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The ability to quickly deploy your concealed carry firearm is critical for successfully defending yourself against a deadly threat. The Classic Firearms team is passing along some of our favorite training tips so that you can become more proficient at drawing and re-holstering your EDC pistol.
Defensive handgun fundamentals remain more or less the same regardless of where or how you choose to carry. For instance, the steps for drawing from a shoulder holster are nearly identical to those for drawing from an AIWB rig, despite the different applications for each carry system.
1. Defeat Your Cover Garment - Sweep your shirt tail or jacket away in one fluid motion (with your non-dominant hand, if possible) to expose the butt of your pistol.
2. Obtain A Positive Master Grip - Index the holstered firearm so that your wrist is parallel to the bore axis and the backstrap is centered in the webbing between your thumb and index finger.
Your index finger should remain straight along the dust cover (outside of the trigger guard) until your draw stroke is complete and you're ready to fire.
3. Unholster The Firearm - Deactivate any active retention mechanisms and remove the pistol from its holster, taking care to ensure the muzzle is pointed down and away from your body.
4. Begin Presentation - Without breaking your master grip, elevate the firearm to chest level while simultaneously bringing your support hand up to rest in front of your offhand pectoral muscle. Use your thumb as a reference.
5. Complete Presentation - Add your support hand and push out with both arms, leaving a slight bend in your elbows. Square your feet, hips, and shoulders while obtaining a clear sight picture.
To increase speed, practice each step individually before combining all of the above for a smooth draw stroke. Only replace your firearm in the holster once you are sure all threats have been stopped and you are no longer in imminent danger.
Repeat the above steps in reverse order to re-holster your pistol, while observing your surroundings and looking the gun into the holster whenever is is safe to do so. This helps mitigate risk of flagging yourself or others while attempting to insert the muzzle into the mouth of your holster.
After you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, you can stress test your skills by mixing additional elements into your practice sessions. Adding time constraints, drawing from a seated or kneeling position, and aiming around cover can help you prepare for real-world defensive shooting scenarios.
A savvy criminal assailant may choose unconventional avenues of approach or may wait to initiate their attack until you are in a vulnerable position that gives them the advantage. Parking your car, carrying groceries, checking your phone, stopping to tie your shoe - these are all opportunities to strike while your attention is divided between your surroundings and the task at hand.
Consequently, learning to anticipate and train for such occasions is a critical part of effective firearms training for concealed carry practitioners. Here are a few drills your can use to ensure your skillset is adaptable to any situation you might encounter.
Each of these drills can be incorporated with your regular dry fire or live fire training on the range. Just remember, the objective is to achieve a smooth and consistent draw even if you are starting from an unusual or unintuitive position so that during a defensive encounter, you can fall back on your training.
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Want to learn how to become more effective with your pistol? Be sure to watch our video training with the team at Battleline Tactical, owned and operated by legendary Army Ranger Kris "Tanto" Paronto.
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