Firing lanes/angles

[David]

One of the things I always taught my students was to go through their home, when they are cool, calm and collect and look at the firing lanes/angles that are available to them from likely positions they may have to engage an intruder(s) from. Such as the bedroom to the front door as an example. This allows them to see what the likely and available cover in their home could/may be as well as what is beyond in the event of a miss. In some circumstances you may have to decide that a certain angle is a no-shoot angle due to what's beyond.

I've done this in my own home of course. And tonight I had the opportunity to go through the new house and see not only firing lanes/angles but also what could be used as both cover and concealment. What would likely stop a bullet and what would not. It was educational.

From the master bedroom towards the foyer leading to the front door. The corner of the doorway on the left provides an ample amount of thick wood, not counting the solid core door that will also be on that side once it is installed. That is a pretty fair amount of thick, solid wood to stop incoming rounds. It gives me a good field of vision over the entire living room, kitchen and foyer. This provides a large 'fatal funnel' if aggression is coming from that entry point. Beyond that point is going to be my wife's craft room which would be unoccupied at night. Any round would have to go through the wall in the foyer, possibly hitting a stud. If not, there will be wood shelving on the other side of that wall with all manner of items on the shelves. The outside wall is concrete block with rebar and filled with concrete. I doubt most rounds will penetrate out of the house at that angle. But if by chance a round did, there is 25 feet to the next house with the same exact wall construction.




A little farther back from that corner.




This is where my wife would stand in the event of a home invasion. I would take position at the door of the bedroom as pictured above. This would be to the left of this photo on the other side of the walk-in closet on the left. She would be down the hallway into our bathroom/shower area. This provides her a 'fatal funnel' shot. Beyond is the backyard and pond. There are no houses in that direction for the length of maybe three football fields with a good amount of woods on the far side of the pond.



To her left is the linen closet and under the stairwell. A thick set of boards would offer protection as that direction is the living room/kitchen/foyer area. Not counting items that are in under the stairwell that would offer some protection.




I'll detail more later.

[David]

From the first landing on the stairs, looking down into the steps leading up to the first landing as well as one of the hallways has a good solid corner that would provide adequate cover. Any miss would go into a wall or floor with little to no chance of injuring someone due to the angle.




Covering the second floor where the stairs end also shows a good position that provides cover. Good, solid wood studs on both corners. The left of the photo will contain both the air handlers which should give good cover as well. Any misses would go through wall and concrete block and then the pond and wooded area behind the house so that would be a safe zone.




This also revealed what would not be a good angle/zone for cover/fire. This is the first archway and hallway looking at the front door. There is a gap between the studs so this would not be an adequate position. Also, any miss would possibly go through the solid front doors (which would help reduce the velocity of the round) but then go across the street to strike another house possibly. Although not as big a threat it does leave the possibility of collateral damage. Something to consider as a last resort. Better to be in the hallway next to that corner stud.