In Pursuit of the Sub-Second Draw? Lessons from the Mantis X10 Elite
The sub-second draw from concealment has become something of a holy grail in the defensive shooting world. There’s no denying the appeal—being able to get your gun out and fire a well-placed shot in under a second feels like a clear measure of capability.
But let’s be honest: it’s not everything.
In the real world, situational awareness, decision-making, and distance management will almost always buy you more time than shaving two-tenths off your draw ever will. That said, striving for technical efficiency is still valuable—especially when paired with the right tools and perspective.
The Drill
For this training session, I used the Mantis X10 Elite’s Holster Draw Analysis feature to break down the draw-to-first-shot (DTFS) process.
Setup:
Target: USPSA A-Zone (or 8” circle)
Distance: 5 yards
Presentation: Concealed AIWB (Appendix Inside the Waistband)
Hand Position: “Cheater grip” – dominant hand on shirt hem, support hand stacked
Goal: Clean sub-1.00s DTFS with a solid grip and clear sight picture
Why Use Mantis?
The Mantis X10 Elite offers far more than just par time—it dissects your draw into distinct, measurable stages:
Grip – Establishing a master grip while still concealed
Pull – Clearing the holster vertically
Horizontal – Rotating and pressing the gun toward the target
Target – Achieving sight picture or dot acquisition
Shot – Time to break the first shot
This breakdown makes it possible to pinpoint bottlenecks and track improvements in a way that traditional timers can’t.
Sample Run (Warmed Up, 5 Yards, Same Target)
Takeaway: The horizontal push to target is where I’m bleeding the most time—sometimes up to 0.48s. That movement alone is worth tightening. My shot break and grip times, by contrast, are relatively dialed in.
Strengths & Quirks of the Mantis
Strengths:
Objective, time-stamped feedback on draw mechanics
Isolates inefficiencies and breaks down performance
Gives insight that a shot timer can’t
Quirks:
Occasionally merges “pull” and “horizontal” phases, especially on fast draws
Rarely misreads ultra-quick (<0.80s) runs
Requires good technique to read consistently—messy reps can confuse it
Still, as a diagnostic tool, it’s in a class of its own for solo skill-building.
New Video: 13 Yards on a Half-A-Zone Target
To push the limits a bit further, I filmed a 3-minute video showing myself running 10 live reps of the same Mantis holster draw analysis drill at:
Distance: 13 yards
Target: Steel silhouette half the size of a USPSA A-zone
Conditions: Cold, no warm-up
Presentation: AIWB, concealed
Tracking: Mantis X10 Elite Holster Draw mode with live fire
Goal: Prioritize accuracy first, then consistency, then speed
LINK TO VIDEO: https://www.myfirearmsconcierge.com/videos-1/v/mantis-x10-elite-holster-draw-analysis-drill
Why it matters: This demo highlights how much visual processing and refined muzzle control matter as you push the envelope—especially on smaller targets at realistic distances. You’ll see minor shot hesitations as I confirmed dot alignment, but it reinforces that raw speed must be subordinate to responsible accuracy.
Next Steps: Cold Reps & Real-World Complexity
The run above was warmed up and relatively controlled. But real-world performance demands more. Here’s where to go next:
Cold start reps: You don’t get a warm-up in real life—test your real baseline
Live fire validation: Dry fire builds mechanics, but live rounds reveal truth
Unpredictable start positions: Hands at sides, hands occupied, head averted, etc.
Layered clothing concealment: Jackets, sweatshirts, untucked shirts—each changes the drawstroke and garment clearance window
We’ll break down those variables in a future post.
Final Thought
The draw isn’t a single movement—it’s a choreographed series of micro-skills: grip, clear, rotate, drive, align, fire. Tools like the Mantis X10 Elite let you analyze those movements, tighten your mechanics, and build consistency under pressure.
Fast draws are fun. Smart draws are better.
Want sub-second speed? Chase clean mechanics—and then test them cold, live, and honest.
In the future I plan work on live fore testing and other loftier goals, such as cold performance, different start positions (hands relaxed at sides, hands at/above shoulders), different clothing options (cotton vs. 4-way stretch T-shirts, layered clothing, etc.).
