Citation

Clemente-Suarez VJ, Diaz-Manzano M, Robles-Pérez JJ. J. Med. Syst. 2017; 41(9): e130.

Affiliation

Light Forces Head Quarter of the Spanish Army, Madrid, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10916-017-0779-3

PMID

28744599

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze pistol and compact rifle marksmanship in close quarter combat (CQC). There is currently a controversy about what weapon is most appropriate to use in CQC, short weapon as pistols or long weapons as rifle. Forty two participants conducted two close quarter combat simulations, one with pistol and one with compact rifle. Marksmanship and time to cover the simulation were measured. Data obtained showed no significant differences between pistol and compact rifle. In addition, it was observed a tendency to obtain higher scores with compact rifle, probably be due to the higher stability provided in the shot action. Compact rifle could be an effective election in actual theaters of operation in which asymmetrical and symmetrical combat are combined and also in police interventions due to compact rifle provide higher fire power and range and obtained the same shooting performance than pistol. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study that provides empirical data to solve the discussion about the efficiency of the use of rifle and pistol in close quarter combat in military and police interventions. These results could be used to improve the military and police interventions efficiency.

Language: en

Keywords

Close quarter combat; Marksmanship; Military; Performance measure; Pistol; Police; Rifle; Stress