Damon R. is a homeowner and a legal gun owner in his early 20s, and lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Around 6 p.m. one evening, he heard what sounded like someone trying to break into his home through a window on the side of the house.
Damon retrieved his firearm and fired two rounds at the intruder as he attempted to get through the window.
The intruder was shot twice in the chest by Damon.
First responders arrived and performed CPR on the suspect, but he died at the scene from his injuries.
According to police, the homeowner and intruder knew each other and it wasn’t a random home invasion.
The homeowner wasn’t arrested and based on information from officials it sounds like the homeowner was justified.
In addition, from a tactical standpoint, it sounds like the homeowner engaged the threat and fired a perfect controlled pair at the center mass of the threat.
This is a good example of what everyone should train to do in a self-defense situation.
What are controlled pairs in shooting?:
One round is not guaranteed to stop a threat.
Two well-placed shots will increase the likelihood of neutralizing the threat.
Shooting in controlled pairs is when the shooter fires two shots at the target in quick succession.
It’s shooting quickly but with the same precision as the first shot.
It’s a technique that is common among the military and law enforcement.
The method is different from a “double tap” because each shot is aimed, not just fired as fast as possible.
Controlled pairs mean the shooter has maintained sight picture under stress.
Benefits of shooting controlled pairs:
The biggest advantage to shooting controlled pairs is that each shot is aimed which can lead to better shot placement and reduce the chances of a wild round.
When the shooter reacquires the target it gives them pause to make sure they are on target and the round will be accurate.
In addition, shooting a controlled pair will help achieve better shot placement with both rounds, ideally hitting the target in vital areas.
One of the most challenging things with follow-up shots is managing recoil.
The first shot is usually the most accurate since the shooter isn’t dealing with recoil.
Yet, if you shoot controlled pairs, it allows time to recover from recoil.
Drawbacks to controlled pairs:
The main drawback to controlled pairs is that it takes a longer time to be accurate.
A lot of shooters are used to the “double tap.”
Controlled pairs take a tiny bit longer since you want to reacquire sight picture.
Also, controlled pairs might not be the best technique depending on the situation.
For instance, if you are in a very close-quarter situation speed might outweigh accuracy.
If you are close enough to hit the target without a sight picture, then controlled pairs could waste critical time.
Also, controlled pairs require training to execute effectively.
It’s not something you want to just try in a real-life scenario.
It’s something you can train for, just be flexible enough to react as the situation demands to best stop the threat.
