Standard Drills

Accelerated Pairs

Accelerated Pairs

Develops top-speed accurate fire. Some shooters get hung up on the difference between double-taps (a.k.a. "hammers" -- two shots fired from one sight picture) and accelerated pairs (two shots, each with a sight picture). This exercise will help you sort out the difference and realize that sighted pairs can be as fast as unsighted ones. The trick is in teaching your eye to follow the front sight through recoil and make an instantaneous verification of the sight picture.

You might be shooting more slowly than you need to. The gun is in battery and back on the target very quickly, but many shooters add time checking the sight picture. This exercise will help you realize that your body can shoot the gun very quickly once your eye knows what to see.

Setup

High (or close) backstop, range that allows for safe rapid fire.

Procedure

First, be sure of your backstop. You may get some very high shots in the first portion of the drill -- make sure they will be caught.

With an IPSC target or other large cardboard target three feet from the muzzle of the gun, fire a double-tap as quickly as you physically can. Watch the TARGET, not the sights, during both shots. You should be able to see your rounds go through the cardboard. Don't worry about the sight picture, just see how quickly you can manage the trigger and still feel like the gun is under control. Repeat at least 10 times.

After shooting enough top-speed pairs to have a feeling of consistency, slow down enough to bring your shots within a hand's-breadth of each other on your target. Taping a 4x6 card to the target might help. Tape the target after every pair.

When you are consistently firing target-focus double-taps within four inches or so of each other, switch to watching the front sight. Follow the sight through the arc of recoil, and visually verify the sight picture as the second shot breaks. But don't let this slow the shot. You will see that an aimed shot can be fired in the same amount of time as an unaimed one. If you are visually following the front sight through recoil, sight verification is instantaneous.

Diagnostics: If you have trouble seeing what the sight does during recoil, you may be blinking. Otherwise, your eye is seeing SOMETHING during the recoil cycle of the gun--pay attention to what it is. Some people see the top of the gun or ejection port; some people watch the muzzle flash or the flash in the chamber. Lower the gun a bit so you see a tall front sight and just watch what the front sight does in recoil for a while. Follow the sight while looking OVER the gun first, then learn to follow it from a conventional sight picture.

Variations and Similar Drills

None.

Credits

Dan Young
 
Accuracy Drill

Develops sight alignment, trigger control

Setup

Use 3x5 cards (or slips of paper cut to comparable size). Works best if mounted on a larger surface.

Procedure

Place target at 15 feet (5yds). Slow fire six shots at the target. If using a DA/SA gun, make shots one, three, and five DA and shots two, four, and six SA. If you do not get all six shots on target, slow down. Work on getting a perfect sight picture and straight back smooth trigger pull. Keep shooting six shot strings at 15' until you can get six for six.


Once you can score all hits at that range, move the target back another three feet 6yds) and repeat. If you have any misses, slow down and work on sight alignment/trigger press. If you get all hits, place the target another three feet away (7yds) and continue to move it back by three feet each time you score 100%.

In my experience, with a little coaching and a couple hundred rounds of ammunition, the average shooter can reach 15yds -- hitting a 3x5 card every single time on demand -- with a few hours of practice.

Variations and Similar Drills

See Receding Bullseyes Drill

Credits

Courtesy of Todd Louis Green.
 
Bill Drill

Bill Drill

Develops and tests accuracy under rapid fire, ability to achieve proper sight alignment before releasing follow-up shots. Helps you learn the recoil pattern of your handgun.

Setup

Single silhouette target at 7 yards.

Procedure

Start facing the target, hands at sides. On start signal, draw and fire six (6) shots as quickly as possible on the target. The goal is to place all six shots in the A-zone or -0 zone of the target. Score as appropriate for the rules you compete under (IDPA or IPSC). Penalties for too many or too few shots.

Variations and Similar Drills

One variation is to score the target pass/fail -- either you got all six shots in the A-zone or you failed to do so (and should alter something about how you perform the drill). When practicing at a range that does not allow drawing from the holster, start at low ready.

The "Running Richard": same basic drill except that the single target is on a moving platform going past the shooter. Take six shots in each direction.

Credits

Both drills are creditted to Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat.
 
Consecutive Pairs Drill

Consecutive Pairs

Develops shot-to-shot followthrough, visual and kinesthetic awareness. Shooters moving from slow-fire to rapid-fire often have trouble keeping the gun controlled, or keeping a precise sight picture. This exercise is designed to smooth out your shot-to-shot transitions.

Setup

Need a safe backstop.

Procedure

To isolate the mechanics of followthrough, don't set up a target. Instead, fire into the berm. This will prevent you from looking forward past the gun to see your shot placement. As long as the shots will be stopped by the backstop, we don't care where they go. If shooting at an indoor range, set up a target large and close enough that it will catch your fire easily.

Load a full magazine or cylinder, and with a good sight alignment (sights aligned, but not aimed at anything in particular), carefully fire one shot into the berm. Watch the front sight move through the arc of recoil and return to alignment, and fire a quick followup shot. Pay attention to how the gun feels while shooting, and make sure you aren't

shifting your grip or lifting your finger off the trigger between shots. You are letting the gun show you how to fire it smoothly, letting it rise and snap back into alignment until it does this all by itself, as if it were spring-loaded. Watch the front sight, and don't worry about hitting a target--you're just learning how to make your shots feel connected and continuous.

If something feels wrong, freeze the gun and look at what you are doing. Look especially at your grip, your trigger finger, and where your visual focus is. Correct it, pay attention to it, and keep shooting.

Repeat this drill for a half hour, and you will have a lot more awareness of how the gun fires and returns to the target. Come back to this drill whenever you find yourself having trouble with follow through mechanics.

Variations and Similar Drills

If you're shooting in a range that limits rapid-fire to a shot per second, you can still learn smooth, quick followthrough by using a small target. Practice the above drill (with no target) until you are shooting as fast as the range will allow, and then move to aimed pairs on a 3X5 card at 25-40 feet. Keep shooting pairs, watching the front sight, paying attention to followthrough, and keep your shots on the card. Verifying the sight picture will probably keep you within the slow-fire limits.

Credits

Dan Young
 
Dummy Round Drill

Dummy Round Drill

Highlights follow-through and flinch control. Probably does more to demonstrate your problem than help you actually solve it -- but knowing you have the problem is at least half of the battle. If the hammer falls on an empty chamber or dummy round during slow-fire shooting, your gun shouldn't budge--sights should stay aligned and on target, eye still clearly focused on the front sight. If the gun does dip (or jump), you're anticipating the recoil.

Setup

Any target will do at any distance.

Procedure

Have someone else load a magazine for you, mixing live rounds with snap caps, or for a revolver, leave one or more chambers empty. When you fire the gun, concentrate on keeping the gun steady, sights on target, no matter what happens. When the snap cap comes up you'll be able to check your flinch. If you're doing well, the gun won't budge. If you're not doing well, keep up with the drill until you are. Keep your sights aligned and on target while you release the trigger just enough to reengage the sear (proper follow through).

You can do this yourself by loading several magazines and mixing them up, or loading a magazine with your eyes closed, or rotating the cylinder with your eyes shut before closing it.

Variations and Similar Drills

None.

Credits

Uncertain, but we thank Dan Young for this description.
 
El Presidente

El Presidente

Long time standard multiple target drill. Requires quick follow-up shots, quick movement between targets, and quick reloading.

Setup

Three silhouette targets 10 yards away and 1 yard apart, all of same height. Shooter will need one extra magazine or speed loader.

Procedure

Start facing away from the targets, hands above the shoulders, handgun concealed. On start signal, turn and fire twice at each target, reload and fire two more times at each target. Score as appropriate for your sport.

Variations and Similar Drills

You could vary the height of the targets or their distance from your starting position.


There is also the Vice Presidente: Targets 7 yards away, start facing them.

Credits

Jeff Cooper in the 1970s.
 
Farnam Drill

Farnam Drill

Develops gun failure clearance skills.

Setup

Target is an 8.5 x 11 in. sheet of paper at 8 meters. Shooter begins with gun in the holster (concealed), retention strap engaged if holster is so equipped.

Semi-auto: the gun has a round chambered, with four rounds and a dummy round in the magazine. The dummy round may not be the first or last round in the magazine, and the shooter is not to know which round is the dummy. One magazine on the belt contains two live rounds.

Revolver: cylinder loaded to capacity, speedloader on the belt.

Procedure

From interview position (hands at sides, not touching gun), draw and fire into the target. When the dummy round comes up, clear it with tap-rack. Continue firing until you run dry, then speed load and fire the last two shots. Revolvers just draw, shoot all rounds, reload, and then shoot two more.

All shots must hit the target to count, and all procedures (draw, malfunction clearance, reload) must be done correctly. Any miss or any failure to perform the correct procedure disqualifies you.

Scoring/Evaluation (Par times):

All times are measured from shot to shot, and all procedures must be performed in the allotted time to pass. For instructor qualification, the drill must be sucessfully completed twice in a row.

BEGINNER
Total Time: 25 seconds

STUDENT

Semi-Auto
First Shot: 3.00 seconds
Split Times: 1.50 seconds
Tap-Rack: 3.25 seconds
Reload: 4.50 seconds
Total Time: 18 seconds

Revolver
First Shot: 3.00 seconds
Split Times: 1.50 seconds
Tap-Rack: N/A
Reload: 4.50 seconds
Total Time: 18 seconds

INSTRUCTOR

Semi-Auto
First Shot: 2.00 seconds
Split Times: .75 seconds
Tap-Rack: 2.75 seconds
Reload: 3.50 seconds
Total Time: 12 seconds


Revolver
First Shot: 2.00 seconds
Split Times: .75 seconds
Tap-Rack: N/A
Reload: 5.00 seconds
Total Time: 12 seconds

Variations and Similar Drills

None.

Credits

John Farnam
 
Figure Eights Drill

Figure Eights

This drill allows you to work on getting your eyes ahead of the sights when moving from target to target. The drill also helps you learn how fast you can go while engaging targets of different difficulty levels (slowing down when moving from torso to head; speeding up when moving from head to torso).

Setup

Two silhouette targets a couple of yards apart, at least 7 yards away. Distance can vary based on shooter's experience.

Procedure

Draw and fire in a figure eight pattern using the torso and head A-zones of each target. So if you have T1 and T2, you fire two shots to the body of T1, then two to the head of T2, then two to the head of T1, then two to the body of T2. You switch targets each time (T1, then T2, then T1, then T2).

Start once at each point (T1 body, T1 head, T2 body, T2 head) and run the whole drill.

Variations and Similar Drills

None.

Credits

Description courtesy of Todd Louis Green: "I took a class from Ernest Langdon this past weekend and we did a lot of work (like this), which I believe is adapted from a Barnhart drill."
 
Freestyle Groups Drill

Freestyle Groups

Teaches accuracy, ideal sight picture, making every shot count.

Setup

Single target, distance varies.

Procedure

Put a 1" target dot on a blank sheet of paper and run it out to 25, 50, 75, or 100 ft--whatever distance stretches your ability to put them in the center when taking your best shot. Load ONLY ONE round into the magazine and cylinder, and make the shot as precise as you can, taking all the time you need. After every shot, step out of your shooting position, collect the brass, or do something else to rest. Put a new target out every 10 shots.

Try to call your shots. If you are perfectly focused on the front sight at the moment the shot breaks, you will be able to tell if the shot was high, low, or off to the side. Wherever the sight is when it lifts, that's the direction the shot will go.

Handle the gun exactly as you would for more aggressive shooting--loading the gun with the proper procedure and shooting from your normal stance. Pay attention to how your stance and grip feel to you; slow, careful shooting can show you where unwanted tension is coming from.

If you feel tired, take a break.

You can measure your groups with a ruler or caliper. Date and file your best target to see how your shooting changes over a period of months or years.

Variations and Similar Drills

Any variation that is consistent with the goals is fine.

Credits

Procedure description courtesy of Dan Young.
 
Low Ready Drill

Starting From Low Ready

Develops sight acquisition and rapid first shot.

Setup

A 3x5 card taped on to a target at 7 yards.

Procedure

On a signal (if you have one available to you), raise the gun from low ready and put a round in the card. Many indoor ranges prohibit drawing from a holster, but if you are familiar with the drawing track, you can simulate the last half of the draw by starting with the gun near your chest instead of at low ready. If you are not familiar with the drawing track, this drill won't help you. Do more dry-fire drawing first.

Variations and Similar Drills

Low-ready/combat-ready reloading drill. Load three rounds into each of your magazines (on your belt or on a table), and two rounds in the mag in your gun. The drill is then:

1: Fire (and return to combat ready)

2: Fire; reload; fire (and return to combat ready)

Repeat #1 and #2 until you are out of magazines. Tape up your target after each drill so you are actively monitoring your accuracy.

Credits

Dan Young
 
Mexican Defense Drill

The "Mexican Defense" Drill

Intended to test reflexive skills by requiring the shooter to work quickly (6 shots in 5 seconds for each stage) while also doing it according the stage description. This course was an old standard in the 1960s in Southwest Pistol League matches. It may be as challenging to set up and administer as it is to shoot.

Setup

You can vary elements of this to suit, but the basics require that you have 6 or 7 silhouette targets (IPSC or IDPA) -- in the odd numbered strings you fire all shots into a single target, in the even numbered strings you put one shot in each target. You can have a special target for the odd numbered strings or just have it be a particular target. You will also need forward and rear and lateral (left and right) foot fault lines. Adjust the distances between the targets and the fault lines to suit your needs and there's no particular need for the targets to be at all the same distance, or height, or same distance from each other.

Procedure

Stage One: Start with back to targets, facing up range, walk past 10 yard line. At the start signal, turn and fire 6 rounds on Target #1 (T1).

Stage Two: Same beginning position and starting sequence as Stage One, but turn and fire on shot each on T1 through T6.

Stage Three: Start uprange of the rear fault line (the 10 yard line). Begin moving downrange (advancing towards targets). As the shooter crosses the rear fault line, the start signal is given. At the start signal, draw and fire 6 shots on T1 while continuing to advance towards the front fault line. The last shot must occur at the front fault line (not sooner or later).

Stage Four: Same setup as Stage Three, but one shot each on T1 through T6.

Stage Five: Start to the left of the left fault line. Begin moving to the right. As the shooter crosses the left fault line, the start signal is given. The shooter draws and fires 6 shots on T1 while continuing to move to the right. The last shot must occur at the right fault line. [Note: this and Stage Six could be done in either direction, perhaps depending on the shooter's preference.]

Stage Six: Same setup as Stage Five, but one shot each on T1 through T6.

Depending on the scoring system you use, assess a standard procedural penalty for not finishing in the 6 second time allotted for each stage and for any infraction of the movement rules.

Variations and Similar Drills

The Square Drill provides some movement while shooting excercises.

Credits

It was mentioned in a couple of emails, but we finally found a
general description in the January/February edition of American
Handgunner in Ken Hackathorn's "Tactical Advantage" section.
 
Mozambique Drill

Mozambique

Intended as a failure drill -- when two shots to the body do not seem to stop the attacker.

"The problem for the shooter is to change his pace, going just as fast as he can with his first pair, then, pausing to observe results or lack thereof, he must slow down and shoot precisely. This is not easy to do. The beginner tends to fire all three shots at the same speed, which is either too slow for the body shots or too fast for the head shot. This change of pace calls for concentration and coordination which can only be developed through practice." -- Jeff Cooper

Setup

Single silhouette target distance based on shooter's skill level.

Procedure

Start facing the target. On the signal, draw and fire two shots to COM and then one to the head. Score per appropriate sport rules, though there must be a head shot. Lack of a head shot is considered a miss.

Variations and Similar Drills

Vary distance based on skill level.

Credits

Added to modern doctrine by Jeff Cooper based on the experience of one of his students while on duty in Mozambique.
 
Practical Skills Drill

Practical Skills Drill

This drill is intended to practice proper use of cover, pieing corners, target engagement, reloading from an empty gun, and (for semiautos) malfunction clearance.

Setup

Shooting position is from behind a Bianchi-style barricade. Targets are two IPSC targets at 7yds, each one centered on one edge of the Bianchi barricade.

Procedure

Revolvers: Cylinder full plus one spare speedloader or speed strip. On the GO signal, perform a failure drill (two shots Center of Mass, one shot head) on each target from one side of the barricade, using the barricade as cover. Get back completely behind cover, reload, and then engage each target with a failure drill from the opposite side of the barricade.

Semiautos: Two magazines, each with six rounds loaded; one magazine has a dummy round (snap cap, proving dummy, etc.) in it; dummy round must not be the first or last round in the magazine. Load gun with one of the magazines at random (total six live rounds in gun). On the GO signal, perform a failure drill on each target from one side of the barricade, using the barricade as cover. Get back completely behind cover, reload from slide lock, and then engage each target with a failure drill from the opposite side of the barricade. When the dummy round is encountered, Tap-Rack-Bang to clear it.

Variations and Similar Drills

See Farnam Drill.

Credits

Courtesy of Todd Louis Green.
 
Receding Bullseyes Drill

Receding Bullseyes

Develops accuracy and trigger control. As you repeat this drill (and improve) over time, you'll increase your accuracy at longer distances.

Setup

Multiple targets (for replacement). You can use standard paper targets or place a small circle sticker on the target.

Procedure

Start reasonably near the target. Shooting small groups, try to place all of your shots in the bullseye with no flyers. Continue to move the target back between shot groups as long as you are getting all of your shots in the bullseye. Try starting a little farther away and working the target out more on subsequent trips, all the while keeping all of the shots in the bullseye. You should develop a hole in the middle of the target through which all of the bullets go. You'll know when you "miss" because there will be a new hole in the target.

Shots outside the bullseye mean you need to practice more at that distance before moving the target further away (or moving farther away from it if you are outside).

Variations and Similar Drills

Some folks use a 3x5 card, some folks cut a hole out of a target and try to put all of the shots through the hole without touching the target. The basic idea is to develop a solid shooting platform and good trigger control -- get used to hitting what you aim at.

Credits

Much of the drill makes common sense -- we've seen it credited to too many different folks to single one out.
 
Reloading drill

Reloading Drill

Develops fast reloads between shots. Your primary method of practicing reloads should be dry-fire, but live-fire is the final litmus test for your technique. There are three kinds of reloads: speed, emergency, and tactical. Your drills can be adapted to exercise either one, but ideally the circumstances of your practice should be appropriate to the reload (i.e. tactical reload should be from behind cover, emergency reload after firing to slide lock, etc).

Setup

Three silhouette targets at 10 yards.

Procedure

On the first target, fire one shot, reload, and fire one shot. Perform six times for total of 12 shots.

On the second target, fire two shots, reload, and fire two shots. Perform three times for a total of 12 shots.

On the third target, fire six shots, reload, and fire six shots.

The goal is 100% A-hits and smooth reloads.

Variations and Similar Drills

Simple IPSC Drill and reload variation of Low Ready Drill

Credits

Plaxco Academy and Dan Young.
 
Simple IPSC Drill

Simple IPSC Drill

Develops draw, reload, smoothness and economy of motion. This drill is commonly used among IPSC shooters to get their draws and reloads as efficient and smooth as possible.

Setup

IPSC or silhouette target at 7 yards.

Procedure

With target at seven yards, draw and fire one shot into the A zone. Speed reload, and then fire one more shot.

Variations and Similar Drills

Vary the distance to learn the tradeoff between speed and accuracy. Close for hyperspeed, farther away for precision.

Credits

Dan Young
 
Square Drill

Square Drill

Develops ability to shoot while moving -- in a variety of directions. The drill combines multiple targets with shooting on the move and allows you to move in multiple directions during a single drill.

Setup

Create a square on the ground about 6-8yds on a side. You can either paint/tape/mark the square, or just visualize it. Then you put three IPSC/IDPA targets evenly spaced approximately 3yds from the front (down range) edge of the square

Procedure

Engage the targets while moving along the edges of the square, two shots on each target for each 'leg' of the journey. E.g., two shots while moving forward, two while moving right, two while moving backwards, and two while moving left. You can also throw in diagonals if you want to get fancy.

Variations and Similar Drills

Start with differing numbers of rounds in the firearm, necessitating reloads at different points along the course. Require reloads only when empty.

Credits

Origin uncertain, description courtesy of Todd Louis Green.
 
Surprise Malfunction Drill

Surprise Malfunction Drill

This drill tests your ability to quickly and efficiently clear gun/ammo malfunction under a stressful situation. By having the shooter be
uncertain what malfunction they will find, it forces the shooter to examine the situation and think to correct it.

NOTE: DO NOT CREATE MALFUNCTIONS BY DAMAGING OR ALTERING THE MECHANICS OR INTEGRITY OF THE FIREARM.

Setup

The setup requires a bag, box, briefcase or any other object that conceals the firearm, a standard IPSC or IDPA target placed 3 yds from the firing line, dummy rounds, empty casings or brass.

Procedure

Have the shooter stand facing away from the target. The bag or box will be placed on the firing line, with the shooters firearm in the bag. The RO or another person will, without the shooter observing, induce some type of malfunction, or a combination of malfunctions. Be creative. Either loaded or unloaded.

Then, on the signal, have the shooter move to the bag, open it, retrieve the firearm and fire ALL live rounds. To increase adrenaline and realism, have the shooter start 20 to 30 or more yards from the bag, then sprinting to the line. This will more closely simulate combat/tactical physiological responses.

You can vary this almost infinitely. Use more or less dummy rounds, increase distance to the target, increase distance from the shooter to the firing line, use multiple targets, use as many types of malfunctions you can think of.

Variations and Similar Drills

The Farnam Drill and Dummy Round Drill also help the shooter practice clearing malfunctions.

Credits

This drill was emailed to us by Darin Record.
 
Tap, Rack, Assess Drill

"TAP, RACK, ASSESS / Shoot" DRILL

-- K.I.S.S. Method

The objective is to make "immediate action" pistol clearing an automatic reflex -- anytime the gun fails to fire -- through high numbers of perfect repetitions, with verbalization. The goal (for the rest of our shooting careers) is that any trigger press resulting in a "click" (instead of a desired "bang") will serve as an instant stimulus to correctly "Move!, Tap!, Rack!, and Assess" and get back on the threat / target.

For example, a child dashing out in front of our vehicle already serves as an instant stimulus to react -- reflexively jam on the brakes and turn the steering wheel, HARD!


There is no real "thought" process . . . we just DID it!

Setup

Use an 8.5 x 11" (or smaller) sheet of paper for a target -- THIS IS NOT A SPEED DRILL!

Purpose of the smaller target area is to s-l-o-w ourselves down, at first. It is essential that both manipulation of the gun AND the proper sequence be mastered perfectly BEFORE attempting to "pick up the pace".

Notes

There are at least 4 components of this drill which are necesarry to insure it's effectiveness:

1: Movement. It can be as simple as one step to either side, or to some cover, depending on range restrictions.

2: Verbalization. Imperative we command -- to ourselves and Out Loud & Clear -- what each step of the sequence is, as we complete it.
(See commands below.)

3: Followup Sight Picture & Second Trigger Press*. Indicators we are "going too fast" for our own skill level -- and guarantors the drill will have NO effectiveness for us -- include: tapping the mag at any point before we've completed 2 perfect sight pictures and trigger presses, and/or; "racking" the slide before we've "tapped" the mag.


4: Keeping the pistol and our eyes UP during sequence**. Our pistol is kept up near our line of sight, and OUR LINE OF SIGHT NEVER LEAVES THE AREA OF THE THREAT!

Finally, this drill can be run by alternating an inert training round for each live round loaded into each magazine. A manufacturer may discourage "excessive" dry firing of their pistols. Always check the owner's manual for your gun or consult a knowledgeable source for information.

Procedure

1: At 7 yard line, load with a full magazine and holster.

2: Using just the thumb and/or index finger of weapon side hand, simply depress pistol's mag. release button/catch.

3: From hands relaxed at side, Draw, Aim In, and complete 2 trigger presses with a total of 2 sight pictures*.

4: When gun fails to fire, immediately "MOVE!"

5: "TAP!"** (Mag bottom, with heel of hand and HARD!)

6: "RACK!"** (Find which method works the quickest and most effectively with your gun and hand size and stick with it! I.e.- "Hand over" the slide vs. "Slingshot". Will the method you've decided on work if your hand becomes bloody or wet? What if the gun or it's chamber somehow becomes crudded? Remember, NOW is the time to experiment!)

7: "ASSESS!"** (Back up on the threat, fully committed to the followup shot!) Traditionally, this drill was always ended with a followup shot but always remember, "He/she with the most options wins!" Mix it up in your own practice sessions, sometimes ending the drill with continued live fire and /or continued verbal commands toward the threat!

Variations and Similar Drills

Dummy Round Drill, Surprise Malfunction Drill

Credits

Submitted by Deputy Sheriff Cpl. R. "THOR" Thorsen, with all credits to the NRA Law Enforcement Activities Division
 
Trigger Slap Drill

Controlling Trigger Slap

Develop a feel for the trigger reset point of your firearm. The symptom this exercise attempts to control is completely releasing the trigger between shots -- which is unnecessary. There is the first part of the trigger movement -- the take-up, then the break, then the movement of the trigger after the break. The trigger only needs to be released for a follow-up shot to the point that it resets for the next break. Releasing it further causes the shooter to "slap" the trigger, generally throwing the shot off course.

Setup

None.

Procedure

With an empty gun, rack the slide to activate the trigger. Pull the trigger back until it breaks and keep holding it back. Cycle the slide while holding the trigger back. Now slowly release the trigger until you feel it reset. Pull the trigger back again, feeling it break for the next shot. Learn how to release the trigger just enough to make the next shot. Even at the range you can practice firing and holding back the trigger, releasing to the reset point, and then taking your next shot. Build up speed as you learn the reset point (both in dry and live fire practice).

Variations and Similar Drills

You could have someone rack the slide for you while you maintain your shooting position.

Credits

Many different instructors use and recommend this exercise.
 
Good info

Thanks for posting these. Wish I'd found this earlier. I just got back from the range. I wanted to get a feel for drawing and firing from a holster.

I'd start with a full mag, pistol in holster, safety on and no cover garment as I want to get used to drawing and firing without getting tangled in anythig.

I was pretty much right in front of the backstop (A really big hill.) Target was a standard NRA slow fire target placed chest height at ten feet. I managed to keep all my shots on paper (barely) but I wasn't trying for speed, just a smooth draw, safety off and then two quick shots in one smooth motion.

I wish there was someplace closer to me where I could try a IDPA
shoot. I live out in Templeton, and work in Athol so Harvard's a bit of a drive for a weeknight.
 
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