The One Shot Group

In the movie The Patriot, Benjamin Martin takes his two young boys to rescue his oldest son from British soldiers. He gives his sons specific instructions, including -

AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL

What can we learn from this scene? I started thinking about the fact that in those days, a person only had one shot with a muzzleloader; and in a self defense situation, it was take the shot, then use whatever other means were available to escape or prevail over the bad guy. 

So -

What if we started training as if there was only one shot? Ergo, the title of this post. A few years ago, I wrote about handgun stopping power, and discussed the ways a fight can be stopped. You can read that post HERE. 

This drill is super simple. When you arrive at the range, put a target out at 25 yards. Draw or pick up your pistol (depending on range rules) and take one shot. Now relax for a few minutes, then check your hit. End of the drill. How did you do? 

If you can't deliver the shot at 25 yards, what range can you do it at?

How far can you do it with iron sights?

With a red dot sight?

With a laser?

Vital Dude target. White dot added to clarify the shot location. 25 yds, 
with a laser pointed at the middle of the nose.

Happily, we are not restricted to only one shot with modern handguns. For those of us who live in free states, ammunition capacity is limited only by our personal desire and circumstances. If we have to shoot, we shoot until the threat is stopped.

Ordinary reasonable people really don't want to shoot someone, and avoidance of bad situations is the best defense. But if you are in a public place and someone comes in and starts shooting, you need to do your best to deliver the shot. . . . and try to make the first one count.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18 KJV)