sweep hand timer would record draw, or even just reaction times, .03 second faster than would be shown by the new electronic timers. This was in 1978, when I bought the old style timer from him. It offered either "self start" button hold down timing (ie, no reaction time involved) or random start after hitting the button (reaction time involved) The electronic timers only offer the latter. With hte Khrondek, I many times held down the timer button with my fist, "chambered" above my hip, and struck a shoulder ht, full arm extention "focused" punch on the `1/16" sheet metal torso (used with wax ammo and a microphone, to record the hit-times) in .12 second. If Bob was correct, the full extention of the arm, and raising it 18" or so, took .15 second.Obviously, a draw from a proper rig can be done in very similar time, expecially if the arm is not extended for the "hip point" shot. Add in your .20 or so reaction time, and you get sub .40 second for a hip point shot, with reaction time, from "hand hovering over gun" draw start, in pretty short order. "hand to gun" time, say from hands at sides, should add no more than another .10 second, and with enough practice, perhaps no extra time at all. Getting a HIT, with reaction and draw, with such a time, with live ammo, however, is a pretty thrilling thing. I did so, sub .50 second, a very few times, with a speed rig, and it was a pretty hairy experience. Range was 3 ft. Cocked and locked SA auto, too. With a DA revolver, you might slice a bit of time off of that, and maybe even be a bit "safer" from firing too soon (if the draw "snagged" somehow) because of the "feel" of the heavier DA trigger. All I was doing was slapping off the safety and yanking the trigger.
At arm's length, as I said, it's no great feat to react and punch a guy's face in, in less than .40 second. Ditto react and slap aside HIS weapon, "buying" you more time in which to do OTHER things. So, basically, if the crap starts at much under 10 ft, and your gun is ccw'd under a coat or shirt, a hand to hand response is likely to be just as fast, or faster, if you are AGILE and trained, as any ccw draw and hit will be, and again, if trained, your strike is a LOT more likely to be decisive than is a hit with typcial handgun ammo. A good side kick will cave your sternum and ribs in on your heart and lungs, or bend your knee BACKWARDS, ya know.
