[CGuns]

Greetings,

Having read many a firearms magazine and a thread on an online gun related forum, it has come to my attention that the terms "Double Tap", "controlled pair" and "hammer" are used interchangeably and perhaps erroneously.

I had always thought that a controlled pair involved grabbing a sight picture twice. Once for the first shot and once for the second, follow up shot.

As for the Hammer and the double-tap, they were one in the same and involved an aimed first shot and an instinctive follow-up, without grabbing a sight picture.

Can anyone comment on this and clear up the mystery?

Regards, CGuns

 

[IDPASteyr]

Ok, I'll submit my $.02 worth:

Double tap - shooting two shots with one sight picture. The goal of the double tap is to fire the second shot before the sights leave the target after the first shot.

Controlled pair - Fow rapid shots fired with a "flash" sight picture for each shot.

Hammer - 6 controlled shots on the target. Used primarily as a gun control drill.

I have strong opinions (suprise) on these items but since you didn't ask, I won't tell.

 

[CGuns]

Let's hear them!

 

[IDPASteyr]

OK, I see no reason to try to "double tap." Truing to do them generally leads to rushing the second shot and the trigger will be jerked. It also leads to the shooters developing a cadence that sound like bang bang pause bang bang pause etc.

Controled pairs cause a shooter to stay focused on the front sight and allow for timing of the second shot when the flash sight picture is aquired. As the sight starts to settle, the controled press on the trigger is started. It leads to more control, better hits, and better cadence. Listen to the top shooters when they engage multiple targets and it will sound like a series of evenly spaces shots with no pause between targets.

Hammer drills are one of the best practice drills you can do. They focus the shooter to stay just in front of the gun so the sight can be aquired as soon as it settles back on the target. If practice properly, it can lead to increased speed and better hits. I ran an entire match one time made up of nothing but six shot hammer drills. It was fun and everyone was shooting better by the end of the evening.

 

[CGuns]

I do not know what we would do without an expert like IDPA Steyr on here. That clears up a lot. Very interesting. I will be trying some of the hammer drills tomorrow.

IDPA, you have a PM.

Rgds, CGuns

 

[IDPASteyr]

Got it. Thanks