I recently added a thread to a forum on Kel-Tecs, in which I said that the PF-9, with its flat side, looks to be a perfect match for P&S and a P&S aiming aid. And particularly so, because with the very short sight radius of the gun, shooting one accurately would not be as easy as with a longer gun such as a 1911.

Well, hardly before the ink was dry on my post on the Kel-Tec forum, a member posted a link to a page that was said to be from The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 5th edition, 2002, by Massad Ayoob.

That page contains inaccurate and just plain wrong information about P&S, and about the Ruby/Oswald shooting in which P&S was used by Ruby. The author also has praise for Tom Aveni's negative article on what Aveni refers to as the Vermont Technique (P&S).

And there are two pics on the page, which obviously are meant to ridicule the P&S method.

To me, the message they send is: look at this folks, only a moron would do this.

The intent is to slam the Vermont Technique (P&S) by innuendo and by presenting false information about it.

Here is a link to the book page as of 10/22/07.

In my opinion, such presentations, have and can result in police and others being wounded/killed via squelching innovation and experimentation with shooting methods such as P&S.

Traditional shooting means and methods, which rely on the use of the sights for accuracy, are a proven and dismal failure in close quarters armed encounters. The police armed encounter hit rate percentage is less than 20%.

Yes, 4 out of every 5 bullets fired, miss the intended target and go elsewhere.

Walter J. Dorfner, who was the lead firearms instructor for the Vermont State Patrol for many years, developed and experimented with the technique that Aveni calls the Vermont Technique, and which essentially is P&S. Walter also was Vice Chair of the Use of Force Committee of the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council, at the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford, VT.

He felt that the technique was to be the next step in the evolution of survival shooting, and he referred to it as Point Shooting.

He wrote a paper on his development and experimentation with the method, which included field trials. He sent me a copy of his paper, and I wrote a digest of it, which he approved of as written. And we both had it published. It is available on this site.

Shortly after he retired, Walter died. That was in 2001. RIP Walter.

Here is a link to the digest of his paper.

As the lead firearms instructor for the Vermont State Patrol for a number of years, I consider Walter Dorfner to have been more of an expert on firearms and shooting than anyone who has commented on the "Vermont Technique" or P&S.

In his paper, Walter used the term Point Shooting to identify the method of shooting. I took the liberty to add the word AIMED in front of Point Shooting, as the method employs the index finger to aim the gun fast, naturally, automatically, and accurately. And that is more than just Point Shooting.

Point Shooting is normally understood to be shooting sans sights, or unaimed shooting.

The terms: AIMED Point Shooting or P&S, differentiate P&S from other Point Shooting methods.

Also, I believe that Walter J. Dorfner was the first Police Professional Firearms Instructor to investigate and experiment with the technique, including field testing. And he found that it works.

On the other hand, here is a "negative" pic from the Ayoob book page. It is of someone holding a Seecamp 32.

And along side of it, is a pic from Aveni's article: The "Vermont Technique"

The caption of Ayoob's pic reads that the "Fingerpoint shooting technique can be dangerous with small pocket pistol like this Seecamp KWS-32. The tip of the finger is exposed to muzzle blast at the very least."

In both the Ayoob and Aveni pics, the index finger is resting on the slide where it would be hit or cut by the slide if the gun was fired.

To me, the clear message of the pictures, is that the technique is bad and dangerous.

It would have been easy to show the technique being used properly and with a "regular" sized gun if that was what the author really wanted to do.

Note: The showing of the index finger resting on the slide, is actually an advertisement for the use of a P&S aiming aid. It makes correct finger placement mechanical and automatic, and keeps the index finger away from the slide when the gun is jumping in one's hand with rapid firing.

There may be need for a word or two of caution about using any technique, but slamming a technique or device, because it won't work with a mini gun if you have average, or big, or fat hands, doesn't mean that it won't work just fine with a larger gun as the above pic shows.

Even I caution that common sense is needed when using P&S. And say if when using it, your finger will rest over the ejection port, or be hit by the slide, or in the case of using it with a mini gun, your index finger will extend beyond the muzzle, then DON'T use it with that gun.

Another picture on the book's page shows a screwed up grip.

It is a depiction of a two-finger-only grip that is said to be used with the Vermont Techinque to secure the gun incase of a snatch attempt. That is false and a pure fabrication.

Note that the index finger is pointed up and covering the ejection port where it surely would be hit both by the slide and an ejected shell.

The picture's message, is - look at this folks, only a moron would do this.

However, with the Vermont Technique (P&S), there is no requirement that the index finger be held like that, or aloof from the gun as required with your traditional marksmanship grip. Nor is it required that the one or both thumbs be placed along the side of the gun but not pressed against it to avoid deflecting the shot, as with a traditional marksmanship grip.

With the Vermont Technique (P&S), you can squeeze the beejeebers out of the gun with your index finger and thumb if you like. All you will be doing is adding increased stability to the level and strong shooting platform that is made up of the web of your hand, and your opposing thumb and index finger.

And your ring and little fingers will still be able to do their job of adding tenacity to this natural and very strong 4 finger grip. Using it, you can make elbow smashes either to the right or left, and forward punches as with the CAR system.

Ayoob also states wrongly that Jack Ruby, when he shot Oswald, used his middle finger to pull the trigger, as he didn't have the distal portion of his shooting hand index finger.

Research of the Ruby's fingerprint record, shows that Ayoob's statement is false. Ruby's right hand index finger was OK.

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HITS FROM OTHERS AS WELL

Recently, a couple of so called "gun expert-trainers" have been very critical of my support of P&S, and of me.

Here's what one said:

"P&S has nothing to do with point shooting, yet he has done his best to allow the confusion to continue. If anyone is going to get LEO's killed--by having a life saving skill dismissed due to gun foolery--then it is John Veit/5shot/OKJoe."

Another has dared me to try "the method" with a 10mm Glock 29 or G33 in 357sig.

My response to them, is that if you wish to find out who is spreading confusion, fabrications, and BS about PS, then look at some of your recognized "pillars" of the gun community, or just look in your own mirror.

Look to those who object to P&S without first giving it a fair trail, and just present opinions dressed in sheeps clothing.

I have presented gun test results, pics, and videos that show that P&S works with a pistol, when moving, when shooting at moving targets, and even when shooting at aerials with a pistol. The gun test info, plus pics, plus videos are on this site.

As to using P&S with this or that specific gun, common sense is the rule to apply. Use P&S only with an appropriate gun, and one that you can shoot OK caliber wise.

Otherwise, don't use it.

As the multi-photo pic above shows, I have used it with a variety of guns.

Note the hits made on Mr, Orange using P&S with an Springfield XD in 9 mm. I was shooting at Mr. Orange, not the shadow-hostage. And I was shooting very rapidly - as fast as I could point and pull the trigger.

Many in the gun community get very upset and go ballistic if anyone dare's to question what they are doing or what they have done.

Others, demand that any new means or method, must work in all situations for all shooters. Or they say that one must first take it around to different venues and demonstrate it on a "one on one" basis to prove that it is worthy of their and others consideration, etc...

To me, that is bizarre given the dismal and continuing failure of the effective use of traditional means and methods in close quarters armed encounters.

Also, and equally bizarre, is the lack of DOJ or gun manufacturer backed studies and trials to identify that which really works in high stress close quarters situations, and which also is simple and easily used by the general public, and then make that information freely available to the millions of gun owners, many of whom bought a gun with the idea that they would be able to use it effectively in self defense.

And particularly so, once the how-to information is readily available on the web.

But then, this is the world of the gun, or are we in OZ?

..........

For those who think I am wrong, and believe that there is a shooting method "out there" which has been proven to give better results than P&S, please provide:

Its name_____________,

A link to the documentation and/or studies that support it,

A list of a few Agencies that are teaching and using it,

Names of one or more "State certification" bodies which require it.

I will be happy to present THAT information on this site for all to see and check out.

My e-mail is ps (at) pointshooting.com

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Lastly, if Mr. Ayoob or Mr. Aveni wish to comment on this, please send me a response, and I may add it to this page.

I did not know of the Ayoob page until it was brought to my attention by the web thread poster.

The Aveni article was published in the S&W training group's newsletter, which I happened to receive at that time.

I prepared a response which the S&W newsletter did not publish.

There is more information about that situation, but that water has long since gone under the bridge and down stream.

That was then, this is now.