So the bandit has the drop on you, so what

[Dusty Rivers]

Even if you beat the BG their gun will probably go off while it is still pointed at you.
Not sure how I would react. Lots to think about even setting in front of a computer without any stress. One does what one can when necessary.

Best to not have a predetermined course of action because of so many variables. Consider all ahead of time, but let your interpretation of the situation determine your actions would be my advice to myself.

[Lohman446]

I'm going to hazard a couple guesses and use that guesses as premises.

1) There are a lot more armed robberies than there are murders committed during a robbery

This tells me that most armed assailants are not committed to actually pulling the trigger until they realize that you are defending yourself in a means that is likely to cause them harm. So I see the OP's point.

With that being said... you know the saying about if your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail. There is a danger to carrying a gun in that you begin to look at it as your only tool (I hope it is not). There are many situations where going for your weapon first is not the best course of action. Contact distance is likely one of them

[NorthernBlue]

Ok....let's try this again. Here is a link to a video showing what happens in a situation as we are describing. Guy has four cops at his door, guy has gun at side, guy shoots two officers prior to/simultaneously being shot himself.

http://bluelivesmatter.blue/jeffrey-cave-suicide-cop/

[Double Naught Spy]

I don't really think that is the sort of situation anybody here was describing.

[briandg]

Okay, it's been established long ago that human reaction time to visual stimulus is about 1/4 second. This is the absolute minimum time that you have to make your disabling shot.

That's not the final answer. The person confronting you may have "extenuating circumstances" of being drunk or drugged, being uncertain, otherwise impaired in making that decision.

I'm going to bet that the average bad guy won't be able to get a shot off within a second. Reaction time measured by hitting a button isn't the same as pulling a trigger.

It's not really possible to determine beforehand whether you will survive drawing on a bad guy. all you can do is guess. Before you make that decision, as was said, you practice and use a timer and targets. If you can't make that draw and shot within a second, I'd suggest that you never try it.

[raimius]

It depends...

If they have already made the decision to kill you, you will likely lose.
If they decided to shoot at the first sign of resistance, you will likely lose.
Their decision cycle time in those cases is past or already shortened. Most people cannot draw and fire much quicker than 1 second. From concealment, a person that does not regularly practice will be closer to 2-2.5sec. Reaction time for a decision that has already been made (e.g. fire when they move quickly) is going to be in the .5-1sec range. So, your concealed carrier will probably lose by at least a second, here.

Now, that assumes this is a pre-made decision, and the opponent picks up on the action quickly. There are plenty of distractions you can make to slow their recognition of resistance. Getting them talking or dropping/throwing a wallet are very common ones, and may buy you an extra .5-2sec. That can make the difference. Futher, concealing the first part of your draw stroke can buy you another .5-1sec, if done right.
So, if a criminal is not expecting resistance, has not decided to fire on the first sign of abnormality, you distract them, and conceal the first part of your draw stroke, you will likely have the advantage.
...sure not a "sure thing," but if you start adding time on their end while reducing yours, you may gain the advantage.

[Ruark]

FWIW, several years ago I read a magazine article by an FBI firearms instructor. He said that if you're ever in a split second, live or die, face to face shooting, two things will happen:

1. You won't use the sights.
2. You'll shoot one-handed.

Just a data point....

[cjwils]

I admit I have not gone back and read all 6 pages of this thread, but I think if a criminal ever gets the drop on you, it is likely that the perp is an incompetent shooter. He might not even know how to work the gun he is holding. I would not want to risk my life on this just for the heck of it, but in a real situation, this is probably a factor in my favor.

[shafter]

He doesn't have to be good, just lucky. At the average gunfight distances people are always quoting it isn't hard to get lucky.

[Frank Ettin]

Originally Posted by cjwils

...I think if a criminal ever gets the drop on you, it is likely that the perp is an incompetent shooter. He might not even know how to work the gun he is holding...

Why would you assume anything of the sort? Do you have any actual information or evidence to support that supposition, or are you just guessing?

Some criminals are quite competent with firearms. Matix and Platt in the 1986 Miami FBI shootout, and Phillips and Mătăsăreanu in the 1997 North Hollywood shootout certainly knew how to work the guns they were using.

[Double Naught Spy]

FWIW, several years ago I read a magazine article by an FBI firearms instructor. He said that if you're ever in a split second, live or die, face to face shooting, two things will happen:

1. You won't use the sights.
2. You'll shoot one-handed.

Just a data point....

Always be wary when people speak of absolutes in human behavior, particularly under stress.

FWIW, it really depends on the situation and training. That people don't remember using their sights isn't the same thing as not using their sights. Under stress, many people often don't recollect the details of how they accomplished their tasks, just like they don't remember whether they fired 1 shot, 3 shots, or 15 shots.

You can find a variety of examples of folks using two hands and folks using their sights. Here are a few.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUWX-4lRFjM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxyNReO3JXw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA8iZu-RNys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thVhVjn59mg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riqv-a5NeWM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iFo1TrYMq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8jWl4ZcVfs

[Lohman446]

I admit I have not gone back and read all 6 pages of this thread, but I think if a criminal ever gets the drop on you, it is likely that the perp is an incompetent shooter. He might not even know how to work the gun he is holding. I would not want to risk my life on this just for the heck of it, but in a real situation, this is probably a factor in my favor.

While I understand we all have some failures and let our guards down from time to time I would assume anyone who was able to "get the drop on me" was at least reasonably competent.

[cjwils]

Of course a few criminals are highly competent with guns, and in some situations a criminal will get lucky in a confrontation. However, I am confident that I am a better shooter than the typical thug who might accost me on the street, or the typical junkie who might break into my house to steal my TV to get a quick fix. Having some confidence is important in any contest.

[michael t]

Get bad guy running mouth giving you orders . Brain doesn't do 2 thing at once. He now has to stop running mouth and react to you draw . That really your only hope.

[SG29736]

IF, the bad guy allows himself to be distracted, you'd have a chance. But no, I would not consider myself to have the advantage, with him already aiming a loaded gun at me. Mark

[OldMarksman]

....I am confident that I am a better shooter than the typical thug who might accost me on the street, or the typical junkie who might break into my house to steal my TV to get a quick fix.

What is it that makes you think that being a "better shooter" will ensure that you prevail?

In what way do you consider yourself a "good shooter"? Square range on stationary targets? Drawing while moving and shooting rapidly at unexpected threats?

Why would you base your mitigation strategy on "the typical junkie"/