Having access to a range timer ... and using pre-arranged, known designated threat targets set up at a range, where you know you're going to be shooting ... can remove some of the awareness, identification, decision & reaction aspects in this sort of subject.
I've listened to all sorts of opinions over the years regarding how fast is "fast enough" when performing reaction drills, meaning both reactions to an identified perceived threat, from the holster, to measuring the split times between subsequent shots. Each person espousing one or another opinion had reasons and justifications for their opinions and ideas. Fair enough, as far as that goes.
But, when it comes right down to it, how fast is fast enough? Might as well try to ask yourself how fast is fast enough when it involves accurately landing multiple hand strikes. I don't claim to have the definitive, all-inclusive answer to that one, either (and I've got 39 years experience in the martial arts).
There was a period when I wore a timer on my person every time I stepped out on the firing range.
Over the years I found I could achieve consistent accurate hits on threat targets at reasonable defensive drill ranges with split times averaging in the .01-.015 range, occasionally longer (of course) and that was often involving deliberate shot strings from 3-15 rounds. Stationary ... moving ... from cover ... 1 handed ... 2-handed, etc. But I knew what I was about to do.
There was one time we set up 3 threat targets at 3-4 yards, spaced a yard apart, one farther than the other 2, and checked ourselves on the total time it took to draw and fire accurate doubles on each of the 3 targets (inside the smallest of the 'scoring zones'). I was using a leather plainclothes holster which had a thumb-snap retention strap. My average times hovered in the 2.3 - 2.4 sec range for all accurate hits over the course of several repetitions. That was my "stride", it seems ... for that day. One of the other instructors working the drill with me was consistently within hundredths of a second of my times, achieving just as accurate of hits, and he was using an open-top belt holster.
A while back this year I ran a 'cold' 3yd reaction drill with a J-frame, and made 5 hits in less than approx 3 seconds, shooting 1-handed, from the hip, with 4 of the hits touching each other in a group and the 5th barely missing being in the 4-shot overlapping group, over the heart/spine of an anatomical threat target.
Now, how does any of that translate into what I might expect to occur off the controlled range environment in an actual shooting situation? Dunno. Don't claim to know, either.
I've listened to a respectable number of cops who have been involved in shootings, and have had access to reviewing a fair number of them over the course of my career. I haven't arrived at any definitive answers other than accurate aimed fire is often more effective than reactive, "instinctive" fire when bullets are flying in both directions.
I do continue to practice as much as my time and activities permit, even though I'm retired. I still keep my hand in things as a firearms instructor & armorer, but I'm not shooting as much as before I retired.
In the real world there are so many potential distractions and conditions which can occupy our awareness and attention. Identification of threats and proper decision-making can suffer at times. Developing and maintaining our individual skillsets - and remaining conscious of the importance of awareness, experience and mindset - is one of those areas of overlapping concern that must be considered and addressed by each of us.
I can't pretend to have the answers for myself, let alone anyone else.
I just keep working on those things that I can work on ...
