Benefits of a Virtual Shooting Environment

Brett Denison | Firearms Instructor | Virtual Target

Frequently when thinking of defensive firearm training potential students think in terms of marksmanship, firearm manipulation, and draw stroke; an often-overlooked facet is the psychological decision component, i.e. shoot/no shoot decision. While this is a mental effort, it is compounded by the psychological and physiological implications of the high stress situation. These implications could include some or all of the following:

• Tunnel Vision.
• Heightened Visual Clarity.
• Auditory exclusion.
• Time distortions.
• Memory Distortions.
• Reflexive Crouch.
• Hands Elevated to Protect the Face.
• Head Turned and Eyes Locked on Threat.
• Effects of Brain’s Signals Being Prioritized or Filtered
• Effects of Adrenaline
• Increase in Strength.
• Heightened Pain Threshold.
• Decrease in Fine Motor Skills.

This means that on top of the above, a personal involved in a violent confrontation needs to make a decision based on the totality of the situation and decide how they will react—fight or flight.

These stress induced decision points are very difficult train and practice on a traditional range. This is one of many benefits of the virtual shooting environment available here at Virtual Target Shooting. We are able to place students in realistic, but 100% safe, scenarios that present them with these shoot/no shoot situations.