How to Shoot a Handgun from Cover

For the most obvious statement of the day, Hollywood has it wrong. Shooting from cover in real life is not the same as it is in the movies. Knowing the difference from real life technique and Hollywood style can mean the difference between life and death in a home defense or self defense situation.

Don’t hug the cover

Hollywood actors love to get nice and close to the object they’re hiding behind, hop out, and then bring their firearm into the ready position. That’s absurd. It doesn’t matter if you’re 3 inches from the object you’re hiding behind or 3 feed behind the object you’re hiding behind. Get your handgun into the ready position, then lean out from behind the corner, instantly ready to shoot.

Slice the pie when clearing a room

You don’t have to be in the police or military to need to know how to clear a room. Family members need to know how to efficiently clear their house of intruders to protect their family.

When clearing a room for hostiles, don’t simply walk into the room out in the open, exposed to anyone anywhere in the room. Have your handgun at the ready, and slowly swing around the doorway, clearing the room section by section. This prevents you from being exposed to multiple intruders at once. Deal with threats one at a time.