Shooting too well???

[Grunt2LEO]

Hey all, I was wondering if you guys have run up against this rumor before and if someone knows if it holds water or not.

I have heard during days at the range some officers saying not to shoot too well, and to stay away from shooting perfect scores. They said on the off chance that I was involved in a shooting and a shot missed and hit an innocent those scores would be used against me by an attorney.

Does anyone have any knowledge of something that happened like this? Maybe personal experience or knowledge of case law? I have been in a fair share of firefights overseas and obviously being in a controlled environment slinging lead at paper is completely different than an actual gunfight. The only alternative I suppose is to intentionally throw a round every now and then, but that just seems like bad training.

Hope this is posted in the correct area, mods forgive me if it's not.

[Iowa #1603]

Hey all, I was wondering if you guys have run up against this rumor before and if someone knows if it holds water or not.

I have heard during days at the range some officers saying not to shoot too well, and to stay away from shooting perfect scores. They said on the off chance that I was involved in a shooting and a shot missed and hit an innocent those scores would be used against me by an attorney.

Does anyone have any knowledge of something that happened like this? Maybe personal experience or knowledge of case law? I have been in a fair share of firefights overseas and obviously being in a controlled environment slinging lead at paper is completely different than an actual gunfight. The only alternative I suppose is to intentionally throw a round every now and then, but that just seems like bad training.

Hope this is posted in the correct area, mods forgive me if it's not.

That has been a running joke in law enforcement circle for as long as I have been around (which is longer than most on this forum)



But as a word of caution -------------don't equate firefights in wartime with civilian police shootouts............that is worse than comparing apples with kumquats

[Grunt2LEO]

Thanks for the quick reply gentlemen.

Iowa, I appreciate your point about equating firefights overseas with a civilian conflict. You can't just buck off rounds and hope for the best (at least you shouldn't) here in the US. I train for that exact reason, every round ends up somewhere and they all have a sender address.

And Tick, I'm 100% with you as far as the "I love me" pins. I don't get awards for not wrecking my car every day, why should I get a ribbon for not missing a target I'm trained to hit?

[slamdunc]

That has been a running joke in law enforcement circle for as long as I have been around (which is longer than most on this forum)
But as a word of caution -------------don't equate firefights in wartime with civilian police shootouts............that is worse than comparing apples with kumquats

Umm, no. Shoot and shoot well.

Every PD that has its **** together does not record your actual score, just "pass" or "fail" based on the exact reason you stated. It removes the ability of some ******bag attorney arguing over your shooting skills. All it should say is that you met the standards and nothing more. I'm also not a big fan of wearing all the "Pistol Expert" jewelry and such.

^^^^THIS^^^^
Our qualification records are documented as passed with 70% or higher. I used to be a jewelery fan-boy but after having it brought into question, I took them off.

[just joe]

We have also gone to Pass/Fail grading.

[PhilipCal]

It's really simple. Shoot well each and every time you're on the range.

[Iowa #1603]

^^^^THIS^^^^
Our qualification records are documented as passed with 70% or higher. I used to be a jewelery fan-boy but after having it brought into question, I took them off.

I just qualified this morning......................it was recorded as a percentage scored.

80% is minimum passing score in Iowa per state code -----------I scored well above that but not as good as last year

[codemanski]

I just qualified this morning......................it was recorded as a percentage scored.

80% is minimum passing score in Iowa per state code -----------I scored well above that but not as good as last year

Yeah, I know what you mean Iowa...it's H-LL getting old isn't it???

Stay safe!
Ski

[RSGSRT]

Regardless of how well you shoot at the range you're supposed to ask politely for Mr. Bad guy to put down his gun, use OC/tazer, and if you actually use your firearm, should your score be above average at the range you will be questioned with "why couldn't you have shot the gun/sandwich out of his hand"? ect...

*sarcasm*

[JonathanE]

I just qualified this morning......................it was recorded as a percentage scored.

80% is minimum passing score in Iowa per state code -----------I scored well above that but not as good as last year

Had to laugh because I to qualified at the range this morning. Ours is a pass/fail record.

[Iowa #1603]

Regardless of how well you shoot at the range you're supposed to ask politely for Mr. Bad guy to put down his gun, use OC/tazer, and if you actually use your firearm, should your score be above average at the range you will be questioned with "why couldn't you have shot the gun/sandwich out of his hand"? ect...

*sarcasm*

you have been reading too much kot

Had to laugh because I to qualified at the range this morning. Ours is a pass/fail record.

We had range yesterday and today------------I was glad I was working on shift yesterday as we got a total of 3.4 inches of rain yesterday.

Today was my day off so I went in this am and got it over with...............range was wet and muddy but it wasn't raining!!!!

Yeah, I know what you mean Iowa...it's H-LL getting old isn't it???

Stay safe!
Ski

I was still above 90%----------barely

[PhilipCal]

Well crap Guys, Just be thankful kot wasn't out there when you were qualifying. But, OTH, naw, let that one go.

[CCCSD]

We too have gone to pass/fail. No scoring written.

[Iowa #1603]

Well crap Guys, Just be thankful kot wasn't out there when you were qualifying. But, OTH, naw, let that one go.

You just had to go there----------------------

[BTDT2]

Did my 218 quals this morning, damn range house mouse refused to believe I placed 15 rds in the same hole.
80% needed to qualify.