Practiced in my home

[InRemorse]

I practiced drawing a handgun I haven't carried concealed in a while. Drawing the handgun from 3 o'clock with my right hand, the grip got entangled in the T-shirt. Once out the gun felt in the way, blocking the line of sight, both hands extended in front of me.

Don't I want to see what the bad guy is doing?

I reholstered the handgun and drew it again, lifting the T-shirt with my left hand first. I pulled out the handgun and held it low in front of my belly, the barrel pointing toward the imagined bad guy. That was a quicker draw by half a second I estimate and the position of the gun made it less easy to grab should the imagined bad guy be jumping at me as I drew. I felt empowered. Then I realized that if I keep my eyes on the T-shirt and holster, drawing, I will not see if the bad guy is jumping me, or if he is drawing a handgun of his own. I reholstered the handgun and kept looking at the imagined bad guy standing some five yards in front of me. Keeping my eyes on his eyes I made a slower and more liquid shift of the T-shirt with my left hand, probably less eye catching so than the jerking going on before. As long as he is meeting my eyes with his his awareness is limited. The handgun came up low in front of me, barrel pointing at the bad guy. Covering him with my eyes and barrel it would be a controlled shooting from that position, the handgun held with my right hand only. My line of sight was clear, no handgun in the way. It takes time to lift a handgun and sight it on a person. A first shot from the low belly position would be extremely time saving, and the handgun can be raised from there to finish the job with a better pointability in a double grip. Drawing the gun to the low belly position I recalled that's what it looks like when instructors draw their ccw on TV. I felt I had analyzed the situation correctly. This is how I will draw and shoot at the outdoors gun range next time. I felt that as long as I kept looking at the guy I want to hit my right hand adjusted the handgun automatically to point in that direction.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

It might look like it's pointing at your target when it isn't, so be careful. Also, if you put the sights on the center of mass, you should still be able to see him.

 

[CWL]

Practice more often in front of the mirror with an empty gun or airsoft. Standard precaution is to go into a room where bullets are never allowed into.

When drawing a concealed handgun, you should be using a ripping motion in order to get everything out of the way of your pistol draw. You don't have to tear your clothes, but it should be close. Gotta be sure that if you ever really needed to do so, your concealed pistol should have no obstructions to tangle in.

If you've never practiced it, you should be moving laterally or obliquely so that you aren't where the BG last saw you.

 

[Carl]

I can picture myself performing "drills" while at home. For instance, sitting on the couch watching TV and reacting if a window breaks in the next room or if the front door suddenly gets kicked in. Practicing drawing and getting a good shooting stance or finding cover.

 

[David E]

Sounds like you need to sign up for a good gun class.

There should be some in your area. Call your local range and see what they offer.

.

 

[GJeffB]

Couple of Suggestions

InRemorse, first I agree with "Sounds like you need to sign up for a good gun class." All the practice in the world doesn't help if you're not practicing the *right* things.
Next, make your initial practice sloooow. As was said, don't be bashful about pulling that shirt up hard and high. But start out slowly with LOTs of repetition. It's about muscle memory.
Finally, consider just pointing your index finger at a target that you're looking at. Generally you'll be almost right on target. Then progress to the same movement with your sidearm. It's very natural to point where you're looking. Again, start slow, speed will come with repetitions. But keep focused on the target until your sights come up.
As always, all safety considerations are in play - check your weapon for empty multiple times, no ammo in the same room, etc.

HTH,

-jb

 

[New gun owner]

Muscle Memory is key

Agree with GJeffB - muscle memory is the key. If you can do it without even thinking about it, you are in a good place.

This forum topic has a good set of links to drills:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=447028&highlight=drills

 

[1814rob]

Try this.......Use your right hand to pull up your shirt to clear the pistol, reach across with your left hand and pull the shirt up and center, at the same time use your right to draw. I have found this to be faster and it does two things, gets the shirt out of the way and keeps your left hand close to center and away from the muzzle.

 

[RangeLogger]

Public Drills

Does anyone have drills they would like to share?

I am collecting publicly available drills (by focus areas and firearm types) to add to an online website for searching and use. If you know who originated the drill that would be great, too!

 

[psyopspec]

1) Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.

2) Repetition practiced under steadily more distracting conditions will greatly contribute to muscle memory. In other words, it takes more than 3 draws to develop the response you want to whatever situation you're envisioning. Maybe try doing 50 each night for a month and see where that gets you.

3) Take an NRA basic pistol class. If you've already taken Basic, go back for some defensive pistol instruction.

4) Only perfect practice makes perfect (though the lazy side of me says that if practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice? )

5) If you feel you can do so safely, participate in some IDPA or IPSC competitions. While not the end-all of realistic simulation, competitions can be very good for identifying one's strengths and weaknesses in basic handling (drawing, reloading, shooting under mild stress, etc). If you don't feel ready to participate, maybe go observe and proceed from there.

 

[Ben86]

I suggest seeking some person to person instruction and reading the book Stressfire by Mas Ayoob. It explains some really useful basics on such subjects a draw.

I don't know if you know this, but focusing on the front sight from the draw instead of trying to obtain a complete sight picture is much quicker and almost as accurate. Save unsighted fire for contact range shooting.

When presenting the gun, using more of an outward, punching motion instead of a steady rise will also increase speed.

 

[SgtDinosaur]

1) Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.

Thank you. That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Rellian]

It's much like preparing music. The three biggest rules I have lived by for performing (and for the most part it doesn't matter what instrument or style you're talking about):

1: Muscle memory will be your biggest friend
2: If you can't do it right slowly you will NEVER do it right quickly.
3: There is NO substitute or shortcut for correct practice.