Hip Shooting

[jyl]

Here is a fairly typical scene from a movie. Bond shoots Dent at 1:17.

https://youtu.be/Ono-pu9ON6I

In this scene, and countless others, the shooter fires “from the hip”, without bringing his firearm sights or even its barrel to his eyes. His single shot is placed so that the victim is immediately killed, or close enough - Bond does then shoot the immobile Dent in the back for good measure.

I wonder - can this actually be done? Can an experienced shooter actually fire from the hip with enough accuracy for a one shot “kill” at close range, or something close to it?

As I shoot at target ranges, I have never been able to really try this. I “think” I could probably hit a stationary person “somewhere”, if they were close enough and I was somehow in a mental state such that shooting a person was like shooting a paper silhouette (which, granted, and hopefully, I’m never likely to be). But I can’t imagine I could actually fire accurately.

Anyone have any experience with hip shooting?

[herr_oberst]

I don't know about hip shooting, but in the comments under the above video someone wrote
(after a discussion about the solitaire game Bond is playing))

"he's killing time until it's killing time"

And then someone else wrote:

"Who are you, the man with the golden pun?"

And I laughed in spite of myself.

Back to the thread.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by jyl

Here is a fairly typical scene from a movie. Bond shoots Dent at 1:17.

https://youtu.be/Ono-pu9ON6I

...

That scene as depicted is entirely believable (ID'ing the pistol from a distance, counting the shots fired and the shooting of the villain).
But it's a skill that requires lots of practice which is also realistic for a specialized professional spy.

Do you remember when Woody Harrelson's character got shot in "No Country for old men"? We never saw the aftermath but it was a similar setup with both actors sitting down (a silenced shot gun was used by the assassin).

If you want a real challenge try shooting a shot gun standing up from the hip at a beer can more than 10 yards away.

[KFC911]

I "shoot from the hip" ALL the time .... but only on PPOT .

I've never done it with a rifle, shotgun, or pistol ... much less "fanned" one like Little Joe or Clint does.

But like Steph Curry swishing 35' jump shots .... a VERY few can ... Higgins posted some videos on a similar thread a few years ago ... forgot the guy's name.

So when Josey asks ... I'm just gonna "Whistle Dixie"

[id10t]

Yes, but not with a pipsqueak 32 mouse gun Bond carries. back when I shot IPSC and the early versions of IDPA there were stages where either all the shots or even first target or two only were from the hip. Look on you tube for folks doing the El Presidente drill

Key is a bit of practice and using your elbow(s) to keep the gun in position relative to your body and then square up with the targets using your body position to aim

Even easier with a shotgun/carbine/SBR type

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by KC911

I "shoot from the hip" ALL the time .... but only on PPOT .

I've never done it with a rifle, shotgun, or pistol...
{Snip}

When I was in HS my older brother would take me shooting in the country. I liked using my father's short barrel pump shotgun loaded with slugs.

I recall this one outing... With the words, "watch this," my brother pulls the shotgun to his hip, pivots, and fires, all in one quick motion. Problem is, the recoil drove the butt of that gun into his crotch as hard as a mule kick.

You know, it's hard to look cool when you're rolling around in the dirt holding your balls. I'm probably going to hell for laughing, but it was pretty funny.

[Steve Carlton]

You could see the slide lock back in the empty position after the 6th shot. Bond knew Dent was empty simply because of the make of the gun? Is it 5 in the magazine plus one in the pipe? Would that gun click with the trigger pulled and the slide back? Anyway, it was an execution.

Dent clearly felt the second shot in his back with his arm going back.

I'm going with Bond being a well-trained, good shot...

[Eric Hahl]

I don't know the answer to the question but I remember seeing this video years ago and thought, no way!

[Steve Carlton]

^ That's amazing. The guy is a total douche, but his skills are supernatural.

Always liked this Marty Robbins song (and many others).

[911 Rod]

When I was a kid I was very good at shooting from the hip with my single shot Coey while pushing through thick bush for Grouse and Hares.

[Steve Carlton]

Cool expression in our lexicon.

[911boost]

I did a couple day course on what was called "Fist Fire", if I remember the name correct in the early 2000's. Was a shooting technique where your drew from your carry position and then shot as your brought your weapon up to the sight picture. Firing a couple times from the hip as you moved up.

We did thousands of rounds and by the end I could hit a paper plate sized target accurately at 10 yards.

Was developed by an ex green beret guy for close quarter defense, as you were putting rounds down target faster. Good in that specific situation, but not something I have kept up training on.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

I wonder - can this actually be done? Can an experienced shooter actually fire from the hip with enough accuracy for a one shot “kill” at close range, or something close to it?

Yes, but I believe you have to actually practice.

[masraum]

Not exactly the same, but...

[jyl]

Ah yes, practice and experience.

https://youtu.be/I4fTKmbtu8E?si=1uUVReS40S_UxoBL

Early in his career, Bond brought his pistol up to his eyes, or close to it. He shoots at 2:44. Of course he was still earning his Double-0 at this point.

[Mike80911]

At firearms training for the NYPD they do teach shooting from the hip, but only during close contact with the perp. With the non shooting hand being used to keep some distance between yourself and the perp. But never used if not in close contact. Today all of the criminals in movies shoot with the gun sideways and if you see actual shootings all of the criminals seem to have adopted this style. I will stick to using the sights and making the shot count.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Mike80911

At firearms training for the NYPD they do teach shooting from the hip, but only during close contact with the perp. With the non shooting hand being used to keep some distance between yourself and the perp. But never used if not in close contact. Today all of the criminals in movies shoot with the gun sideways and if you see actual shootings all of the criminals seem to have adopted this style. I will stick to using the sights and making the shot count.

The video that I posted above is a technique for exactly what you described. The guy doing the training in the video was a Narc and police trainer, IIRC. He teaches "close quarters combat" among other things.

[flipper35]

Jelly Bryce was good from the hip.

[matthewb0051]

Barney Fife was very good at hip shooting:

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

^ That's amazing. The guy is a total douche, but his skills are supernatural.

I'll assume you never met Bob.

Bob was a showman, at least when the cameras were rolling. Off camera, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to go so far as to even call him "shy". A man of few words in person. Quiet, humble, and quite reserved. I had the pleasure of meeting him several times when I was younger. Always willing to help, give advice, and just shoot the breeze. I think like many such men, the camera made him nervous, since he didn't know what he was "supposed" to do, so he took on the persona seen in his many videos.

I had one SAA tuned by Bob many years ago. The difference between it and the off the shelf Colt was quite noticeable. Alas, with no real "need" nor justification for such a "fancied up" revolver, and with values skyrocketing when Bob passed, I sold it. And bought three others with the proceeds. Still, in retrospect, I wish I hadn't done that.

Bob was the "real deal", no doubt about that. He'd did win all those championships and set all of those records he claimed to have set. Massive respect and admiration in the shooting world. I felt very, very privileged to have had the opportunity to have met him.

So, ummm, yeah - calling a man a "total douche", whom you have never met, based on a few minutes of video says far more about you than it does about him.