This is a videotape of one of Ayoob’s Lethal Force Institute (LFI) classes for police instructors. It is not of professional production quality, and the audio quality is sometimes rather poor. However, it contains some valuable information for those who own, and perhaps carry, firearms for defensive purposes.
The first half of the tape is devoted to the “Tueller Drill.” The “Tueller drill” is named for Sgt. Dennis Tueller, Salt Lake City Police, who also appears in this video. In 1983, he published the article “How Close Is Too Close” in SWAT magazine (Survival Weapons and Tactics). In this article, he discussed the results of a series of tests he had run. His tests showed that, with people of various ages, weights, and heights, they could on average close a distance of 21 feet in about 1.5 seconds. That time — 1.5 seconds — happened to be the “drill time” taught by Jeff Cooper at GunSite for drawing a handgun and firing two aimed shots. Knowing that people who have been shot do not always — or perhaps even often — fall down instantly, or otherwise stop dead in their tracks, Tueller concluded that a person armed with a knife or club at the so called “intermediate range” of 21 feet was a potentially lethal threat. The “Tueller drill” is now a standard part of all of Ayoob’s LFI classes.
The video shows you how to conduct your own “Tueller drill.” It requires three people: an attacker, a victim, and a timer. From 21 feet away, the “attacker” charges the “victim” touching him/her with his empty hand. The “victim” attempts to respond (again, empty handed) by “drawing” an imaginary weapon and firing two shots. The timer starts the stop watch when the attacker starts the charge, and stops the watch when contact is made. In this exercise, no one calls out “go.” Everyone reacts to the charge of the attacker, just as in real life.
After the section on the Tueller drill, the main topics of the tape are as follows (my comments in brackets).
Suicide-in-progress drill: [problems with holding a weapon in a firing position for an extended period of time (cramping, weakening of hands and arms, concentration), then some solutions]
Revolver speed loading techniques: [problems with the old FBI technique, and Ayoob’s recommended solution]
Shotgun shooting from a barricade: [discussion of match shooting vs. street shooting, competition vs. survival, barricades and cover, tactical rollouts]
Hand changes with shotguns
Speed crouch shooting with shotguns: [for firing over low cover such a cars; also good for recoil control]
Other low cover shotgun techniques
One-handed (wounded) shotgun techniques
Clearly, the thrust of this tape is the Tueller drill. Knowing that an attacker at 21 feet can be a lethal threat — even if “only” armed with a knife or club — could save your life. Being able to prove that you knew this could also save your neck in court.
Being a wheel-gunner, I also found the section on speed loaders helpful. Shotgun aficionados will perhaps find the latter sections of the tape the most interesting.
Like all of Ayoob’s materials, the slant is practical and street-oriented. If you’re interested in IPSC matches, this tape may not be of much use to you. If, one the other hand, your concern is the defense of yourself and family, you may find this video well worth $50 and an hour of your time.