Drawing your gun in a Crisis

G

gvf

Moderator
Two part Q: I have no SD courses available in my area, and lack the money to go away for one. Yet I would like to practice drawing in a crisis. I don't want to to do this with a loaded gun at a public range - I feel I should be under supervision, or at the very least should be away from others in case there's a mistake. So, how to practice on your own?

Second, in the event of a real crisis, I assume you don't draw with finger on the trigger immediately, too great a chance to shoot yourself in the tension of the moment - or, it seems, to shoot the "perp" and too late find out he has dropped his weapon during your draw - or worse, he dosen't pull a gun out of his pocket: he pulls a CELL PHONE out, becasue SURPRISE !: he thought YOU were the perp and he was calling 911 - and that's what you see after the shot caused by tension and a finger on the trigger - a law-abiding man lying on the ground with his cell phone in his hand....

I take it my assumption is correct? Keep your finger in the safe-position while drawing until you're aiming and only then on the trigger when you are ready to shoot?
 
Try practicing your draw and fire in front of a large mirror. Observe the pointing of the muzzle each time you pull the trigger, Start slowly and speed up as you perfect your technique.
Where you put your trigger finger and when is up to you. there are no "rules" in real combat.
 
Where you put your trigger finger and when is up to you. there are no "rules" in real combat.
Click to expand...

Whoa, hold up.
Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to kill or destroy whatever your muzzle is pointing at.
Period.
Range, holstering at home, in a SD event, there is no situation this won't apply.
 
Gunsite recommends practice in front of a mirror.

IMO

First: ALWAY DOUBLE and TRIPLE check the weapon is unloaded. If you walk away from the mirror and come back to it, DOUBLE and TRIPLE check the weapon again !

Second: Be sure of what is behind the mirror, even though you 'know' the gun is unloaded, see what or who you will destroy if you screw and and have a ND (negligent discharge - there is no such thing as an accidental discharge).

Third: Make sure you are practicing good technique. Speed is far less important than technique. Get a good book or video that explains the draw technique (preferably as layed out by Col Cooper). Weak hand on mid section, joining gun during the movement, never covering your body with muzzle, etc.

Last: Always follow the 4 safety rules.

There are alot of holes in the walls of the hotel across the street from Gunsite due to not following the safety rules.
 
"there are no "rules" in real combat"

Now that I think about it there is one rule that applies in real combat. Its Applegates rule "Kill or be killed"

and as Col Applegate said "Kill or be killed means exactly what it says!"
 
Dry practice at home. A lot. Then go to the range and practice live, but slowly. You do not have to quick draw to get good drawing practice. It's all about smoothness of draw and economy of motion. Speed comes with smoothness. You will teach yourself the muscle memory and in a crisis you will narurally do it the same way. Speed will come by itself through repitition.
 
Yep, Edward429451. Couldn't have said it much better than that.

Have you ever watched a construction worker draw a hammer from his hammer hoop and return it to the hoop? He doesn't have to look for the hoop, his hand will naturally go there and he will be pretty quick drawing it, without even trying to be. The only thing that I would add to Edward429451's remarks are that you will need to repeat your draw stroke a thousand times at least, or more for it to become second nature. Once it has become second nature, then you can introduce speed of draw to the technique. You should also use a good holster, one that you can re-holster your handgun with only one hand. Your support hand may be needed for other tasks during a crisis event.
 
I don't want to sound like a wet blanket, . . . and I certainly do not advocate the suspension of safety rules, . . . but:

1) If you have made a decision to unholster, there needs to be present an absolute threat that makes you fear for your life, the life of someone near you, or the immenent threat of serious bodily harm.

Someone suspiciously carrying a concealed cell phone does not rise to that level.

2) When the stuff is emanating from the fan blades, . . . everyone does one of two things: they panic and do stupid, . . . or they step into the training they have been taking, and take care of business.

This means having good training, . . . and the single most important aspect of that training is the mindset. There are "situations" spelled out in every state's CCW law wherein one can employ their weapon. The "mindset" needs to focus first and formost on this set of rules, regs, etc. to begin making the transition from sheeple to CCW holder.

Learn them, . . . know them, . . . go over scenarios in your head with a friend and the rules, . . . check the scenario against the rules, . . . does it fit????

Get the mind set, . . . the rest will come easier and quicker.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Thanks Everyone

Very helpful replies. I meant the cell phone thing just an example of what is percieived reasonably as a lethal threat, but is seen to be mistaken and which there was a momentary indication of. Under those conditions, I suppose legally you would be justified if the situation was truly what any reasonable person would believe is a lethal threat, but legally justified or not, the consequences of a well-intentioned fatal killing would, I think, "kill" more than the person you shot - can't imagine living with that. Still, the cell-phone example was likely not a good one.

Thanks again, i will begin using the suggestions.
 
gvf,

If you can't afford a class, I suggest you consider buying (or checking out of the library) one or more of these books:

Chris Bird, The Concealed Handgun Manual (2004)
Massad Ayoob, The Gun Digest Book of Combat Hangunnery (2002)

Both of them describe various carrying/drawing techniques (with pictures). I've seen them at most "big box" booksellers (Borders, Barnes & Noble).

Ayoob's book In the Gravest Extreme (1980), which I have not read, is considered a classic (goes into psychology/legal aftermath of a justified shooting -- Chris Bird's book does, too,) and probably should be read as well.
 
Everyone gave you good advice, but you might want to add this regimen, if possible:

Like my nickname denotes, I go out to the desert as often as possible. When I have other shooters with me, I practise by setting up a 100-yard dash to the first shooting position. The run gets your pulse up and some adrenaline pumping. While keeping all of the rules in mind, the first shooting position consists of 6 rounds at a torso-sized target at 10 yards. After the 6 rounds are fired, the handgun is reloaded/holstered, then there's a 25-yard dash to the second shooting position.
Draw safely, fire another 6 rounds, but at a 25-yard target. You can also set up other shooting situations, and even utilize a shotgun or rifle at longer distance targets.

All you need is a clear area with a good backstop, and some creativity. Change the torso-sized targets to head shots....or, like R. Lee Ermey, take some "enemy" melons out there to shoot at.

The running aspect DOES get the pulse rate up, so it somewhat simulates an adrenal "rush".

If you have a remote spot that you can use, I'd suggest that you walk through it first, set up the shooting sequenes the way you want, then do a "dry" run at full speed, but without shooting. And, "if you feel lucky, punk...." (HAHA!)....set up some MOVING or POP-UP targets!

Just don't amble out to a remote area for this type of practise without another person accompanying you. Accidents CAN happen! I've been using this "scoot & shoot" practise for about 25 years, and have been fortunate to have never had any accidents....knock on wood! Oh, and you can also make it a "friendly" sort of competing against friends if you use a stop-watch.
 
This is what we were taught.
5 steps in a draw

1. Strong hand on holster, off hand on stomach.
2. Pull weapon straight up from holster.
3. Rotate weapon until it is pointing at target.
4. Move your off hand across your stomach while pushing the weapon straight out to contact the off hand for a 2 handed grip.
5. Extend both hands out to firing position, aim and fire.

If you have a safety it comes off between 3 and 4.
You can shoot from position 3 if necessary.
If not, your finger goes into the trigger during step 5.

This is how we were taught, please feel free to disagree.
 
All pretty sound so far...

Read some books on self-defense. The ones listed should work, but I would suggest anything you can find - bearing in mind some will be 'less correct' than others. You want to look for an agreement of the various authors and techniques that fit your physique and abilities.

Practice in front of a mirror. Not to look cool, but to observe the motions your body makes. See if there's a more 'economical' way of getting firearm to firing position.

Make sure gun is empty. I agree one doesn't want to shoot the suspicious person with a cellphone; one doesn't want to shoot the refrigerator or one's roommate, either.

Strive for minimum of motion. If I have to shoot in such a situation, I want to get two shots off prior to the instigator of the deadly threat knowing I'm armed. Speed is not nearly as required as stealth, in most cases. In other words, the "High Noon", slap leather and shoot scenario is rather unlikely.
 
SA is the primary factor. All the other factors will be meaningless without understanding the situation that one finds themselves in. Always be vigilant and ready to go. Don't be paranoid though, as this will most likely lead you to over react to a perceived threat. Have courage and train as often as possible. Good luck and safe journeys.
 
There absolutely are "rules" in combat, and they include legal limitations and safety guidelines that keep you from hurting yourself or another person. Those rules include keeping your finger off of the trigger, and keeping your weapon pointed in a safe direction. Even the introductory and advanced defensive handgun courses at my club teaches that, and they are bare bones classes. Military and police training emphasizes safe gun handling as well, because you aren't helping if your shoot your own people or yourself. There are even cases of police shooting themselves rehostering their pistols because they had their fingers on the trigger. What good have you done if you pull your gun on a guy with a knife, he drops it, you reholster and shoot yourself in the leg? How about if you let a round go accidentally, and it hits someone or something? The rules all still apply.

Combat shooting means shooting quickly and accurately while under stress, within all of the safety rules, tactical rules and the legal rules that exist, while trying to kill someone else before the kill you.

That's why real training and real practice, including force-on-force and shoot-no-shoot training are so valuable.
 
"There absolutely are "rules" in combat, and they include legal limitations and safety guidelines that keep you from hurting yourself or another person. Those rules include keeping your finger off of the trigger,? The rules all still apply.
....
Combat shooting means shooting quickly and accurately while under stress, within all of the safety rules"

You are entitled to your opinion mewerguy, but if I had followed your "rules" when I was in actual combat I would have been dead long ago. You will pardon me if I do not follow your rules when it is kill or be killed.
 
Most ranges accessible to the public either club or monitored state park range, the use of the holster may be barred to even an extreme of banning them on your body while at that facility. If this is the only venue available you may have to ask for accommodation from the range management when there is no crowd present.
Would hate to have a conservation officer show up and jack someone up practicing what was learned in a basics class.

Ask me how I know. :)
 
There absolutely are "rules" in combat, and they include legal limitations and safety guidelines that keep you from hurting yourself or another person.<.....>
Click to expand...

Am in agreement with Hardball. If you follow rules, it 'can' result poor defense.
Why? Because the threat doesn't follow preset rules. Do you think they keep
their fingers off the trigger until they're ready to fire? Do you believe that they
will wait until imminent danger exists before they draw? Do you think that they
care if innocents are in the area? etc etc

All the training you do, have done, and prepare for is simply to provide you
tools to use if you face a threat. Once that occurs, you are to draw from
that toolbox of possible response, assess the threat, and connect the dots....

....using the best response you can necessary to stop
the imminent threat.

No predetermined rules....just guidelines and priorities to consider. There will
be some which have higher ranking priority than others. You will be second
guessed on how you prioritize and carry out your response so this is where
training comes into play.

p.s. using a different environment..... poor martial artists who participate in
competition frequently make the mistake of fighting using a rigid style....when
faced with an opponent from a different style of martial arts. why? they fail
to adapt to the changing conditions and response
 
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