I’m writing this just after returning from the Rangemaster Tactical Conference, where one topic kept coming up again and again: tactical anatomy.
One of the standout sessions I attended was a presentation by Andy Anderson, and it reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time—most gun owners are not training with a realistic understanding of what actually stops a threat.
To continue sharpening my understanding, I went back and re-listened to Season 11, Episode 20 of the Concealed Carry Podcast, where Riley Bowman interviewed Steve Moses on this exact topic.
This article is my attempt to distill five critical takeaways from that conversation—ideas that every armed citizen should understand if they are serious about self-defense.
To be very clear, I am really just beginning to establish a basic but valuable understanding of this topic. The below article is my attempt to summarize the thoughts of the real subject matter experts.
1. Stopping the Threat Means Stopping Their Ability to Act
The objective in a defensive encounter is not to “shoot someone.” The objective is to stop the threat.
More specifically, as Steve explained, the goal is to swiftly render the attacker incapable of physically accomplishing their objective.
That’s an important distinction.
Because in the real world, people don’t just fall over when they get shot—especially with handguns.
We’ve all seen defensive gun use stories where a single round—or even just presenting a firearm—ends the encounter. But we’ve also seen cases where attackers absorb multiple hits and continue fighting.
If the threat still has the ability to:
- Pull a trigger
- Swing a weapon
- Close distance
then the fight is not over.
This is why understanding how the human body actually fails under ballistic trauma is so critical.
Andy presented this concept by explaining that there are three different types of “stops” in a defensive encounter.
Psychological stops: in which the attacker decides it isn’t a good idea to continue to attack and chooses to stop.
Hydraulic stops: in which the trauma you have introduced to their system will ultimately render them incapable of continuing the fight but its on a timer, not immediate. It could take anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes and that is a period of time during which they can continue to hurt you or others.
Flipping the switch (cns): in which you “flip a switch” in their system that causes an immediate incapacitation.
One of the slides from Andy’s presentation which was a very effective and valuable presentation by a subject matter expert who is a polished presenter.
2. Without Understanding Vital Zones, You’re Relying on Luck
Most shooters are taught some version of “aim center mass.”
That’s a starting point—but it’s not a complete strategy.
Steve made it clear: unless you understand the true zones of neutralization—where they are, how they work, and why they matter—you are relying heavily on luck.
For example:
- A shot to the heart is not guaranteed to immediately stop someone
- Handgun rounds do not create dramatic “knockdown power”
- People can continue functioning for seconds—or longer—even after fatal wounds
There are specific anatomical targets that are far more effective at rapidly stopping a threat, but they are:
- Smaller
- Harder to hit
- Highly dependent on angle
If you don’t understand those targets, you’re not making informed decisions—you’re hoping for a favorable outcome.
Steve Moses at a previous Tactical Anatomy Summit explaining these important concepts
3. Without Specialized Training, You Probably Can’t Hit What Matters
Even if you understand where these critical zones are, that doesn’t mean you can actually hit them under pressure.
Steve emphasized a hard truth: without specialized training, the odds of successfully hitting these zones in a real fight are not good.
Why?
Because real-world fights involve:
- Movement (yours and theirs)
- Changing angles
- Time pressure
- Stress and degraded performance
It’s one thing to shoot tight groups on a flat range at a stationary target.
It’s something entirely different to:
- Process what you’re seeing
- Identify the correct target zone
- Deliver accurate fire while the threat is actively trying to harm you
This is where concepts like shot accountability become critical.
Every round must be intentional. Every shot must serve a purpose.
Because misses don’t just fail to stop the threat—they waste time and create additional risk.
4. Real Threats Are 3D — Your Training Should Be Too
One of the most eye-opening points from this discussion is how much traditional range training can actually work against you.
Why?
Because most people train almost exclusively on flat, two-dimensional targets.
The problem is that real attackers are three-dimensional.
They move. They turn. They crouch. They present different angles.
And when that happens, the location of vital structures changes based on bullet path—not just point of impact.
This is where “training scars” come into play.
If all you ever do is shoot square-range targets:
- You may hit scoring zones
- But miss the actual structures that matter
Effective training should incorporate:
- Smaller target zones (playing card, business card-sized areas)
- Angle-based shooting
- 3D target concepts
Because in a real fight, you don’t get a perfectly squared-up opponent standing still at 5 yards.
This is the TacMan target made by Two Pillars Targets. Learn more at TwoPillarsTraining.com
5. Your Ability to Process Information Determines Your Outcome
This final point ties everything together.
It’s not just about knowing where to shoot or having the mechanical skill to do it—it’s about whether you can process what’s happening fast enough to make the right decisions.
Steve emphasized the importance of understanding your:
- Visual processing speed
- Mental decision-making under stress
- Ability to assess and adjust in real time
In a defensive encounter, you are constantly cycling through:
- Seeing
- Processing
- Deciding
- Acting
And then doing it again—rapidly.
This is why simply “shooting fast” isn’t enough.
You need to be able to:
- Deliver accurate, precise rounds
- Evaluate their effectiveness
- Determine whether additional action is needed
That takes training. Intentional training.
Because under stress, you will not rise to the occasion—you will fall to your level of preparation.
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Listen to the Full Episode
If you want to go deeper on this topic, I highly recommend listening to the full podcast episode featuring Steve Moses.
We’ve embedded it below so you can hear the full discussion in context.
If this article challenged the way you think about defensive shooting, don’t leave it at that. Get hands-on training at a Tactical Anatomy Summit and learn how to actually apply these concepts under real-world conditions. Maybe I’ll see you at the next one.
