I was recently talking about how I was really liking the 10mm lately and wanting more options for it and a LGS clerk/ninja matter-of-factly stated it didn’t matter what I shot him with, I’d still be dead when he got to me and before he succumbed to his wounds.
That assumes I’m going to just stand there and let him kill me and not fight back, but it also addresses that if someone is determined, there’s fight left after being shot.
You were in life threatening situation and the other person drew first on you and survive ? Please do tell.
I wasn’t sure about sharing, but here it goes...
This was in Iraq - I shot two AK wielding Iraqis with 9mm NATO from an M11.
It was unpleasant, but the sake of sharing what pistols do and don’t do to people, one guy took two to the torso, two more to the torso and one to the upper lip. He stopped immediately at that last shot. The other guy, two to the torso, two more to the torso and one to the cheek/face/side of the head, the the rest of the mag to his his torso. I’m not going to pretend whether I know or not that every round was a great hit, but the second guy, he had at least five rounds in his chest, one in his face and was still moving on the ground, crying.
Had either or both of the guys started shooting faster than they did, kept advancing, had some fortitude, they could’ve easily killed me. I’ve never been shot in the chest and most people haven’t, so it’s honestly a little phony to say that you can shoot me, but I’ll still get you and you’ll die. Anyway, that was a scary reload, although I didn’t need more rounds at that point. I think they were mostly just scared, having run into me as they were attempting to flank another position, before they realized they were being shot up.
It was scary then and still is to think about now. At least I didn’t freeze up, poop or pee my trousers, and I hit what I needed to. It’s nothing good bourbon and some self-reflection hasn’t fixed, mostly.
My takeaways?
Handguns are a last resort and comparatively weak.
Don’t over-rely on other security. The young national guard soldier supposed to be pulling security for me was behind cover, cowering, with an M4 while I engaged rifle carrying guys with my sidearm. You can only really ever count on yourself.
You might just default to your training. For me that was controlled pairs, failure drills, and strings of five or more for targets that need it. Had I not practiced drawing and controlled pairs a thousand times, I might be dead.
Be able to physically defend yourself when it happens - had those guys reached me, I would’ve had to fight with a knife or hands. That’s exhausting for in shape people. It’s impossible for out of shape people against in shape people. Would’ve been easier at 23 than now in my mid 30s and later at 45/55/65+.
Don’t discount the psychological impact of harming other people and don’t let violence become your default as a problem solver.