Shooting from around barricades is a very useful skill whether you are competing in USPSA or IDPA, there is an entire event for it at Bianchi Cup.

Or, if you’re wanting to learn how to shoot a pistol from around a barricade for home and self-defense. In this Pro-Tip, I am going to go through three different ways to shoot around a barricade and it starts with off-hand. 

Successful off-hand shooting from around a barricade actually starts with your foot position. Ideally you want to stay at least arm’s length from the barricade. And this will protect you from crowding the barricade, getting a bad draw, or really having to lean around it. Staying back allows me to just bend my knees slightly to get on target.

My left foot is just an anchor point so a slight bend of the right leg, as a right-handed shooter, around the right side, is going to help me stay on target and control recoil. So, the combination of staying back and stance, with a good grip, allows me to get around the side of the barricade and control recoil. 

When shooting around the left side of the barricade its just a mirror image. I am just going to use my left foot as my anchor point the right is going to come out and extend a little bit, and when I extend on target as a right-handed shooter it’s going to be a bit more of a lean for me and it’s going to be a little slower because I have more travel in distance to the target. Just that little bit of a lean on the left side is going to make recoil control tougher, so really get a good grip on the gun in this position. 

Shooting off-hand around a barricade is very useful when you have multiple targets or you’re shooting for speed. But if you need a little bit of support for accuracy shots, this is where you can bring in a glove and a supported position. So, I could shoot from around the side of the barricade, but it’s not going to give me the most support.

Instead, I am going to press my knuckles into the side of the barricade, use my thumb as a kickstand, and extend on the target. That little bit of support makes a huge difference. Because I don’t have an ideal grip on the pistol, the recoil impulse is going to be a little bit more, but with a padded glove and practice, you’re going to shoot some really accurate shots. 

From the left side of the barricade, I can’t use my thumb as a kick stand, so I am just going to get a proper grip, press right into the barricade and shoot. The slight cant from this side is going to change my point of impact, so I will need to adjust slightly. 

The third and final way to shoot from around a barricade is to use an open gun, purpose built for it, using the wings to clamp into the barricade. For me, in this right side position, I am going to perform a support hand transfer and clamp on to the barricade. There are a few ways you can do the changing technique, but this is by far the most supportive way. 

The support hand transfer is really the make-or-break moment for shooting around the barricade with an open gun. It has to be smooth, but with practice, you can shoot really tight groups. 

So, there you have it, three different ways to shoot around a barricade, off-hand, supported, and fully braced with an open gun. Practice these techniques so you can hit the X-ring. Until the next one, be safe and have fun.