The ''draw''factor ...... just how critical?

[GitSome45]

355sigfan,

Spelling...

"mute" = "MOOT" (meaning inconsequential or without effect - "doesn`t matter" )

"sence" = "SENSE"

(Don`t you just hate it when people nitpick... )

Just heckling ya...

Howard

P.S. I know you from TFL...

 

[only1asterisk]

By all means draw your pistol before you fire it! You wouldn't want to take a divot out of your butt!

Dave

 

[Blackhawk]

I don't practice drawing then firing. I practice drawing AND firing, as in: one smooth continuous action. The final release of the trigger is conditioned upon target acquisition, and that's where the threat re-evaluation occurs. The more practice, the faster the action.

It's sad to see guys at the range practicing drawing then going through target acquisition as two discrete actions.

 

[only1asterisk]

Mr./Ms. Blackhawk,

Could you please describe that process again? Exactly when does your finger touch the trigger? When do you start taking up slack in the trigger? I don't want to misunderstand, but it sounds as if you talking about training to finish pulling the trigger as you finish your draw. This seems like a BAD set of muscle memory. While I'm sure that you have found this works well for you, do you think it's right for everyone? I mean, the average person that carries concealed is likely to take it seriously, get some training, practice occasionally. But under stress, if I understand your technique correctly, would it not seem likely that they may pull the trigger unintentionally? Before they get on target? Maybe they automatically pull the trigger before they finish identifying their target and shoot someone they don't intend to.
Maybe you’re in a public place and the BG that you intend to shoot is putting his hands up as you draw. Your draw is a conditioned action that is already underway, and is completed before you can react to the changing situation. Since you practice drawing and firing as one combined act you automatically fire at the completion of your draw. What people around you see is you putting a hole in someone who is trying to give up. Granted, this is unlikely, but as many people are fond of saying on this forum, most armed confrontations are resolved without a shot being fired.

Negligent discharge is so easy, I think most people are better served by keeping their finger off the trigger until the very last.

Dave


http://www.ops-se.com/Videos/Negligence.mpg

 

[themic]

personally i know i'm sacrificing draw speed for concealability with my curent holster... but i find that taking a step backward with my right foot as i draw speeds everything up considerably. this is always a tough balancing act, speed vs conceal, especially in the summertime.

 

[TheMariner]

I always thought draw, while important... was often over emphasized... Too many people think that this is like old wild west shootouts or something else from teh movies...

Focus.

 

[Blackhawk]

Dave, I've described my draw in painstaking detail over the years both on TFL and here.

Obviously, my finger can't touch the trigger until the gun is out of the holster, and it doesn't until the muzzle is coming up onto the target. In many thousands of dry fires, LaserBlaster, and live fires practicing my draw, I've never had anything but the hammer falling exactly when it was supposed to, but that's because all my muscles act in harmony -- sort of like sticking a landing. My finger is never allowed to act on its own -- also a skill needed for typing....

I'm not going to parse and comment on your comments as you can yourself to see that most of them are non-sequiturs, but one of the rules is don't draw until you need to fire. Before the gun is ever touched, the decision has been made, and there will be no time for a perp to raise his hands. However, the fact remains that MY final decision point is when the gun is precisely aimed at the target, which leaves me with the opportunity to NOT fire.

That's also an important part of practice. Draw, but don't fire.

My technique isn't for everybody, and it certainly shouldn't be adopted without a LOT of snap cap practice -- but nothing about gun handling should be adopted without a lot of safe practice.

And that's the biggest problem. People with guns don't practice enough....

The negligence video you linked to is a study in incompetence all by itself. The Las Vegas Metro cop was woefully incompetent in every aspect of gun handling. She not only continuously swept the subduing officer and perp before firing, her gun was aimed at the ground in front of the perp when it fired. Her finger should NEVER have been on the trigger!

 

[only1asterisk]

BH,

I'm sure your an accomplished pistol shot and practice consistantly. I'm also certain that you have made a decision to use this technique after much thought. I have only had the benefit of this board for a few days, and I did look through your old post to try and find a more complete discription of you draw. I was unable to read any post more than a couple of months old. As someone who has undoubtably done his/her homework, I'm sure you know that under stress all but the most intensive training is badly degraded. I'm also certain you know that fine muscle control (such as that over your finger trigger) is also badly degraded under stress. Knowing your facts you have made your choice and hopefully train accordingly. I have also examined the facts for myself and together with my experience have come to a different conclusion. I have decided for myself that it better to draw now and decide enroute with a slight (but distinct) pause (in training) before the engaging the trigger. I believe, that under stress this pause will be slight or even eliminated. I believe that any additional risk I incur is outweighed by my obigation to protect those around me. This is certainly a personal choice and one that is grounds for friendly disagreement.

To be complete, when I practice firing from a retention position I eliminate this step, assuming as you do that the decision has already been made and economy of motion is paramount. But this is NOT sighted fire. I hold the this to seperate.

Also the link at the bottom was not intended to be directed at you. It is now part of my signature. Any further information on this incident would be helpful, as I am curious and can find no reference to it.

I apologize for the haste in my reply.

Dave