3 Keys to Proper Use of Cover

Rob Pincus presents the three keys to use of cover for realistic defensive shooting practice. How do we apply proper use of cover when in a fight? We have to do it by spatial awareness and our proximity to the cover.

A gunfight is a dynamic, constantly changing situation. Our emphasis with respect to cover should not be the exact placement of our feet; instead, we need to be more fluid. Rob emphasizes that during firearms training and practice, we shouldn’t focus on actions we’ll never do during a real defensive encounter.

KEY #1: DON’T BE BALANCED

You should not be balanced between your outside foot and your inside foot. If you are standing squared off and shooting, you are exposing too much of your lower body past the edge of the cover. The lower body should be behind the corner of the cover as much as possible, if not completely.

That means leaning out to shoot. Most of your weight should be on the outside foot.

Make sure your weight is on your outside foot and that you’re leaning so you’re maximizing the use of cover and protecting your lower body.

KEY #2: STAND FAR BACK FROM THE COVER

The second of the self-defense concepts related to cover is your proximity to the cover itself. If you’re driving the gun out past the cover and your arm is touching the edge of the cover, you’re exposing more of yourself than is necessary, to the bad guy and to other potential threats. Therefore Key #2 is, position yourself at least at the full extension of your firearm (whether a handgun or a long gun) back from cover.

KEY #3: BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE COVER WHEN SHOOTING

When you drive the gun out to shoot, make sure you can see some of the edge of the cover in your field of view. If you can’t see it, it means you’re not using as much of the cover as you can, and you are exposing your body. Keep close to that edge.