How Critical is Draw Speed?

Here's a thought worth pondering:
If the bad guys draws his gun...which is more important?

1. Not getting shot
2. Shooting the bad guy

Both are important...but which one is paramount? Which of the two comes first? That should dictate your tactics.

Here's a thought worth pondering:
If the bad guys draws his gun...which is more important?

1. Not getting shot
2. Shooting the bad guy

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This is a really good question, and the answer isn't necessarily all that clear-cut...

-C

speed alone won't win a gun fight

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It can, when coupled with a dynamic counter-attack. A guy in South Africa used a Hi-Power to repell home invaders. He didn't hit squat, but the quickness of his response coupled with his fusilade convinced the badguys to beat feet outta there.

Wyatt Earp may have said a lot of things, but one of his more famous quotes about gunfighting is, "Take your time.....in a hurry!" This is far, far different than "fast is slow and smooth."

To quote a SEAL CQB instructor"Smooth is quick and quick is fast".

I AM NO EXPERT and this is my opinion on your question: How Critical is Draw Speed?
Not critical enough to compensate for lack of proper training!!!
Mike

When the situation requires that you draw and fire your weapon, getting that first shot off accurately and BEFORE the threat does you danger is paramount...That means that the following process must be faster than the threat's harm done to you..

1- Recognize the need to use your weapon.
2- Reach for and grip your weapon
3- Draw your weapon
4- Aim your weapon
5- Accurately shoot your weapon....

If 1+2+3+4+5> The harm the threat plans to do to you, then you are screwed.
If 1+2+3+4+5< The harm the threat plans to do to you, then you are more likely to come out of the encounter with a MORE favorable outcome.

So, to your question, as part of the process, YES the draw speed is important, but it is far from the only thing to worry about.

Would it be fair to say that draw speed is less of a concern to those who:

1. Carry off the body?
2. Use deep concealment?
3. Don't keep one in the pipe?
4. Don't practice?

ould it be fair to say that draw speed is less of a concern to those who:

1. Carry off the body?
2. Use deep concealment?
3. Don't keep one in the pipe?
4. Don't practice?

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1- No, even a draw off body is a draw.. if that means dropping your backpack, unzipping and retrieving your gun, it is still a draw.. just took a long ass time...

2- No, see above... even deep concealment is a draw...

3- No, it just adds one more step to my previous post of racking the slide to chamber a round... that additional step further slows you down in the process of protecting yourself.

4- NO!!!!... one must practice to become proficient with their gun... Does that mean they must be a competition quality shooter? No, but a licensed driver isnt a professional racer either. Practice, at least in the basics is a must. Carrying a gun that one has never practiced with is a major ingredient in an recipe for disaster.


Lets look at this from a different perspective... You are working in the yard and get bit by a snake... this problem has happened and is now no longer part of the illustration..

So, you go to the doctor and say "I got bit by a rattle snake (you noted this upon the bite...)"
Would you prefer the doc take your word for it, give you the anti-venom for the rattle snake, dress your wounds, and treat you with antibiotics to prevent infection (IE the quick draw, aim, and shoot...).... OR.... disregard your statement that it was a rattle snake, send someone to your house to check the area for snakes, run tests as to which venom you were exposed to (all the time allowing your extremity to swell and become necrotic) THEN, draw blood samples, tissue samples, wound cultures, etc to treat you with an antibiotic for the infection that has now been produced by all the time they took by not listening in the first place? (IE, slow draw, aim, and shoot.)

A smooth draw is better than a snagging on shirt, but fast draw, Either way if a gun is at your head, the best thing to do is sit tight, no draw time will help there, but there are ways to disarm a man... Krav Maga on youtube shows some ways.

Depends of how good your powers of observation are.....

Fun game I like to do in the desert, (be sure of all your surroundings and just what is down range first) draw, shoot cow pie, make gun safe, re holster, repeat.....

Start out very slowly and be very meticulous on your technique, speeding up as you get in the comfort zone, and that is after many thousands of rounds........

I'd put draw speed right up at the top next to pull or don't pull.

btg3 said:

Would it be fair to say that draw speed is less of a concern to those who:

1. Carry off the body? a: no
2. Use deep concealment? a: pocket carry when I can, no deep concealment
3. Don't keep one in the pipe? a: always one in the pipe
4. Don't practice?

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a: practice drawing at home

Oh man ... that is a tricky one.

Concealment vs ready ... that sells guns and holsters and hawaiian shirts.

In reading about them both Jelly Bryce and Bill Jordan found it necessary to "beat the drop" and were able to do so. VERY few people can do that.

Regards,
Jerry

Circumstances dictate the importance of draw speed. In one encounter speed of the draw could mean nothing while in another it could be difference between stopping the threat and not even clearing the holster. Just my opinion, but it's critical enough that I train my draw to be as fast as possible.

Draw speed is a big reason that I pocket carry a J-frame.
Not only is pocket carry very concealable, but all you have to do to draw is remove your weapon from the pocket - you can even shoot through the pocket if necessary (say, if you are wearing a coat).
If you notice trouble coming just casually put your hand in your pocket and grip your gun with your hand, ready to draw.

To quote a SEAL CQB instructor"Smooth is quick and quick is fast".

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Every time I want to forget how dumb those guys are, they find new avenues to remind me

"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."

The abovementioned SEAL may have been struggling with the concept of wit, but his advice is completely missing the point . . .

"Draw speed is a big reason that I pocket carry a J-frame.
Not only is pocket carry very concealable, but all you have to do to draw is remove your weapon from the pocket - you can even shoot through the pocket if necessary (say, if you are wearing a coat).
If you notice trouble coming just casually put your hand in your pocket and grip your gun with your hand, ready to draw."--Sir Aardvark

+1-you beat me to it! While pocket carry limits the size of the gun carried, the comfort of actually grasping the gun, rather than simply holding your hand nearby, is great.

Regarding fast, smooth draws, the ability and confidence to do so can also buy precious time to assess and hopefully find a non-lethal solution. I read an article a long time ago by Ross Seyfreid a champion combat shooter from the '80s, describe being in a store while a robbery was taking place. Since no one was endangered, he remained passive. His confidence in his ability allowed him to stand and watch, since he was absolutely sure he could have taken the robbers down with little trouble. Of course, the fact that he hunted dangerous game in Africa helped him deal with the stress of the situation.

That said, I strive to routinely practice draws; even a few times a day pays off in smoothness and speed.

We all know the scene, two men facing off amano amano and the winner is the fastest one to the draw

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I believe the saying should change to "fastest to draw and make an accurate shot is the winner"

That being said, the draw is only the first part of the equation. You can practice your draw all day without firing a shot and it will help, but if you can't shoot accurately after.....you lose

TheProf said:

Here's a thought worth pondering:
If the bad guys draws his gun...which is more important?

1. Not getting shot
2. Shooting the bad guy

Both are important...but which one is paramount? Which of the two comes first? That should dictate your tactics.

Click to expand...

Not getting shot, dive for cover.

I gotta be in one piece to fight back
MOVE MOVE MOVE MOVE!!!!!

shep854 said:

"Draw speed is a big reason that I pocket carry a J-frame.


That said, I strive to routinely practice draws; even a few times a day pays off in smoothness and speed.

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A gun in hand is better than ten in retention holsters.

If you notice trouble coming just casually put your hand in your pocket and grip your gun with your hand, ready to draw...the comfort of actually grasping the gun...is great.

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How's that work for you if you don't see it coming?

How easy is it to access if you are moving to cover trying not to get shot?

I think this thread ran it's course the first time someone said "it's not very important at all, except when you have the rest of your life to get your gun out of the holster and into the fight, at which point it might be moderately relevant."

Saying draw speed isn't important reminds me of the people who are "super serious" about self-defense, but don't concern themselves with things like combatives because they'll "always" have their gun out and be engaging bad guys at 25 meters way before they get into punching range. In other words, dilletantes who are training to get themselves and those around them killed if it ever comes down to it.

"How's that work for you if you don't see it coming?*

How easy is it to access if you are moving to cover trying not to get shot**?"--smince

*As well as any other carry or draw method if you don't see it coming.

**With practice, it becomes natural. Without practice, any method will involve possibly deadly fumbling. When I practice drawing from my pocket, I make a point to practice moving to cover also, to make taking cover as automatic as possible.

The first line of personal defense is awareness of your surroundings, to detect a possible threat as far away as possible, as well as identifying possible evasion routes and potential cover. While we make much of situational awareness to detect danger, it pays far greater positive benefits, as you will also see your world around you more, and can enjoy the good and beautiful (while being ready to notice something that isn't "right").

As others have said, it depends on the circumstances. However, it may not matter how fast you are if you don't have good situational awareness or have the willingness to do whatever it takes to go home.

Like they say, training is 75% physical and 25% mental, however fighting for your life is 25% physical and 75% mental.