Objective: In this drill, the shooter must balance speed and accuracy. It was designed to give the shooter greater insight into their capabilities and to help them set their own mental clock.
Target: Numbered 3 inch circles
Distance: 3 yards, 5 yards or 7 yards depending on type of pistol or shooter proficiency
Rounds Needed: 20, two magazines of 10 rounds.
Begin Exercise: Load and charge with a 10 round magazine and come to the ready position. On signal, fire one round to #1, two rounds to #2, 3 rounds to #3 and four rounds to # 4. RELOAD and reverse direction. Fire one round to #4, two rounds to # 3, three rounds to # 2 and four rounds to # 1.
Scoring: Can you do it in 15 seconds or less with all hits? A one second penalty will be awarded for each miss.
Variations:
- Consider doing the initial run at 3 yards. The closer distance remains a good
test for micro or pocket pistols.
- Too easy? If you are making the par time with all hits, back up to 5 yards. Still too easy? Try 7 yards. Adding the draw stroke will increase the challenge ever so slightly.
- Six Shot Revolvers- One shot in #1, two Shots in #2, three shots in #3. RELOAD and fire one shot in #1, one shot in #2, and four shots in #4.
- Mad Half Minute- Three magazines of 10 rounds each. Two hands, RELOAD, Strong Hand Only, RELOAD, Weak Hand Only. Par time= 30 seconds
These drills are excerpted from Mike Boyle’s book: “101 Drills for Handguns and Rifles and Shotguns.”
Mike Boyle is a retired law enforcement officer and has been active in use of force instruction for over 40 years. He has been a police academy assistant director, instructor, Rangemaster and is the author of 2 books, 3 training videos and hundreds of magazine articles on firearms, training and tactics. Mike served 21 years on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Mr. Boyle can provide instruction on various firearms disciplines including handgun, shotgun and low light threat management. He can be reached at mboyle308@gmail.com.
