Things movies and TV teach us--shooters never aim right...

from JoeUser Forums
So I sat and watched the new Superman movie (which, like others, I thought was pretty good) and was reminded of the stupidity of many people in the business of using guns to protect and serve (i.e., police officers), at least as depicted in the movies and in television.

Have none of these people ever played Quake or Unreal Tournament as an example? Do they not understand the value of the HEAD SHOT?

Seriously, I don't get it - you see setups in movies like these, and you also see in real life (such as the case some time back when some clowns out in North Hollywood (depicted in the made for TV drama: 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out)) where the bad guys "armor up" in full body armor of some sort and leave just a little vulnerable area to shoot at.

Personally, I wish that the weapons trainers would teach more individuals the extreme value of "the head shot", or perhaps the "bullet in the eye" shot. One bullet, no fuss, no muss. No worries about bullets bouncin' off armor. Just one shot to put everyone out of their misery, most especially the perps.


What about it peeps? Am I being stupid here? Perhaps a bit overly simplistic....
14,441 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
By the way, some what in answer to the last questions I raise above, I know it's a bit simplistic to think that aiming for a perps eyes would work, but I swear there are too many times when it seems that the people that are protecting what seems to be every area of their persons aren't protecting the important part - their heads. To me it just seems natural to aim where you see flesh, and if it's right in the eye, then so be it.

Of course it might help to be using weaponry with the nice red dot laser aiming assist, but still, if you are a marksman of any value, then you should be able to aim properly and hit what you are aiming at.


Just sayin'
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know I've never sat through, or observed a defensive shooting class that didn't teach to aim center mass... The logic is, the biggest part of the target gives the biggest chance of hitting. Of course, I've never been through, or observed a defensive shooting class that concentrated on precision aiming either.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know I've never sat through, or observed a defensive shooting class that didn't teach to aim center mass... The logic is, the biggest part of the target gives the biggest chance of hitting. Of course, I've never been through, or observed a defensive shooting class that concentrated on precision aiming either.


That's what I take the biggest issue though Parated2k, I know what you are talking about, and it is what is taught -- demobilize a target and aim for center of mass. That flys out the window though when you are staring at someone that is covered in full body armor.

I guess it comes back to the idea that peace officers should be shooting to wound and incapicate a target, but to me the best incapicatation is when a target is laying on the ground suffering from a mortal wound to be cranium.

I suppose another reason for aiming at somewhere other than the head is the idea that the skull is there and the bullet may be slowed or deflected by the bone. That may be true, but again goes back to the idea of aiming at the eyes. Target the soft flesh and get the job done cleanly.

In anycase, as you point out, it really doesn't matter as most shooting classes don't really bother to make sure the persons taking the classes actually learn to aim properly.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I suppose another reason for aiming at somewhere other than the head is the idea that the skull is there and the bullet may be slowed or deflected by the bone. That may be true, but again goes back to the idea of aiming at the eyes. Target the soft flesh and get the job done cleanly.


I've seen too many bullet scars in the right and left walls of PD practice ranges to ever hope for such precision shooting. Center mass is taught because that is the best most PD, Security or even Soldier can hope for. ;~D
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
In a gunfight, first and foremost, you are going for Stopping power, not kills per se... Unless your walking around wearing b-52 armor plating (though walking might be a bit hard with that on...) getting hit in the chest, even with a bullet proof vest on is going to knock your ass flat and out of commision for a good bit. Yes the vest may stop the bullet from hitting your flesh, but the power of the impact is still going to be distributed onto your chest mainly. Even such a small object, when travelling at such great speeds hits you, it's going to have a LOT of force behind it.... picture maybe a steroid'd up baseball player hitting you full power in the chest with a bat... it's going to knock the wind out of you good.

In all my range testing, for a 9mm and the rifle, I've rated expert, (top navy marksman) and they still always say go for the chest because you want to disable them first, then worry about killing if needed... disabled means non combantant and they won't fire back.. and since hitting the chest is easier and will still knock em out of the fight for a good bit it's the better bet.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
The thing with the movies is that they don't want the gun battle to be over. They want the action scene to last longer than a bullet between the eye so therefore they have to shoot and miss or make the non-fatal shots so they can keep on fighting it out.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Reply By: M-Post

What he said!  beat me to it!  Trust a Navy man!

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hahaha... easier said than done! I know an example of a cop who had a guy in his back seat who managed to BOTH wiggle out of his cups AND produce a small handgun and both bad guy and cop went down the road blazing a way at each other and miraculously BOTH missed EVERY shot fired! Firing a gun ain't so easy if the target's firing back!
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Firing a gun ain't so easy if the target's firing back!


I learned that just from playing paintball. Firing at a stationary target and firing at something that's firing back are waaaaay different. And, like others said, the head is actually a pretty small target.