[VaughnT]

I took my Pact Mk4 out for a spin today and found out that ignorance really is bliss.

I started out running a simple game with 2rnds in the weapon and 2 in each of the 2 mags on my belt.

First shot from the holster was anywhere from 1.6 to 3+ seconds. A lot depended on just how precise a sight-picture I tried to attain.

Reload time was seemingly pitiful at between 2.5 and 4.0 seconds. I saw quite a few times where the magazine failed to eject under it's own spring power and had to be pulled out. Could this be dirt? A grip screw scraping the mag? Weak springs? I'll be numbering my mags tomorrow so I can see if it's one magazine in particular that's giving me fits.

What I particularly liked was going to the range with a sense of purpose. Normally, I would try some draws or the like, but I didn't have any way to tell if I was good, bad or whatever. Now I know, sadly, that it wasn't good or whatever I was pulling off.

One hundred rounds fired and plenty of good times to be had. I could definitely get into this timer thing!

[Chris Rhines]

A 1.6 second draw isn't bad. It took me a long time to get below that consistently. A good tool for analyzing one's draw, in addition to the timer, is a video camera. Tape yourself drawing, and see where you can cut out excess movement.

I love my MkIV. Widh I could use it inside, though...

- Chris

[VaughnT]

Thanks for the boost, Chris. I wish all of the draws had been in the 1.6 area, but far too many were not. On the upside, I did note that most of my delays were caused by fumbling with the thumbsnap and starting too late into the beep. I'm trying to go at the "b" and am lucky to get started by the time I hear the "p"! Practice makes perfect.

Is there a way to tone down the volume on the beeper? It's awfully loud and attracts some strange inquiries when I set it to par time and practice dry-firing inside.

Can't wait to get back out to the range for some more tinkering. I told a buddy about it and he's keen to see how fast he is....he just doesn't understand how nice it is to not know.

[SDC]

Re. your mag ejedction problem:
What sort of pistol are you using? Some pistols are noted for having "non-drop-free" mags, and this might be what you're experiencing.

[Chris Rhines]

There's no easy way to adjust the volume on the buzzer. I know a couple of people who have rigged a potentiometer in series with the buzzer; I haven't tried it myself. Sometimes I stick a few layers of masking tape over the buzzer grill.

- Chris

[VaughnT]

SDC, I'm using a Colt 1991a1 customized by Ted Yost. I have found that the rubber Hogue grip panel on the right side is weak in the top screw hole and will compress too far...allowing the screw to scrape on the magazine. Remove this one screw and all is good with every magazine.

I'll be returning the grip panels as soon as is feasible and replacing them with something different, maybe those Simonich grips.

Chris, you bring up a good point with that tape cover on the grill. Rigging up a potentiometer is way beyond my level but I could cut a piece of foam off of a beer can coozie and tape that over the buzzer grill. A half-inch of closed-cell foam should reduce the sound levels considerably. Thanks for the tip, boss.:cool:

PS -> what are good times for first shot, from the holster? What's a good average time for a speed/tactical reload?

[John Forsyth]

Draw time.

From concealment, anything under 1.5sec and making an -0 hit at 5 to 7 yds consistently is good. On a good day, I am around 1.25. Without concealment, I am around 1.10. Understand that most peoples reaction time to any outside stimulus (the beep) can be from 0.25 to 0.50 secs. Here's a suggestion, start your draw at the start of the beep, not the end of the beep. You would be surprized at how many shooters wait for the beep to end before making the draw.

A reload time of 2.5sec is not bad. 4 secs is not going to let you win considering how many reloads can be in a match.

Another suggestion, get a copy of Matt Burkett's video on competitive shooting. It's worth the money.

[OF]

A couple things that helped my draw a bit:

1) Work on your response time. Here's a website (http://www.happyhub.com/network/reflex/) that you can play with whenever ('prep' the stop button, as it stops the timer on the release, not the click). Another thing is at the range you can have a bud run the timer (or use a random-start timer) for a simple drill: start with the gun up and sights on target, finger on the trigger. On the buzzer fire one shot. Repeat and see how fast you can get. I do this sometimes with no target, just firing into the berm.

2) I've taken to letting the inside of my strong-side arm lightly touch the grip of the gun when I'm waiting for the buzzer (arms at sides). Just that little bit of contact has helped me better visualize where the gun is on my side and it's sped up my draw a bit. Just a bit, but every bit helps. This doesn't work for concealment, of course.

- Gabe

[eerw]

Working with a timer is very revealing..it gets you away from any perception you might have about your shooting...

the key to quickness is smoothness..the key to winning is consistency..

As the others said..listen for the start of the beep..the length of the beep is about .3 seconds..

next..get your hand to the gun.. and have a smooth straight to the target presentation...get your eyes to the sight and get proper target alignment..some of the key things we do shooting are presentation from the draw or reload...presentation in transition, reloading and movement.

anyway..you are on the right track..use the timer and work on the smoothness..don;t think "go fast".. if you think like that.. you will be jerky and clumsy..if you go for smooth..you'll be quick enough...

[El Rojo]

I am pretty good with the timer and drawing open, concealed, and from my plain old wasteband. However, a discouraging thing happened the other day while I was shooting my THR Postal/Virtual match at the last second in the headlights of the car. My half human cardboard target was on its stand at the rear of the car. It snuck up on me. Did I instantly react and put two into since I had the Glock 27 where it belonged and ready to go? No. I about soiled myself and got a real fright. I was sort of upset at myself for not drawing and putting a round into the target. Then i actually did draw and put a round in the target and I found that I didn't go to my proper shooting stance and shoot modified weaver. I just sort of drew quickly and shot the target at about 6-10 feet one handed.

What is the point? Practice all sorts of shooting. One handed. Turn and shoot. Whatever you can think of. I need to take out my M1 Carbine and do head shots from 10 yards or less. Why? I was just realizing I have it in the house and the time might come where I have to do some precise shooting if someone has a loved one hostage. Can I do that with my 12 gauge? Practice that too. I think I really need more practice.

I might make a side postal match for myself every month and shoot a different tactical situation while I am out doing my postal match. I think it would be fun and I could use the practice. And the nice thing about having the timer is it adds one more factor, a little bit of stress. Sorry about the rant. Have fun with your timer.