Combat Shooting with Massad Ayoob

If you have never read any of his books, buy this. If you HAVE read his books, this is more of a cliff notes version of Gun Digest Combat Hangunnery. Good information throughout but repetitive if you have already read his other works.

A valued mentor once advised me to "start at the end where you want to see yourself and work back to where you are now. Then you will understand the important steps and decisions you must make to get where you want to arrive." This book starts with you in front of a jury explaining why you shot and possibly killed someone. I can think of no better advice for anyone contemplating an armed response to another human's actions. This is not a narrow book for gun nuts but a more general treatise on the importance of awareness, attitude or mind-set, tactics and the law. There are many examples related from the viewpoint of you standing in front of a judge ... illustrated with sobering cases taken from real life of well-intentioned people going to jail for "just defending themselves or their family." There is an interesting and appropriate chapter on firearms in the martial arts dojo that I appreciated as a nine year student of aikido. And you have to love a serious combat shooter that advises you to pay heed to Ogden Nash, "When called by a panther...Don't anther!" This book is full of very good advice, indeed.

Massad Ayoob has spent decades amassing his encyclopedic knowledge of the defensive firearm. Despite being a top authority in his own right, he possesses the drive and the humility to continuously learn from the other masters in this field. He is arguably the top scholar in this field of study. Fortunately for us, he is also a natural teacher and a witty author who shares his experience in a way that is enjoyable and easy to understand. Moreso than any other author, Ayoob illustrates his lessons with real-life examples. Each of his works deserves a space on your bookshelf...and this one is no exception. Ayoob teaches not only the techniques, but also the legal and ethically responsible exercise of our Second Amendment freedoms.

I've read a couple of Massad's books. He knows his stuff no doubt about that. But this one comes off as a bit disjointed and rambling from chapter to chapter. One thing I must warn about is the last chapter. In fact it should have a warning in front. It gets into anatomy and what a bullet does when it hits various parts of the body. Do not read this on a full stomach ! One thing I took away from this book is that no matter how dire the situation I have absolutely no desire to take a human life.

Having been a shooter for over 50 years and carried a handgun, daily, through most of those years, I am 67 and still carry concealed for my own protection. Mr. Ayoob is one of the very best at explanation as to how, when, where and why we all deserve the right to self protection. Mas deals with, not only the methods and means of self protection, but also the legal ramifications one will face in the event the weapon must be fired in ones defense. He puts in clear and simple terms, the legalese which is so confusing to the average Joe. I have read and own nearly all of Mr. Ayoobs' books, and, without exception, they are the easiest to read and understand when it comes to anything relating to the carrying and using of a firearm for personal defense. One of my deepest hopes is to meet Mr. Ayoob, shake his hand and express gratitude for his marvelous body of work in the area of personal defense.

If you have a concealed carry license and carry a firearm, you should read this book. If you are thinking about doing so, you should read this book. The same goes for anyone interested in what entails with carrying a gun, whether it is a civilian or police officer doing it.Ayoob describes three historical figures well-known as gunfighters, what to expect when in a deadly force situation (what the sympathetic nervous system does to the body, etc), and great advice for those who carry concealed.Highly recommended. For additional in-depth and excellent information on deadly force situations, check out Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's "On Combat" or perhaps his "On Killing" (both books also recommended by Ayoob in "Combat Shooting").I should note that I purchased the Kindle version of this book; some of the captions for pictures seem to be misplaced but other than that it is fine.

Very interesting particularly for those who have never been exposed to any shooting scenario. If you do happen to become involved in such an incident what would you do? Mr. Ayoob tells us what some responses have been and why they were successful. Practice. Scenarios planned in advance. Practical suggestions. A rich trove of specific things to contemplate and do. A typical suggestion: for those who wear glasses to see, try shooting with plain safety glasses. In the middle of the night you might drop your "eyes" and need to respond in a hurry with no time to feel around for your lenses.

Ayoob brings an overview of the elements of using firearm to survive an armed attack. He describes the role of target competition and how some forms are detrimental and others are not. He also describes the Zen of split second reactions required in a dynamic event and the mentality and state of mind you must posses to survive. The book is not intended to be a complete guide to mental preparation nor a complete guide to training preparation, but it points out those outlines.

Excellent, as are all of Ayoob's books. Covers all facets of the topic and addresses technical, practical and ethical implications of all that is found within.From beginner to expert, everyone will benefit by reading this book.

I'm glad I ordered this book which will provide a long-term companionship to my attempt to better understand shooting technique. Teacher Massad Ayoob really inspires true tactics.

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