CROWDING COVER

Hollywood movies and television form, for many of us, our views on how to defend ourselves with firearms.  If we see Clint Eastwood do it, then that’s the way it should to be done – right?  Well, hopefully if you’re reading this you know better, and if not, I think you will by the time we’re done.  Let me first say – ALWAYS GET COMPETENT INSTRUCTION.

Now, let’s talk about cover.  Most people I’ve observed crowd cover.  What I mean by that is they get right “on top” of whatever is providing them protection. This creates a few potential problems:

1) In order to shoot in this position, you have to extend the muzzle of your firearm (pistol, rifle or shotgun) beyond cover. You don’t know what’s on the other side of that cover – it could be someone waiting to “borrow” your firearm.  It would really suck to be shot with your own gun!

2) If your firearm is extended beyond cover then your face must be very close to the edge of that cover.  What if someone is shooting at you and hits that cover?  Where does all that splatter go – you got it, right in your face!

3) It decreases the angle at which you can engage your target.  In order to take a shot, you have to expose yourself, lessening the degree/angle to your target.

Stay back from cover and increase your safety zone.  Try this sometime, get right up close on cover and try to engage a target, you’ll see what I’m talking about.  Also take note of how much of you really is exposed and how long and hard it is to get back behind cover.  Now, stay back a foot or two and see how much easier and safer it is to just “roll out” and engage the target, and by the way, it’s quicker.