Center mass because if it gets to the point of needing to pull a gun and shoot I am not going to shoot to wound I am going to shoot the stop the full threat. There are drugs out there that make people not feel pain so I will not trust that shooting a limb or even a hip because if they have a gun as well the bullet doesn’t care if the person firing it can stand or not.
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In todays world, at least here near the Portland area, many of the bad guys are wearing body armor. I was taught to do the zipper shot. Zig zag up or down the body. If your attacker is wearing a vest you get in the head shot and / or femoral artery.
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#2 is exactly what I was going to say. I was always taught to shoot center mass because it is a far bigger and easier target to hit when your adrenaline is pumping, and you have minimal time to aim and fire. Plus, when adrenaline is coursing through your body, your accuracy will be off.
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So Biden was right! Shoot em in the leg. He was preparing us to deal with his friends that are just an idea and don’t exist.
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In a post from another today, he was teaching us how to clear a misfire from a pistol, and posted this video (below). Warning, it’s sad seeing someone shot. Although, much can be learned from it. To your points on shot placement.
In the video, I counted anywhere from 10 to 20 rounds expelled, but only saw 1-2 landing. It goes to show how even a professional officer with a quality firearm can miss close range. I’ll always be a student of placement accuracy, yet hope I never have to.
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Thanks for sharing. We can all learn alot from this video.
First, in this case the LEO had a huge advantage in that she saw the weapons right away and knew he had already been involved in another incident just prior to this one. Civilians will rarely ever have that same intel.
For me it shows me I really need to get into practical shooting. I want to work on getting off axis while remaining locked on the target.
It also shows you need to remain calm (as much as possible) under pressure. I love the way she basically kept backing up to put distance between her and the target. When the gun appeared to not go bang, she tapped and racked to get back in the fray.
I am not sure what the guy was thinking but it could have ended very badly for the officer.
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I have a lot of respect for our LEOs, but I think it’s a common known fact that many of them don’t get to the range as much as they need.
I also think it would be beneficial if they received more force on force training. Only good can come from training our police more. At least we have the option to run away.
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She did a good job clearing that malfunction!
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I believe BOTH are extremely important.
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This is probably one of the most constructive conversations (link below) between two different viewpoints on police. In there they talk about how many actual hours of training are required for police and it’s rather astonishing how little is required when considering the responsibility they carry everyday.
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Another good video from Sage Dynamics, a different perspective. 
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There is quite a bit of miss information on the Taylor case in the video. The cops were not at the wrong house as stated in the video The warrant was for her address with her name on it. She and her boyfriend were not in bed asleep when the cops came through the door as has been spread through the media.
They were up and in the hallway when her cureent boyfriend who legally owned the firearm started shooting and struck one of the cops. Her ex boyfriend was a known alleged drug dealer. Taylor’s car had been photographed at known trap houses. When her ex was in jail he called her on a recorded line and asked her to swing by the trap.
Maybe her boyfriend at the time knew what her ex was into and thought that was who was coming through the door.
Yes her death was tragic and preventable. She more than likely would never had a warrant issued for her property if she aas not mixed up with a bad dude. She more than likely would still be alive today had her then boyfriend not shot at the cops.
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Wow, this topic is a great one to discuss! There are a number of great comments and lessons learned. And it is a subject that has no definitive result. Yes, aim and hit “center mass”; higher hit probability. But, even the most accurate hits “center mass” and destroying the vital organs may not STOP a person as quickly as we hope. I am reminded of three events, three different calibers, one hit location (high center chest):
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Female convenient store employee. Shot at point blank range by a robber with a .357mag. The round destroyed her heart. She lived for 66 seconds. Able to remain standing, move to the telephone and dial 911 explaining what had happened to her.
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Male narcotics offender. Shot at by my partner. Twelve rounds deflected by vehicle glass, with one 9mm round finding its way into the left chest area. His aggression stopped and was removed from the vehicle. He was vocal and complaining he was shot. He was wearing a white t-shirt and cursory examined while standing. No injuries or holes were observed. Several seconds after a cursory examination, a small red spot began to appear through his shirt. No exit wound. He was medically treated. He lived for 4.5 minutes before he expired.
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Male murder suspect. Shoots LEO with 9mm, center mass at point blank range. LEO is wearing soft body armor, but the trauma immobilizes him. Suspect exits residence and see’s my partner, but my partner does not see him. Suspect committed to killing LEO. Suspect fires five rounds at my partner with one striking my partner in the abdomen below his ballistic vest. While face to face with suspect, both shooting at each other at a distance of four yards, my partner fires twenty-four rounds (yes, 24) from his M4 5.56cal rifle center mass on the suspect. Twenty-two rounds hit the suspect in the high chest area as the suspect continues to move forward and fire four more rounds at my partner. Suspect expires at his feet.
I bring this up because the human body is an incredible machine, capable of doing incredible things; even when struck CENTER MASS. Aim and hit CENTER MASS, but don’t expect an immediate reaction. Lethal Force incidents will end by choice or by chance, and hopefully end with us in control.
Stay Safe, Stay Strong, and Stay Adept!
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I have seen that video, and you’re right. Many people don’t understand how our fight or flight response works. Unless you are highly trained and have learned to overcome the nerves, you’re not going to be accurate. This is why center mass shooting is so critical. A head is a small target compared to CM. On top of that, you won’t have time to aim in a RL situation. It will be more of a shoot from the hip. Also, why extend way out where the attacker can smack your hand down? Keep your firearm close. Just several things I have seen and have been taught. 
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Good Heavens… Aside from this topic, the example reinforces the “Caliber doesn’t Matter” argument.
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What’s more scary; toxicology report came back NEGATIVE. The suspect was dead after the first several rounds. He just refused to believe it.
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So what’s the consensus on these scenarios? If you get two shots into the chest and they keep raging after you, especially if armed, one to the head?
If you are involved in a self-defense incident where you are in danger of grave bodily harm or death, you shoot to stop/neutralize the threat. Whatever you need to do to achieve that end goal, with your survival being most important, is what you do.
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That’s the standard failure drill.
After the 5 legal points under the law that 1st need to be met to allow you to use lethal force . There are many tactical factors and and skill level of the lawful defender in choosing where to shoot . You are trained to shoot center of mass on the body. If you take you hand make a fist and with you arm against you side put your fist in the center of your chest on the sternum bone this is your point of aim. This gives you the the largest chance of a stop the criminal attacker. This because heart and abdominal aorta are located here. if you hit high or low you hit the aorta and there is a shockwave effect that causes internal damage to organs. When you hit the circulatory system the BP drops immediately and the persons brain can not function. The biggest target to not miss and get a stop. You shoot till you have stopped the attackers use of deadly force.