Sometimes it’s fun to get out to the range and shoot up multiple targets with different weapons, various distances, all sorts of drills. After all if you are spending the time and your own money to get out and train some element of it should be entertaining. Yet there are points in time when it’s all about the fundamentals and repetitive drilling, continuing to build that foundation on which all shooting skills are based upon. I remember someone once saying that there was no such things as advanced shooting, but rather doing the fundamentals faster.
In any event I don’t consider myself a great shooter but I do try to train when I can and (in addition to cool guy drills) focus on the fundamentals. Before the first round goes down range I spend time dry firing and working my presentation, target acquisition and all the other important tidbits (stance / grip / sight alignment / trigger squeeze), I’ll then work in 4-5 mags of ball and dummy drills where I load the mags with live and dummy ammo (randomly), hoping not to flinch when I pull the trigger and no live round is fired. Once all that is over with I’ll move on to my one drill, which requires one target stand and a 3×5 card.
Items Required:
– A place to shoot where you can draw and fire (most stupid indoor ranges won’t allow this, btw I hate indoor ranges and shooting around people I don’t know).
– Target stand
– 3×5 Card
– Shot Timer
– Ammunition of preference
The Drill:
– Start at 5 yards, draw and fire 1 round into the 3×5 card which is placed between chest and eye level on the target.
– Start very slowly at first, checking the time of each shot.
– Gradually ramp up the speed until the rounds start to impact outside of the 3×5 card, and then back it down until you are within the comfort zone.
– Once in the zone I’ll work through 4 or 5 mags, 1 round at a time. Timer goes off, draw and squeeze off a round while working the fundamentals. Reholster and do it again.
– Back up to 7 yards, repeat process, times will be greater.
– Back up to 10 yards, repeat process, times will be even greater still.
– Replace 3×5 card as necessary.
The Bottom Line:
This is a great drill that works the fundamentals and although it can be somewhat repetitive and “boring” as compared to other stuff seen on YouTube, I guarantee you it’s worth the time and effort. I have to give credit where it’s due, frequent contributor The Maj turned me on to this and it’s really increased my proficiency and especially my first shot hit percentage. If you can draw and put 1 round into a 3×5 card at 10 yards in a decent amount of time on a flat range consistently, out on the street if the real deal goes down your chances of success are greatly improved. Give it a shot sometime, pun intended. 🙂
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