I’ve been reading a lot of the older tomes of firearms knowledge. I aim to understand firearms training from the beginning to better understand where it is now. In this study, the name Jeff Cooper will be used frequently. He was the father of the modern fighting pistol. His creation of the Modern Technique formed the groundwork for the modern training techniques we use today.
The Modern Technique incorporates a bit of everything. It’s a holistic approach that combines drawing, reloading, and shooting with a dash of mindset and essential information, such as knowledge of handgun wounding ballistics. While it’s not often referred to as the Modern Technique, many parts of it are still being used today.
The Modern Technique was immortalized in a textbook. Gregory Morrison Boyce wrote the textbook, with Jeff Cooper acting as advisor and editor. The book is out of print but still fairly easy to find on the internet. Although the Modern Technique originated in the 1950s, this textbook wasn’t put together until 1991, which might make it the most finalized record of the Modern Technique.
Reviewing the Modern Technique
I won’t review every page like a YouTuber making a video essay about Lost. Instead, I want to focus on three aspects of the textbook. First, the information must be valid and still in use. Second, the information is outdated simply because times have changed. Finally, the third portion of the review will focus on the information I didn’t think was oh-so valuable then or now.
The good news is that there is very little to disagree with. The Modern Technique is still worth reading and delivers much good information. If you still regularly use the term Stopping Power, you should read the Modern Technique. It might open up your eyes.
The Modern Technique – What’s Still Valid
Tons of information pulled from the text are still valid. In fact, much of it seemed to be forgotten, only to be rediscovered recently. Take, for example, the idea of a flash-sight picture. It doesn’t seem all that different from our modern concept of using a target-focused fighting style that uses a somewhat blurry front sight.
The four rules of firearms safety haven’t changed. In fact, as far as I know, the Modern Technique more or less codified the four rules. It also clearly says that accidental discharges are more than likely negligent discharges due to the user.
We dive into situational awareness, which is still valid. Using our eyes and ears hasn’t changed much. The Modern Technique advises you to be flexible and not rigid in solving your tactical problems.
We deal with corners and doorways and come across the classic pie—the doorway. The idea between dynamic and methodical ebbs back and forth for CQB, but pieing cover seems universal. Another interesting portion talks about moving and shooting. The Modern Technique advises you to move, then shoot.
More and More Good Stuff
Gun culture went through a moving and shooting phase, but we’ve seemed to settle back on the shoot and then move. Reloads haven’t changed, and the index finger still guides the front of the magazine into the gun.
Outside of tactics, we get an education on weapon readiness conditions, which are widely used today. They go over the different tasks for strong and dominant hands. Most of it seems like stuff everyone knows, but it’s important to note that the Modern Technique helped make this the stuff everyone knows.
We discuss how handgun bullets cause harm, and the information is very modern. It properly details how handgun bullets only damage via direct contact. It correctly states that penetration matters most, and things like energy deposit, shocking power, and hydrostatic shock don’t exist with handguns.
My all-time favorite line discusses how police qualifications and scores don’t matter when they don’t coordinate with real-world gunfight performance.
Outdated Information
There is some information that’s right for the era, but after over three decades, the times have changed. There isn’t much here to detail because much of the Modern Technique remains viable.
The author discusses jacketed hollow points and how they can often interrupt adequate penetration. In 1991, projectile designs that allow for great penetration and expansion were not available.
There is also a section on upgrades that advises against using optics on combat handguns. In 1991, guys were throwing great, big red dots on their competition handguns, but those setups weren’t reliable enough for duty or defensive use at the time.
We also see the old-school 1911 press check, which involves pressing your index finger under the barrel. Although it’s not taught today, it was a product of the time.
Did dummy ammo not exist in 1991? I ask because the author advises against dry fire practice malfunctions due to safety concerns.
The Modern Technique does rely on the Weaver stance a fair bit, which was quite revolutionary for the era.
Finally, my favorite line states, “Time will tell on the utility of nylon and plastic defensive shooting gear.” He was right, and time did tell on their utility.
The Not-So-Great Information
Some information from the Modern Technique wasn’t viable in the era. I’m willing to be wrong, but much of this was outdated back then. For example, they seem to hate the idea of additional capacity in your gun and how it’s not needed. They also advise you to carry a reload for your revolver or 1911. It seems silly to be against magazine capacity, but pro carrying a reload.
In that same line of thinking, they say a big-bore six-shot revolver would be a better choice than a modern 9mm with a double-stack magazine. There is a caveat that you have a six-shot big-bore revolver with training from Jeff Cooper. I’d rather have the training and the 9mm with 15 rounds.
In fact, even though they advocate for shot placement, they claim big bores are the only option for gunfighting, which we know is kind of silly these days. There is also a big preference towards the two-shot and reassess as an almost Biblical commandment.
The Modern Technique advocates for the slingshot method to close the slide. This might be necessary for older guns, but the slide release is faster to use with a modern gun.
Finally, there was a holstered magazine change designed for range use. I’ve never seen that, and most modern holsters will cover the magazine release anyway.
The Modern Technique Now
I think any serious gun student should read this textbook. It’s a quick read, even if the author needs 75 words to say, “If your revolver doesn’t fire, pull the trigger again.” The book still has excellent advice and is a great way to learn even the basics today.
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