So I downloaded a free shot timer for my android phone. I went to the range this morning, it was nice and quiet, nobody else was there so the timer worked great. I also have recently purchased a 11"x 20" torso steel target. I put it out at 20 yards and had the shot timer go off randomly to practice drawing from my IWB holster.
Shooting with my hands in my coat, IWB holster tucked in under a tshirt: beep to first shot was about 3.5 seconds.
Shooting from a "hand-on-gun but still holstered" was about 1.5 seconds until the first shot.
I was doing six shot strings with three shots per mag so there was a mag change in the middle. I was shooting a g4 Glock 23. Mag changes were about 3 seconds too!
I was really amazed how much time passes between my brain hearing the timer "acknowledging threat", getting the gun solid in my hands, getting a sight picture and getting that first shot on target. When the pressure is on suddenly the simple act of raising one's coat, finding and drawing your pistol becomes a big fumble fingers event...
The other big thing I noticed was for the first dozen times I ran this drill my first shots almost always missed the steel, with all the follow up shots on target.
So my take-aways from this morning: I just found a seriously fun way to up my training - and holy heck drawing from a IWB with a winter coat on is slow! Also - I need to train MORE.
Anyone else practice drills like this?