Along those lines . . . (trying NOT to get on one of my soapboxes)
I found out the hard way (at a match) that the way we handle our guns on a day-to-day basis becomes routine, and under stress that we will revert to our training (or learning). In short, I was in the habit of removing my pistol at bedtime, against the safe-direction declared in the bedroom, and setting it in its designated "night spot," followed by simply removing my spare magazines and laying them beside the gun. Morning routine was to verify the condition of the pistol and slip it in my holster, followed by placing spare mags on my belt. All of this happened at more-or-less waist or chest level.
I found that under the artificial stress of a match, my magazine draw for reloads had me pulling the mag from the pouch and going to chest level with them, then making the conscious decision to put it in the gun. My pistol draw in the same conditions had me pulling the gun from the holster, "connecting" (my other hand) at waist level, and then making the conscious decision to bring it to eye level and "use" it.
Why? Simple. I arm and disarm 7 times (or more) per week, and at least once each per day. I draw and fire maybe 3-4 sets of repetitions per month under the structure of a match. Which do you think became more ingrained in my "muscle memory?" Obviously my administrative methods more than my live-fire methods.
I was shooting an IDPA match, and one of the world-class masters showed up and as usual, I observed a couple of characteristics that separate the masters from the marksmen, and I started asking him some questions. To summarize the conversation, he told me that when he draws a pistol for ANY reason, it comes out of the holster, and goes up for action; he THEN makes a decision whether to fire or not. Same for magazines. When he comes off the belt with a magazine, it's going to the gun as quickly as possible, and stopping JUST before insertion -- the decision then is to line up and slam it home, or to "stand down". The point is that the muscle memory of "filling his hand" is the same whether he's just putting the gun on/taking it off, or getting down to business.
My morning routine now includes holstering, drawing, gaining a sight picture, swapping magazines, press-checking, and reholstering -- all as though I'm about to fire a round (finger clear of the trigger, muzzle in a designated safe direction). My nightly unload routine includes a full draw and present, complete with sight picture. With the gun still in my dominant hand, each magazine on my belt comes out, and goes to the gun (often a tactical reload, just because), followed by a final and distinct final 'resolution" (i.e. put it in its designated night spot). When that's done, the gun gets a press-check to confirm chamber & magazine condition (always verify every time I handle it).
Why did I change all this? Because I once discovered that I was carrying a cocked & locked 1911 with nothing in the chamber. The upshot is that I'm even MORE in the habit of checking the chamber of every gun that I encounter (always treated every gun as though it is loaded; now I verify for myself each and every time), and that my changes in the way I handle the administrative details of daily carry has shaved easily a 1/2 second off of both my reloads and draw & fire on the clock. Sure enough, we do fight like we train, so we should train like we're going to fight. We all handle our guns more often in administrative mode than in "for real" mode;
So if you ever see some of us at "playtime" (Matches, etc.) going through what look like silly and elaborate routines just prior to shooting a standard 6-shot timed drill, at least in my case it's for consistency.
A good share, by the way. I suspect we've all been there, or will go there at some point.
