Do you incorporate "searching & scanning" into your shooting exercises?

[protective measures]

Who here practices a version of "searching & scanning" during their training exercises after the initial "threat" is down & why is it so potentially life or death critical?

What do you consider to be the best method to do it in most cases?

 

[DaveTheMinion]

I have my wife call out random objects and then say shoot/don't shoot or call a different object. Sometimes shell call out am object that I dang near have to crouch down to find (under a bed or something) and then a scan before holstering. My wife has a lot of fun doing it.

 

[StateLine]

Yes. Its been so deeply ingrained in me that I often do it without realizing it.

 

[DaveTheMinion]

Will told us about a Leo that was involved in a fire fight while protecting his daughter. He was trained on one attacker and when that threat was over, he reholstered, not seeing the second attacker that killed his daughter. I've also heard it breaks the tunnel vision and allows you to think.

 

[Ken Ford]

Very important, but hard to ingrain in your mind. Meats drill sounds pretty good! And fun too!

 

[spavent]

I learned from Andy Stanford a concept articulated by Lyle Watt when asked by young marines "we know how to shoot what's the deal with gunfighting?" He answered we fight, check it we have to fight any more, check if we have to fight anyone else and prepare to fight again. This developed into MOVE FASTTT M= Move F=Fight, Flight or Freeze A= Asses the primary threat S= scan for other threats T= take cover (if you didn't do that in the initial MOVE) T= talk to partners / bystanders T= Top off weapons T= Tend to wounds and I've added a T= Talk to 911 (but don't say to much) Think this through every time you shoot and ingrain it as under stress you will most likely revert to your programming.

 

[Gunfighter]

No I do not

 

[fcs2178]

Scanning and covering is an integral part of my shooting routine. It helps break tunnel vision, spots potential threats and keeps you from holstering immediately. Many shooters want to holster immediately after shooting. Just because the bad guy is down, doesnt mean he is out, he has that massive adrenalin dump that you also do. Cover your target and scan for a few seconds to adress the situation.

A good drill is to have some one stand behind you and hold up a certain number of fingers or even a "red gun". When you see the red gun you know its time to re-engage the target. If you dont see a red gun, finish your scan and holster. You cant do that drill in a busy range, but if you can get some good alone raange time its worth trying it out. As with everything, the tactic isnt for everyone, but give it a try. It may just be the right tactic for you.

 

[protective measures]

In our civilian classes we tell them to always assume there is one more threat than the one(s) they see, and while they have to deal w/ them first, as soon as it is safe to do so, gain "visual command" of their environment looking for additional threats whether they are in the form of another bad guy or guys... or responding Law Enfor. Officers who see YOU as the threat since you are the person holding the gun while they are responding to a "man with a gun" or "shots fired" call.

It's amazing how often one of us will stand behind them holding a knife, dummy gun, cellphone, whatever & they will look right at you & never "see" what they were looking at.... especially when the stress is cranked up a little.

 

[gran torino]

I have my wife call out random objects and then say shoot/don't shoot or call a different object. Sometimes shell call out am object that I dang near have to crouch down to find (under a bed or something) and then a scan before holstering. My wife has a lot of fun doing it.

hope your talking about your weapon.....