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Posted on: August 19, 2016
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Often in today’s training industry, much is said about getting a follow on sight picture after firing a preceding round. The common saying is that if you fire 2 rounds then you should have 3 sight pictures. If you fire 3 rounds then you should have 4 sight pictures, etc. Is this really true and why is it a contentious issue? I feel that the reason this is a popular topic is because it is another task that is being taught out of context. And because much of the discussion is over close range engagements- that’s where this article focuses.
Due in much part to 15yd flat range warriors, there have been many falsehoods and mantras that have that have developed about the controlled pair in shooting training. In many senses, it has become a drill all on its own- often accompanied by a whistle and Pro-Timer. The DRILL becomes the GOAL. However, the controlled pair is not a drill on its own. So, what is it?
The Controlled Pair is a method for dealing with multiple targets.
           That’s right, the controlled pair is only PART of a process, which is to efficiently engage multiple targets through tactical shooting. This means that while progressively engaging through a close range threat scenario, we place two rapid (but aimed) shots on each threat. After this is complete, we RECLEAR and re-engage as necessary. So, while we are placing two rounds on the threat at first- it is not necessarily true that we only shoot the threat twice. To be sure- if we had a situation where we legitimately had only ONE small area to clear that only contained ONE threat, we would continue to engage until the threat is no longer a threat.
We all know what moves first, from one target to the next, while engaging multiple targets right? THE EYES. Why is this so important? Because driving a gun from one point to another is easy. What slows us down is THINKING and in order to THINK we have to SEE. So, we have a number of tasks to accomplish before pulling the trigger again. We must continue scanning rapidly to LOCATE the next target. We then have to DISCRIMINATE (decide threat/no-threat) the target, and then find the proper POINT OF IMPACT to place rounds for an incapacitating shot. Then (if necessary) we have to identify HOLD OVER. It is critical for all these tasks to be complete BEFORE your sights enter the target because your line of sight will establish where your sights will go to. If we are running a rifle with an optic at close range and we have not shifted our eyes to hold over before the sights arrive we will either place rounds low or have to shift the rifle to re-aim at the proper spot. (Note: while I will not cover the specific method of target discrimination on the internet, I will state that it is not done with your focus on the point of aim or holdover. So, if you were thinking that a lot of eye movement is not happening on the target- you are incorrect)
It is ingrained in almost every shooting discipline and tactical shooting training that when engaging multiple targets, after firing the required number of rounds your eyes should immediately shift to the next target. This shift ideally happens as soon as the last shot breaks. Now, of course we could talk in circles and attempt to validate the 3rd sight picture methodology by stating that your 3rd sight picture is on the next target. But is that really accurate? Does it fit what we are attempting to train? Are we confusing the process by attempting to apply a general rule?
Too often we allow TASKS to become DRILLS. Using a layered approach to training, this should not happen but this is what has occurred in this case. There are times during the initial stages of fundamental training where we DECOMPLICATE things. We isolate as few tasks as possible to perfect them. Of course it is true that we should not build bad habits, and in a certain sense- not reinforcing proper follow through does build bad habits. But this is in the GROUPING stage. Of course we should stay with the grouping stage for a considerable amount of time. The problem is- most shooters don’t. This results in instructors having to correct deficiencies in fundamentals during a later stage in the training where they shouldn’t have to be doing so. Let’s unpack what I’m saying here with an example of a training approach.
Before reaching the point of controlled pairs, we should have already mastered the following:
That’s a fairly realistic list of skills that should be mastered before getting more aggressive with tactical shooting training. Now let’s think about that for a moment. If we have mastered those skills, then HOW LONG do we need to spend on controlled pairs before MOVING ON to multiple targets? Not a lot of time at all, I would say. You’re just firing 2 rounds, instead of the 5-10 you were during grouping (If any of you chuckled and said it is done FASTER- you are wrong and I have an article coming soon just for you). This task should only take a couple of iterations if you have trained the supporting fundamentals of tactical shooting properly. Unfortunately, many shooting training sessions consist of dumping countless magazines in never ending Controlled Pairs, accompanied by Pro-Timer beeps and whistle blasts.
So, if we are only spending a moment at this point- how are we building bad habits? Of course, every repetition counts- but consider this: If our desired end-state is to get our eyes moving as soon as possible to the next target or to locate the next possible threat in our area, are we building bad habits by remaining on our sights during the follow through of our second shot? Think about that. If you have done training on multiple targets, how hard is it to train yourself to release that sight picture and get to the next target? It is very difficult and often very unnatural. This is because our core instinct is to be threat based. To stare at the one thing that is our immediate threat. It takes effort, dedication, and training to look away from it. Just like it takes effort to look for a path of drivable terrain to miss a tree, which often results in seeing a car wrapped around a tree or pole while there were clear paths on either side.
There are situations where you need to stay on your sights. Just remember that these are fundamental tasks that need to be progressively layered from bottom to top in a streamlined process. Don’t live your life on a flat range at one layer in the process. Don’t practice TASKS out of CONTEXT. Train the process and apply them properly to the specific scenario you find yourself in. Don’t let TASKS become your DRILLS, otherwise your DRILLS won’t meet your END-STATE.
