Firearms And Personal Defense

Lecture presented by Jeff Cooper at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness held in San Diego, California; June 1997.

John Dean “Jeff” Cooper was recognized as the father of what is commonly known as “the Modern Technique” of handgun shooting, and one of the 20th century’s foremost international experts on the use and history of small arms.

Cooper‘s modern technique defines pragmatic use of the pistol for personal protection.  The modern technique emphasizes two-handed shooting using the Weaver stance, replacing the once-prevalent one-handed shooting.  The five elements of the modern technique are:

-A large caliber pistol, preferably a semi-auto
-The Weaver stance
-The presentation
-The flash sight picture
-The compressed surprise trigger break

Cooper favored the Colt M1911 and its variants.  There are several conditions of readiness in which such a weapon can be carried.  Cooper promulgated most of the following terms:

-Condition Four: Chamber empty, no magazine, hammer down.
-Condition Three: Chamber empty, full magazine in place, hammer down.
-Condition Two: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down.
-Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.
-Condition Zero: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety off.