There is way too much noise concerning tactical vs. practical competition shooting. Fact is, for a very large number of people, some form of organized practical competition is the only chance they’ll ever get to NOT be on a square range.
Ranges hosting organized practical competition are the most friendly to the idea of practicing whatever tactical stuff a person cares to work on. Where will Timmy go to train what he learned in ninja school to win a Dynamic Critical Incident (the douchebag way of saying “fight”) when all those stupid gamers get themselves killed on the street (even though this has never actually happened) and stop hosting events?
The NRA has less than 100,000 classified shooters (just under 2% of their total membership.) Name alphabet soup organizations like USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) and IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) top out at around 20,000 members each. ATA (Amateur Trapshooting Association) is the oldest and biggest discipline-specific organization at around 55,000. SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) has about the same number of members but many of them don’t participate as competitive shooters. If we’re generous, we might estimate perhaps 250,000 competitive shooters in the United States in all disciplines.
Less than this attend tactical training or shooting schools of any kind. Gunsite/American Pistol Institute boasts 75,000 total students and they’re the original and oldest, starting back in 1975. For all the noise, most schools are smaller. Many trainers don’t have their own facilities and are actually a small group (or individual) instructors with a website and an Internet following and hosting classes for a handful of people at a time at other ranges.
Let’s grossly over estimate and assume this works out to about one million semi-active shooter-competitor-trainees/trainers-whatever; people that seek out and attend at least a couple organized shooting events or classes each year. There are 80 million gun owners and 40 million handgun owners in the U.S.
Competition vs. tactical vs. hunting vs. anything isn’t the problem. Getting tens of millions of gun owners involved in something – anything – is.
Firearm User Network 
Jun 11, 2014 @ 22:07:59
The point of the following long comment is that perhaps people now-a-days are less apt to participate in competitions or join organizations, because of the time and resource commitments required, or the strong to extreme political views that are held and espoused by some organizations like the NRA.
Also, the call for the use of Sight Reliant Shooting and the need to practice bulls eye, practice distance shooting, practice drawing, practice reloading, and distant shooting, or the call to take this or that combat tactical course, may turn off people who just want a firearm for self defense purposes, and don’t care to be like a SOF operator or world champ.
The continuing acceleration in gun sales clearly shows that people are more and more interested in guns and self defense, and willing to shell out dollars to secure one or both. Perhaps the old venues and traditional ways just that and have been passed by new thinking and ways.
I made a check of the threads on TFL with the words Point Shooting in the title. 69 threads were identified. The threads that had last entries dating from 1999 thru 2005, had about a total of about 12,000 views. Those with last entries dating from 2006 to 2009, had about a total of 31,000 views. And those with last entries dating from 2009 to 2013, had a total of 70,000 views.
Alternate shooting methods and practices, are now known of, and being discussed, and used.
Went to the range on 06/09. All 6 lanes in the shooting bay I was shooting in, had shooters. And most all of them (M&W), were shooting at targets positioned out at about 15 feet. Also all of those that I observed were using a two handed grip, were clearly using the sights, and were shooting slow versus rapid fire.
On a previous but recent visit, a small frail looking old lady was shooting under the watchful eye of an instructor/coach. She was using a two handed isosceles grip and extended her arms out in front of her. When the gun was extended fully out and at or just below eye level, she fired. It was not clear as to whether or not she used the sights. Though it was obvious that she was a new shooter, there were many holes in her target set out at 15 feet, and all were COM. The instructor opened another box of 50 and I had the thought that that was probably too much shooting for a new shooter because of her age and size, and the good results she already had, but who knows what she signed up for and “agreed” to.
The method she was using was what the US Army recommends at distances under 15 feet in its combat pistol manual:
……….
QUICK-FIRE POINT SHOOTING
This is for engaging an enemy at less than 5 yards and is also useful for night firing.
Using a two-hand grip, the firer brings the weapon up close to the body until it reaches chin level. He then thrusts it forward until both arms are straight.
The arms and body form a triangle, which can be aimed as a unit. In thrusting the weapon forward, the firer can imagine that there is a box between him and the enemy, and he is thrusting the weapon into the box.
The trigger is smoothly squeezed to the rear as the elbows straighten.
……….
Here are some stats related to combat pistol shooting that bear on this discussion:
Armed encounters are rare occurrences. Police stats say you will most likely shoot one handed. You likely will not be able to use the sights or will not use them. Also, people are attacked and shot and killed at close distances. For example, if you are going to be shot and or killed, there is an 80% chance that it will be at less than 20 feet. Also combat reloads will seldom if ever be needed.
As such, for PRACTICAL TACTICAL DEFENSIVE SHOOTING, most home defenders would be well served by learning what the lady I mentioned above was using and which worked. It also requires little or no formal training. Also, learning to shoot that way with just the strong hand would also be good per the stats.
In May I took our adult granddaughter, who had shot a rifle before, to the range to shoot a real pistol for the first time. I had shown her how to shoot an airsoft pistol accurately without use of the sights by placing the index finger along the side of the gun, pointing it at the target, and pulling the trigger with the middle finger. It’s a point shooting method I am a fan of and call P&S. When using it, I stick a small shelf like finger rest along the side of the gun for placement of the index finger. It helps in supporting the gun, and to keep the index finger away from the slide when the gun is bucking in your hand when firing rapidly. One isn’t required to used, but with one, the gun will feel secure and comfortable in your hand, and it will fit like a glove.
Her first shot with a Springfield XD-S in 9 mm, which was made 2-handed at about 6 feet, hit COM as did the next 19. I moved the target out to 12 feet, and using one hand, and without using the sights, and firing rapidly, she continued to hit the target in different places as directed, and in groups of 5 that could easily be covered with a standard sized sheet of paper.
Here are links to a picture of a XDM with finger rest, and a target used with the XDM since then:
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Jun 18, 2014 @ 09:47:39
>> [T]he call for the use of Sight Reliant Shooting and the need to practice bulls eye, practice distance shooting, practice drawing, practice reloading, and distant shooting….
I post what has been proven to work best for those willing to put in the effort necessary to maximize their skills. Any normal person can do this if they’re willing learn fundamental skills and then invest 5-10 minutes per session at home, three or more sessions a week, plus 30-50 rounds in careful live practice at the range 6-8 times a year for as long as they’re of sound enough mind and body to carry firearms.
For those unwilling to put in this little bit of work to improve themselves, we’re forced to consider compromises. These compromises are not better, they only work as well as can be expected with people unwilling to work.
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