We promised to delve into each technique in depth.
Lets start with the Classic Weaver stance.
Why Is It Called the Weaver Stance?
Legendary firearms trainer Massad Ayoob demonstrates the Weaver stance while shooting a Springfield Armory 1911 pistol.
Fairbairn in England taught two-handed holds, but only for distance shooting with handguns.
Fitzgeralds book Shooting, published in 1930, showed him demonstrating something remarkably like the Weaver stance of today.
In the late 1950s in California,Lt.
The author demonstrates that a weak grasp and failure to push and pull will result in exaggerated recoil and muzzle rise.
He began with The Leatherslap, a quick-draw contest that emphasized hitting targets faster than ones opponent.
By the early 1960s, his concept had already borne fruit.
So, Who Created the Weaver Stance?
Accurate rapid fire can be sustained with proper Classic Weaver, even with shoulders back as shown. Fired brass is still in the air while the muzzle is already back on target.
His first overall win was so decisive it changed Col. Coopers thinking on the matter dramatically.
Cooper gave credit to his associate John Plahn for breaking down and analyzing what Weaver was doing.
He became the high priest of what he defined as the Weaver stance.
The author demonstrates the Classic Weaver stance. His gun arm is bent and pushing forward while the support arm is bent sharply, with the elbow pointed down and pulling back.
of pressure on the push-pull between the hands, … about like wringing out a wet washcloth.
He would later state emphatically that this isometric tension was the essence of the Weaver stance.
Interpretive Shooting Stance Factors
Different shooters perform Weaver differently.
Classic Weaver lends itself to a pivot to “weak hand side” without having to move your feet.
Remember, the term stance in this context does not involve just foot position.
Upper body and upper limb placement may actually be more important.
Again, in Weaver, this can be interpretive.
The author prefers to shoot Classic Weaver with his gun arm elbow pointed more down, as shown in this photo.
Murray Gardner, the great Canadian champion, reportedly shot in the same sort of tight Weaver.
The angle of arm bend is important.
Col. Cooper was emphatic that the elbow of the support arm be pointed straight down.
Cross-dominant eye correction with Classic Weaver: drop your head to gun hand side shoulder and opposite eye will align with gun hand.
Perks and Quirks: Tips for Shooting Weaver
Every technique has strengths and weaknesses.
This includes Classic Weaver.
In any time and motion study, a cornerstone element is the fact that motion takes time.
With the gun arm at full extension, that measurement increases to 32.5.
Less movement distance equals faster target engagement.
The bent arms of the Classic Weaver, with less extension required, may work better for you.
Theres also that ARC Principle at work, as discussed above, during moving while shooting.
Weaver Shooting Stance Downsides?
Of course, nothing is perfect.
In my opinion, it rises to the level of disparate impact.
Many feel that this increases potential hearing damage.
However, it had enough shortcomings that many who tried it changed it in important ways.
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