Originally Posted By: bubbatime
"switches" vs "timers"
I remember reading about the NYPD stake out squads. Basically a bunch of NYPD officers staked out businesses that were getting repeatedly robbed. And when the robber came in, the cops came out blasting. They got into 250 shootouts (losing zero officers killed) while killing hundreds of armed robbers. Most via ambush. What they found was that center mass hits were dangerous to the officers, as the "timer" allowed too much time, and too much return fire from the suspects. They changed their tactics from center mass hits to head shots, with much better results. They trained extensively on head shots, head shots, heads shots.
That learned from experience, that if you want to survive, a head shot beats a center mass shot.
And with most defensive encounters at less than 9 feet, a head shot shouldn't be all that terrible to make, with some practice..
They trained extensively being the key point.
Further, they knew the confrontation was imminent, and so were able to prepare. Mentally, weapon, everything.
I would have a long gun (carbine, or rifle), if I knew I was very likely getting into a fight. Far more accurate, easier to make those shots, higher capacity.