Is this a viable way to aim a handgun?

I shoot that way a lot... a real lot.

A bit more across my chest, not so slouched forward but otherwise very much like that as far as the arms/elbows are concerned. Always works very well for me when applicable.

I assume he's got his head so low because of rockin' those RayBans.

For what it's worth, they were still teaching us this as an alternative at a place called Mott Lake on Ft. Bragg in the 80's. Cracked us up. What you can't see is the "off" hand deliberately held across one's chest in part as a protective measure.

Not 100% sure, but it looks like he's simply using a rather exaggerated version of the old Weaver stance. His strong arm is dead straight. The support side elbow is often quite bent like that. You don't see much of it any more so it looks a little strange to a lot of today's shooters, especially when pictured from an odd angle.

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If you'll look closely at some of his gun scenes, he has the gun and his head canted so that the sights align with his left eye...suggesting that he's cross-dominant...and also that he's possibly had experience shooting pistols in that manner.

ApacheCoTodd said:

A bit more across my chest, not so slouched forward but otherwise very much like that as far as the arms/elbows are concerned. Always works very well for me when applicable.

I assume he's got his head so low because of rockin' those RayBans.

For what it's worth, they were still teaching us this as an alternative at a place called Mott Lake on Ft. Bragg in the 80's. Cracked us up. What you can't see is the "off" hand deliberately held across one's chest in part as a protective measure.

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Mott Lake. Now there is a name and place I have not thought about in almost 30 years. I know you must have experienced a lot of fun and games there. The 1980's were a time of great transition in training techniques. Some top IPSC competitors like National Champion John Shaw were contracted to train extra special Sneaky Petes at Ft. Bragg in new shooting techniques.

1911Tuner said:

If you'll look closely at some of his gun scenes, he has the gun and his head canted so that the sights align with his left eye...suggesting that he's cross-dominant...and also that he's possibly had experience shooting pistols in that manner.

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I agree with 1911Tuner.

The pic in post #29, to me, really shows that he cross eye dominate. That, an exaggerated stance, and camera angle all combined to make that pic.

I've noticed that cross-dominant shooters tend to lift their strong-side elbow and keep the gun closer to their bodies.

He's definitely cross-dominant and he's probably a shooter.

I don't know what the actor is trying to do, I have not seen the show or the sequence. But...

The position he seems to be in is a valid one when moving in close quarters, meaning moving from place to place in an apartment, hallway, etc. (close quarters) where one can expect to see a target soon. The gun is held close to avoid hitting a door way, wall, person, etc. and close to resist a grab at the gun. It's possible to make a quick turn without the gun being at arms length, etc. It allows for looking over the sights or the gun for a quick flash sight picture or rapidly for an aimed shot.

So I can't critique the pic of the actor what it seems he's doing is what I described above and is useful in that situation.

tipoc

IMDB has the answer, apparently.

Is right-handed but left eye dominant, evident when he is shooting his pistol on CSI: Miami (2002).

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http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000325/bio

Something else not yet mentioned, he is craning his neck forward which is not only wasted motion, but also makes it appear he is holding the gun closer than he really is.

Upright head and remove cross-eye dominance from the equation and it would look like a classic Weaver to me.

Weaver works well, I used it through a 5 day course @ Gunsite without any issues. I prefer the modern ISO, but find the Weaver is better for shooting around cover and kneeling. It is nice to be well-trained in multiple stances and just flow into what makes sense for your position in the moment.

Handgun Positions

Being an "old timer", I was always taught the Olympic or target firing position. Presenting a one-handed, side-ways slender target to your opponent, gives less chances of hitting you, the presenter. This makes sense to me, since I will not be wearing body armor, as most non-law enforcement SD shooters will be doing.

I already know I am not infallible, and I'm trying to catch up with the times. The Weaver, improved Weaver, and isosceles stances all have their proper places in SD. I'm attempting to adapt them into my shooting repertoire. My life (and others') may depend on it.

I'm cross-dominant and my stance doesn't look too dissimilar to his, at least from an arms perspective. I don't tilt my head though.

On an unrelated note, my wife had the TV on NCIS-Miami (I think that's the one he's on) and he was leading a raid on some house. He was in front with his gun out and a trail of uniformed officers behind him..... Every officer had his gun pointed directly at the spine/heart of the officer in front of him and the finger on the trigger. My wife doesn't like it when I point stuff like that out.

Matt

Left handed right eye dominant

I shoot like that, and it works for me,
I also aim low and to my left / stage right and let the gun recoil move my aim up and across the center body mass of the target so I end up High right /stage left.
I don't shoot competition I just practice shooting.

I thought the Weaver / Chapman stances were combat training? not target training.

Me too. I am LED, and right Handed. I shoot pistols just like Horatio Cain in the OP, head turned sideways to line up, elbows bent a bit because it just feels more natural that way. I still manage a perfect score on my license renewals, and the cactus and milk jugs seam to yield to my will OK. I'm not a competitor, but I can generally hit what I'm aiming at.

I am so LED that I shoot all rifles lefty.

Kynoch said:

I asked about viability.

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OK, I concede this. But you did also ask "Or is this position just pure television fantasy?"


"Viability"- noun, the capacity to operate or be sustained.

Putting aside the comments on others more knowledgeable than I on the names and practices of all the various different styles of shooting stances, the strict answer to your question lies with the ability of the person to aim (and shoot) a handgun. To that end, yes...this is a viable way to aim a handgun.

Can you shoot it that way?

Sure you can.

You probably won't be winning trophies with it, but have you tried modern Isosceles with aggressive forward lean with full set of tight fitted suit?

If you see SF or some "operator" type guys in suit doing close protection detail, they might look a bit goofy in suits. That's part of the reason why. It's not tightly fitted.

I was taught the Weaver Stance over 50 years ago and Horacio's stance appears to be a kneeling variant I've sometimes used. Weaver has since been superseded by more "protective" stances, but as far as accuracy is concerned, it works well for me and many of my old fart revolver buddies. Semi autos too in fact.

I also drive a straight shift pickup truck, love the buck and roar of a big bore handgun and prefer cooking my food in an oven that produces no microwave radiation.

TestPilot said:

Can you shoot it that way?

Sure you can.

You probably won't be winning trophies with it, but have you tried modern Isosceles with aggressive forward lean with full set of tight fitted suit?
.

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Naw... I cant seem to master the double lutz triple salchow in my undies yet so I aint even going to try a modern Isosceles with aggressive forward lean with in a tight fitted suit.

I'm left eye dominant, if shooting handguns with my right hand and the target
is anywhere to the left side, my stance would look a lot like that picture.
Dave

There are many people who are shooting from the Chapman, but mistakenly call it a Modified Weaver...although, I guess that would still be technically correct

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Two things going on here. One, Ray Chapman was not as high profile in the popular press as Col Cooper and his endorsement of the Weaver. Two, Ray Chapman said he would rather not have things named after him, since he was not the only user.
By whatever name, it works for me if I have the freedom for it. I find myself in kind of a squished up Weaver when pieing way far around a right barricade, with the gun closer to my face than is really best for accuracy. I pulled a -3 at IDPA doing that last weekend.

Presenting a one-handed, side-ways slender target to your opponent, gives less chances of hitting you, the presenter.

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This was a subject of debate when bad manners might get you an invitation to "pistols for two, coffee for one" some fine morning. Blade yourself to the opponent to minimize the target. And ensure that if hit, you will have a pistol ball through both lungs instead of one.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to reply to Deaf Smith on Post #31 "That's Cooper but that ain't no 1911. I am shocked!"

The pistol appears to be a Korriphila HSP which Cooper liked on the basis of its quality and customized configuration. At the time, they would sell you about anything you wanted on operating mode and controls. Of course Cooper said he would specify .45 SA with thumb safety and he would have the slide stop on the right side "out of the way." Bear in mind that Cooper maintained you could learn to reload when the magazine was empty but a round still in the chamber. His only use for the slide stop lever was disassembly.

For tight quarters, like a a skinny hallway, or going around a sharp corner, the close to the nose grip has been taught as a viable technique.

I'm left eye dominant, if shooting handguns with my right hand and the target is anywhere to the left side, my stance would look a lot like that picture.

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Must be because of the Weaver stance. The difference in "stance/sighting" is very subtle when I watch the better cross dominate shooters. Heck, I shot a two day match squadded with one of the better known shooters and I didn't even know he was cross dominate until years later.