The Draw

A couple of friends and I have been discussing the draw for some time now, and I thought it might be useful to lay out some concepts in looking at the draw and why you might use one style over the other.

Different schools teach a fairly wide variety of draw strokes, but they can be generally classified as either a press-out or an index draw, sometimes called an escalator draw. The press-out usually takes the form of an L but with the long end going from shooter to target and the short end going from the holster up to eye level or so. The index draw goes from the holster to the target in a fairly straight line, ascending as it moves towards full extension, like an escalator. I should mention that in neither case is the gun being “scooped”. A scoop draw is a separate thing that I have no use for and consider it a form of malpractice to teach to institutional users.

The correct goal and end result of either draw is to look at a spot and have your sight appear there, without correction or delay. The index draw pretty handily accomplishes this for the dedicated practitioner. The press-out, when taught correctly, also accomplishes this. Unfortunately, many people who press-out do not understand this, and the draw is less efficient than it could be.

People have argued the merits of these draws for years, and though I don’t expect that will end anytime soon, I hope to shed some light on the situation. Bottom line up front, I generally prefer the press-out. I do use the index draw as well and I think both have their place. I have a very simple way to transition between them, but two draws are not for everyone. Many people claim to use one type of draw or the other, but from what I have seen, most people don’t have a consistent draw of any kind.

The press-out has many benefits, but I will sum it up and say that if you are shooting from concealment, if you are shooting a heavier or longer trigger and if you shoot different guns frequently, you probably want to focus on the press-out.

Depending on your anthropometry a press-out may be the only viable option when drawing from concealment. If you have a long torso and short arms, an index draw may work for you. If you have normal or long arms and a normal or short torso, a press-out may be what you have to use. There are other benefits to the press-out as well (close quarters, obstacles) but we will leave them be for now. Smashing the trigger all at once has its place, but if you have the chance to take some of the trigger work out of the equation on the way to the target, why wouldn’t you? Similarly, the press-out gets your muzzle on the target faster than any other draw, allowing you more time to refine your point of aim. If a precise aim is not needed, then you can simply shoot earlier in the draw.

Drawbacks to the press-out? It is fractionally slower than the escalator draw. It tends to involve more tension in the upper body, especially the shoulders. This can be a drawback on longer strings of fire, especially on multiple targets. These drawbacks are mitigated by the fact that it is a more forgiving draw for most people. To use an index draw and smash the trigger requires a very good grip and index. Most shooters do not have a very good grip, and even those who do cannot always count on it. Injury and external conditions are two factors that have compromised my grip in the past, both on the range and off. Most shooters also have a very poor index, so a draw that relies on a good index is not that useful for them. The press-out allows for easier visual adjustment of the gun on the way to the target.

It should be noted though, that at a high level of ability, both draws depend heavily on a good index. A good index is a must in order to be better at shooting from the draw. The press-out simply gives you more visual feedback to help you learn your index. That has always been the correct way to do it, and while many of us have talked about picking your sights up on the way to the target, that is a training tool to refine your index, not an end state.

As alluded to earlier, the real benefit of the index draw is that it allows the shooter to carry less tension. Less tension can mean faster follow-up shots as well as easier movement. Though both of those things are good and desirable, the real-world difference is very small. On the other hand, there are many things that can foul an index draw, which is why I lean toward the press-out for off-the-range use. The index draw really shines in USPSA or Steel Challenge type competition. Its benefits off the range are not worth worrying about for most people.

If you have a refined index draw and are shooting at an advanced level, there is no real issue with it, as you will have most likely figured out how to modify it as needed. If you are not shooting at an advanced level, and especially if you are teaching in an institutional setting, the press-out can be more useful, both as a teaching aid to the instructor, as well as a means to teach the student the various positions they may need their gun to be in. When those positions are a mostly natural part of the draw, it simplifies things for shooters who will only train a few times a year. They will never get enough practice to learn to modify an index draw unconsciously and as the situation dictates.

One common problem with the press-out draw is that many people get hung up going from the vertical path to the horizontal path. You need to smooth that transition out if you want to be fast. Moving in a robotic way might be necessary for many people when first learning the draw, but you have to get past that. Athleticism is important in shooting, no way around it.

I mentioned earlier that I use both draws and I transition between them very easily. The way I do that is in the placement of my control hand (support hand). When using an index draw and shooting from a competition rig or an unconcealed holster, I place my control hand at about my belt buckle or belly button. This allows me to mate my hands lower on my torso and then drive straight to the target like an escalator.

When drawing from concealment, in most cases a closed front shirt, my control hand has to clear the garment which necessitates a higher position on the torso, usually around sternum height. This works better with a press-out draw. If drawing from concealment with an open front garment and a strong side holster, the index draw can work, but I find that my arms are too long and my torso too short to make that work very well.

Hopefully that sheds some light on these somewhat controversial draws. At a high level you can do what you want. At a basic armed professional or homeowner level, the lack of a refined index will usually dictate what needs to be done.