Talk:Mozambique Drill

Link URL: http://www.thegunzone.com/lore.html -btbd 4-25-06

At the time?
Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in Mozambique at the time. <---when?

Certainly not at any time during the Mozambican independence war, as neither rhodesian mercenaries nor Frelimo members were ever present at Lourenço Marques Airport during that period. Any history of the independence/colonial war can confirm that there was no such fighting in the capital. This story is a fabrication, it part or in the whole. And it is a demonstration of the crappy quality of Wikipedia that the denunciation of it gets a "citation needed" and ends up being deleted from the page, while the original fabrication remains, backed by nothing! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.90.159.130 (talk) 01:52, 9 December 2012 (UTC)

Well, that's his story, as related by Jeff Cooper. Seeing as both men died some years ago, we'll never know if the story was fabricated, misremembered, or a miscommunication. Mybe it happened somewhere else. Or another time. Maybe it was a criminal action unrelated to the civil war. Maybe it was a hypothetical scenario. Call it a fisherman's tale. The story, regardless of it's factual accuracy, is the basis of the name. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.144.65.112 (talk) 03:45, 24 November 2013 (UTC)

Mozambique, coincidence?
Was there something special about fighting in Mozambique (e.g. lots of child soldiers hopped up on drugs) that lead to this drill or was it just coincidence that it was developed in Mozambique. Funkyj 18:14, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Contrary to popular belief?
Contrary to popular belief, the immediate aim of defensive shooting is to incapacitate a target so as to render the attacker incapable of further attack. I found myself unable to imagine, and immensely curious, as to what the 'popular belief' here might be. It might be worth including it in brackets. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.219.126.3 (talk) 10:13, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

In every firearms class I have taken that deals with legal aspects of personal defense, they have pointed out repeatedly that it is not legal to (1) shoot to kill or (2) shoot to wound. These, I think, are the popular beliefs as to the objective of defensive shooting. In a personal defense situation you are authorized to shoot to STOP the attack, and nothing else. It just takes more to stop some attackers than others. 123.127.110.166 (talk) 09:56, 5 December 2009 (UTC)

Failure drill
"Failure drill" re-directs to this article and was previously used here as a synonym for this drill. That information has been completely removed with the claim that the two techniques have nothing to do with each other, yet the re-direct remains. Someone who is more knowledgeable than me needs to rectify this situation. Make "failure drill" a separate article and explain the confusion in this article; or confirm that the "failure drill" is, in fact, exactly the same as the "Mozambique drill"; or that "failure drill" refers to different things to different people, even among professionals.

For what it's worth, I've heard "failure drill" used frequently to refer to the technique described here. That is, two quick shots to the body followed by a rapid assessment of the target's condition, and a final, carefully-aimed follow-up shot to the head if the target still presents a threat. TaintedMustard (talk) 22:31, 25 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Reinstated. Geoff B (talk) 11:44, 26 May 2010 (UTC)


 * They're not the same drill. The Mozambique Drill is two shots to the center of mass, followed by an immediate shot to the head.  The Failure Drill is two shots to the center of mass, followed by a target assessment, followed by a shot to the head. 99.169.250.133 (talk) 05:50, 3 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Wrong. See Jeff Cooper's words on the matter, the man who formalised it:


 * "Upon analysis, it seemed to me that the pistolero should be accustomed to the idea of placing two shots amidships as fast as he can and then being prepared to change his point of aim if this achieves no results." The source for this is in the article.  Try reading it first next time, please.  Geoff B (talk) 23:22, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

Not wrong. Try attending a Gunsite course, or reading their literature. There are two different drills taught. One is an immediate shot to the head, the other includes a very pronounced pause, then a shot to the head if the two shots to the center of mass are unsuccessful. 208.40.242.41 (talk) 09:29, 16 March 2011 (UTC)

This still needs to be settled. Other articles reference the "failure drill" interchangeably. 72.200.151.13 (talk) 00:17, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

Is there any evidence that this exists?
Because at the moment all we have is assertions and a list of supposed appearances in fictional works. If this a technique taught to anyone, anywhere under this name (and named in events which are unattributed and involve forces which may or may not have served at the place and time in question) why are there no references available?

If it cannot be attributed why should this article exist? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 156.22.9.252 (talk) 05:13, 13 March 2013 (UTC)


 * It originated from Jeff Cooper, who described it in Modern Technique of the Pistol. It says so right there in the article. Asdfzxc920 (talk) 07:05, 17 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Quite classic in IPSC shooting (the origins might as well be mythical though).Aeriscors (talk) 20:18, 31 January 2016 (UTC)

Djibouti Shooty
the Djibouti Shooty alternate nickname that has been added several times originates from a firearms related message board. Although unofficial, that group does use the term extensively. Now, my question is, how widespread does that nickname have to get before adding it is adding real information to the article, as opposed to vandalism? Genuinely curious here, and thinking that it isn't appropriate to add yet, so I won't at this point. But, at what point does that change?03:53, 24 November 2013 (UTC)03:53, 24 November 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.144.65.112 (talk)

I've encountered "Djibouti Shooty" multiple times outside of 4chan's /k/ board where it originates, mostly in youtube comments and other message boards, but twice in real life. While it's a jokey reference more than an "alternative name", I do think it warrants some mention, if nothing else than as "jokingly referred to as the Djibouti Shooty in some gun enthusiast circles" 79.136.28.191 (talk) 05:05, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

Double tap vs controlled pair: different definitions of "double tap"
I reverted the change in the lead of "double tap" to "controlled pair," restoring double tap. Regarding the edit note explanation for the original edit - ''A double tap is often confused with a controlled pair. A double tap is a legal term from the UCMJ used to describe when a shooter engages and clears a threat only to return later and place another round in (now non lethal) threat. - it appears there is more than one definition of double tap, and the one intended in this article is the one described in the double tap article, "two shots are fired in rapid succession at the same target with the same sight picture (different from the controlled pair, where a second sight picture is acquired for the second shot)."''

Quick additional research into a UCMJ definition turned up an explanation of the "dead check" usage of double tap that says, "There is no official or agreed upon definition of a practice often encountered among US soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq," and elaborates with:


 * "A reasonable definition of double-tapping is: during the initial transit of a military objective, to indiscriminately twice shoot a wounded or an apparently dead enemy to ensure he is not feigning death. A double tap should not be confused with a 'controlled double,' which is the firing of two aimed shots at a lawful enemy target." - The Law of Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law in War (2010, Cambridge University Press; p. 327-328)

This alternative definition should be included in the Other uses of the term section of the Double tap article. --Tsavage (talk) 20:08, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

concerned that "Mozambique" might have racial overtones
Why is it that anything at all which might relate to someone of black skin must be treated like an original eggshell from the Garden of Eden? I submit that, had the technique originated in a war in Sweden and had been dubbed the "Swedish Technique," the two LAPD police officers would have never thought to rename it. I grow really tired of political correctness. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MarvinLuse (talk • contribs) 10:03, 22 March 2016 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia is not a discussion board so your opinions are irrelevant. What matters is that it literally was renamed due to concerns about racist overtones, not your opinion that this is "political correctness". Take it elsewhere. Ogress 22:27, 22 March 2016 (UTC)

Ok, so some sources for the story, giving the reasons behind the supposed racial overtones, could improve the article. I would not have guessed there were any, myself, so the info on what they were thinking would be welcome. 2A00:23C5:E08D:8A00:7C8D:3A11:DACF:8DD6 (talk) 22:03, 13 January 2020 (UTC)

Popular culture sources
The "popular culture" section needs sources. Any material without a secondary source should be removed eventually. Otherwise the material is original research. Felsic2 (talk) 18:58, 15 September 2016 (UTC)


 * To preserve the material in case suitable sources can be found. I'll reinsert the Collateral info, since it does have what seems like a good source. Felsic2 (talk) 19:26, 15 October 2016 (UTC)


 * Restored again. Felsic2 (talk) 15:41, 14 February 2017 (UTC)

In popular culture
The Mozambique Drill's distinctive name and rapid fire pattern of "two to the chest, one to the head" have been used in numerous TV shows and films, and in other media, including:

Film
 * Black Hawk Down (2001): A captain tells one of his subordinates, "Anything comes through that door, you give him two in the chest and one in the head."
 * Collateral (2004): This is professional hitman Vincent's preferred killing technique, and is used several times, including in the stolen briefcase confrontation scene.
 * Heat (1995): The technique is used twice, once during the armored car robbery scene, when one of the robbers executes one of the armored car guards with two shots to the torso and one shot to the head, and later when a traitor to the team is similarly killed.
 * John Wick (2014): After coming out of retirement, the second of 4 assassins John Wick takes out gets two shots to the torso and one to the head.  The other 3 get headshots only.
 * Killers (2010): After discovering his boss shot to death, Spencer says, "It's two to the heart, one in the head. It's old school training."
 * Planet Terror (2007): The Muldoon character claims he killed Osama Bin Laden in a similar way.

Television
 * Dexter: Sergeant James Doakes mentions the technique in "See-Through" (Season 2, Episode 4).
 * Magnum, P.I.: Referenced as "International Mozambique Pattern" by Jonathan Higgins in "Mad Buck Gibson" (season 2, episode 9). However, as the character "Mad Buck" fires repeatedly on a human outline on a wall, he actually does so in a different pattern: one head shot, followed by two shots at the torso.
 * Miami Vice: In "Calderone's Return: The Hit List (Part 1)" (season 1, episode 4), Jim Zubiena, the show's firearms instructor, played hitman Ludovici Armstrong, who uses the technique to kill a police detective trying to arrest him right after performing a hit; the gun handling was real and unrehearsed. An expert shooter, Zubiena was a member of the South Western Combat Pistol League, with co-founder, Jeff Cooper.
 * Prison Break: Veronica is killed using the technique by Agent Blondie. Following the shots fired, her body is shown with two bullet holes next to each other where the heart is, and one on her forehead (Season 2, Episode 1).
 * Southland: In "Butch and Sundance" (season 1, episode 2), police officer John Cooper explains this drill to his partner, Ben Sherman.
 * Spooks: Mozambique Drill is mentioned by Adam Carter in "The Criminal" (Season 5, Episode 9).

Other media
 * Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009; video game): The mission, Takedown, contains a reference to this technique, when Rojas' assistant uses it against a couple of Brazilian militia thugs who provoke him.
 * Halo: Contact Harvest (2007; novel): The technique is briefly featured, being used by UNSC Marines on Insurrectionists.
 * Kill Me If You Can (novel) by James Patterson and Marshall Karp.

There is a gun in Apex Legends named Mozambique, wich is a pistol shotgun shooting three peletts in a triangular shape — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.67.144.22 (talk) 16:01, 27 November 2020 (UTC)

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