Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/929822
"Tueller Drill": aggressor and shooter stand back to back. On the signal, aggressor starts to run (in opposite di- rection, going away from the shooter). In the same time shooter pulls out gun and takes shot. Drill sometimes is modified, but its primal sense is pre- served. Possible versions are for example: Aggressor hold hand on the shoulder of shooter, and signal to start the drill is moment when hand is taken. Aggressor starts to run and officer pulls out gun and fire. l Attacker runs towards the officer from different dis- tances, and task is to pull gun up and fire (to paper target) before attacker makes physical contact. l Moving target „drives on" the shooter from distance of 21 feet. Through repetition of that exercise it was by trial and er- ror it was determined how far attacker can travel before officer taking shots. And it was exactly 21 feet. Of course, we have to remember about circumstances of times when drill was created. In 1983, the standard duty weapon of most USA police departments were .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolvers, carried in external holster (open carry) and shooting skills of officers were very far from today's standards. Test itself was carried out with gun replicas and in the moment of firing there was "bang!" that stopped the aggressor. Police revolvers were carried usually in Condition 2. C2 in revolver (or SA/DA pistol) is condition closer to C1 rather than C3 (because of the round in the chamber) and for modern striker fired pistols is basically equivalent of C1. OK, so we already know that drawing a gun and taking a shot (without loading) take that much time that ful- ly-grown determined man can travel almost 7 meters… Even if we assume that reloading time is short and it can be minimized through out the training it still is additional action that has to be done in critical situation under enor- mous stress, using both hands. Of course, we can try to do this using holster or parts of out outfit, but barrel is then pointed down. It takes more time and there is huge risk of malfunction or failure. Remember that when carry- ing loaded weapon a supporting hand remains free, so it can be engaged to self-defense, repel the attack, block the punch or to push someone. In Tueller Drill significant aspects related to use firearm in a gunfight knowingly were omitted, such as fact that 1-2 point-blank shots may not be enough to stop the adrenaline or drug-fueled aggressor what would require more lead to effectively "discourage" him to go further. In extreme sit- uation even inertia force will be enough for him to reach a victim taking fatal wound. Most important elements that Tueller Drill ignores is reaction time and stepping out of the line of threat. Reaction time is result of process that is taken from the moment of ID'ing threat, through its analysis and assess- ment to taking adequate steps to counter it. It will be little different with each person and each case depending of: Environmental conditions: low light, noise, sur- rounding or direction that attack is coming from, that all can delay identifying threat; Readiness condition: we react quicker being in condition „red" than „yellow" (see: color system described in „Principles of Personal Defense" by Jeff Cooper) Personality and individual predispositions: reflex and a way that his brain will react in the situation of imminent threat, will it freeze with thought „no, that's not possible, it is not real", we fight or flee. Get off the X is immediate act of drawing the weapon and simultaneous change of the position and the distance. The priority is not a proper shooting stance as at the shooting range. We must to be on the move, to force aggressor to follow us, what will taking his out of his balance, force to change primary plan and allow increasing the distance. www.fragoutmag.com