If an attacker with an edged weapon charges you within 21 feet, you’ll likely get cut unless you react by moving and shooting (or applying another defensive action).
An attacker can cover a 21 foot distance in 1.5 seconds. You can increase your reaction time by getting off the “X”. Avoid being static. The first indication of a threat can be detected through situational awareness and non-verbal cues such as body language. When a threat is imminent from a charging attacker, move off-line, move back and to the side while drawing your weapon, move to cover (obstacles to put between you and threat), take advantage of reactionary gaps, and consider close-quarters defensive techniques when you do not have a firearm (or a malfunction occurs).
Early studies of the “rule” focused on an officer’s ability to recognize a threat, draw a firearm, and fire two rounds center mass against the charging threat weighing a knife (or other deadly weapon).
The endstate of the study is not to say you are safe at 22 feet or unable to defend at 20 feet, it’s simply a common drill practiced to increase response and capabilities. It does stand as a generalized baseline for those wanting to practice to improve their reaction time and understanding of how quickly a threat can close the distance. Calling it a rule may be an error as it is a generalized but widely accepted practical exercise based on studies and actual instances.
The reaction time of an expert shooter from a concealed carry holster with a loaded chamber is 1.5 or 3 seconds for an average shooter. In a real-world scenario, add 1-2 seconds. This means when a life or death situation occurs, an expert shooter can get a round on target on average and at best in 2.5 seconds. An average shooter can do the same in 4 seconds unless they need to chamber a round which now puts the average shooter at 4.5 seconds at best.
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This Hip Pocket Brief was originally written by the Grayman Briefing. Stay in the know, sign up for Intel and Situational Awareness alerts pushed to your phone on emerging threats and preparedness warnings. Click HERE to subscribe to the Grayman Briefing.