Pistol Fundamentals

This clip is from the video vault in my Keep the Blaze Alive Coaching Squad (aka “The Squad”). The Squad has three levels of membership, and we meet weekly online with a 2-hour livestream where I answer questions and tell stories, and the Tier 1 members get two monthly two-hour Zoom calls where we talk face-to-face. I also host two 3-day events per year for my Tier 1 members. Learn more about The Squad at / coachingsquad
#PatMac #PatMcNamara

[@ToysRUsKid_Critter]

This is an amazing time……Free tier 1 shooting knowledge …who would even dreamed of this 10 yrs ago….Thank you Brother Pat✌️☺️🍺

[@michaelm5888]

basics

[@JulioGarcia-jg7nt]

P

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Although my dad never was in the military ( medical reasons, he tried) but he was a gunsmith and a shooter for many years. He could bust your ass with a pistol. He never taught me to shoot with the finger “splitting the distal phalanges “ method either. He was more of an old school one handed shooter but it did help pushing that finger in just a bit more. I never could out shoot him, but I got close 😉. He passed away a couple of months ago and I guess that shooting will forever be my connection to him. Much love dude 🤙🤙

[@jaybar33]

Sorry for your loss but he definitely passed on great knowledge

[@nikonxxx]

Muh daddy🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@paddypibblet846]

Bro who cares if he wasn't in the military. Your dad sounds like he was a good man. The biggest bad asses I've ever met have been in the civie world.

[@northface484]

I will never forget you talking about your finger on the trigger and putting it all the way through and not just tip...And how much it changes your accuracy....

[@Lumberjack-hs8gb]

That was one of the best quick fixes for my accuracy as well.

[@SuperMulletguy]

Does anyone notice that the trigger finger is then pressing into the support hand thumb and slightly blocking trigger pull?

[@charlesridgeway7670]

Made the same fix after watching that video.

[@marcferret1563]

@@SuperMulletguy depends on the gun. I have that issue with most guns, but not with a Glock with a larger backstrap. I inherently shoot Glocks better, I think for this reason.

[@dshepard05]

It’s the magic elixir gentlemen.

[@gregrobertson5576]

Love Pat's breakdown and stressed emphasis of fundamentals.

[@J4CKWR4TH]

Me too! No flashy gimmicks or sales pitches and he doesn't have to try to get you to understand. Pat talks to the camera as if we have all earned his respect and I respect him for that.

[@soonerfrac4611]

Let me preface this by saying I’m slowly buying into the new “modern pistol grip” with the cranked support hand, it just seems to offer more repeatability to follow up shots. But I keep hearing people say that it provides better bone structure or bone support, etc… There’s simply no way that is possible! Easy test is go put in some work on the heavy bag with your wrist cranked like that, it’s not gonna last very long before you break your wrist! Like I said, I buy into the concept of it working for better weapons control, but the body mechanics simply don’t make any sense to me when they say it’s stronger they way they do.

[@seanoneil277]

@@soonerfrac4611 You're probably not doing it correctly if you are not experiencing a more locked-up, skeletally strong grip structure. For a more detailed look at the clamshell/vise action Pat Mac describes during presentation, and how it relates to creating a rock-solid skeletally strong grip, check out Scott Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project, and look for his videos talking about what he calls "the wave grip". The "wave" he refers to is the momentum and direction of your support hand as it engages from the mating point, through presentation and breaking the shot. I'm not sure how you have convinced yourself that, in practice it solidifies multi-shot string accuracy, yet is not skeletally stronger. That's why I say you're probably not doing it correctly. It would not feel weaker or anatomically inefficient if you did it correctly. I know this because I took a 2-day class w/ Mr Jedlinski and he improved my grip through this "wave" mechanical strategy. Improved it tremendously. It may be that when you have tried it, your presentation was not flat enough and thus your clamshell / vise felt weird or unstable. If you "porpoise" during presentation you'll get a lousy vise / clamshell, it will never be consistent. And you'll have less time with your POA/POI picturing, versus doing it flat out horizontal.

[@joshbattista7049]

I never get tired of hearing you talk about pistol fundamentals, it's almost like listening to a history teacher talk about the American Civil War. You rock Pat!

[@rjg02005]

I love your position on "stance" not being a fundamental to combat shooting. I took a class about 7 years ago and the instructor said a similar thing and it really stuck with me. It's a constant reminder why I'm training.

[@martinausterfield8597]

Can’t be a fundamental if it changes!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Author, reserve cop 👮🏻‍♂️ & cadre Massad Ayoob taught 100s "stressfire" or be able to say; hey I'm stressed, hurt, fearful I'll use that to my advantage.

[@nolataoists8575]

Pat Mac, John McPhee, Bob Keller...this is priceless treasure in training. Civilians need to train accordingly before the internet blackout hits our society. Get you some, and fast

[@asmith7876]

As I get older I find I need lights, scopes, lasers, tritium, whatever…any worse I’ll need a forward observer! His videos are the gold-standard for no-BS concise delivery of knowledge.

[@kopanomofokeng6562]

I love it when Pat says " I am not missing, I am not missing". There's just something great about a man being confident about his abilities.

[@viciousKev]

Embrace the blur

[@jasongriffin1127]

Pat is a legend. Phd level. A true warrior and a hero.

[@DetPaddyOC]

Pat's got the quickest presentation for both pistol and rifle fundamentals... I revisit these videos quite often.. (Been shooting both for 30 years) I feel you can't hear these enough. I even lay out a 3X5 card with each step for both carbine and precision rifle. It's a tremendous help!

[@karlgreenkgv]

Thanks Mac. It is soo good to practice and remember how to make a good use of my pistol with your videos. I'm a spanish Guardia Civil COP, and I use a Beretta 92 that is like to carry a rock, but I have my own Glock 19X. Cheers from Spain.

[@MegadethTillDeth]

Badass.

[@chowtimewithruss1411]

Out-freaking-standing video, learned a ton in less than 5 minutes

[@wingman8447]

Yes I’m there with all of it. Included the blur. I’ve embraced it too no choice. Not a red dot pistol guy yet either. Thanks for a concise no BS vid. Should be used as a great tune-up/ reminder vid to show us what we should be doing. Excellent.

[@CyclingAddiction]

There with you except I am a slow learner so I have started my old age transitioning to red dot and getting better with more reps. Still carry with iron sights until I feel I am ready. I was reluctant to change, but I do like red dots now. The big thing is the red dot seems to bounce a lot, but it really doesn't anymore than iron sights. It just gives that impression. So once the red dot is on the target go ahead and send it instead of attempting to have a steady dot. Once you mentally overcome that part it gets fast. I think that was the hardest thing for me to let go. Also just a slight difference in how I present, which I don't understand because my red dot is almost perfectly cowitnessed so it seems like presentation mechanics should be exactly the same.

[@edwinfadabundii3793]

Red dots on pistols are quickly becoming standard equipment, much like red dots on rifles. I now find that I can use irons almost like a red dot by “embracing the blur” as you said, and staying mostly target focused.

[@davidqbs]

51 Years old, I have not embraced the blur, I embraced the dot. These days I can only see the front sight with my non-dominant eye. Ok enough for shooting static and slowly at targets. I'd try to swap but 30 years of pistol shooting means under pressure I go back to default.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Rear optics, ccw systems are far more common in 2022 compared to 2018. As time, $$$ R&D progresses these Trijicon & Aimpoint brands will improve. I'm not about to drop 💰💰💰 on a optic just yet. The "plates" or inserts are far from 💯 either.

[@ed008ue]

Pat, simple and to the point. you are a great instructor. you deserve to "Square Away" these NCOs who are posing as instructors...

[@lu77xiaojun37]

You had me at "tactical turtle".

[@tmmccormick86]

I really like getting a night-time front sight installed on my pistols; I leave the stock rear sights on. this creates a visible difference between front and rear, as the front glows nice and bright, allowing me to still effectively drive the gun correctly in the dark without glasses on. plus it's cheaper than a red-dot and much more low profile; don't need to screw around with holster selection etc

[@onpsxmember]

If you can't see what you're shooting at, you shouldn't be shooting. If you can't see you rear sight you ligning up front and rear sight is tough. What you're left with is twilight use. Depending on your circumstances it can still make sense. Check out the combination of tritium and fibre optic so it won't wash out in bright light.

[@tmmccormick86]

@@onpsxmember personally I'm near-sighted, but not blind. So I can identify a human in my home that isn't supposed to be there. I prefer to shoot focusing on front sight post with rears in the peripheral, or "fuzzed out." In the middle of the night when something goes "bump," glasses may not end up on my face, so I rely on that tritium post and muscle memory to put rounds on target as needed.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I'm 51, wear 👓, OWB rigs. I use HD night sights on most of my carry, duty pistols. 3 dot orange. Steel sights are a big +. Rear optics, SRO-ACRO2-Holosun etc are popular in 2022 but the bulk, power, durable issues turn me away. Optics are the future. No doubt.

[@tmmccormick86]

@@DavidLLambertmobile a big part of sight choice has to do with an individual user's technique. Focusing on the front post works for me, so I only worry about changing the front post. Other people focus on rear sights (which is weird, but it if works I don't judge) or- like you- on both sets of sights together. I absolutely agree that optics will continue to be a staple for shooting, but you're also right about the bulk; they get in the way and sometimes require a new holster setup.

[@Crazyhops1111111111]

You deserve more subscribers. The amount of content you're pumping out is invaluable. Thanks for the free lessons.

[@malkomalkavian]

Thank you for addressing the realities of ageing and learning :)

[@mikegrace940]

Pat, Embrace the blur may be the most helpful you have been to me personally so far! It sucks but it was great to hear it in that context. Obviously the platform that I was using before having this issue is the one I have stuck with since our friend Frank White gave me one to shoot in 1986 when I was 16 hanging out at his office, the G 17,19,23,22 platforms. Thanks brother

[@df-jv7kl]

Great refresher, lecture. I love the break down to the basics with out the institutional verbiage.

[@cmillerphotos]

I'm holding out on the red-dot too, so I'm there with you! I have one on my AR, but I still shoot at least half my session with irons. I have to do good with the iron sights first before I "earn" the red-dot. 🙂

[@michaeldensinger9637]

I stopped splitting the distal falange and actually was able to put 2 back to back in the bullseye, usually I shoot left and this corrected that instantly. I can actually feel a difference in my grip!

[@willieaustin6050]

Great stuff right here, simple & to the point. Thank you Sir for your service & thank you for sharing your knowledge! The front sight blur really hits home with me @ 64 the struggle is real. I have found sort of a solution to this problem, I wear progressive lens glasses, my distance vision is still good I just have trouble with the arms length eyesight, unfortunately that's where our pistol sights happen to be. So a couple of years ago when I got new glasses I had them extend the bottom correction up a tiny bit, thus eliminating the booblehead effect of trying to find the sweet spot.

[@Joe091680]

Pat is one animated instructor. I simply love his content. He's a natural motivator.

[@CannaGro81]

Love the, "Its new to me."line

[@terencelo9731]

"its not gonna be a single shot from the holster BAGOOOSHHH, that died with Johnny Ringo"

[@usngunr]

LOL. I'm 61 and been running pistols since I enlisted in 1978. As an old school shooting instructor, I was taugh and taught that stupid split the fingertip thing. It didn't work that great then either. LOL. I am a new convert to the red dot. I embraced the blur for years, and had the muscle memory from 20 years of military and then sport competition to get away with it. But the 407K finally changed my mind. It's small enough to not hang over the sides, and it freaking works. Great videos Pat. Love them.

[@IdahoSnek]

Why do we need to know people converted to red dot. Who gives a F.

[@RagnarLothbrok2222]

Pat Mac is just the best man!

[@richardrogers8254]

Great video! Love how you explain the reason for push/ pull that causes shots to go left or right because of the fulcrum and how to fix it. Excellent teacher. Fast and to the point with knowledge that's easy to grasp. This wisdom will greatly benefit new shooters. I'm a dinosaur and love iron sights. When used to target shoot .45 ACP, we always used a Zippo and smoked the sights and top rail to reduce glare. Hate those red dots. Actually saw the glass fall out of an expensive one...pretty useless after that. We got it back in but it was a 5 minute ordeal. I won't rely on scopes or things with glass that can be knocked off target if you drop it or bump it hard! Even had the rear sight fall off a 1911 once while qualifying and still got the target 85%. That's when I realized it's the front sight that really counts. Love these videos. Rock n Roll. Thanks Pat!

[@JT.45]

Great video Pat. As far as “Embracing the Blur”, I wear contact lenses and in the last year switched to multi focal lenses. It helped to bring the front sight back in focus. However, there is a bit of a trade off: my distance vision is slightly fuzzy now depending on the time of day.

[@hellcat611]

Thanks Pat. These videos are a great resource. I appreciate that you waste no time getting into the lesson and transition from one fundamental to the next without a ton of unnecessary talking. Makes it much easier for the listener (or for me, at least) to digest. Cheers.

[@DigitalNeb]

My favorite part of your tutorials is the descriptions. Tactical turtle and low rider... I love it.

[@pasquinilli]

I love all of the new content and the volume of info you are putting out. It’s good stuff and very useful. Thank you for sharing.

[@Dgfiori]

Awesome Pat. I agree 100% with everything you managed to compress in 6 min. Some of the best 6 min of my KZbin watching life was spent watching this👊

[@dongentile6473]

We love us some Pat Mac anything. Thanks, Pat.

[@frank4fun64]

love the practicality of his outlook... so many "instructors" stress bullseye shooting techniques which will get your azz smoked in a gun fight.... Stance = :)

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Battlefields are 360! Keep scan, look for threats! 👀 move too. Incoming rounds have the right of way!

[@martinausterfield8597]

I remember scoring perfect marksmanship with a rifle and being told I wasn’t pulling the trigger ‘correctly’. Repeated the task with the same score. Why would I ever change a winning formula?

[@patrickmchenry2217]

Good to be a Pat Mac too!

[@joshsquash9917]

I actually like the word “Fundle” short for fundamentals. Could start saying “gotta learn the fundles”. Still loving the daily uploads my fellow Cackalakian! I show your vids to everyone I know, even if they’re not into this kind of thing, and even they dig it.

[@hayseed65]

"Embrace the blur". Thank you for this. Something so damn simple I couldn't figure out myself.

[@surfingonmars8979]

THANK GOD somebody finally said, “just stand the F up and you are in your stance!” Was taught to shoot by an NYPD Detective who was my dad’s best friend. He said what Pat said, “how the hell do you know what stance you’re gonna be in when you have to shoot!? You could be on your back!”

[@theoutdoorguy8740]

Your chickens are just chilling in the background

[@lesmontgomery7]

Thank you Mac.I'm grateful

[@russwilkerson2741]

Embrace the blur. I’m glad you said that. I was questioning my blur and whether or not I should carry.

[@adamthompson4979]

I just recently became a basic pistol instructor. I really like your videos to not only remind me of the fundamentals, but as a way to teach them. Thank you!

[@DDGVET4]

Fastest dude alive. You can cram more into 5 minutes than anyone I've ever met.

[@yahusrevus]

The "Tactical Turtle" is hilarious.

[@JudgeD-hc9vw]

Keep this stuff coming. Thank you so much.

[@glennnewell2786]

Thanks for your time !!

[@randypennington4968]

A true wealth of information and instructions !!! Keep it COMING !!! Your the real Captain America !

[@thor992000]

Great vid! Aging eyes! Yes, I got a pair and I have learned to embrace the blur. I have practiced point shoot for several years and it works unless you are making a precision shot.

[@sillygoose5138]

Most take confidence in what their red dot presents..... Pat Mac takes confidence in blind sight picture.

[@trottheblackdog]

I love re learning the FunDaMenTals

[@JohnUSMC0311]

Brilliance in the basic!! I love it. Great video sir.

[@_guitarjun_]

Great stuff!

[@brettthoms8463]

Sat here in the home office on my conference call practicing and following along. Double muted and turned Zoom camera off. Practice makes better. Thanks for the "distal Phalangy" tip.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

FUN-DA-MENTALS!!! On point brother, Metal up!!!

[@flyingfowlfarm5636]

The finger placement on the trigger is my hurdle. 20 years of being trained to use the pad is a tough habit for me to break. Like you said, "institutional inbreeding."

[@johngross8300]

Thanks Pat!

[@radamesgonzalez]

Love your stuff brother!! New to your page but your spot on with the evolution of knowledge and wisdom!!!

[@Shurmash]

If you "get rid of the gap" (I really like that term), those sights will not move when squeezing the trigger. You won't even be able to count your shots on paper because they'll be going through the same holes (superior groupings). It felt awkward to try and squeeze the trigger with the pad of the index finger. Amazing information.

[@askingwhy123]

Another great video, straight to the point. Thanks! On embracing the blur: most people start to develop cataracts as early as 40-50 years old. Getting replacement lenses will cure your farsightedness (or your shortsightedness), but not both. So see an ophthalmologist every couple of years and start thinking about which glasses you'd like to do without 😎 Mayo Clinic signs of cataracts: - Cloudy or blurry vision - Lights are too bright and/or give off a glare or a halo - Poor night vision - Multiple (double) vision - Colors seem faded - Increased nearsightedness, increasing the need to change eyeglass prescriptions - Distortion of vision in either eye

[@frisc0strangler207]

Thanks Pat, you’re the best

[@brianjulian5230]

A living legend….. graced with this man’s knowledge.

[@pisom4314]

thanks for sharing with us!!

[@stephenmooney1509]

Stance point very well made

[@joshuaborchardt1005]

Thank you for all your hard work I really enjoy these videos with my coffee in the morning so much knowledge.

[@FiveElementsTactical]

AWESOME!!! Concise as always. Straight to the point. I gotta work on your trigger finger placement. I’ve been watching you do it if so long, and you’re an awesome shot. I’m a product of the inbreeding and have a hard time deviating. Thanks for the tips. Stay safe!!

[@dirtymike91-i9w]

Thank you for valuable information!! a lot of instructors ignores that fact finger placement plays big roll when it comes for accurate shooting I had "Low left shooting" issue long time many known instructors just don't mention it idk why but let me say it is a common issue

[@KingMusa99]

Great Video i went to reddot in 2018 because of aging eyes and it certainly has helped TREMENDOUSLY

[@FredFlintstone7]

Glad to see someone else sees no reason for the "fingertip" trigger. I never could hit anything unless my finger wrapped the trigger.

[@johnmaholick4991]

Old eyes can be very dramatic when you’ve been shooting pistols for a long time…thanks for keeping it simple, I’m going to embrace the blur

[@ericrumpel3105]

I REALLY appreciate & comprehend your logical approach, but with the facts that count, ....in training. This old guy Thanks You Man fer sharing

[@davithekid7236]

Dude is a complete gem and American legend

[@gage-money]

Glad I watched this, I’ve been doing that inbreeding phalange shit and noticed in dry fire when I get more finger in there I don’t move my dot off my aiming point. Thanks PatMac!

[@richardberry5984]

Pat! Great, short and to the point instructions! I LIKE IT!!!

[@tbip2001]

That shirt is badass.

[@leapfrog4546]

Tactical turtle and low rider stance!

[@Christopher-xl8ez]

Thanks Pat ! Great vid ! 🙌💯

[@le_bull_]

Thank you very much sir !

[@manglermalachi8080]

Embracing the blur with you, Brother!

[@Harry_16710]

"Embrace the blur"...yep, it's about that time. 🤣 Thanks Pat!🤘

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Thank you sir...

[@briandowney6478]

You just blew my mind with saying remove that gap with the trigger finger. Your the first to tell me that and can’t wait to try shooting that way

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

Last of the red dot hold-outs. My spirit animal, indeed

[@68fmj51]

What you said about finger placement on the trigger is 100% spot on. Moving my finger where the first joint was on the trigger was a big help accuracy-wise. No more pushing my shots to the right (I'm a lefty). Getting rid of that "institutional inbreeding" is a must.

[@seanoneil277]

It varies from pistol to pistol for me. My smallest, a PPS M2, works best when I sink the finger as Pat Mac suggests. My other two work fine with a less-sunk finger. The PPS M2 has a heavier trigger pull and a fingertip placement on the trigger makes me yank it sideways. A lighter trigger pull lets you decrease the leverage you need over the trigger and grip. Functionally, as Pat Mac said, it's really about eliminating that gap alongside the frame, as well as finding out where your finger needs to be to get a straight-back trigger pull. Different for every hand on every pistol. Also, this is one of the things that changes with backstrap size, if you have a pistol that came with 2 or 3 backstrap options. The more you fill out that part of the grip, the further your trigger finger gets from the trigger.

[@julioflorez2628]

Dude stuff!!! My guy i didn't know u had a gun training channel. I love ur shorts and know common knowledge training all around cool dude!!

[@nickma71]

I like the trigger change. I agree from a logic point of view, not an experience POV. Although in slow fire training I pushed shots a little low and left. But during qualification, I didn't. Because I had a much tighter grip.

[@laughingdog6010]

Good stuff!!!! Awesome 😎 thanks

[@mikeg3754]

As with all of his other videos he just makes sense. Thanks for what you’ve done and what you’re doing. Gitchusum!

[@rostamr4096]

Awesome...thank you

[@michaelcarter8209]

Outstanding

[@davidarmstrong6069]

Excellent material as always Pat. I agree, from a practical level, spending more time working on proper grip rather than micro managing stance. And yeah...us old guys have to embrace the blur.

[@phantomdracula]

“Sight Alignment (redux)”- First vid i ever watched from you P.M. and still one of the best sir🤘⚡️🦇⚡️🤘

[@hotbassist182]

Saw this video for the first time…. You’re the second person to mention about stance and as someone who teaches hand to hand, that clicked so hard because I teach similar when talking about fight stance…. Now I’m curious about that trigger finger position. My KZbin certs continue ha ha

[@chrisconversino6294]

I am loving the more frequent postings. This one is right in line with the book I'm currently rereading, "Natural Born Heroes". Some of the chapters cover the Word War 2 legends like Fairbairn ,Sykes, and Red Applegate. That full grip with the finger all the way on the trigger, a casual relationship to the sights, etc. Those.men knew a gunfight and a.pistol match are very different. Bill Jordan's book " No second place in a gunfight" is more of the same. Bill was a Texas border patrol when the west was still wild. A marine in World war 2 and Korea. And he could balance a ping pong ball on the back of his hand, drop that hand to draw his revolver and hit that ball before it hit the ground. Can't wait to see what SGM does next.

[@joshuabriggs7114]

"Embrace the blur" -classic!

[@mccall821]

Back to basics!