Thread: Five Gunfighting Tips for Criminals

Five Gunfighting Tips for Criminals | The Truth About Guns

We here at TTAG are concerned that economically disadvantaged, legally challenged shooters are misrepresenting the marksmanship skills possessed by the majority of the firearms community. Every single day we hear about gun battles where criminals fail to hit their target, even at close range. Obviously, bad strategy, improper weapon and ammunition choices and poor training are to blame. To help correct these deficiencies, TTAG offers these helpful hints for gun slingers wielding weapons beyond the letter of the law. Let’s start with weapons choice . . .

1. Use the biggest gun you can find

Rifles are easier to get than crabs, but you can no more conceal a rifle than you can hide a hard-on from Rhianna. So get a handgun. A BIG handgun. ‘Cause that’s some scary *** bubblegum. And the bigger the gun, the bigger the bullet (larger bullets are more stable in flight than small ones).

Also, handguns are like fine wine; they get more accurate once they’re fully broken in (as long as you don’t pamper them too much). A really big, really old gun is the perfect combo. Just make sure you don’t hold the gun too tightly; recoil can really hurt and, more importantly, mess up your aim. Alternatively . . .

2. Use the smallest gun you can find

The element of surprise always favors the guy with the small gun. (If nothing else, they’re harder to see in the dark.) The bullets from a small gun f you up just as bad as the bullets fired from a bigger gun, which are usually the same bullets anyway. So why not keep it on the down-low?

Remember: small guns don’t do jack unless you pull the trigger really hard and really fast and you’ve got a really hot load (a lot of powder and a large caliber bullet). A snub-nosed 38 (named after the year it was invented) firing .357′s is the ideal set-up. It may take a little extra effort to get big bullets into a small gun, but it’s worth it!

3. Double up!

If you shoot two guns—one in each hand—you double the chances of hitting your target. While it might be cool to have two of the same guns like some Old West gunfighter, you’re much better off with two different types of guns: a revolver in one hand and a semi in the other. Revolvers never fail and semis never need reloading.

Don’t forget that different bullets do different things: small bullets go really fast and big bullets make huge holes. Get two different caliber bullets and fire both at the same time. Safe!

4. Cant the gun

Turn the gun sideways. Sure, you can’t use the sights when the gun’s tilted, but most combat shooters don’t use sights anyway (they call it “instinctive shooting” or “point shooting”). Besides, using the sights screws up your eye line. You want to be able to stare your victim in the eyes before you shoot them. Sometimes they literally freeze with fear, making them an easy target.

5. Don’t practice

Training ranges are monitored by the ATF, FBI, DEA and CNBC using real-time video links to local and state police. Even worse: the signal’s processed by computers with advanced facial recognition software. If you practice at a gun range even once, the prosecution can use it as proof of premeditation.

Why bother practicing anyway? Shooting a gun is ridiculously easy. If a stupid redneck can kill a deer with a rifle, you can take out a rival gang banger with a handgun, no sweat.

I’m sure TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia have other handy tips for gunfighters whose selfless pursuit of income redistribution means they need to keep it real on the street. I’ll leave you with one bonus tip: most guns kick upwards when you fire them. If you want to hit what you’re aiming it, push the gun’s nose down as you shoot. You can thank me later.

This is the kind of informationI was looking for. Now I can be ghetto tacticool.

Going back to my beer then, Thanks. Like my wife says, "Honey you don't need to clear the place again. That's the dogs job."

You forgot-

#6: Don't waist your time buying an expensive holster

Why buy a holster when simply tucking the gun in your waistband will work. No retention straps means faster draw on even the most experienced of shooters. Also, placing the barrel next to your "twig and berries" means that you might not have to pay for that court-ordered vasectomy after all!

I never thought about all the money I could save on guns by firing .357's from a 38. That's nice to know.

And 38's aren't named after the year they were invented. They are named after the number of gang bangers you can kill with one shot.

Originally Posted by Riot

You forgot-

#6: Don't waist your time buying an expensive holster

Why buy a holster when simply tucking the gun in your waistband will work. No retention straps means faster draw on even the most experienced of shooters. Also, placing the barrel next to your "twig and berries" means that you might not have to pay for that court-ordered vasectomy after all!

Commando Carry......

Over the years I have seen some pistola's advertised with hair on the front sight.....

OH so much the OP left out...put something in the barrel to keep dirt out!!! A foamy earplug in the chamber will ensure the gun works when you really need it such as when the homeowner confronts you!

I'm learning alot here - thanks. Since revolvers never jam and semi-autos never run out of ammo, they should make a semi-automatic revolver.

Wow, I've learned so much just from this thread. - Thanks all.
Since revolvers never jam and semi-autos never run out of ammo, how come they don't make semi-auto revolvers?

Originally Posted by DootyBeet

Wow, I've learned so much just from this thread. - Thanks all.
Since revolvers never jam and semi-autos never run out of ammo, how come they don't make semi-auto revolvers?

ACTUALLY... they do.

I know the top one is a Mateba, what is the bottom one? A Nagant?

Originally Posted by Riot

I know the top one is a Mateba, what is the bottom one? A Nagant?

lol no. It says right there on the frame: Webley Fosbery Automatic. A very interesting weapon, the entire top half of the frame slides back to cock the hammer and rotate the cylinder.


The Nagant revolver, while it does use an interesting mechanism, is not automatic.

Originally Posted by spengo

The Nagant revolver, while it does use an interesting mechanism, is not automatic.

Isn't the Nagant the only revolver that can be fitted with a silencer due to the sealing cylinder?

YouTube - Silenced 1895 Nagant revolver (NFA)

Here is a GREAT new sight option for all you Glock lovers!!!




Doc Z

"Train continually; and continually pray to never have to use your skills"

ha. this is some funny stuff.

i remember reading somewhere that gang bangers shoot better the cops because.....? something the FBI looked into i think.

Originally Posted by motohead185

i remember reading somewhere that gang bangers shoot better the cops because.....? something the FBI looked into i think.

I read that too, and it was an "official" article. It talked about the bangers putting in a lot of range time as part of their way of life. IIRC the comments were made by the FBI?

Originally Posted by Gunner3456

I read that too, and it was an "official" article. It talked about the bangers putting in a lot of range time as part of their way of life. IIRC the comments were made by the FBI?

It wasn't necessarily because they would put in more range time as much as they would basically try to get as much rounds on target as fast as possible. This kind of mentality is basically a game of playing the odds, whereas the more bullets you send towards your target means a higher likelyhood of hitting your target.

Although crude, it can be effective- especially when you are the first to get your gun out and start shooting before the other guy even knows what is going on.

Although many organized gangs do actually encourage practicing with their firearms, most seldom do. Many of their "practice" is basically a trial by error methodology (shoot at people until you hit them or do a constant driveby until you get a desired effect). Any practice that any "thug" does perform isn't done in a classroom with an instructor, but out in BFE picking up bad habbits and poor techniques.

However, they learn lessons in the field and are a lot more experienced with dealing with the stress involved in the actual shooting confrontations than your average LEO. Most LEOs have probably never fired a gun outside a controlled environment.

So, what can be learned? Shooting at static target in a range is good, but it a means to an end. You need to have more hands on training and do more realistic scenarios that envolve multiple and moving targets. Force on force training with non-lethal firearms is invaluable training that can only be surpassed by being shot at by actual firearms.

Paintball and Airsoft training should be considered apart of any LEO training plan. Experiencing the stress envolved with force on force will prepare them more than their foes.

Originally Posted by Riot

It wasn't necessarily because they would put in more range time as much as they would basically try to get as much rounds on target as fast as possible. This kind of mentality is basically a game of playing the odds, whereas the more bullets you send towards your target means a higher likelyhood of hitting your target.

Although crude, it can be effective- especially when you are the first to get your gun out and start shooting before the other guy even knows what is going on.

Although many organized gangs do actually encourage practicing with their firearms, most seldom do. Many of their "practice" is basically a trial by error methodology (shoot at people until you hit them or do a constant driveby until you get a desired effect). Any practice that any "thug" does perform isn't done in a classroom with an instructor, but out in BFE picking up bad habbits and poor techniques.

However, they learn lessons in the field and are a lot more experienced with dealing with the stress involved in the actual shooting confrontations than your average LEO. Most LEOs have probably never fired a gun outside a controlled environment.

So, what can be learned? Shooting at static target in a range is good, but it a means to an end. You need to have more hands on training and do more realistic scenarios that envolve multiple and moving targets. Force on force training with non-lethal firearms is invaluable training that can only be surpassed by being shot at by actual firearms.

Paintball and Airsoft training should be considered apart of any LEO training plan. Experiencing the stress envolved with force on force will prepare them more than their foes.

Here's what I read. Make of it what you will.

"Among other things, the data reveal that most would-be cop killers:

* show signs of being armed that officers miss;
* have more experience using deadly force in “street combat” than their intended victims;
* practice with firearms more often and shoot more accurately;
* have no hesitation whatsoever about pulling the trigger. "If you hesitate," one told the study’s researchers, "you’re dead. You have the instinct or you don’t. If you don’t, you’re in trouble on the street..."

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