[Jeff Higgins]

Back on topic.

After having attended a good number of shooting schools just for schitts and giggles (and plenty of those to be had), one of the most often stressed points is that there is always time for what they call a "flash" sight picture, having raised the pistol or revolver high enough to see one. The draw, especially from concealment, is the slowest part of the whole exercise. Raising the arm from your hip to eye level is done very, very quickly.

In this "flash" sight picture, all we are looking for is the front sight. At defensive ranges such that "speed matters", merely covering your target with the front sight will ensure a hit. Pay no attention to the rear sight.

As range, and therefor time increases, it becomes important to find that rear sight as well. But, well, then "hip shooting" would never enter the mind under those circumstances.

At each and every school we ran through drills to demonstrate the speed and effectiveness of these various techniques. Hip shooting was never appreciably faster than this "flash" sight picture, but it sure did make hits difficult. First shot hits count. Being the first to hit counts for even more.

Yes, granted, in a "retention" type of a situation, where there is a danger of having the perp grab your gun, hip shooting can be warranted. Stiff-arming them, Jim Brown style, with your left hand while shooting with your right. While I have never had to do any of this (and never hope to), this latter scenario is far more common than most realize. It gets a lot uglier in real life than it does on television.