imported post
I agree with what you have said. Never overstep your limitations, because you are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun. If you are not confident in your accuracy, don't take the shot. Excellant example, by the way.
I have a good example of knowing your limitations as well.
I was working at a night club in seattle (not as a bouncer, just club staff). I was outside getting something from my car when I saw all of the people in the parking lot running toward the club (this was a very frightening scene). They stopped and were all crammed close together when they had no further to run. I then saw a black male emerge from the parking lot where the crowd had come from, about 5'11", 160 lbs, 18-25 years old wearing gangster attire, and holding in his right hand a Mac 11 pistol. His pistol was aimed at the crowd, and he started yelling at the crowd. It appeared that some of the people in the crowd were from a rival gang. The gunman hadn't noticed me and I was at his 10 o'clock, about 20 yards away. I quickly took cover next to a van, putting it's axel between me and him, and observing over the hood. I drew my Sig P220 .45acp with night sights. It was loaded with Spear Gold Dots, which I had just purchased to replace my old HydraShoks and hadn't had a chance to go to the range with yet. Ihad 7 in the mag, one in the tube and 1 spare mag tucked in my belt.
It was about this time that I noticed that he had 5 friends standing behind him, partially blocked from my view by cars. I heard someone behind me and noticed that the SUV right behind me was full of club goers. The much better dressed black male driving the SUV said something along the lines of "don't get us shot". staying somewhat concealed from the gunman's view, I took aim, lining up my sights for his ear, since that was the angle to his brain stem from my direction.
I cocked the hammer and waited. I knew that he could start shooting into the crowd at any time, but the shot didn't feel right. I was 15-20 yards away, firing new ammo I haven't shot yet, and let's face it, a P220 isn't a sniper rifle. If I want him to go down instantly, I'm going to have to nail this headshot. If I don't, he might still shoot the crowd. If I miss, he might shoot in my direction, killing the people in the SUV behind me. Not to mention that behind him is a busy street. Even if I hit him perfectly, his buddies might be armed, and I don't have enough ammo to engage 5 moving targets with cover.
I saw that the actual bouncers were stacking up in a wanna-be SWAT kind of formation along the wall. They all carried, and most of them wore vests. But I had a feeling that if they had the balls to engage a shooter, they would have done it already. I didn't trust them to back me up if I ended up in a firefight with the whole group. I got to know them better after that event and I am now confident that they would have, but at the time I had my doubts. They really are great guys, but back to the story. I knew it was now or never, and I put my finger on the trigger. I was steady, and my hand wasn't shaking. But I froze. I couldn't do it. It wasn't shooting the guy that I had a problem with, don't get me wrong. I was affraid. All of a sudden we hear the distant wail of police sirens. The guy turns and runs.
I holster my gun and I'm in a daze. I can't think straight so I light a cigarette, even though I'm too shakey to really smoke it. My mind is racing about what just happened. I can't remember much, except thinking that I had just been tested and failed. I was too much of a coward to take the shot. One of the bouncers talks to me and tells me that I did fine, and I was right to not shoot, but I'm to wrapped up in the adrenaline to listen. I don't remember the rest of the night, but I remember the rest of this story so vividly that I can see it and taste the air. I can feel the gun in my hands and I remember what I was wearing. I can feel the clothes I was wearing, and I remember every little detail about the van and the SUV.
Anyway, looking back a few years later, I am convinced that I make the right decision under pressure, not that I was too much of a coward. I have, however, taken a lot of time to be more proficient with my weapon so that next time I have a shot that must be taken, I am confident taking it. I have changed everything about the way I carry a gun because of this event. I changed to 9mm for preceived accuracy and high capacity, I carry more ammo, I have a better holster, I practice more, and I am confident that if I am ever tested again, I will not hesitate.
I hope you all enjoyed the story. I haven't stretched the truth to make it sound more interesting or anything. This is exactly how it happened.