Do cops practice quick draw tactics with their revolver?

Question

Are cops trained to draw their weapon at a certain speed? I know I could outdraw a cop and win. I was wondering what type of training they go through in regards to using firearms and how to be the most effective.

Isnt this important for them to be good at? Seeing as most cops are out of shape and only rely on numbers of officers instead of skill, it seems to be easier and easier to outgun a cop.

To correct this statement since there are so many simple minded people here...Whoever draws their gun and shoots accurately first wins. My point is I do practice drawing and firing accurately at the range every week.

I have no intention of drawing on a cop but I have a good idea of how easy it would be. From what I understand, the average police officer has little practice in actual draw and fire scenarios.

to kingbeav,

Yes, I have a good idea on how many officers still use revolvers. Almost the entire police department in the city where I live carry 2 hand guns, one is always a revolver. It is an excellent back up to when problems occur with a clip.

And yes, I am sure there is a cop who could beat me to the draw but I am sure I could beat the vast majority. Stereotype or not, most are fat and slow. It is just lucky that many that are good with a gun are not the criminal type.

Just look at how many cops die each year because they were too slow. Over 70 already this year.

Answer 1

well do you remember the naked guy that was standing on the hood of a car, in oregon recently. HE GOT SHOT FAST. for nothig , well at least i think nothing, cuz im sure his pee pee wasnt that much of a threat!!
pathetic how many people are getting blown away by the police these days....

Answer 2

My Department's training requires firearms safety, first and foremost.

For training purposes, our Q course involves drawing, firing six rounds, re-loading with a speed-loader (Standard issue is a S&W revolver), and holstering an empty weapon; all within thirty seconds. (And no, it's not difficult.)

The object is to draw and fire, and achieve a first-round hit. The subsequent shots are meant to create a condition where manipulation of the speed-loader is necessary. (In a real-life deadly-force situation, the initial outcome will determine how many rounds are actually used, of course -- unless you're a NYPD detective. .)

"Quick draw" is not part of the training, although one can surrepticiously work it in during a qualification session. For instance, there is only one cop in a force of 700(+) with whom I'd have worries. He's a younger Phillipino immigrant, who comes from an area of the country where damn near everybody grew up packing heat. Fast? He's blazing fast. Side-by side, it's a toss-up as to who will get the first shot off. Worse, he's more likely to cut a 10x than I am! (For the record, we have no intention of going nose-to-nose, either... Or, at least *I* do not!. )

The importance angle is another ball of wax. One has to be "good" with all the hardware, not just the firearm. Given today's legal environment, I'd guess that people skills are equally as important, if not more so.

The current philosophy is 'graduated force' -- a cop only escalates depending on what his subject is doing. Deadly force is the final step, and (ideally) used only as a last resort. If the situation de-escalates, then the cop must de-escalate. Immediately.

Relying on numbers is a damned good idea. Numbers work!
The lone hero stuff is for the movies and television shows. In the real world, lone heroes wind up with a fine funeral and a bronze plaque on the wall.

Ah, No, thank you. I would much prefer a retirement.

wsulliva

Answer 3

Umm revolver? Do you have any clue how many cops actually still use revolvers? Ya, I didn't think so.

Furthermore, yes. They are trained for speed timing, but it doesn't have to be insanely fast.

Very few officers ever fire their weapons. Most the effort of training goes into training to do things all officers actually do. Why spend weeks training them to draw fast when most will never use the skill? Spend the time on radio procedures, bad condition driving skills, negotiation tactics.

Officers are trained to think ahead anyway. You might be able to quick draw from a holster, but if a cop sees you in a holster, they'll already have drawn. So the question is can you quickdraw out of your back waistband or center console against a cop who just told you to leave your hands where they can see um?

Finally I'd like to point out that you sound terrible here. Why the heck are you even thinking about how you could out draw a cop? Cops have something more dangerous called a radio. The radio connects them to a thin blue line. Test your quickdraw against one cop I gurentee that'll be the last cop you ever try it on even if you do beat them.

Answer 4

Hey sport, paper targets don't shoot back.

The cops I know are not training for a quick draw. They're training for muscle memory. When you practice the same move over and over, the movement becomes automatic. So when the time comes to draw their weapon, they dont have to think about it, it's just there in their hand, ready to go.

Personally seen Rambo wannabes, that could shoot the nuts off a gnat at 30 feet in calm conditions. But toss those same guys in a tense adrenalin pumped situation, most of them will choke and fold up like wet toilet paper. Just because you can shoot well, doesn't mean you have the nad's to swap lead with someone.

Don't know where your finding these droves of fat cops, but most of the guy's in my neck of the woods, are in good shape.

Considering how many officers there are patroling in the United States it's a wonder more are not killed in the line of duty.

Your quote of 70 officers being killed this year by gunfire is in error.

To date 93 officers have given their lives in the line of duty. 92 were men and 1 was a woman,

Of those deaths 34 were the result of gunfire, 29 were from automobile accidents the rest are assorted reasons. I've included a link so you can research the information yourself.

http://au.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geulwd5oVG1R8AOhIL5gt.;_ylu=X3oDMTE5YjFuMTJsBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANBVTAyNzZfMjc2/SIG=118612lh6/EXP=1183266717/**http%3A%2F%2Fwww.odmp.org%2F

Answer 5

I just graduated law enforcement academy and we practiced drawing for about 30 hours out of our 60 hour training. We trained with glocks, not revolvers so I think that drawing a glock would be a little bit faster than drawing a revolver, its all relative to the "drawer".
We learn the one, two, three and four drawing positions during our training.
However, the old timer cops, the ones who have been on the streets for 20-30 years dont have the same training standards as guys like me that just recieved 600 hours of training with deadly force options.
So the bottom line is that it is very important for cops to be good at it because even though few cops ever fire their firearms, let alone draw them, it is very important that they keep their training up to speed, literally.
I doubt you could beat me in a draw showdown. I drew and hit my target 4 times (my target was the size of a dollar coin at about 8 yards) in about 2.5 seconds. The world record for drawing and firing accurately is about .53 seconds with a 9mm handgun.
So.........yes we are trained.

PS. I agree with the guy above....cops are trained to foresee things in advance. Every cop is trained to see everyones hands, you woulnt even have a chance to retrieve your weapon if standing in front of a cop. Action is faster than reaction and every cop knows that, which is why we must see your hands at all times.

Answer 6

I would be careful about how you stereotype police officers. I can draw my weapon and fire two very well aimed shots and hit the center of a five inch in diameter target from 10 yards in less than a second and can fire five shots from draw in less than three in the same scenerio. I can also do that while moving while I draw.

Officers train year round on their shoting skills. It is the most important skill they need. It saves their lives. I do not know what police officers you are around, but most (i would calculate around 90 percent) are in very good shape and all of them are very good with a weapon.

Answer 7

If you are so sure you could outgun a cop, I would surely like the chance to kick your assets any day of the week. I am neither fat or out of shape. I weigh 175 and bike about 150 miles per week and have a really fast draw. If you decide to draw on a cop one day, I hope you have all your crap in order so it is easy to handle your "estate" a.k.a comic books and video games, after your untimely demise.

Answer 8

You are imagining things.

Go to a gun range, specializing in pistol/short range shooting, by asking where police go to practice.

Assuming you aren't just figuring that a video shooting game qualifies you to beat an officer on a draw (that's insane), you probably have a license and can go shoot at such a range. Go watch them. My father brought be to such ranges. Any idea that I might outmatch a professional was quickly dissuaded.

Your conception of police officers seems to be based on an over-inflated ego and too many video games.

Try reality before you get yourself shot.

Better, ignore me. Save my kids problems in the future.

Answer 9

You seem to have forgotten that Police Officers are human beings. You sound like a nut job who wants to brag about what a quick draw he is. That's REALLY neat, but anyway you slice it, you are still PULLING A GUN ON SOMEONE no matter what the speed.

Answer 10

No because with the "quick draw" you can't hit anything. The police stress accurate fire to take down the criminal.

Answer 11

The "art" of quick draw is only effective in Hollywood movies. In the real world ( including the historical "wild west" ) it means/meant very little.

Being able to hit what you're shooting at and keeping calm while under fire is what matters.