Speeding Up Shooter Reaction Time
Covington VA –-(Ammoland.com)- John Pepper emailed me this item which discusses how to improve your time to draw you gun in an emergency.
John knows his stuff (“Pepper Poppers” that you have shot at in matches were the brain-child of John). I thought some of you might find this interesting.
Beating the Bandit
Practice and drill so you can get your pistol into action within one fifth of a second well within the reaction time of the bandit.
From concealment having to brush aside outer garment it takes much longer to get into action than the fifth of a second plus adding ones longer reaction time.
However if one has any warning due to their being “alert “, the first Principle Of Defense, they can reach under their outer garment to grasp the pistol grip yet still have it concealed so not brandishing as not drawn yet. Turning ones gun side away from threat aside from distancing the gun from threat somewhat hides the move. With the right rig on ones belt the pistol is still concealed. From this position already grasping the grip ones draw to firing is inside the one fifth of a second. For this desperation move the pistol starts firing as soon as it clears the holster at just above waist level continuing upwards as firing to get to alignment of either sights or point shooting. Effective at arms length to a few yards range. Very effective if close enough that muzzle is against the assailant as bonus of muzzle blast gas entering wound increasing cavity. Messy with muzzle against as you will be spattered with blood and matter. Most of a lifetime ago had this experience during a night encounter. Desperation would have one continuing to fire rapidly until assailant down and out of fight.
The above has to be practiced with much dry then once confident of moves live fire.
Economy Of Motion
Getting into action quickly practice consists of economy of motion. At intervals while practicing intentionally duplicate your moves in slow motion looking for unnecessary movement. It really helps if one has a buddy watching who may detect unnecessary movement then corrections made to eliminate them. Vice versa if your buddy is also improving his or her into action time. Done much as economy of motion improves muscle memory kicks in so under pressure one does as they conditioned via repeated self training drills. No buddy try a large mirror studying your movement from holster to firing.
Done right this is strenuous so after several drills a short break or switch over to buddies drills while you watch him or her for corrections.
One Fifth Of A Second
To determine the one fifth of a second is fairly simple. A bit of math gives answer as follows.
Needed is a block of wood about one inch by one inch by five or six inches long.
Grasp the pistol grip under your outer garment simultaneously pinning the block of wood against the side of the holster with your extended trigger finger in what is called the index position. As soon as your hand starts motion to draw the block of wood will fall to the floor making a thump sound when it hits the floor. If the hammer or striker mechanism of the pistol goes click before the thump of the wooden block the time is less than one fifth of a second. Practice strives toward,” Click – – Thump.”
Now the math. A falling weighty object falls approximately 32 feet the first second of decent so convert into inches. Measure from your waist holster to the floor in inches. Divide this into one second. The answer will be close to one fifth of a second, a slight variation depending on ones height.
A drill for the younger who haven’t yet suffered the ravages of age of being slower. – – – – Do not recommend this as live fire except for the highly experienced pistoleer.
The Desperation Drill
For a title I always called this: ” The Desperation Drill.”
Done right it is very strenuous so after about six or seven attempts stop and take a brief break. It is only practical to do this from open carry. As follows.
Extend your gun hand out flat back of hand upwards at waist level. place a weighty block of wood on back of hand large enough it will make an audible thump when it hits the floor. Snatch your hand out from under the block, draw and fire. If your hear Click before the Thump of the block hitting the floor you are well within the reaction time of an adversary at less than a fifth of a second. Importantly no matter how you have grasped the grip of the pistol there is no time for adjusting or improving your grasp as you must accept any variations and continue the draw and firing. Many do a fractions of second time loss grip improvement as they draw which for this drill will not work. However your hand happens to grasp the grip is what you have to go ahead with.
Expect to not always beat the drop of the block thump, but strive for it sometimes having a simultaneous click and thump or thump click.
As previous the pistol has to fire as soon as it clears the holster as no time to raise it to alignment level. At arms length or so defense one should get a hit. Of course in actual fight continuing fire alignment is achieved.
For those who are always concealed carry this open carry drill would only serve as a confidence builder.
Repeat. Recommend this only be done dry fire unless highly experienced shooting many thousands of practice rounds each year for a lengthy duration of years before trying this live fire. – – – Even at that some hazard exists.
Vigorous Movement Test
All of the above is predicated on an open holster without any retaining strap or flap.
Shape and fit of holster that has no strap or flap should retain the pistol firmly yet as soon as about a quarter of an inch or less movement break free for a smooth draw. A test we used here has one kneel on a mat then do a somersault forward. If the pistol falls out during this test the holster is unsatisfactory. Likewise for magazine or loader pouches on belt. Some holsters have an adjustable tension device that squeezes the holster which can correct the retention. As holster wears over time an adjustment of this device keeps it correct.
Another holster test some use is running and jumping yet not holding the pistol in the holster so it is hands free. If the pistol falls out it fails the retention test. Likewise for pouches on belt.
Either is usually called,” The Vigorous Movement Test.”
About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org