Editing Point shooting (section)

==In military doctrine==
Point shooting is often included in [[military tactics|military tactical]] training, alongside other topics such as [[combatives]] and [[urban warfare]]. A variety of point shooting methods have entered [[military doctrine]] at various times and places.

===Fairbairn, Sykes, and Applegate===
[[Image:Fmfrp 12 80 p116.png|thumb|Front view of handgun point shooting position]]
Soon after the creation of the [[Office of Strategic Services]] (OSS) in 1942, then [[Second Lieutenant]] Rex Applegate was given the task of adapting the training being given to [[British Commandos|British Commando]] forces for use by OSS agents. Applegate's methodology was published in his book, ''Kill or Get Killed'' which was first printed in 1943, and based on his training program for the OSS developed with [[William E. Fairbairn]] and [[Eric A. Sykes]]. This method is often referred to as the Fairbairn, Sykes, and Applegate method, or ''FSA'' (though sometimes the order is altered to  ''FAS'').

By 1976, it was into its fifth edition, and was re-published in 1991 as Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication FM12-80, ''Kill or Get Killed''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/milmanual-fmfrp-12-80-kill-or-get-killed |title=FMFRP 12-80 Kill or Get Killed |language=English}}</ref> This book covers a wide range of topics, from armed and unarmed combat to prisoner control and [[riot control]] techniques. Chapter 5, "Combat Use of the Hand Gun", covers the basic use of a handgun in a combat situation, while chapter 6, "Combat Firing with Shoulder Weapons", covers techniques for [[submachine gun]]s, [[rifle]]s and [[shotgun]]s. While aimed fire techniques are covered in both chapters, along with topics such as use of cover and different firing positions, the point shooting techniques generally attract the most attention. Much of Applegate's instruction on point shooting involves developing a firm, consistent shooting position that allows the student to consistently hit where he is looking.

[[Image:Fmfrp 12 80 p183.png|thumb|Side view of shoulder weapon point shooting position]]
While Applegate did cover firing handguns from the hip (from a position he called the "1/2 hip" position), he was careful to point out that this method only worked on targets at the same level as the shooter, and only at very close range.

For one hand shooting, the gun is held in a low ready position and on center of the body, and with the wrist and arm locked. The arm stays locked (stiff), as the pistol is then raised from the shoulder. And when on target, a convulsive squeeze is used to fire.

To reduce error in the [[Human positions|stance]], targets not directly in front of the shooter are engaged by turning the upper body at the hips, since turning the arm at the shoulder, elbow, or wrist will result in a loss of control and a miss, while turning at the waist keeps everything aligned correctly.

Another of Applegate's training innovations was the use of particularly intense combat firing ranges, which he called the "house of horrors". A cross between an [[obstacle course]], a [[haunted house]], and a [[shooting range]], it used a three dimensional layout with stairs and tunnels, pop-up targets, deliberately poor lighting, psychologically disturbing sounds, simulated cobwebs and bodies, and [[Blank (cartridge)|blank cartridges]] being fired towards the shooter. The range was designed to have the greatest possible psychological impact on the shooter, to simulate the stress of combat as much as possible, and no targets were presented at distances of greater than {{convert|10|ft|sp=us}} from the shooter.

Applegate also used his house of horrors as a test of the point shooting training. Five hundred men with no previous handgun shooting experience were run through the house of horrors after standard, bullseye-type, introductory target pistol training with no gun handling instruction, and then again (with modifications in the layout) after training in Applegate's approach to point shooting and basic gun handling. The average number of hits in the first group was four out of twelve targets hit (with two shots per target). After point shooting, the average jumped to ten out of twelve targets hit. Further shooters trained only in point shooting, including those who had never fired a handgun before receiving point shooting training, maintained the high average established by the first group.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/milmanual-fmfrp-12-80-kill-or-get-killed | title=Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication FM12-80: Kill or Get Killed | publisher=Paladin Press | author=Applegate, Rex | year=1976 | location=Boulder, Colorado | pages=296}}</ref> Similar methods were in use as early as the 1920s and continue to this day, for example the FBI facility called [[Hogan's Alley (FBI)|Hogan's Alley]].

===Rifle Quick Kill===
[[Image:QK fig 10a.GIF|thumb|The proper method of sighting to hit aerial targets with the sightless [[BB gun]]]]
A method of point shooting with a rifle was developed by [[Lucky McDaniel]] and taught by the US Army beginning in 1967. It was called "Quick Kill", and it was taught using an [[air rifle]]. The Quick Kill method was fully detailed in-step-by-step fashion in ''Principles of Quick Kill''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Principles of Quick Kill/It 23-71-1 | publisher=Paladin Press | author=US Army Infantry School | year=1996 | isbn=9780873640657}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Principles of Quick Kill |url=https://www.militarynewbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Principles-of-a-Quick-Kill-TT-23-71-1.pdf |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.militarynewbie.com}}</ref> It was taught starting with a special [[Daisy Outdoor Products|Daisy]] [[BB gun]] that had no sights. The slow moving steel BB was visible in flight on sunny days, making it an inexpensive [[Tracer ammunition|tracer round]]. The students began by firing at {{convert|3.5|inch|adj=on|sp=us}} diameter metal disks thrown in the air slightly in front of the student and {{convert|2|to|4|meters|sp=us}} above the student's head. After an 80% hit rate is attained firing at these disks, the student is then presented with {{convert|2.5|inch|adj=on|sp=us}} diameter disks. Once proficiency is attained with the aerial targets, it shows the student has mastered the fundamentals, and training moves on to stationary targets on the ground, first with the BB gun and then with a [[service rifle]] having its front and rear sights taped over.

The reason the quick kill method works is that the shooter learns to sight above the [[Gun barrel|barrel]], rather than along the barrel. While focusing on the target, the [[Muzzle (firearms)|muzzle]] is placed about {{convert|2|inch|sp=us}} below the target (the distance being measured at the muzzle), which places the barrel nearly parallel to the line of sight of the shooter. To hit the aerial targets, or other targets above eye level, the shooter focuses on the top edge of the target. When shooting at targets on the ground or below eye level, the shooter focuses on the bottom of the target. One of the points emphasized in quick kill is that it is essential to focus on a single spot on the target, such as the top edge of a thrown disc, or the bottom edge of a can on the ground.

A key to hitting the target is for the shooter to track the target by moving their head with the rifle seated against it, instead of just following it with the eyes.

The Daisy company commercially sold sightless BB guns and target throwers for a number of years under the name ''Quick Skill'', along with an instruction book that was a demilitarized version of the aerial target portion of the "quick kill" course.

===Pistol Quick Kill===
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Robin Brown (a former student of Lucky McDaniel) popularized Pistol Quick Kill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Robin |title=Handgun or Pistol Quick Kill [ QK ] Shooting Technique © |url=https://www.floridaconcealedcarry.com/threads/handgun-or-pistol-quick-kill-qk-shooting-technique-%C2%A9.1174/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Florida Concealed Carry}}</ref>

With Pistol Quick Kill, the pistol is gripped and pointed at a target much like a person would point their finger. "When you point, you naturally do not attempt to sight or aim your finger. It will be somewhat below your eye level in your peripheral vision, perhaps 2-4 inches below eye level."

The same applies when pointing a gun at a target. Just as with pointing their finger, the user will "...see the end of the barrel and/or front sight while looking at the target...You have not looked at the gun or front sight, just the target."

"With Quick Kill, the focus is always on the target, never having to adjust one's gaze or focus even remotely on the near object [the gun or sights]."

===Quick fire===
Quick fire is a method previously used by the US Army for teaching point shooting. It is described in the following excerpt from US Army Field Manual FM 3-22.9:<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/milmanual-fm-3-22.9-rifle-marksmanship-m16a1-m16a2-3-m16a4-and-m4-carb/page/n147/mode/2up |title=FM 3-22.9, RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP M16A1, M16A2/3, M16A4 and M4 CARBINE |publisher=US Department of the Army |year=2006 |location=Washington, DC |pages=7-15 (linear 145). Section 7–11}}</ref>

<blockquote>
'''''Aimed.''''' When presented with a target, the soldier brings the rifle up to his shoulder and quickly fires a single shot. His firing eye looks through or just over the rear sight aperture. He uses the front sight post to aim at the target. Using this technique, a target at 25 meters or less may be accurately engaged in one second or less.

'''''Pointed.''''' When presented with a target, the soldier keeps the rifle at his side and quickly fires a single shot or burst. He keeps both eyes open and uses his instinct and peripheral vision to line up the rifle with the target. Using this technique, a target at 15 meters or less may be engaged in less than one second.</blockquote>

===Reflexive fire===
[[File:US Navy 080910-N-0373Q-070 Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Null, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD MU) 12 practices reflexive firing during a periodic weapons assessment.jpg|thumbnail|US Navy sailor practices reflexive firing during a periodic weapons assessment]]
Reflexive fire is a method currently used by the US Army to teach short-range marksmanship with a rifle or carbine, but it is considered to be the least accurate of the techniques taught.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/attp3_06x11.pdf | title=FM 3-06.11, Combined Arms Operations in Urban Terrain | publisher=United States Department of the Army | date=June 2011 | access-date=July 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062701/http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/attp3_06x11.pdf | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=live }}{{verify source|date=July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/milmanual-fm-3-22.9-rifle-marksmanship-m16a1-m16a2-3-m16a4-and-m4-carb | title=FM 3-22.9, RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP M16A1, M16A2/3, M16A4 and M4 CARBINE | publisher=United States Department of the Army | date=April 2003 }}</ref>

===Israeli method===
The "Israeli method" is a point shooting system devised by the [[Israel Defense Forces]] for use in training personnel to use rifles, [[submachine gun]]s, and handguns.{{Citation needed|date=July 2015}}

In its initial stages of training, it closely resembles the FSA method. In later stages, training in the rapid acquisition of the sights is taught, as well as a more advanced method of point shooting.