Self Defense - Pistol Primer (Part 6)

After Action Assessments:

     Air Force pilots have good advice too, “Check your six.”  FBI statistics make clear armed opponents more often than not come in multiples.  Just as well trained shooters need to understand the importance of movement to winning a gun fight; they also need to know not to re-holster their pistols too soon, lest they fall prey to an attacker’s accomplices.

     Two additional positions need to be understood by the shooter to ensure effective and competent after action assessments.  The first position simply lowers the pistol out of the shooter’s line of sight when using either an Isosceles or Weaver Stance and is referred to as the Low Ready (see figure 21).

Figure 21, Low Ready Position

From the Low Ready, the shooter can scan left and right of the original target, and then clearly re-assess the downed threat.

     The other position is a relative newcomer to the firearms training world, but effectively answers the longstanding problem of how to adhere to Rule #2 while moving with a drawn pistol in close proximity to others.  The Sul Position gets its name from the Portuguese term for “south.” 

     In the Sul Position, the pistol’s muzzle is directed toward the ground, yet away from the shooter’s own body due to the fact the pistol is rested upon the flat back of the support hand whose palm is in turn rested upon the upper abdomen.  The other important index point to emphasize in the Sul Position is the mating of the support and firing hand thumbs…print to print, if you will (see figure 22).

Figure 22, Sul Position

     From the Sul Position, the shooter can effectively and safely scan 360 degrees after having assessed threats to his front from the Low Ready.

     Note.  After the shooter has scanned left and right of his original target from the Low Ready, he should bring the pistol to the Retention Position; decock; assume the Sul Position; and then scan starting from his support side direction a full 360 degrees back to the original target (if at all possible, never turn in the direction of your firing hand, as the weapon is more vulnerable to a disarm when it is lead with).

     After the area has been scanned; the pistol should be brought back up to full ammunition capacity if needed (Tactical Reload); Low Ready reassumed; the shooter should scan (by glancing his eyes downward), the front of his body to ensure he’s not been injured; and only then is the weapon slowly re-holstered keeping eyes downrange (and all retention devices re-secured).