there is more than one method, all have been described with their pros and cons. Here the reader must experiment and decide which method suits his, or her, needs best. All too often writers on pistol shooting tend to be dogmatic in their views on what are the best weapons and shooting techniques. In most cases what they recommend may be best for them but not necessarily everyone. While on the subject of shooting techniques, those who are only interested in learning how to defend themselves with a pistol should select the simplest technique possible. For those who intend to put in the necessary practice, the more advanced methods may well appeal and, while they may take a little longer to master, the time taken to learn them is invariably well worth it. Hopefully, the reader will be able to obtain instruction from either a shooting club or a professional instructor. In most instances, at least one of the shooting styles described will be taught by the instructor and the book can be used to supplement such instruction. Although the sporting side of pistol shooting is covered, most of the book has been devoted to the defensive aspects as the majority of readers will probably be interested in learning howtoprotectthemselves.Itisindeedunfortunatethat,inspiteofallthetechnologicaladvances, the world seems to be becoming a more dangerous place to live in. International terrorism knows no bounds and violent crime is on the increase. The result is that many citizens have a need to possess a handgun as a means of protection but, regrettably, very few gun owners have any idea of how to use their weapons safely, let alone effectively. Of the few that do, most are enthusiasts. Unless one is prepared to learn how to use a handgun, one is better off without one. 1 This book is rarely aimed at average handgun owners and, if it assists them in becoming proficient in the use of their pistols, the time spent in compiling this work will have been more than justified. Chapter Two: Handguns and How They Work Some of the terminology used to describe the various types of handguns and their component parts will be new to most beginners, and unless understood, much of what is written in this book will be completely meaningless. Having at least a basic knowledge of pistols and how they work is necessary before learning how to handle and shoot them. Perhaps the easiest way of doing this is to look, very briefly, at the history of firearm development. It is not certain who first invented firearms and used them as weapons in battle. Gunpowder was known in Europe before 1267, being mentioned in the writings of the monk Roger Bacon, although there is some evidence that it may have been in existence as early as 846. It is also possible that gunpowder was known to the ancient Chinese, and used by them as a weapon of war, probably in the form of a rocket guided to the target by being fired from a bamboo pole. The first firearms were very simple, being no more than a tube, closed at one end. Gunpowder was poured into the open end and a ball or some similar missile was rammed down tightly on top of the mixture. Gunpowder has the characteristic of burning extremely rapidly and, when a glowing ember or coal was inserted down a small hole at the rear of the tube, the pressure from the burning gases was soon great enough to drive the missile down the barrel with considerable force. The early guns were made in a number of sizes, some being large siege guns or cannon used to demolish fortifications while others were much smaller an could be fired while being held in the hand. The manufacture of these weapons was extremely crude and often they were more dangerous to the user than to the enemy. To be of any real value as a weapon some means of making firearms available for immediate use had to be found. It is probably true to say that the subsequent development of firearms is as much due to finding better methods of igniting the powder as anything else. The great improvements in the designs of guns has invariably occurred only after a better system of ignition has been discovered. The first attempt at devising a firing mechanism was the 'matchlock' which consisted of nothing more than a device for holding a glowing taper that was forced into the hole at the rear of the tube - now called the barrel - by means of a lever type of trigger. While it was a better method of firing a firearm, it had the disadvantage of always having to ensure that the taper or wick was burning. The 'wheel-lock' was the first method of creating artificial fire in the form of sparks and was probably first used in Germany about 1515. The mechanism consisted of a wheel which was wound up against a spring somewhat similar to that of a clock. When the trigger was pulled, it 2 caused the spring tension to rotate the wheel against a flint and the sparks that resulted ignited powder in a pan over the hole in the rear of the barrel, firing the weapon. The method of using a flint was further improved with the invention of the 'flintlock'. Here the flint was held in a device called a 'cock' (because it resembled a cockerel's head) or hammer. To fire, the hammer was pulled back, or cocked, against a strong spring and held in place by the trigger. Pulling the trigger released the hammer causing it to fall, striking the flint against a piece of metal known as a 'frizzen' which caused sparks to fire the weapon in the same way as the 'wheel-lock'. The inventions of the wheel-lock and flintlock permitted the general design of firearms to be improved. The weapons became lighter, better made and stocks to fit against the shoulder made them easier to fire and shoot. Guns that could be held in the hand came into existence during the 15th and 16th centuries and were called pistols. It is thought that the word originates from the Italian town of Pistoia, where many hand-held weapons were made from the year 1540 onwards, although it might also come from a French word meaning pipe. Today the word pistol is used to describe any firearm that can be fired with one hand. The word handgun is also used to describe such weapons. The accuracy of pistols and shoulder weapons was much improved when, during 1500, German gunsmiths began to cut spiral grooves inside the barrels of their guns which became known as 'rifles'. Before, the inside of gun barrels, called bores, had been smooth and rifling greatly improved both the accuracy and range of firearms by causing the missile or bullet to spin when it left the barrel. Ironically, one of the greatest advances in ignition systems was due entirely to the efforts of a Scottish clergyman, Alexander John Forsyth who, in 1807, registered a patent for his percussion cap. The invention consisted of a small metallic cup containing fulminate of mercury, a chemical compound which explodes on impact. Forsyth used a similar type of lock to the Flintlock except that the percussion cap was placed over a small protrusion in place of the pan near the rear of the barrel. When struck by the hammer the fulminate of mercury exploded, driving a flash of flame down the hole in the centre of the nipple to fire the powder inside the barrel. The percussion cap not only made firearms more reliable but was quicker to load and fire and paved the way for repeating firearms. For centuries the design of a reliable repeating firearm had been attempted without success. The first multi-shot firearms simply had additional barrels and firing mechanisms fitted but they were both heavy and cumbersome. An early repeating handgun was the 'pepperbox', a pistol with a single firing mechanism that served a number of rotating barrels. Once again the size and weight of the design killed it. The principle of having a revolver chamber had been known for some time prior to 1800 but it took Forsyth's percussion cap and the ingenuity of a young American inventor, Samuel Colt to produce the first reliable revolver. In 1836 Colt patentedhis revolver designand,althoughdifficultyinmarketingthemwasinitiallyexperienced, he improved on his design and was soon producing them for sale throughout America and Western World. 3 Colt's name has since become synonymous with revolvers which have changed little over the years other than minor improvements to the original design. Colt made use of a large drum or cylinder which held five or six separate chambers containing percussion cap, powder and bullets. The cylinder was placed between the hammer and the rear of the barrel and, by cocking back the hammer, the cylinder rotated enough to bring a loaded chamber in line with the barrel. The weapon was fired by pulling the trigger and then had to be re-cocked to repeat the process. This method of having to cock back the hammer for each shot is known as 'single action shooting' and revolvers that use this type of mechanism are called 'single actions'. When Colt's patent expired others turned to manufacturing revolvers but he was still able to remain ahead in the field of firearm manufacture. This was due mainly to Colt revolvers being well made, accurate and reliable even though they were mass-produced. Although his name will always be linked with the revolver he was ahead of his time in many other ways. He foresaw the value of mass-production as well as the need to have a contented labour force. For the latter, he ensured that his factories were well planned and comfortable to work in as well as providing his employeeswithmanyotherbenefits.DuringtheAmericanCivilWarhiscompanyturnedoutvast quantities of revolvers and other arms for the Union Forces. He died in 1862, aged 48, while devoting all his energies to the cause of the Union. His revolvers were popular, not only with the soldiers of the Union army, but also the Confederates who considered any Colt revolver snatched on the battlefield a prize worth its weight in gold. One of the main improvements to Colt's single action revolvers was the double action. This mechanism, which permitted a revolver to be fired by just pulling the trigger, was introducedto Englandin 1851by RobertAdams. He producedvery strong,solid-frame revolvers which he further improved by buying patent rights of Frederick Beaumont that allowed them to be fired single action as well. Double action revolvers, which are sometimes called self-cockers, raise the hammerand turn the cylinderby pullingback the trigger. Thisallows them to be carried safely and ready for instant action. Although they are a much better design than the single action, it was only after the turn of the century that their true value as defence weapons was realised. Most modern revolvers can be fired either double or single action. Inthe1850stwoAmericangunsmiths,HoraceSmithandDanielB.Wessonperfectaself- contained cartridge. In 1856 they bought the rights to manufacture revolvers with the cylinder chambers bored right through. Ironically they obtained this patent from a Colt employee, Rollin White, and when Colt's patent rights expired in 1857 they were in a position to manufacture cartridge weapons until 1869. Their first cartridge was a .22 short rimfire, little different from that of today. They were later able to make larger centre fire cartridges and both of their designs are basically the same as modern cartridge ammunition. The rimfire cartridge, which today is very popular in .22 calibre, consists of a copper or brass cartridge case, open at the front, which has its priming compound spun into the rim of its base. The case contains the powder and the open end is plugged by the bullet. The centre fire cartridge is basically the same except that it has a percussion cap, called a primer, fitted into the centre of its base. Both are fired when either the rim or the primer are struck by a pin, known 4 as the 'firing pin' that is fitted to the front of the hammer. Modern ammunition has a lot of terminology. As already mentioned, the percussion cap of a centre fire cartridge is called a primer. The cartridge case is often referred to simply as case although some call it brass. The bullet head is usually called a bullet or abbreviated to heads. A bullet can also refer to a complete cartridge although the more common term used is 'a round'. Calibre determines the diameter either of a bullet or the bore of the gun that fires it. In handguns, calibres range from the smallest of .22 to .476 and can be measured in hundredths of an inch, eg, .22 or in millimetres, eg, 9 mm. Although rimfire refers to ammunition with the priming component spun into its base, rounds may also be rimmed or rimless. The former refers to ammunition that has its base protruding above the diameter of the case and is used in revolvers. Rimless ammunition has its base parallel with the case with just a groove cut into the rear and is used in semi-automatic weapons. If a pistol is being bought for self protection, some idea of the potency of its ammunition should be obtained. As regards accuracy, a modern well made handgun will deliver far greater accuracy than most people can shoot. It is quite possible to hit a man-size target at 100 metres and some of more powerful pistols can be shot at greater ranges. The old Colt percussion revolvers were surprisingly accurate up to great distances. Even though handguns are accurate, since most attacks occur at very close range, often at night, there is rarely time to fire a well-aimed shot. For this reason a handgun bullet must have sufficient power to bring an attacker down even if a fatal wound has not been inflicted. The ability of a bullet to do this is called 'stopping power'. Stopping power or knock-down power, as it sometimes is called, depends upon the velocity (speed) that a bullet travels, its shape, weight and calibre. The physical and mental state of the attacker is also relevant. A soldier would be difficult to stop during the heat and excitement of battle, while a person who is shot unexpectedly, may drop to the ground from shock even though the wound may not be fatal. The placement of the shot is also important. An attacker who is hit in a vital area that proves immediately fatal will be effectively stopped, regardless of the size of the bullet. Usually a hit in the trunk area of an assailant will put him down, even if not fatal, provided a bullet of reasonable calibre is used. There is much argument as to which calibres are best for defence and, as there are so many factors to consider, it is difficult to come to any definite conclusion. The most extensive examination into this aspect of ballistics science of moving projectiles) was carried out by the US Army in the early part of this century to try to establish which was the best bullet for military pistols. Tests with every type of pistol ammunition then available indicated that the weight and calibre of bullets were more important than velocity. It was established that the best bullets for defence were those of the calibre of .41 and above. 5 Sincethentherehavebeenconsiderableadvancesinammunitiondesignandmanufacture. There are now various bullet designs and shapes that provide alternatively, good penetration or knockdown power, depending upon what is required. The magnum calibres are very powerful rounds that provide both penetration and great stopping power. As a general rule, the minimum calibres suitable for defence are .38 special for revolvers and 9 mm for semi-automatic pistols. Anything less will not guarantee stopping an assailant. After the introduction of the self-contained metallic cartridge Smith and Wesson formed acompany thatproduced manyfine revolvers.These wereof thebreak-top ortip-uptype, having a frame that hinged in the middle which, when broken, ejected all empty cases simultaneously and was very quick to load. This type of design is still fairly common in revolvers, particularly those made by the British firm of Webley and Scott. After Smith & Wesson's patent to manufacture cartridge revolvers expired, Coltproduced their famous Model P Single Action Army revolver. This was adopted by the American Army in the early 1870s and became the most popular revolver in the Wild West. It was the favourite choice of all the famous Frontier characters and its popularity continued well in to the 20th century. Its success was due to its simplicity, balance and ease of handling. Colt continued to make the Single Action Army, also called the 'Peacemaker' or 'Frontier Six Shooter' up until the beginning of the Second World War. After the war the demand for this revolver was so great that Colt were forced to bring it back into production and it is still made today. Towards the end of the 19th century double action revolvers became popular and both ColtandSmith&Wessonproducedseveraldesignsthatculminatedinthesolidframe sideswing types that are still produced in various forms today. These revolvers have the strength of a solid frame yet can be quickly loaded and unloaded due to the cylinder swinging out to the side on a crane. An ejector-rod is provided to help remove the empty cases. Most modern revolvers follow this design and, although the revolver is an old design, it is still a very good defence weapon because of its reliability, simplicity and speed in which it can be brought into action. Thefinalhandgundevelopmentwastheinventionofself-loadingorsemi-automaticpistol. Unlike the revolver, which relies upon the mechanical operation of pulling the trigger to operate it, these weapons used the recoil generated by the firing of a round to reload them. The first reliablesemi-automaticpistolwasprobablytheGerman'broomhandle'Mauser.Thiswasfollowed by the famous German 9 mm Parabellum Luger, which was introduced into the German army in 1908. In 1911, resulting from the ballistic tests already mentioned, the US Army adopted a semi-automatic pistol in .45 calibre that was designed by John M. Browning and manufactured by Colt. This weapon which rivals the single action Peacemaker revolver in popularity, is one of the most reliable handguns ever made and has formed a basis on which many subsequent self- loading pistols have been designed. 6 Semi-automaticsofthisdesigncarrytheirammunitioninaspring-loadedmagazinewhich is inserted into the bottom of the weapon's handle or butt. With the exception of the barrel, the top portion of the weapon, called the slide, moves backwards and forwards on rails. When the slide is pulled fully to the rear, the magazine spring forces the top-most cartridge up so that its rim is caught by the bottom of the slide as it moves forward. This pushes the cartridge forward into the breach of the barrel. When pulling back the slide it also cocks the hammer back to engage the trigger. On firing, the forces generated by driving the bullet down the barrel cause the slide to move back, withdrawing the empty case and ejecting it, re-cocking the hammer and reloading a fresh round on the forward movement. This will continue every time the trigger is pulled until all rounds have been fired. The most popular descriptive term for self-loading or semi-automatics is just 'automatic'. While the term is, strictly speaking, incorrect (automatic weapons fire continuously until empty as long as the trigger is pulled back), it will be used to describe these weapons throughout the remainder of this book. Quite popular are the large variety of small hammerless (they do not have an exposed hammer at the back) pocket automatics. These are usually made in calibres of 9 mm and less and are designed to be carried in the pocket. All of the automatics that have been described, are of the single action variety. Like the revolver they can fire only if the hammer is fully cocked to the rear. With a few exceptions, the Colt .45 Automatic being one, these weapons are unsafe to carry cocked with a round in the chamber. In 1929 the German company of Karl Walther produced the first double action automatic and they followed this just before the war with their famous P 38 pistol in 9 mm that was adopted by the German Army. Like a double action revolver, the trigger of these pistols raises the hammer when pulled back. This allows the gun to be safely carried fully loaded with thehammerdown.Afterthefirstshot hasbeenfireddoubleaction,theremainingroundsareshot single action. Double action automatics have become quite popular since the Second World War and a number of different makes are now being produced, particularly in Europe. The safest are those that permit the hammer to be lowered by applying the safety catch which can also be placed on safethroughouttheloadingandunloadingprocedure.Thereare somewhichhave adouble action trigger but require the hammer to be lowered by hand from the cocked position. In addition to the advances in handgun and bullet design that have been described, improvements in the metals used have allowed for much more powerful ammunition to be chambered in some guns. In recent years greater use of light alloy metals has been made to conserve weight, although this is not always as desirable as might be thought. To prevent the danger of rusting, a number of revolvers have also been made in stainless steel. Apart from this, there has been little radical change in the design of revolvers and automatics since the Second World War and those available today have been well and truly tried and tested. 7 Chapter Three: Choosing a Handgun Such a wide variety of pistols is on the market today that choosing the right handgun for one's needs is no simple task. The majority of people who buy handguns want one for self- defence but, unfortunately, many end up with a weapon quite unsuited for this purpose. Of those who have made the right choice a large percentage are shooting enthusiasts who usually go to any length to get what they want. As good handguns are becoming very expensive, it is desirable to choose the right one first time, particularly if it is wanted as a means of protection. In deciding which type of handgun to get for self-defence, a choice has to be made between a revolver or an automatic. As to which of these weapons is the best for this purpose is a constant source of debate between experts and enthusiasts who favour one over the other for a variety of reasons. To listen to all the arguments that have been put forward in support of revolvers or automatics can be very confusing to those who have only a limited knowledge of firearms. It is also rather pointless as, when the pros and cons of each type of weapon are looked at dispassionately, there is very little to choose between them. In the end, personal preferences probably influence most experts and enthusiasts in their final choice of handgun. Enthusiasts will invariably find ways and means of reducing any disadvantages their weapons may possess, either by training or modifying the weapons. As the amount of practice of the average gun owner will probably be considerably less, there are a number of factors they must consider when choosing a handgun. These do not necessarily apply to experts and enthusiasts. In selecting a handgun, one needs to adopt a rational approach, taking into account all the advantages and disadvantages of each type of weapon. These must be weighed against one's own personal circumstances and needs. A comparison between revolvers and automatics reveal that they have the following advantages and disadvantages: Double Action Revolvers Advantages Disadvantages 1. Simple to load and unload. 1. Limited cartridge capacity (65 or 6 rounds) 2. Safe to carry fully loaded. 2. Slow to reload, unless speed loaders are used. 3. Very reliable. Not rendered 3. Grips not always comfortable to inoperable by defective ammunition. hold. 4. Can handle very powerful ammunition. 4. Slightly more difficult to learn 5. Simple and quick to get into action. to shoot. 8 Single Action Automatics Advantages Disadvantages 1. Large cartridge capacity (8 to 18). 1. More complicated to load and 2. Can be reloaded quickly if spare full unload. magazine available. 2. Unsafe to carry loaded ready for 3. Usually has comfortable grips. immediate use except in the hands 4. Compact and easy to conceal. of a well-trained shooter. 5. Easier to learn to shoot. 3. More prone to malfunctions if dirty or poor grade ammunition is used. Double Action Automatics The double action automatics referred to is the type equipped with a safety which, when applied,lowers the hammerwithout firingit. Thesehave thefollowing additionaladvantages and disadvantages. Advantages Disadvantages 1. Safe to carry fully loaded. 1. Slightly more difficult to fire 2. Safer to operate than single actions first round. because safety can be applied before loading and unloading. The advantages and detractions must be matched against the following considerations. Price The price tag on a handgun is probably the most important consideration in most people's eyes. Good handguns do not come cheaply but, if you are going to stake your life on one, it is better to pay a little more and get a well-made, reliable weapon. A good revolver or automatic will last a lifetime, while a cheap one may fail just when you need it most. It is possible to obtain a good secondhand pistol but, unless you know what you are about, you could burn your fingers. Safety One of the most important considerations is obtaining a handgun that you can handle safely, taking into account how much practice you will be able to do. Regular training on the shooting range means you can consider one of the more sophisticated weapons like a single action automatic. On the other hand, if your practice will be minimal, then choose the simplest, safest weapon you can lay your hands on like a good double action revolver. These weapons are 9 easy and simple to load and unload while the long double action pull permits them to be carried safely with a fully loaded cylinder. They are in fact, almost completely foolproof and, without intending any disrespect, their simplicity is one of the main reasons why they have been the favourite choice of many police departments for so long. The medium and small frame revolvers are a good choice for women who can learn to handle them safely in a very much shorter time than it would take with an automatic. In spite of the fact that revolvers are more difficult to learn to shoot, women learn to master the long double action pull in a surprisingly short time. Thesingleactionrevolversarenotreallysuitableasdefenceweapons,beingslowtoshoot after the first shot. Loading takes longer and they are not as simple nor as safe as a double action. They should be considered only as a 'fun' gun and suitable for the enthusiast. The safest automatic is the double action, provided it has a safety catch that, when applied, lowers the hammer without firing. Although, like all automatics, loading and unloading is more complicated, it is safer with these weapons because the safety catch can be applied beforehand. Like a revolver, they can be safely carried fully loaded, provided the hammer is at rest. Some authorities argue that these pistols are hard to shoot because of having to change from double to single action after the first shot. This has been rather overplayed and, like the double action revolver, can be mastered with practice. The fact that a number of police forces, as well as some armies, have adopted them should be proof enough of their being a worthwhile proposition for defence. In the past, single action automatics were considered dangerous to carry with a round in the chamber and cocked ready for use. This certainly applies to most of these automatics and tot he small pocket pistols in particular. In recent years there has been growing support for certain of these automatics that have efficient safety catches as being the ultimate in defence handguns when carried 'cocked and locked' (fully loaded, round in chamber, hammer cocked and safety applied). Without in any way detracting from the merits of these pistols, it must be stressed that a considerable amount of practice is needed if it is intended to carry them on one's person in this condition.Duringthe1977WorldPracticalPistolChampionshipsthatwereheldinRhodesia,two seasoned competitors had accidental discharges during one stage of the tournament and I personallyknowoneoutstandingpistolshotwhoaccidentallyshothimselfinthehandintraining. These examples are quoted simply to illustrate the fact that the carrying of cocked and locked automatics is for experts, not novices. Being ready for immediate action is only really necessary if the gun is to be carried on one's person. Guns used for home protection do not have to be stored cocked an locked as there is usually sufficient time to get a round in the chamber. If a smaller automatic has to be carried, it should have the magazine inserted but chamber empty. This is the safest way of carrying these weapons and can be used even for those automatics that may be carried cocked and locked 10