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The draw:
Picture from the internet.
Depending on the style of shooting you wish to compete in, the draw, from a holster becomes a part of the string, a time component that must be exercised correctly, or precious seconds are lost. In some shooting especially in the course of ones employment it could be the difference between life and death.
Various shooting style require different holsters. Open front, duty, with restraining loop, race holsters. All require different skills and practice, as does all shooting or any other activity. All shooters have by now determined their particular shooting style, Service match, Bianchi Cup, IPCS, or Western action. All require a different holster, or mostly and this usually is a matter of the shooters choice, the available holsters is full of promises from various manufacturers who all indicate there's is the best, and all others inferior. Hence see what others are using, try a few till you find what fells good for you. In reality the nano second difference of one to another is just that, the shooter needs to feel comfortable with his choice.
The draw, from loaded start, from hand loose by the side or in the surrender position, till the first shot strikes the intended spot on a target is the measurement we are timing. A distance from the shooter to the target will determine the time taken, hence, the further the distance, the longer the time. So to begin, start at 10 metres.
The key to success is practice, muscle memory for retrieving the pistol from the holster, with the correct grip to enable the shooter to correctly hold and aim the firearm in such a manner to positively sight the pistol and hit the intended spot on a target. To then with the correct grip to proceeded to the next target comfortably, again hitting the position on the target aimed at. As you practice more, speed can be increased.
So in slow motion, from the intended start, with feet in a comfortable position, in a modified Weaver stance or some other suitable position, send the open hand down to the butt of the firearm, gripping the pistol high and tightly, finger outside the trigger guard, lift the pistol out of the holster. Once this is achieved the barrel is then immediately held horizontal to the ground, further lifted and pushed forward and at the same time with the dominant eye beginning to focus on the front sight and pushed forward at the same time as a correct sight picture is obtained, so the front sight is clear and the target slightly blurred. At the same time as the pistol is coming from the holster the weak hand joins the retrieving pistol hand on the left side of the pistol. The hand retrieving the pistol from the holster using a firm grip has the thumb held over the external safety, (if any) and the other hand joins the first hand so both thumbs are in to the left side of the pistol. As the target is acquired the trigger finger enters the trigger guard and once a good/ not perfect sight picture is obtained the trigger finger tightens and a shot is fired.
The above grip borrowed from the internet is a good and correct method of holding any semi automatic pistol. Some people of world class hold the weak hand fingers over the front of the trigger guard, this is how they feel comfortable as they have long fingers and is correct, as the full control is still obtained.
Utube has many such action draws using the correct method, and as to the time taken for this process it comes down to practice. After several 100 such exercises in the correct draw, your muscles and hands will automatically go to the correct position, it is up to you to shoot and hit the target, after 500/1000 such attempts your time should be around 1.5 to 2 seconds. However at a match, depending what level, some anxiety befalls the shooter, nerves come into play as we don’t want to be to slow, hence the shooter completely stuffs up and does not retrieve the pistol correctly and misses several shots. The moral to the story is relax, (if possible) practice more, and match practice is the best remedy. Some shooter have both arms locked in position when they shoot, both fully extended, some have the strong arm slightly bent, or the weak hand slightly bent, or both arms slightly bent, this mostly is a matter of comfort of the shooter and what suits them. Arguments will rage as to which is the correct stance or arm extensions, smile at those who tell you they know and see how your method suits you. We all started out at the learning level. A firm strong grip.
“When all about you have lost their heads and you remain calm, perhaps you do not understand the problem”.
Per ardua ad astra.
