The Reactionary Gap Drill conducted in the SORD class really is an eye opener for participants. The average for that is 2.6 sec for the shot and runner having gone 36 ft.
I retired as a training Lieutenant from the SC Department of Corrections. We taught from day one that 30 feet was a marginally acceptable reaction gap to a knife or similar weapon.
I've taught several Action Target Law Enforcement Training Camps with Dennis Tueller, and according to the account that he gave me, he never intended 21 feet or any other distance to become a "rule". I don't know who John Tueller is / was. A national training organization monetized the concept and all of a sudden, the "21 foot Rule" and "The Tueller Drill" became part of standard presentation.
A few years ago, while I was on the Staff of the original SIGARMS Academy, I had a dream weekend: A box truck delivering a pallet of M855 green tip and a pallet of 9mm ball ammo. Shortly after that, a Navy Special Warfare Team showed up. Their training requirements were very specific: Learn how to run their duty issued SIG P226's from concealment. They brought appropriate concealing garments; I outfitted them with concealment holsters and mag pouches.
After considerable repetitions with presentation of the (dry, unloaded) handgun from concealment. we loaded up and I put every shooter on the shot timer. Par times from concealment were in the 1.5 - 2.0 second range for two hits in an IPSC A zone. Misses outside the A zone were automatic DQ's and the shooter had to repeat. None had to. They could shoot.
A Team member asked me about the "21 foot rule" and my reply was the same I have toward any "rule"; (1) People will train to meet this artificial construct and not push themselves to get better, and (2) It sounded a little short to me.
I then had my one moment of professional brilliance and devised a LIVE FIRE drill to test the validity if the "21 foot rule". I will not disclose the specifics of the drill as this is a public forum and "kids, don't try this at home". The shooter had to again, draw from concealment and get two hits in the A zone at 7 yards, (or 21 feet) while on the shot timer.
The actual "reactive gap" distance varied between 40 feet and 50+ yards! No Special Warfare Team member could draw, fire and HIT in a simulated reactionary gap of under 40 feet.
The Team Leader and I had a side conversation and then we repeated the same drill, but with the shooter's weapon in hand, slightly behind their dominant leg. Reactionary gap distance decreased slightly, but nobody could complete the drill in under 21 feet.
Conclusion: If some of our best professional "trigger pressers" couldn't complete the "Tueller Drill", why do we continue to teach and preach this as gunfighting gospel?
This is also a great example of why training must be done in context. Range training is only valuable to the extent that it transfers to the performance environment. The data seem to suggest is does not transfer well.
We did a simple live fire drill during a CCW class.
The shooter faced the target.
We stood back to back.
When the shot timer sounded the concealed carrier was to draw and shoot the target while I ran in the other direction.
I was passing the 35' mark, turned and started walking back thinking the drill was over and was surprised to see the person still struggling to present and fire at the target.
Two take aways... the adrenaline dump confused and slowed the shooter down destroying his fine motor skills. The adrenaline increased my gross motor skills and sped up my simulated attack. 50' plus feet would have been needed in this case.
You need to know knife defense up close and personal and how to draw quickly from your holster. You will most likely have to counter that knife attack before you pull your weapon.
An accomplished knife fighter will get close first then deploy at the last second. If you have poor SA skills, you probably won't even see it coming. Not to mention, a knife thrower. Indiana Jones showed us the perfect technique against a blade. Shoot as soon as you see that steel, don't wait for the attack.
Fantastic -- a much needed update to my own thoughts on knife defense and 21 foot rule
The Reactionary Gap Drill conducted in the SORD class really is an eye opener for participants. The average for that is 2.6 sec for the shot and runner having gone 36 ft.
Whichever cop took 3 seconds to draw and fire needs serious retraining. Great study. Thank you for doing this.
I retired as a training Lieutenant from the SC Department of Corrections. We taught from day one that 30 feet was a marginally acceptable reaction gap to a knife or similar weapon.
I've taught several Action Target Law Enforcement Training Camps with Dennis Tueller, and according to the account that he gave me, he never intended 21 feet or any other distance to become a "rule". I don't know who John Tueller is / was. A national training organization monetized the concept and all of a sudden, the "21 foot Rule" and "The Tueller Drill" became part of standard presentation.
A few years ago, while I was on the Staff of the original SIGARMS Academy, I had a dream weekend: A box truck delivering a pallet of M855 green tip and a pallet of 9mm ball ammo. Shortly after that, a Navy Special Warfare Team showed up. Their training requirements were very specific: Learn how to run their duty issued SIG P226's from concealment. They brought appropriate concealing garments; I outfitted them with concealment holsters and mag pouches.
After considerable repetitions with presentation of the (dry, unloaded) handgun from concealment. we loaded up and I put every shooter on the shot timer. Par times from concealment were in the 1.5 - 2.0 second range for two hits in an IPSC A zone. Misses outside the A zone were automatic DQ's and the shooter had to repeat. None had to. They could shoot.
A Team member asked me about the "21 foot rule" and my reply was the same I have toward any "rule"; (1) People will train to meet this artificial construct and not push themselves to get better, and (2) It sounded a little short to me.
I then had my one moment of professional brilliance and devised a LIVE FIRE drill to test the validity if the "21 foot rule". I will not disclose the specifics of the drill as this is a public forum and "kids, don't try this at home". The shooter had to again, draw from concealment and get two hits in the A zone at 7 yards, (or 21 feet) while on the shot timer.
The actual "reactive gap" distance varied between 40 feet and 50+ yards! No Special Warfare Team member could draw, fire and HIT in a simulated reactionary gap of under 40 feet.
The Team Leader and I had a side conversation and then we repeated the same drill, but with the shooter's weapon in hand, slightly behind their dominant leg. Reactionary gap distance decreased slightly, but nobody could complete the drill in under 21 feet.
Conclusion: If some of our best professional "trigger pressers" couldn't complete the "Tueller Drill", why do we continue to teach and preach this as gunfighting gospel?
This is also a great example of why training must be done in context. Range training is only valuable to the extent that it transfers to the performance environment. The data seem to suggest is does not transfer well.
We did a simple live fire drill during a CCW class.
The shooter faced the target.
We stood back to back.
When the shot timer sounded the concealed carrier was to draw and shoot the target while I ran in the other direction.
I was passing the 35' mark, turned and started walking back thinking the drill was over and was surprised to see the person still struggling to present and fire at the target.
Two take aways... the adrenaline dump confused and slowed the shooter down destroying his fine motor skills. The adrenaline increased my gross motor skills and sped up my simulated attack. 50' plus feet would have been needed in this case.
You need to know knife defense up close and personal and how to draw quickly from your holster. You will most likely have to counter that knife attack before you pull your weapon.
An accomplished knife fighter will get close first then deploy at the last second. If you have poor SA skills, you probably won't even see it coming. Not to mention, a knife thrower. Indiana Jones showed us the perfect technique against a blade. Shoot as soon as you see that steel, don't wait for the attack.
Great article. I remember our department t going through similar drills to instill in our officers how quickly someone with a knife could reach you.