Center Axis Relock

Center Axis Relock (CAR) is a shooting system primarily intended for close quarters combat. Invented by Paul Castle, it uses some of the human body's natural psychology and physiology reactions to stressful encounters.

The CAR system features a bladed stance (the shooter's weak-side shoulder facing the target), a close-to-body firearm hold, and sighted or non-sighted fire as the situation dictates. This differs from other shooting styles such as the Weaver which feature a square stance (almost perpendicular to the target), the pistol held out at arm's length, and some form of sighted fire.

Advantages over other shooting styles are listed as:

• Improved recoil control, allowing faster follow-up shots.
• Better weapon retention.
• Stances and reactions are a good approximation of human reactions under stress.
• The bladed stance reduces the shooter's silhouette, making him a smaller target.

The CAR system is primarily intended for handgun shooting although it can also be used with long guns, batons, tasers and OC sprays.

Description

The most notable feature of the CAR system is its unique firing stance. There are four positions that are taught, each of which is used based on how far the target is from the shooter, as well as various tactical considerations for the situation. All firing positions are based on a "bladed" stance, which means the shooter stands sideways relative to their target, with their non-dominant arm's shoulder facing the target. In addition, all four positions involving keeping the firearm very close to the torso compared to other shooting stances, and in all but one, the weapon is held tilted slightly to one side, rather than vertically. The four individual positions are described as follows:

• High - Despite its name, this is actually the "lowest" position. The weapon is held cradled close to the chest, pointed at the target, with the dominant arm held horizontally across the torso. The non-dominant arm crosses the torso under the weapon's barrel and the hand grasps the shooting hand, with the upper arm held against the shooter's side (and out of the muzzle's line of fire). Advantages to this position are that the weapon is easy to retain if an enemy tries to grab for it, the weapon can be held for long periods with less fatigue, it looks less aggressive and more defensive to an opponent, and the close position of the arms to the torso can offset the effects of stress. Drawbacks are that this position does not allow sighted fire and relies entirely on point-shooting, so it is only useful at very close range. It also can be unsafe as there is a risk of shooting oneself in the non-dominant bicep, and some types of firearm such as large caliber revolvers cannot be used in this position due to the muzzle- or cylinder-blast potentially causing injury.
• Combat High - This position is a "low ready" stance, and it used for cautious observation rather than directed shooting. The weapon is held with both hands up near the face, roughly 3-6 inches from the nose, but just below the sight line of the eyes to keep a clear view of the environment. The weapon is kept tilted at roughly 30-45 degrees to the left (in a right-handed stance) to naturally fall in line with the position of shooting arm (holding it completely vertical would uncomfortably bend the wrist). The non-dominant hand wraps over the shooting hand to stabilize the grip, with the non-dominant elbow kept down and near the shooter's side, though not touching it.
• Extended - Similar to "Combat High," except the weapon is held forward, approximately 11-13 inches from the eyes and the sights are in the shooter's focal zone. The elbow of the shooting arm is lifted to about jaw level and the non-dominant arm is kept in line with the torso. This is the most common shooting position, and is based on several principles. First, the smaller distance between the sights and the eyes is allows a wider view of the environment; stances with the sights out farther cause the eyes to focus in a single spot. Second, the position of the arms, if properly executed, causes the recoil to be absorbed straight backwards instead of up, down or sideways, thus allowing faster repeated shots while keeping on target. This position is intended to be used for shorter ranges, about 2-10 yards.
• Apogee - A further progression from "Extended", the weapon is held even further from the eyes with the arms extend in a position similar to a Weaver stance, except the weapon is still held tilted to one side in line with the wrist and arm, and the body is still in a "bladed" stance. This is designed for medium range, controlled shooting.

Criticisms

• The CAR system has been criticized as impractical for individuals utilizing body armor. While the bladed stance somewhat reduces the shooter's profile (theoretically making it harder to hit), it greatly increases the possibility of taking a hit to his unprotected side flank (as opposed to directly impacting against the front or rear of the armor) and may allow a single projectile to penetrate multiple organs in a side-to-side traversion. This disadvantage can be avoided by use of certain types of armor with side protection.
• While holding a pistol in the "High" shooting position, the muzzle is not in front of the left bicep (for a right-handed grip) and isn't even beyond the lungs in shorter-barreled handguns. This practice is potentially very dangerous as it can easily lead to self-inflicted gunshot wounds. It also violates the 2nd rule of gun safety and therefore if this method is practiced at most shooting ranges it would be a violation of their rules. For this reason it is not recommended to use or even attempt this position unless the shooter has trained properly under expert supervision.
• The "High" position is also not suited to handguns with very powerful muzzle blasts, which can cause burns on the adjacent skin, and to many types of revolver because the lateral release of gases from between the cylinder and barrel can cause serious injury to the chest.
• In the "Extended" and "Combat High" position, the weapon is very close to the shooter's face. In the hands of a person lacking upper body strength and sufficient experience, a firearm with a powerful enough recoil can hit the shooter in the face.

See also

• Weaver stance
• Modern Technique of the Pistol

External links

• Sabre Tactical Group - Paul Castle's Military/Law Enforcement training school
• IPD Systems - Paul Castle's civilian training school
• CAR System basics
• ICPS METHOD Israeli Combative Pistolcraft