OVERVIEW
I have spent considerable time assessing what shooting drills, tests, and overall standards, are most relevant to the handgunner that is primarily focused on defensive pistol application, though driven to perform at a high level. Here, I offer sixteen drills/tests, and my guidelines for performance assessment. My Competency Goal time standards reflect an achievement of true competency that would indicate a good command of gun handling and pistol shooting fundamentals. The Advanced Goal time standards indicate a legitimately advanced practitioner who is at a level of pistol shooting excellence. This combination of drills/tests hits on the full spectrum of fundamental shooting skills.
TARGETS AND SCORING
All standards are shot from concealment. Targets used are either an IDPA/USPSA target or a B8 bullseye target. The “body” shots indicated only count if landed in the 8” down zero circle of the IDPA target, or the 6”x11” A zone rectangle of the USPSA target. The head shots only count if within the 4” IDPA head circle or a 3”x5” card on a USPSA target. Only clean runs count for these time standards.
1. MOZAMBIQUE
The Mozambique, often called the Failure Drill, proves an exceedingly valuable pistol exercise.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 2 shots to body, 1 shot to head.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 2:50 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 1:80 OR LESS
2. BILL DRILL
This drill was devised by Bill Wilson and serves as a wide-spread performance standard.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 6 shots to body.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 3:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
3. DRAW-TO-THREE
A standard of my own concoction, a first shot from concealment at 7 yards in 1.5 seconds proves an industry-wide standard. I like to see advanced practitioners make 3 shots in this time frame.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 3 shots to body from non-confrontational, hands up, stance.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 1.50 OR LESS
4. SINGLE-HAND-TO-THREE
A standard of my own concoction, this focuses on the ever-important ability to shoot competently with only a single hand.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 3 shots to body with the dominant-hand only.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 2:50 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
5. FOUR ACES
This is a competition standard drill and Grand Master USPSA shooters can do this in 2 seconds or less with race gear. I believe a 3 second par is quite advanced for doing this with a carry gun from concealment.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 2 shots to body, reload from slide-lock, fire 2 shots to body.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 4:50 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 3:00 OR LESS
6. IMMIDIATE INCAPACITATION
As standardized by Gabe White, this drill works on the very beneficial skill of fast shots to a close, yet small, target.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 2 shots to the 4” head circle or 3”x5” card.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 3:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
7. F.A.S.T
The famed test as devised by Todd Green, this exercise truly tests a wide range of skill with only 6 rounds of ammo.
1 IDPA target with a 3”x5” card on head at 7 yards, draw and fire 2 shots to head box, reload from slide-lock, fire 4 shots to 8” body circle.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 7:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 5:00 OR LESS
8. 25 YARD HAT QUAL
As devised by Kyle Defoor, this test puts time pressure on an accuracy intensive shooting standard.
B8 Target at 25 yards, draw and fire 10 shots in 20 seconds.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 80 POINTS OR BETTER
ADVANCED GOAL: 90 POINTS OR BETTER
9. THE TEST
This is a great shooting test devised by Ken Hackethorn that focuses on a balance of speed and precise accuracy.
B8 Target at 10 yards, draw and fire 10 shots in 10 seconds.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 90 POINTS OR BETTER
ADVANCED GOAL: 95 POINTS OR BETTER
10. TRI 10
A challenging variation of The Test, the Tri 10 Test utilizes both, dominant, and support hands.
B8 Target at 10 yards, draw and fire 4 shots with both hands, 3 shots with strong hand, 3 shots with support hand, in 10 seconds.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 80 OR BETTER
ADVANCED GOAL: 90 POINTS OR BETTER
11. THREE AT A QUARTER
A performance test of my own concoction, advanced time pressure on an accuracy driven exercise.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 25 yards, draw and fire 3 shots to body.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 5:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 3:00 OR LESS
12. HANDS UP DRAW
My standard for a draw to a single shot starting from the hands up, non-confrontational stance.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 1 shot to body from non-confrontational, hands up, stance.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 1:50 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 1:10 OR LESS
13. PREPPED START DRAW
My standard for a draw to a single shot starting with hands prepped on the garment.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, draw and fire 1 shot to the body from a prepped, hand on garment stance.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 1:40 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 1:00 OR LESS
14. SUPPORT-HAND-TO-THREE
My standard for support-hand-only shooting at 7 yards, this is the only drill that starts from a ready position.
1 IDPA/USPSA target at 7 yards, raise from a low-ready position and fire 3 shots to body, support-hand only.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 2:50 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
15. DOUBLE TROUBLE
This standard focuses on a rapid transition between two close range threats.
2 IDPA/USPSA targets at 7 yards, draw to fire 2 shots at first body, two shots at second body.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 3:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 2:00 OR LESS
16. X DRILL
This standard focuses on a transitions and cadence changes between different size targets.
2 IDPA/USPSA targets at 7 yards, draw to fire 2 shots to first body, two shots to second head, 2 shots to second body, 2 shots to first head.
COMPETENCY GOAL: 5:00 OR LESS
ADVANCED GOAL: 4:00 OR LESS
Reflex Handgun 