Rules of Gunfighting
You may someday need to apply one or more of these
The absolute First Rule of a Gunfight, in Mark Moritz'
brilliantly enunciated aphorism, is "Have a gun!" The rest
will supplement that first rule....

Have a gun.

Preferably, have at least two guns.

Bring all of your friends who have guns.

Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is
cheap. Life is expensive.

"Why did you shoot only once? There's no additional
paperwork for shooting someone twice!" – Firearms
Instructor P.O.J.D., MOS debriefing after a shooting.

Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow
miss.

If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving
fast enough or using cover correctly.

Proximity negates skill. Distance is your friend. (Lateral
and diagonal movement are preferred.)

If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long
gun... and a friend with a long gun.

In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber,
stance or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

If you are not shooting, you should be communicating,
reloading and running.

Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be
more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy
of the gun. Use a gun that works every time. "All skill is
in vain when an Angel ****es in the flintlock of your
musket."

Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they
should have to beat you to death with it because it is
empty.

Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one
you lose.

"If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan
your mission properly."

Have a plan.

Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.

Use cover or concealment as much as possible.

Flank your adversary when possible. Protect your own flank.

Don't drop your guard.

Always perform a tactical reload and then threat scan 360
degrees.

Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone
else, keep your hands where I can see them.)

Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough.

The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.


Be polite. Be professional. But... have a plan to kill
everyone you meet.

Be courteous to everyone. Friendly to no one.

Your number one option for Personal Security is a lifelong
commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

Do not attend a gun fight with a handgun whose caliber does
not start with a "4."

Nothing handheld is a reliable stopper.

Carry the same gun in the same place all the time.
Collected by Dean Speir , Formerly Famous Gunwriter.





The Gun Zone Directory
Rules for a Gunfight



Not surprisingly, the
late Michael Harries
had his own opinions:
Michael's Assorted Rules for a Gunfight.

Bring a gun.

Bring the biggest gun you can find.

Bring a backup gun.

Bring all your friends who have guns.

BEST rule for a gunfight.
Shoot first.

Courtesy of Dano
Navy Rules
of Gunfighting
1. Go to Sea
2. Send the Marines
3. Drink Coffee






"Anyone who cannot cope with firearms is not fully human. At best he
is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not
make messes in the house."
With appologies to RAH..