You're At Gun Point... Do You Grab The Gun?

[MarcSpaz]

I have to say... if I am looking down the barrel and death is eminent, I would likely try to disarm the person if they are close enough. BUT, I want to practice so I know what to do.

I would think, if they are close enough, grabbing the slide of their weapon would be a good chance to disarm or disorient them long enough to counter with my weapon or other defensive tactics. What do you do to not got shot in the process, though? On the initial grab, the gun is going off on purpose or by mistake. How do you defend against it? What would happen next?

I thought this was an awesome video that is helping me get over the fear of trying this. For practicing I obviously would try it from the side, like these guys. What do you guys think? Certain death compared to a maybe? Just flat out nuts? I personally think any chance is better than giving up and taking one in the head or chest.

Anyone ever try this?

We got an interesting question on our previous video:
"...is it possible to hold a gun's slide when it's fired so that you prevent a new round from entering the chamber?"

It seems that a lot of people think that if you grab the slide and fire the pistol it will seriously cut you or even break your fingers.
To show everyone that it can be done without losing any of your fingers we decided to film it

As you can see from the video, YES it is possible to hold a gun slide to prevent it from cycling and not get your hand hurt.


WARNING!
This video is not a "how to" for defense against a handgun. Things shown in this video can be dangerous and can result in a serious injury or death.

[SHMIV]

It seems a reasonable assumption, to me, that anyone aiming a gun at me, plans to shoot me.

Anyone who plans to shoot me, plans to kill me.

Nothing to lose, I reckon. May as well go for it.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[skeeterss0]

+1 SHMIV

[ShotgunBlast]

If the gun is already out and pointed at me it's game over. What could just be a simple armed robbery could easily turn into a homicide with me trying to move. That person can pull the trigger a lot faster than I'd be able to move to disarm.

Does it suck having your life in someone else's hand? Absolutely. Are you willing to go from a 50% chance of survival to a (let's be honest here) low single digit percentage chance of surviving if you try something? I'm not.

[Kreutz]

If the gun is already out and pointed at me it's game over. What could just be a simple armed robbery could easily turn into a homicide with me trying to move. That person can pull the trigger a lot faster than I'd be able to move to disarm.

Does it suck having your life in someone else's hand? Absolutely. Are you willing to go from a 50% chance of survival to a (let's be honest here) low single digit percentage chance of surviving if you try something? I'm not.

Bingo. Life isn't a movie.

[thekinetic]

It depends on the situation if I'm being robbed I'd submit and plead for my life, moving only if I'm sure to bring them down; however if I'm in a fight, it is at that point over I would instead choose to avoid and evade if at at all possible. Being a hero will get you killed, it's nice to think of yourself the hero type but I'm not. I don't bet unless I'm sure I'll win!

[FiremanBob]

First mover advantage: if you act decisively, the perp will be surprised; he's expecting you to cower. So he may not have the presence of mind to pull the trigger. To me it's worth the risk.

[Gotlabs]

Action is always faster than reaction. I've thought about this and have come to the conclusion that I will start crying and fall to the ground, or start shaking badly and drop my wallet or car keys. Hopefully, it will turn the tables in my favor and make the perp now have to react to my weapon instead of vice versa.

[Reverenddel]

Case by case, you cannot blanket statement your reactions. It pigeon holes you into one mindset.

There are variants: Distance, Weapon type (autopistols won't function if their slides are out of battery), size of attacker, environment, etc, etc.

Do not make the "I WON'T/WILL" decision sitting comfortably at your computer. Practice ALL techniques. ALL OF THEM!

It's that training that assists when the time comes. Trust me. Dude that pulled a knife on me? Wasn't expecting a "gunfight", but after he piddled himself, and just looked at my gun wide eyed, and my tunnel vision opened back up, and I said "This is where you run."

He dropped the knife, and left. He wasn't as serious as a gangbanger with two murders under his belt, and a decent Glock. Again... PRACTICE.

[MarcSpaz]

Lots of interesting feedback.

I feel like I couldn't say with certainty I would or would not do any one specific thing. I would play it by ear.

I really need to find someplace for a civilian to get and execute the proper training. Self defense isn't just a gun. Learning to fight with a knife, baton, hand-to-hand / martial arts, etc. as well as evade and escape capability make a whole package.

And what looks to me as one of the most overlooked part of defense is logical thinking. Threat assessment and how to respond is always a challenge. For some people, that fight or flight instinct gets them killed because they took action without thinking.

[dorminWS]

I feel like I couldn't say with certainty I would or would not do any one specific thing. I would play it by ear.



And what looks to me as one of the most overlooked part of defense is logical thinking. Threat assessment and how to respond is always a challenge. For some people, that fight or flight instinct gets them killed because they took action without thinking.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This. I've always said that no matter how much you tell yourself and others what you will do in a given life-or-death crisis, you will never know for sure until you face it.

Heroics are probably likely to get your killin' done, IMO, but there are certainly situations where you've got nothing to lose and might save you life or another's. Whether you will recognize this situation and take the proper advantage is a total crapshoot in most cases, I'd say.

But the idea of grabbing that slide and turning and holding the muzzle away from yourself and others is a right useful notion. I would probably have gone for the guy's wrist. I've filed it away just in case.

[skeeterss0]

Lots of interesting feedback.

I feel like I couldn't say with certainty I would or would not do any one specific thing. I would play it by ear.

I really need to find someplace for a civilian to get and execute the proper training. Self defense isn't just a gun. Learning to fight with a knife, baton, hand-to-hand / martial arts, etc. as well as evade and escape capability make a whole package.

And what looks to me as one of the most overlooked part of defense is logical thinking. Threat assessment and how to respond is always a challenge. For some people, that fight or flight instinct gets them killed because they took action without thinking.

Sounds like you need to join the Marines! They will teach you all you want to know.

[MarcSpaz]

I tried when I was younger. I actually tried every branch of service. I had (have) asthma and a respiratory apnea starting when I was about 21. None of the branches would take me because of it.

With all the messed up stuff going on in this country, there is still no place better to be. I always felt privileged to be a part of it and tried so hard to join so I could give something back.

That lead to me doing volunteer work as a civilian for the Army and the Marine Corps. Eventually I made a reputation for myself and was able to move into federal law enforcement as a civilian IT Systems Engineer.

I got to learn a lot about military operations as well as federal and state law. I help our LEO's put a lot of bad guys in jail by making sure information got where it needed to be and when.

So, I feel like I am doing my part to secure our country, even today. The problem is none of that is going to help this old fat disabled guy defend himself in a crisis. LOL

[canderso7]

It would depend on the distance between me and them. I have seen a lot of people that their handgun skills do not worry me, and I'm fairly certain the best way to stay safe is put a target on you and stand in front of them. If it actually came down to it. I'm not sure. I would say do whatever I can to keep my dignity. After reading Jeff Cooper's principles of personal defense recently, I might be full of piss and vinegar behind the keyboard if I gave another answer.

[MarcSpaz]

It would depend on the distance between me and them. I have seen a lot of people that their handgun skills do not worry me, and I'm fairly certain the best way to stay safe is put a target on you and stand in front of them. If it actually came down to it. I'm not sure. I would say do whatever I can to keep my dignity. After reading Jeff Cooper's principles of personal defense recently, I might be full of piss and vinegar behind the keyboard if I gave another answer.

LOL that's funny stuff right there.

You know, it's strange how some people understand the gap between hypothetical and practical application and others don't. The fact that you do puts you way ahead of the curve.

Truth is, even real world... we can train and train, think we are ready and if we are so unfortunate to be in that position, we may still freeze/panic and fail.

[Swampman]

Good stuff here, but the underlying truth that most have pointed out is you won't really know until you are staring down the wrong end of the barrel. I'd have to be at least 95% certain I could disarm the creep before I'd risk it. It becomes more about situational awareness, including and understanding of your capabilities, than anything else.

[Reverenddel]

And it's not just a gun! When you have some azzhat pull a knife on you... you think you want react the same as a gun, but you actually do... It's adrenaline, and "Fight/Flight" reaction.

A knife will make you as dead as a gun if circumstances prevail.

[MarcSpaz]

The number one rule of a knife fight... whoever bleeds the least, wins! That's why I carry a gun.

[canderso7]

Would anyone try to check out what kind of gun it is? one with a notoriously bad trigger would give you a better chance too. look at people shot (or not shot) by the NYC police with their 13lb trigger pulls. Also, I just recently heard a story of a convenient store worker noticing the gun looked fake to them and the worker pulled one back on the robbers and the robbers took off. Their are a lot of airsoft guns that look real now.

[HighExpert]

I had grabbing the gun taken out of the equation. Guy came from behind, gun to back of head and grabbed belt so I couldn't spin. He probably saved my life by taking the thought out of my head.