Thomas Howard of Precision Response Training put together another good article and video testing a long-held popular truism of the defensive shooting world. The “New York Reload” involves drawing a secondary firearm under the assumption that this is faster than reloading the primary. “The fastest reload is a second gun” is the buzz phrase that “proves” it.
Is it actually faster? Here’s a test to find out.
That being said–there just doesn’t seem to be much of a time difference between the two “reloads” when going from shot to shot. And in my case, my standard reloads are actually probably going to be faster than any backup gun that I’d actually carry.
https://precisionresponse.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/is-the-new-york-reload-faster/
“I was really curious what the actual time difference was. So I thought I’d test it out.”
This is the most important lesson here. So many people take a popular “truism” at face value without question. I see this often with novices, including those in military and police service. For example, working with deploying Soldiers receiving new equipment via Rapid Fielding Initiative we found many would strap on every piece of Picatinny-compatible gear handed out. Forward hand grips were especially popular. We found they mostly just got in the way during qualification. Everyone claimed they were faster but almost none of them ever tested them out.
I am not saying forward hand grips are bad accessories, only that using a tool or method offering zero advantage that only gets in the way is foolish. If there is a tested benefit, use it! If not, don’t. Especially if it’s “better” based on untested claims.
This video also disproves another popular myth concerning training scars. A skilled person that knows how to train became accustomed to dropping his primary after three tested repetitions. Despite being now “used to” dropping the gun and experiencing a slight bobble (gasp! a training scar!) it took all of two more reps to get “used to” not doing that.
For a person with good fundamental skill, any “training scar” can be addressed about that quickly.
John Veit
Feb 02, 2016 @ 12:23:39
Nowadays, training courses and quals most likely include a rapid reload exercise. However, per the NYPD’s old but still relevant SOP 9 study of 6000+ combat cases, in close quarters encounters (under 15 feet), a rapid reload was never reported as necessary to continue the action.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Feb 02, 2016 @ 12:44:22
All well and fine, but that has nothing to do with this post and video.
The point here is IF a reload is necessary, is it faster to go for a spare magazine or a backup gun. Not how often reloading might not be necessary.
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Charles McCrary
Feb 02, 2016 @ 21:27:55
I believe the NY Reload was popular with the NYPD before the advent of the speed loader. If the alternative to reloading loose rounds into the cylinder was to draw another revolver, it was probably faster for most officers.
As a sidebar, once speed loaders WERE available it was a useful to need only one type of speed loader since it was explained to me that the issue revolver was a Smith & Wesson Model 10 and the most popular back up/off duty gun was a Colt 6 shot which used the same speed loader. For what it is worth, my source was the late Jim Cirillo.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Feb 02, 2016 @ 21:49:04
An excellent point. Reloading a revolver with loose cartridges from a dump pouch or loops changes this time frame greatly. The important thing is to actually test the differences.
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John Tate
Feb 13, 2016 @ 14:24:16
There are some very interesting issues raised here. As I watched it & listened to it, these were my thoughts:
1. I really don’t like the idea of “dropping” a functional-but-empty gun. Why? Lots of reasons:
2. Most people I know do not carry a back-up in an easily accessible place; but most do carry magazines there.
3. Everyone learns to reload their primary firearm as a primary skill. Needing to learn/master a second, alternate skill, complicates life … and in a crisis complication is not good.
4. Maybe as important a lesson here as any: NEVER TRUST ANYONE WHEN YOU CAN TEST A SCHEME YOURSELF. Why? in any discipline, there is an abundance of BS artists out there who talk a good act – but it’s all BS. Some cute idea may work for the ‘instructor.’ That doesn’t mean it will work for you. Some cute idea may work after 20,000 reps. That doesn’t mean you should/will take that time for more than a few techniques.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 14:29:09
I can’t speak for Mr. Howard who put this video together, however, I’m certain his intent was to test the validity of these two approaches based on the time it takes. “A back up beats a reload” greatly depends on what/how we’re reloading and using for a back up. As you say, it’s far more important to test a scheme yourself before putting trust into it.
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