Small Gun Class 2022

Each May I run a session of our Defensive Pistol Skills BUG (Small gun) class, as temperatures rise and people are more likely to carry small guns, often in a pocket or in other non-belt-holster methods.

In each class I collect performance data comparing small gun skill to skill with a larger gun carried in a belt holster, worn concealed with a cover garment. The data from 2019 and 2020 classes is here.

We did not run a small gun class in 2021 due to COVID.

drills from a small gun class

We used our Three Seconds or Less test (3SL) as the course of fire for data collection, as we have in the past.

2022 Class Data

14 shooters

Small Guns: 3 snub revolvers (2 S&W, 1 Ruger LCR). 3 Glock 42 .380’s, one Glock 44, one Glock 17 open carried (not a small gun!), Glock 44 .22, two S&W Shields, two SIG 365 9mms, and one Taurus G3C.

Large Guns: Seven guns that were either G48, G19 or G17. One CZP09, one SIG 365, one SIG 320, one M&P 2.0, one HK VP9 and one HKP30LS.

Scoring: 5 points for each acceptable hit (20 hits possible, 100 pts possible). Earlier versions of the 3SL test shot on USPSA and IDPA targets awarded points for hits outside the 5 point zone. Current version is scored on a 5 or 0 basis.

Average small gun score: 76.07 out of 100 possible
Average large gun score: 73.57 out of 100 possible

Performance loss from shooting the smaller gun: +2.5%

This was an unusual result, as some shooters shot 10-15 points worse with their larger gun.

Prior to shooting the test with the small gun, shooters had fired 100+ rounds out of their small guns, practicing the different strings of the 3SL test. They switched to their larger guns for the final retest. I had let some shooters get away with shooting their “small gun” from a belt holster worn open carry, but for the large gun test I required everyone to shoot from concealment. I believe this affected the results quite a bit.

For example, looking at the 3 shooters that used snub revolvers drawn from pockets for the small gun part, and 9mm striker fired guns drawn from belt holsters (concealment) for the large gun test, their snub scores were 45, 70, and 80, and large gun scores were 60, 55 and 75. Two of them shot better with the snub than the large gun. Difficulty drawing the large gun from concealment may have been a factor.

One shooter fired a 75 with a Shield and a 55 with an M&P. Another shot a 70 with their LCR and a 55 with their G19. Again, I think that poor concealment draw skills (which were observed during the big gun test) were a big factor.

Students passing the 3SL test with 70% or higher score using their small gun: 9 of 14 (65% passed)_
Students passing the 3SL test with 70% or higher score using their primary gun: 9 of 14 (65% passed).

Students passing the 3SL test at the 90% level (desired) using their small gun: 4 of 14 (28% passed).
Students passing the 3SL test at the 90% level using their primary gun: 0 of 14 (0% passed)

Historical Data

Historical average of the entire data set of 105 shooters:

Small Gun score: 75/100
Larger gun score: 82/100

Students passing the 3SL test with 70% or higher score using their small gun: 73 of 105 (69% passed)_
Students passing the 3SL test with 70% or higher score using their primary gun: 20 of 105 (19% passed).

Students passing the 3SL test at the 90% level (desired) using their small gun: 88 of 105 (83% passed).
Students passing the 3SL test at the 90% level using their primary gun: 37 of 105 (35% passed)

Looking at the historical data set, those in the “low” skill level (unable to pass the 3SL test with the primary gun), dropped an average of 0.8 points switching to the smaller gun, indicating a general lack of shooting skill regardless of which gun was used.

Those in the “medium” skill level (70-89 points on the 3SL test shot with their primary gun), dropped an average of 6.2 points switching to the smaller gun.

Those in the high skill level (90+ points with primary gun) also dropped an average of 6.2 points.

Interpreting Data

The Three Seconds or Less (3SL) test was designed to define an acceptable minimum performance standard for concealed carry pistol shooters. I describe as a simple go/no-go assessment. If you can pass at 70% with a particular combination of gear, that configuration is probably OK to carry in public. Being able to shoot 90% means you are well prepared and not just “OK”. 90% on the 3SL test is roughly equal to IDPA Sharpshooter or USPSA upper C class skill.

The data shows what we already knew: smaller guns are harder to shoot. Those with lower skill level shoot poorly regardless of gear. Those at higher skill levels shoot higher overall scores, but drop more points on average when switching to the smaller gun. That’s a result different from what was observed in years past, with a smaller data set. About half (46%) shooters capable of shooting 90% with their primary gun couldn’t do it with the smaller gun (17 of 37).

Conclusions

It’s convenient to have a large and a small gun, used as weather and type of wardrobe dictates. It’s good to be able to shoot at least 70% on the 3SL test with both, better to be able to shoot 90% with both. Being able to shoot a 70% or a 90+% score with the primary gun and gear configuration does NOT guarantee that you’ll be able to do it with the small gun.

Small guns are harder to shoot fast and accurate, deep concealment carry methods slow down draw times — but violent attackers are not going to attack more slowly to compensate for the difficulties imposed by the gear you’ve chosen.