PMCI - March 2021

GALATI .50 BMG WEAPONS CASE
TO COMPETE OR NOT
This time our good friend Paul Hutchinson, founder of ARG Associated Risks Group based in the
UK, joins us to look at some considerations in answering the question as to whether completion
shooting benefits you in the more tactical role. Paul is a former Police Officer and Firearms
Instructor and has worked with some of the world’s elite forces; he also still works as a Security
Consultant so we firmly believe that his advice will help you to discover current “best practice”.
Over the years I’ve listened to many people argue
over the use of Practical Pistol competition
shooting training techniques in the real world of
firearms training. I have to say if we can’t take
the experience from the practical circuit and then
use those basic skills in real-world, something is
wrong.
Think of it like this, when you pick up a 1911 or a
new gen Glock 17, they are both different pistols
from different era’s. The reality of it is the way in which we
engage the target, stance, grip and the sight picture we use, are
the same. The way in which we manipulate the trigger has not
changed. Some pistols have changed a little but not the way we
use them (exceptions to red dot sights etc, as generally most of
us are issued with factory weapons)
The fundamental basics have never changed and Practical
Pistol looks at how they can use those basics, combined
with economy of movement, accuracy and speed to get the
fastest time. Can we take a lesson or two? Can we learn from
continuous progression mastering the art? Yes, we can.
Whenever I get on a range and I haven’t fired for some time, I
like to go for my fastest, most accurate shots cold! No warm up,
no practice....! I like to see where I am, my ability.
Because this cold shooting is a reflection on how I will be on
the day of the race.
Then the better I am in practice, when it comes to a real
world contact and I’m under the adrenaline rush, tunnel vision,
auditory loss and everything else that we experience, means
that a millisecond better and an inch more accurate might
be the difference between success and failure, life or death!
Anyone in any sport at the top of their game will tell you the
same thing, that the basics and practising the basics is the key
to being successful.
Now my gripe is there is always someone trying to come
up with a new “Gucci” way to shoot, the introduction of some
YouTubers and glossy magazines and everything else in the
world in which we consume everything and spend billions of £$.
This means that marketing campaigns and product placements
are there to make you believe that this new fantastic bit of kit
is gonna make you shoot better.
Well, no... Training will help you shoot better. The kit and
equipment will help you maintain, carry, secure and conceal
your firearm. That said some kit does give you a degree of
confidence in knowing it’s a great bit of kit. But, I don’t know
any piece of kit that can grip, draw, obtain a sight picture and
manipulate the trigger squeeze. That bit is up to you.
Stay safe.
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