Center Axis Relock

Center Axis Relock is a new shooting system primarily intended for close quarters battle shooting, but it can be also used for precise long-range fire. It features the use of some proven facts about psychology and physiology of the human body. The CAR system was invented by Paul Castle. The system is currently not taught to civilians but to military/Law Enforcement personnel only.

The CAR system has the following advantages over traditional shooting styles:

• The improved method of weapon grip reduces the weapon's recoil, which enables faster shooting and more accurate hits (four or five hits to center of mass in less than one second with the handgun). The weapon is held closer to the body which makes easier the work in confined spaces. It also is easier for the shooter to carry the weapon in this position for a long time without getting tired too quickly. This technique also improves weapon retention and makes it harder for the opponent to grab it.

• The system can be used by both left- and right-handed shooters (it doesn't favor only left or right handers). All shooting techniques and stances are mirror images for left and right hand.

• The shooting stances and reactions are a good approximation of human reactions under stress (current shooting stances teach that the shooter needs to extend his/her arms away from the body although many people under stress pull the arms closer to the body).

• By assuming a bladed stance the shooter reduces his/her silhouette which makes him a smaller target. This stance also reduces the problem of double vision that causes off-center weapon aiming and possible misses.

• As the NATURAL targeting ability and body alignment assist in shooting, the shooter can fire the weapon without the need to make a proper sight alignment. This is also useful in low-light conditions.

The CAR system is primarily intended for handgun shooting although it can also be used with long guns, assault rifles, batons, tasers and OC sprays (i.e. Pepper sprays).

Criticisms

The CAR system has been criticized as impractical for individuals utilizing body armour. The bladed stance greatly increases the possibility of taking a hit to a person's unprotected side flank as opposed to directly impacting against the front or rear of the vest or armour plate carrier.

A side shot also has the tendency to stack up organs in a way that allows the same bullet to travel through multiple organs, thus increasing The Risk of death. There is a better chance of surviving a hit from the front than from the side profile of the CAR.

However, bladed stance reduces The Operator's silhouette, which makes him a more difficult target to hit. This is a useful fact to consider when the operator doesn't wear body armour (when off-duty, for example) or when being under rifle fire (which will most likely penetrate lighter types of body armour).

See also

• Weaver stance

External links

• Sabre Tactical Group - Sabre Tactical website (contains some information about CAR system).
• CAR System basics