Kyle’s book is the best I have read on the broad subject for the employment of the rifle. It has been needed for a long time as unfortunately we have been bombarded with “trainers” that do not have the experience, base of knowledge and quite frankly the skill to speak at the level of which they have been allowed to.
It does not go into great detail as for as techniques go, more of a general over view. Several things written in it will not sit too well with a lot of the “tactical” trainers.
There is indeed a measurable difference in speed between “tube” sights like the Aimpoint and sights such as the Eotech, just like there is a measurable difference between RDS’s and 1-4x scopes. The more “tube’ish” an optic is- the slower it is to use. Whether ones skill level allows them to realize it, is the question. If someone is running 1 to 1.5 second one shot drills at 7 yards, any advantage is “lost in the noise” so to speak. However if one is in the .4-.5 of a second range, it is very noticeable.
Sure. However, would one say that isosceles is a way, or the way to shoot a pistol? Similarly, an aggressive stance (some claim it’s “bladed”), forend hand gripping as far forward as possible, etc, are not theories. They are proven by the timer. Just as the timer proves that isosceles is superior too weaver.
That is exactly the comparison that should be made. I have said that for some time, and I would use either in the same instance I would choose to use the counterpoint in pistols. Just like a Glock is better for 99% of users, so is the Aimpoint.
In my case it was the same shooter (me), same carbine (mine), 15yds from target (IPSC target, only A zone hits count), 10 one shot strings of fire from a low ready (safety off - to eliminate shooter error) with each optic (throw out worst time from each optic, add the other nine and divide by nine).
I’m guessing the eye/brain ‘sees’ all the red (EOTech) essentially as a 65moa dot instead of the 4moa dot of the Aimpoint. When I turn up the brightness on the Aimpoint 2-3 clicks brighter than the EOTech I then got the Aimpoint within 3/100ths of a sec of the EOTech. If I get the Aimpoint way brighter, I can get it actually faster than the EOTech but I don’t run my Aimpoint that ‘crazy bright’ normally so the point is really moot.
If you own both optics and a timer, try it sometime. It’s very interesting.
I agree with you on the who larger view EOTech bullshit that people claim. You can close the front dust cap on the Aimpoint for absolutely no FOV and still make good fast hits which debunks the bullshit theory of the EOTech ‘wide FOV’ crap.
Matt,
There were a couple of other things, however I don’t have the book in front of me and it’s hard for me to remember off the top of my head. The big ones were as you noted the stance, grip, loading to 30, the focus on accuracy and speed, and some probably aren’t gonna like his dissertation on BUIS. Also one gets the feel that he might not buy into the whole fine/gross motor skill thing so much.
I know for a fact the stance sets people off, as I found out (again) recently.
I think some people go overboard in this area myself. If my motor skills have diminished to the point that I cant activate the slide release; how would I be able to hit the mag release which is of equal size. Also, smooth, even trigger press seems like a fine motorskill to me.
“Fine and gross motor skills” are terms from child development and child psychology. They are pretty clearly defined.
A gross motor skill is one that uses only major muscle groups, like arms, legs, & trunk. Walking is a gross motor skill.
A fine motor skill is any movement that requires smaller or more precise muscles. Pointing, grabbing, even squeezing with your hands are all fine motor skills. Basically, anything that uses your fingers is a fine motor skills.
So:[ul][li] Hitting slide release lever = fine motor skill[/li][li] Overhand racking slide = fine motor skill[/li][li] Slingshotting slide = fine motor skill[/li][li] Banging head against wall after hearing this debate the 1,000th time = gross motor skill[/ul][/li] edited to add: I’m not just making this stuff up.
[ul][li] babycenter.com[/li][li] Developmental Psychology Newsletter[/li][*] even Wikipedia gets it more or less right[/ul]
One of the best explanations I have heard yet on the whole “gross/fine motors skills” theory. I always thought it weird when people tell me I must slingshot the slide instead of hitting the slide release/slide stop (everyone seems to call it something different) because it a gross vs fine motor skill - and during combat I won’t be able to do a fine motor movement. Yet the same people then stress to me how important a nice, smooth, clean trigger pull is - I’d sure say that is a fine motor skill but I guess only certain fine motor skills leave us during combat.
Yes there were several Aimpoints on display at SHOT with broken lenses all of them were still operational (IE: the dot was visible). Three were damaged in IED blasts, one was shot and one run over by a tractor trailer.
In the interest of full disclosure I am an Aimpoint Prostaff member. But I wouldn’t support the product if I didn’t believe in it.
I find it interesting how some instructors and schools who teach trigger reset teach slingshotting over slide release because they claim that hitting the slide release is a fine motor skill.
They cannot have it both ways. If they feel that using the slide release is untennable because it is a fine motor skill, then they need to examine their program and remove all other fine motor skills, otherwise they are hypocritical.
How relevant is this? There are now 2 MOA Aimpoints. Under what circumstances would most members of this board be taking 300-yards head shots anyway? And unless you have a 300-yards zero, you wouldn’t be hitting the head anyway. Maybe if the bullet drop is 12 inches at 300 yards… And if your target has ARTY, CAS, etc. on call, why would you do it?
And if your target has ARTY, CAS, etc. on call, why would you do it?
CAS and ARTY take time to call in even if the targets are preplanned, friendly positions near to target, suppression for a maneuvering element, collateral damage (an important consideration on today’s battlefield), etc. A 300M shot is not unheard of by any means. At the head with an Aimpoint might be stretch, but you take what the bad guys give you.
This is where the SPR comes into it’s own, though, or the Aimpoint magnifiers, Short Dot, ETC. The M68 CCO issued uses the 4MOA dot, so I guess he just referenced that. I use the 2MOA on a personal gun at home and I much prefer it to the 4MOA.
