If you have made your way to Tyrant Designs then you likely are already an advocate of AR-15s or carbines – rifles that are shorter in length so they are more maneuverable in tight spaces. Many of us train with our carbines (which is awesome to hear), but a lot of it is static shooting. Static, meaning, you are shooting from a bench, standing still, or some other type of stationary or motionless position. If you love bullseye shooting or are simply aiming for accuracy then that is absolutely OK, but you should consider being more dynamic at the range if you authentically believe in utilizing firearms for defense. This can be more than just shooting on the move because self-defense is an unpredictable and lively event. It could be multiple targets (multiple attackers), them moving, you moving, assessing your surroundings, and the way you apply ballistic attention to threats all changes. That is why if you own an AR-15, defensive carbine practice can be very important.
So, what are some things that you are going to see in a defensive carbine course – or that you should be practicing at home – relative to traditional practice or competition shooting. For one, you need to survey your surroundings. When people talk about concealed carry or self-defense a continual topic of discussion is situational awareness. When you are doing IDPA, USPSA, 3-Gun, or other fun competition styles, you simply shoot the recommended number of targets the prescribed number of rounds, drop your muzzle off of the target, and either re-holster (handgun) or make clear (make safe) your rifle. In the methodology of defensive carbine shooting, you shoot at your designated number of targets until the threat is eliminated (until you hit the steel target or area of the paper that was asked of you). This can mean you miss multiple times, but you keep shooting until you hit (eliminate) the target (threat). In an active self-defense situation, you aren’t going to shoot at a violent attacker once, miss, and then give up… you will continue to shoot until you stop the threat. This can be a difficult thing for students and shooters to get over because no one enjoys missing or continuing to miss; they believe that is bad reps. It is a bad reputation to repeatedly miss, but it drives home the importance of accuracy. Accuracy is paramount in self-defense. When you finish a string of fire defensive carbine shooters will survey their surroundings – maintain high situational awareness – before putting away their firearm. The reason? You don’t want to stop a violent attacker with your defense firearm, and while you are putting it away, get clocked in the back of the head by one of their violent attacking buddies. Continue to survey your surroundings even when you think the fight is won.
Defensive carbine shooting still shares a lot in common with other competition styles where accuracy, speed, smooth transitions, and fluent weapon manipulations are valuable. Also, remember to always shoot to eliminate a threat and maintain your situational awareness. In the end, make sure to get out there training, honing your craft, getting reps with your firearms, and likely Tyrant can help you along the way with some rad accessories. Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all your thoughts in the Comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!
