Shooting Drills: The Ultimate List – Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns (July 2023 UPDATE)

Basic Drill: One and Two Shots with a Scan

• Target: Varies but we recommend starting with a 6-inch circle which you can download and print here.
• Distance: Varies but a good start is 3 to 10 yards for pistol; 10 to 20 yards for rifle.
• Rounds: One or two rounds per repetition depending on whether you use shoot once or twice. Use as many magazines as needed to get a good grasp of the drill.
• Start Position: Low or high-ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A great drill for beginners. From the high or low-ready position, the shooter will take one or two shots at a target, maintain one’s sight picture on target after the shot for proper follow-through, then the shooter will end the drill by scanning and assessing.

The target and distance you use can vary depending on skill level. For beginners, we recommend at least a 6-inch circle from 3 or 5 yards, and 10 yards with a rifle. This is not a timed drill, though you may add a timer to induce some stress once you become more comfortable.

Single Shot with a Scan from the Holster

• Target: Varies but we recommend starting with a 6-inch circle, which you can download and print here.
• Distance: Varies but a good start is 3 to 10 yards
• Rounds: One round per repetition. Use as many magazines as needed to get a good grasp of the drill.
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: > 2.5 seconds
  • Intermediate: 1 to 2.5 seconds
  • Advanced: < 1 second

A great drill for shooters new to drawing. From the holster, on the signal, the shooter will draw and take one shot at a target, maintain one’s sight picture on target after the shot for proper follow-through, then the shooter will end the drill by scanning and assessing.

The target and distance you use can vary depending on skill level. For beginners, we recommend at least a 6-inch circle from 3 or 5 yards.

Immediate Action Drill

• Target: Varies
• Distance: Varies but a good start is 3 to 10 yards for pistol; 10 to 20 yards for rifle.
• Rounds: Load an entire magazine, but make sure that there are at least three dummy rounds randomly loaded into the magazine. Dummy rounds should not be the first or last round in the magazine, and dummy rounds should not be loaded one after the other, i.e. do not have more than one dummy round in a row.
• Start Position: Low, high-ready, or from the holster (if you know how to properly draw)
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Also known as the tap-rack, this is a drill you can do dry, or with magazines mixed with live and dummy rounds. For this drill, we will assume you are at the range using dummy rounds and live ammo.

Here, you want to simulate instances when you press the trigger and hear a click but no bang, e.g. if you encounter a light strike on your primer.

Regardless if you are using a pistol or rifle, immediately after hearing a click with no bang, tap the magazine to make sure it is seated then rack the slide to get your weapon back in the fight. After you have fixed the malfunction, re-engage your target.

You can run the drill as many times, using as many magazines set up with dummy rounds, as you want.

1-Reload-1

• Target: Varies
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards with a pistol and 10-yards with a rifle.
• Rounds: 20 to 50 rounds, depending on how much practice you need.
• Start Position: For pistols, from the holster, concealed or overt; with a rifle, start from the low or high-ready
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 5 seconds
    • Intermediate: 3 to 5 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 3 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 6 seconds
    • Intermediate: 4 to 6 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 4 seconds

Start with a magazine with one round in your weapon, and a full magazine in a magazine pouch.

With a pistol, draw your weapon from your holster or the low or high-ready if you’re using a rifle. Fire one-shot to slide lock. Then, you’ll do a mag change, then re-engage your target. Once you’re done, complete a tactical reload (using both hands) and you can repeat the drill.

Start this drill without a timer, and start with a target that is large enough and a short distance where you can consistently land shots on target. As you get comfortable, decrease the size of your target and/or increase the distance to your target. Then, you can add a timer to induce some stress.

1-Reload-1: Strong Side

• Target: Varies
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 20 to 50 rounds, depending on how much practice you need.
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time: N/A

In this drill, you should start with a magazine with one round in your pistol and a full magazine in a magazine pouch.

You’ll draw your weapon from your holster with your strong hand only, and fire one-shot to slide lock. Then, you’ll do a mag change with your strong hand only, then re-engage your target. Once you’re done, complete a tactical reload (using both hands) and you can repeat the drill.

Start this drill without a timer, and start with a target that is large enough and a short distance where you can consistently land shots on target. As you get comfortable, decrease the size of your target and/or increase the distance to your target. Then, you can add a timer to induce some stress.

1-Reload-1: Support Side

• Target: Varies
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 20 to 50 rounds, depending on how much practice you need.
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time: N/A

In this drill, you should start with a magazine with one round in your pistol and a full magazine in a magazine pouch.

You’ll draw your weapon from your holster with your support hand only, and fire one-shot to slide lock. Then, you’ll do a mag change with your support hand only, then re-engage your target. Once you’re done, complete a tactical reload (using both hands) and you can repeat the drill.

Start this drill without a timer, and start with a target that is large enough and a short distance where you can consistently land shots on target. As you get comfortable, decrease the size of your target and/or increase the distance to your target. Then, you can add a timer to induce some stress.

2-Shots with a Scan from the Holster

• Target: 6-inch circle, USPSA/IPSC A-Zone or similar
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 2 rounds per repetition; 20-30 reps recommended
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginners: < 2.5 seconds
  • Intermediate: 1.5 to 2.5 seconds
  • Advanced: < 1.5 seconds

A great drill for intermediate shooters. Often, the most important shot in a life-threatening situation is the first shot out of a holster.

From the holster, concealed or overt, the shooter will draw and take two shots at a target, maintain one’s sight picture on target after the second shot for proper follow-through, then the shooter will end the drill by scanning and assessing.

The target and distance you use can vary depending on skill level. To start, we recommend at least a 6-inch circle from 5 yards.

2-Shots with a Scan from the Holster (Right Shoulder)

• Target: 6-inch circle, USPSA/IPSC A-Zone or similar
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 2 rounds per repetition; 20-30 reps recommended
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginners: < 4 seconds
  • Intermediate: < 3 seconds
  • Advanced: < 2 seconds

This is a simple drill to start moving and shooting. The basic idea is to have your right shoulder facing the target. You pistol should be in your holster.

On the go signal, you will turn to face your target and engage the target with two shots, center mass. Start at a comfortable distance based on your skill level. You can change the number of shots and placements of the shots to vary things up if you’d like.

An important point to consider is muzzle awareness. As you turn towards your target, you do not want to flag anyone around you so make sure your muzzle is pointing down or up as you turn. Only when you are facing your target should the muzzle be pushed out toward the target.

2-Shots with a Scan from the Holster (Left Shoulder)

• Target: 6-inch circle, USPSA/IPSC A-Zone or similar
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 2 rounds per repetition; 20-30 reps recommended
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginners: < 4 seconds
  • Intermediate: < 3 seconds
  • Advanced: < 2 seconds

This is a simple drill to start moving and shooting. The basic idea is to have your left shoulder facing the target. You pistol should be in your holster.

On the go signal, you will turn to face your target and engage the target with two shots, center mass. Start at a comfortable distance based on your skill level. You can change the number of shots and placements of the shots to vary things up if you’d like.

An important point to consider is muzzle awareness. As you turn towards your target, you do not want to flag anyone around you so make sure your muzzle is pointing down or up as you turn. Only when you are facing your target should the muzzle be pushed out toward the target.

2-Shots with a Scan from the Holster (Back to Target)

• Target: 6-inch circle, USPSA/IPSC A-Zone or similar
• Distance: Varies on the difficulty of the target and shooter’s skill level. A good start is 5-yards.
• Rounds: 2 rounds per repetition; 20-30 reps recommended
• Start Position: From the holster, concealed or overt.
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginners: < 4 seconds
  • Intermediate: < 3 seconds
  • Advanced: < 2 seconds

This is a simple drill to start moving and shooting. The basic idea is to have your back facing the target. You pistol should be in your holster.

On the go signal, you will turn to face your target and engage the target with two shots, center mass. Start at a comfortable distance based on your skill level. You can change the number of shots and placements of the shots to vary things up if you’d like.

An important point to consider is muzzle awareness. As you turn towards your target, you do not want to flag anyone around you so make sure your muzzle is pointing down or up as you turn. Only when you are facing your target should the muzzle be pushed out toward the target.

Brass on the Front Sight

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Weapon pushed out to full presentation, weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A basic dry fire drill where one places either a spent brass casing or a coin on top of a pistol’s front sight. When the shooter pulls the trigger, the brass casing or coin should remain in place, i.e. it should not fall off. This will help isolate your trigger press to improve accuracy

Pencil Drill

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: N/A
• Score/Par Time: N/A

To understand the concept of pressing your trigger straight to the rear, the pencil drill can come in handy. It’s a simple, basic exercise one can do without a gun. All you need is a pencil.

You’ll place the pencil on the web of your hand in between your thumb and trigger finger. The pencil’s eraser should be touching your trigger finger. Your job is to press your trigger straight to the rear, using the pencil to see if you are doing so properly.

Trigger Prep / Slack Out

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Weapon pushed out to full presentation, weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A dry fire drill for beginners. Most guns, whether a pistol or rilfe, will have stock triggers that have some give or slack to them.

To improve accuracy and trigger control, it’s a good idea for beginners to take all of the slack out when preparing to take a shot. This can help minimize any unwanted movement from one’s trigger press.

Ball and Dummy

• Target: Varies depending on skill level
• Distance: 3 to 10 yards for pistols, and 10 to 25 yards for rifles
• Rounds: 30 to 50 live rounds, mixed with dummy rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready position
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This drill helps improve accuracy by overcoming recoil anticipation and jerking the trigger. You will need dummy rounds and a partner.

Your partner will load your magazine with two-thirds live ammunition and one-third dummy rounds, randomly mixed–just make sure that neither the first or the last round in your magazine is a dummy round, and do not load two dummy rounds in a row.

Shoot a small target from 3, 5, 7 or 10 yards away depending on your skill level. You should have no idea whether you’re pulling the trigger on a live round or a dummy round, so treat every trigger press as if it were going to fire.

When you get to a dummy round, your weapon should stay perfectly still as you press the trigger. If you jerk the trigger or anticipate recoil, you’ll immediately see it because the gun will move off target. If you do jerk the gun on a dummy round, stop the drill, and fire a dozen perfect dry-fire shots without jerking the trigger or anticipating any recoil. Then do the drill again.

This time, when you press the trigger, mentally focus on moving only your trigger finger. It can help to count to ten as you press the trigger. Start pressing the trigger slowly as you begin to count. Focus on counting while only moving your trigger finger. You won’t know exactly at what count the shot will break, so this should help alleviate recoil anticipation and jerking of the trigger.

Bench Shooting

• Target: Varies depending on skill level
• Distance: 3 to 10 yards for pistols, and 10 to 25 yards for rifles
• Rounds: 20 to 50 rounds
• Start Position: Weapon on target using a shooting bag for stabilization
• Score/Par Time: N/A

To understand sight alignment and sight picture, it can help if beginners take variables out of the equation, such as the need to have a stable shooting platform and grip.

One can do this by shooting from a bench rest. You will be able to eliminate the need to stabilize yourself to make good shots.

Sit at a bench with your arms resting on a shooting bag. Acquire proper sight alignment and sight picture. Take your time and fire shots with the intent of managing perfect sights throughout the process.

Figure 8 Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: 3 to 7 yards depending on your skill level
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Beginners are often challenged by the thought that their front sight is continually moving, making it difficult for them to land an accurate shot.

With proper technique, you can make accurate shots consistently even if your front sight seems to be moving a lot. The Figure 8 Drill will show you this is possible.

At 3, 5 or 7 yards (depending on skill level) point your gun at the target, then take all of the slack out of the trigger. Move the front sight 6 to 8 inches in a figure-eight over the bullseye. As you cross the bullseye, break your shot and reset your trigger to shoot again. Continue this for five or six shots.

What you will find is that you will be more accurate than you previously thought. By managing the trigger well, it allows for quite a bit of front sight motion while still maintaining good accuracy.

Ragged Hole Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: Start at 3-yards (pistol) and 5-yard (rifle) and move back depending on your experience.
• Rounds: 3 to 5 rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

The Ragged Hole drill has been around for a long time and is great for beginners. From 3, 5 or 7 yards (depending on your skill level and weapon platform), you will slow fire three to five rounds into a single, small point on your target.

Take your time and use the exact same point of aim each time. Do not chase your shots or try to make corrections.

If you manage your fundamentals properly, such as your grip, trigger control, and sight alignment, you should end up with a single, ragged hole. If your shots are spread out, it is a sign that you need to polish up on one or more of the basics.

Exemplar Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: Any distance
• Rounds: Varies on need
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A drill that dates back to the 1940s, the Exemplar Drill is a partner drill that helps a shooter understand and feel what a proper trigger press should be like.

The shooter takes his or her preferred two-handed stance and locks their sights on target. They hold the pistol or rifle firmly with all their fingers except the index finger of the gun hand. Your partner, one who is experienced and knows proper trigger control, should come in from your dominant-hand side.

Then your trigger finger lightly touches the trigger, exerting no pressure in any direction, and your partner’s trigger finger goes in front of yours. Your partner should then gently presses your trigger finger straight back until the shot is fired. Doing this about a dozen times will give you a better understanding of proper trigger press to improve your accuracy.

1-Inch Circle Warm-up / Cool Down

• Target: Tactical Hyve 1-2-3 Circle Target
• Distance: 3 yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A great warm up or cool down drill, here, you can either use a single 1-inch circle or ten 1-inch circles on a piece of paper.

There are no time restrictions. From 3-yards, try to hit either the same 1-inch circle ten times or each of the ten 1-inch circles with one shot.

Focus on your mechanics and accuracy–this is not a speed drill. Once you can land ten shots in a row with no misses, you can add more distance.

One Finger Trigger Press Drill

• Target: One 1-inch circle or square
• Distance: 3 yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This drill isolates your trigger press. Conduct the drill 3 yards away from your target– a 1-inch circle or square.

This drill can be done with both your strong and support hand. With either hand, grip your pistol with the web of your hand, index finger, and thumb, only. Your remaining three fingers, the three amigos, should not be gripping your gun.

Controlling the weapon with your thumb and index finger, smoothly press the trigger and try to hit the 1-inch target. This is not a timed drill. If you can hit the target for 10-rounds straight, no misses, you can move the distance further back.

1-2-3 Circle Pistol Drill (Vertical)

• Target: Tactical Hyve 1-2-3 Circle Target
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards
• Rounds: 22 rounds
• Start Position: From the holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: > 20 seconds, no misses
  • Intermediate: 12 to 20 seconds, no misses
  • Advanced: < 12 seconds, no misses

This drill works on a number of different areas by allowing you to understand the relationship between shooting speed, accuracy, and the size of your target.

Start from the holster from 3 to 5 yards, depending on your skill level, and use our 1-2-3 Circle Target. On the go signal, draw your pistol and shoot one of the three-inch circles three times, then immediately engage the 2-inch circle above it twice, then end with one shot on the 1-inch circle. Reholster.

You’ll quickly notice that you will need to slow down as your target size decreases. Repeat this course of fire two more times to complete the Tactical Hyve 1-2-3 Circle Target sheet.

If you are more experienced, you can shoot the entire target as one repetition as demonstrated by Myles in the accompanying video, i.e. finish all columns in one go and include a reload.

As you learn the drill, it is completely fine to miss and continue on with the course of fire until you finish. However, try to get to a point where you can record a time with no misses.

When done, you can use a new target, and shoot the circles in reverse order. Start with the 1-inch circle, then the 2-inch circle, then end with three shots on the 3-inch circle. Repeat this until you complete the target sheet.

1-2-3 Circle Pistol Drill (Horizontal)

• Target: Tactical Hyve 1-2-3 Circle Target
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards
• Rounds: 22 rounds
• Start Position: From the holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: > 20 seconds, no misses
  • Intermediate: 12 to 20 seconds, no misses
  • Advanced: < 12 seconds, no misses

This drill works on a number of different areas by allowing you to understand the relationship between shooting speed, accuracy, and the size of your target.

Start from the holster from 3 to 5 yards depending on your skill level, and use our 1-2-3 Circle Target.

On the go signal, draw your pistol and shoot all of the 1-inch circles at least once. Then move on to the next row of 2-inch circles, shooting each circle twice. Lastly, finish the third row by shooting 3 times into each 3-inch circle. You will need to reload once during the course of fire. Reholster.

As you learn the drill, it is completely fine to miss and continue on with the course of fire until you finish. However, try to get to a point where you can record your time with no misses.

When done, use a new target, and shoot the circles starting from the opposite direction. If you initially shot from left to right, now shoot right to left.

Throttle Control Rifle Drill (Vertical)

• Target: One 3-inch circle, one 6-inch circle, and one 9-inch circle stacked on top of one another (see video)
• Distance: 7 to 15 yards
• Rounds: 27 rounds (with no misses)
• Start Position: High or low-ready
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: > 4 seconds, no misses
  • Intermediate: 2.5 to 4.0 seconds, no misses
  • Advanced: < 2.5 seconds, no misses

This drill works on a number of different areas by allowing you to understand the relationship between shooting speed, accuracy, and the size of your target.

Start from the high or low ready at 7 to 15 yards depending on your skill level. Use a USPSA target and spray paint three circles on it: one 3-inch circle over the head zone, one 6-inch circle in the chest, and a 9-inch circle over the torso. (Watch the video on how to use a template to easily paint circles on targets.)

On the go signal, present your weapon and shoot the 9-inch circle 3 times, then the 6-inch circle 3 times, and the 3-inch circle 3 times. You’ll quickly notice that you will need to slow down as your target size decreases. The goal is to land all shots within the circles.

Once you’ve reached that objective, try going faster and/or moving further back to increase the drill’s difficulty. As you push yourself, having only 2-3 misses is a good sign you are pushing yourself near your limits. Run the drill for at least one magazine of 30 rounds. When done, use a new target, and shoot the circles in reverse order for at least one magazine.

Throttle Control Rifle Drill (Variation)

• Target: Three 3-inch circles, and one 6-inch circle (see video)
• Distance: 7 to 15 yards
• Rounds: 27 rounds (with no misses)
• Start Position: High or low-ready
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: > 12 seconds, no misses
  • Intermediate: 8 to 12 seconds, no misses
  • Advanced: < 8 seconds, no misses

This drill works on a number of different areas by allowing you to understand the relationship between shooting speed, accuracy, and the size of your target.

Start from the high or low ready at 7 to 15 yards depending on your skill level. Use a USPSA target and spray paint three, 3-inch circles and one 6-inch circle on it in the pattern shown in the video. You will need one 30-round magazine for the drill.

On the go signal, present your weapon and shoot 5 times into the 6-inch circle, then immediately transition to one of the 3-inch circles and shoot it three times. Immediately transition back to the 6-inch circle for 5 shots, then another one of the 3-inch circles for three shots. Lastly, transition back. to the 6-inch circle for another 5 shots, then finish off the last 3-inch circle with three shots.

You’ll quickly notice that you will need to slow down as your target size decreases. The goal is to land all shots within the circles. Once you’ve reached that objective, try going faster and/or moving further back to increase the drill’s difficulty. As you push yourself, having only 2-3 misses is a good sign you are pushing yourself near your limits.

25-Yard Slow Aimed Fire

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: 25 yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: High or low-ready
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: < 71
  • Intermediate: 71 to 90
  • Advanced: 91+

From 25 yards, fire 10-rounds at a B8 repair center bullseye target. Slow fire.

Total up your scores.

Once you can consistently shoot an 85 or above, then consider adding a time standard.

25-Yard Timed Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: 25 yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: High or low-ready
• Score/Par Time: (All shots in the black)
  • Beginner: > 35 seconds
  • Intermediate: 21 to 35 seconds
  • Advanced: 20 seconds or less

From 25 yards, fire 10-rounds at a B8 repair center bullseye target for speed while keeping all shots in the black. You will need to find the cadence that gives you ‘accurate speed.’

It’s okay if you miss the black, though that is your objective–to shoot ten rounds all in the black.

To gauge your performance further, you can keep track of your scores, and times for each 10-round iteration.

Blind Swordsman Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: Any distance
• Rounds: 1 to 3 magazines
• Start Position: High or low-ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

The drill is named after Zaitoishi, a fictional Japanese hero who was blind but so attuned to his senses and body that he use his sword with deadly skill.

In this drill, the student locks in on the target with a sharp sight picture and then closes their eyes and fires a single shot. Keeping the gun on target, the student removes their finger from the trigger and opens their eyes. This lets the student see if the sight picture has moved since last seen, and to assess the hit.

The student takes aim again, closes their eyes and repeats. This drill allows shooters to concentrate on the key element of trigger pull–the sense of touch. We’ve pretty much solved the distraction of hearing with good ear protection, and taste and smell don’t really enter into it.

It’s vision that distracts the shooter. The eye sees the sight picture crossing the exact spot he wants to hit and the shooter thinks “now” and jerks the trigger, resulting in a bad shot.

With a shooter’s eyes closed, it’s actually easier to keep that trigger rolling smoothly straight back.

Cold Bore Hostage Drill

• Target: A USPSA/IPSC target with a credit card A-zone over the head or a 3×5 postcard.
• Distance: Start 20 to 30 yards away
• Rounds: 1 round
• Start Position: Holstered, concealed or overt
• Score/Par Time: N/A

We picked this exercise up from Bill Rapier of Amtac Shooting. You can use a USPSA or IPSC target, or any target where you can place a 3×5 postcard to represent a headshot.

You should do this drill cold–meaning, first thing when you train with no warm up. Start with the target about 20 to 30 yards away from you with your weapon in its holster, overt or concealed. Close your eyes and imagine a loved one. Visualize your loved one. Now imagine them being held hostage by a bad guy.

Open your eyes and role-play what you would say to the assailant holding your loved one hostage. You may draw right away or hold off until you are closer–there are no set rules.

The point of the drill is to get close to the target and when you’re ready, take one headshot. A miss should be taken seriously as it means your loved one is dead. You ought to be able to nail the headshot within the credit card box of a standard USPSA target or you can use an index card.

Walkback Drill

• Target: Steel plate, size varies on your skill level
• Distance: Starts at 5 yards
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a simple drill to work on your accuracy. Start from 5-yards, and take one shot with both hands at a steel plate of your choice. The more experienced you are, the smaller the steel target should be.

If you hit the target, move back another 5-yards–to the 10-yard line. If you miss at the 5-yard line, you have two more opportunities to hit the target, but you can no longer use both hands to shoot. For your second iteration, use your strong hand to try and nail the shot. If you do, you can move to the 10-yard line. If you miss the second shot, then use your support hand only to try and make the shot. If you miss, the drill is over. If you hit the target, then move to the 10-yard line.

At the 10-yard line, follow the same process as you did at the 5-yard line. The goal here is to improve your accuracy at distance by testing how far back you can walk back and still land accurate shots.

Rangemaster Bullseye Course

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 30 rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: A score of 285 out of 300.

Designed by Tom Givens, this drill uses a B8 Bullseye Target with four stages. The first stage is fired at 25 yards to test your precision. On the go signal, fire 5 slow aimed shots. You can take up to a minute and all shots can be taken from the ready position.

Next, move to the 15-yard line where you will fire 2 strings. First, on the signal, fire five rounds in 15-seconds. Next, on the go signal, fire 5 rounds in 10 seconds. Cutting the time forces you to work on shooting faster while maintaining accuracy.

Now, move to 7 yards. Start with only five rounds in the pistol, and have a spare magazine. On the go signal, fire five rounds, reload, and fire five more rounds all in 15 seconds.

For the last stage, move to the 5 yards line. On the signal, fire five rounds in 5-seconds. Tally up your score. The maximum score is 300.

Cloverleaf Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: Start at 3-yards and increase the distance based on your skill level
• Rounds: 3 rounds per repetition
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a simple, fun, yet challenging drill. Depending on your skill level, you can do this from any distance, but starting at 3 yards is good.

Pick any clear area of a target. It doesn’t matter if you use an actual target or simply cardboard backing. You want to take one shot with both hands. Where your shot lands will be your target for your next shot. Then, switch to your strong hand only and try to shoot your previous shot. Finally, switch to your support hand and try to shoot your original shot as well. You want all three shots to touch.

Unknown Gun Drill

• Target: Varies–determined by partner.
• Distance: Varies–determined by partner.
• Rounds: Varies–determined by partner.
• Start Position: Varies–determined by partner.
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a partner drill where you will hand your weapon and two magazines to a partner. Hidden from your sight, your partner will set up your magazines and weapon any way they want to force you to work through different malfunctions and weapons manipulations. (Dummy rounds may be used.)

It is your job to deal with things as they come and get your weapon back in the fight to engage targets. This is an untimed drill, but you should work through any issues you encounter as quickly as possible while landing accurate shots.

A pistol or rifle may be used.

Ground Clock Drill

• Target: Varies depending on skill level, but a USPSA or IPSC target will do.
• Distance: Varies depending on skill level. 5 to 10 yards is a good range.
• Rounds: Varies depending on how many positions you want to work. We recommend one or two magazines per position.
• Start Position: Varies.
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Imagine you are in the center of a clock. You want to be able to shoot in all directions from various positions. Start by laying on your back with a dry gun in your holster. Draw the weapon and shoot a target towards the 12 o’clock direction. Then reholster and try 3 o’clock. Reholster and try 6 o’clock. Reholster again and finally try 9 o’clock.

When you are able to do this easily, repeat the drill using only your strong hand, then your support hand. You’ll need to work through complications, figuring out how to most effectively draw your weapon while avoiding muzzling your arms, legs, or body.

After working from your back with both hands, strong, and support hands, try these other positions:

• on your stomach
• on your right side
• on your left side
• sitting on your butt
• kneeling with both knees down
• kneeling with right knee down
• kneeling with left knee down

When you can do these safely, and you feel confident, you can move to live fire. However, if you need more practice or are unsure, repeat the exercises with an airsoft gun. After using an airsoft gun well, you can move to live fire.

You may not be able to shoot 360 degrees at your range, but you can adjust your body while keeping the target against the backstop. Adjust your body so the target is at the equivalent of the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock angles. Go slow at first. Once you get the hang of it, set a shot timer for a par time and hurry to beat it.

Make sure your shots are hitting where they need to. One other caution for live-fire is to check your firing angles. When shooting from the ground towards the chest area of a target, it’s easy to put a bullet over the backstop due to the extreme angles involved. If necessary, drop your target heights down low enough that you aren’t in danger of putting a stray round over the berm.

Forward Assault Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: Varies. Start at 25-yards and work your way to the 7-yard line
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with pistol; low or high ready with rifle
• Score/Par Time: At least 80 points in 20 seconds or less for pistol; 15 seconds or less for rifle

This is a drill designed by Ethan Johns from SWAT magazine. Use a standard NRA B8 bullseye repair center target. Scoring is for actual points so a 10-ring hit is worth a lot more than outer circle hits.

Start from the holster with a pistol or from the low or high ready position with a rifle, at 25-yards. On the go signal, draw and fire two rounds. Advance to the 15-yard line keeping your gun safely in control, fire two rounds. Advance to the 7-yard line keeping gun safely in control, fire three rounds. Then fire three more rounds while advancing forward from the 7yd line. Keep track of your score and time.

Catch 22 Drill

• Target: Steel target. Size varies depending on your skill level.
• Distance: 15- yards
• Rounds: At least 15 rounds if there are no misses
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Less than 26 seconds

Dave Sevigny developed this drill to test draw speed and trigger control. You’ll need a steel target set 15-yards away and a shot timer.

• Draw and fire (freestyle) until you get a hit on the target. Record your time. Repeat for a total of five draws.
• Draw and fire strong hand only until you get a hit on the target. Record your time. Repeat for a total of five draws.
• Draw, transfer your gun to your weak hand and fire weak hand only until you get a hit on the target. Record your time. Repeat for a total of five draws.

Fire as many shots as you need to get a hit. At the end of the drill you should have a total of fifteen times recorded. Add them all together to get your score, i.e. all fifteen runs.

(For a more “tactical” drill, you can do a standard weak hand only draw but keep in mind that this will be significantly slower for most people than the strong-to-weak hand transfer. Unless you have specific professional training in the safe execution of a weak hand only draw, do not attempt it with a live gun.)

Tri-10 Drill

• Target: Any target
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: 10 shots, in 10 seconds, at 10 yards

You’ll need a shot timer for this drill and any target or steel plate will do, though the more experienced you are, the smaller the target should be.

Set your shot timer to a par time of 10 seconds. On the buzzer, draw and engage the target as follows:

1. Fire 4 shots freestyle (both hands)
2. Transition gun to strong hand only
3. Fire 3 shots strong hand only
4. Transition gun to weak hand only
5. Fire 3 shots weak hand only

If the drill is too hard or too easy, you can adjust the size of the scoring zone, the distance, and/or the time limit.

Triple Six Drill

• Target: USPSA or IPSC targets with an A-Zone
• Distance: 6, 12, and 18 yards
• Rounds: 18 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: 9 seconds or less

Set up 3 targets staggered at three different distances: one target at 6, 12, and 18 yards. There are three strings of fire.

1. 6 yards – draw and fire 6 rounds [record time]
2. 12 yards – draw and fire 6 rounds [record time]
3. 18 yards – draw and fire 6 rounds [record time]

For each hit in the C zone add .20 seconds. For each hit in the D zone add .50 seconds. For any misses add 1.0 second. Add the three raw times plus any scoring zone penalties.

Rifle/Handgun Transition Drill

• Target: Three USPSA targets
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 30 rounds rifle; 6 rounds pistol
• Start Position: Low ready with your rifle; with pistol in holster
• Score/Par Time: Complete the drill in less than 60 seconds

Designed by Kyle Lamb, this drill is a fast paced transition drill you can do at an indoor or outdoor range that allows forward movement towards your target.

The drill covers strong and weak shoulder shooting, sling transitions, and pistol transitions. You’ll need three USPSA targets, 30 rounds for your rifle, and 6 rounds for your pistol.

Here’s the drill:

1. From 20 yards starting from low ready with the rifle. On the buzzer, fire two shots on each target, switch rifle to support side and fire two shots on each target. Place the rifle on safe and run to the 15-yard line
2. From 15 yards, fire two shots on each target with a rifle from support side. Switch rifle to strong side and fire two more shots on each target. Place the rifle on safe and run to the 10-yard line.
3. From 10 yards, fire two shots on each target with the rifle from strong side. Transition to your pistol and fire two shots on each target.

Add 1/2 second to your running time for each shot in the “C” zone. Add one second for each “D” zone.

Controlled Pair

• Target: Any target. Size depends on your skill level.
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards for beginners. 7+ yards for more skilled shooters.
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Low or high ready position
• Score/Par Time: N/A

From the high or low ready position, push your weapon out to the target and shoot two rounds on target. Make sure to get a second and third sight picture.

You want to make sure you can see your sights clearly at all times. Do not double tap, i.e. one sight picture and two shots.

Checklist Drill

• Target: Any target.
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards for beginners. 7+ yards for more skilled shooters.
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: N/A

The “Check List” drill is an easy drill that places a ton of focus on the fundamentals. The target can be anything, and you don’t need a specific number of rounds, or magazines. It serves as an excellent warm-up.

The “Check List” is an actual list–the list of fundamentals necessary to make an accurate shot and to control your weapon.

Create a checklist around the fundamentals of marksmanship:

• Do I have a proper grip?
• Is it as high as possible?
• Are both thumbs pointed forward?
• The Dominant hand applying pressure to the front and rear of the grip The Support hand applies pressure to the sides of the gun
• Am I maintaining proper front sight focus?
• Am I pulling the trigger straight to the rear without shifting my grip?
• After every shot fired am I reacquiring my front sight?

To carry out the drill, take one shot and grade yourself via the checklist. Be honest with yourself, and you’ll grow as a shooter.

The “Check List” is a drill you evolve into. You go from firing one shot and grading to firing two shots and grading, and so on.

5-Second Standards

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: 5 seconds

Developed by Pat McNamara, this drill requires one USPSA or IPSC target. Only A-Zone shots are allowed.

Start at 7-yards and set your shot timer for a five-second par time. Do each of the following as separate stages, keeping each stage under five seconds and all your hits in the A-Zone:

• Two shots from high or low ready position
• Two shots from the holster
• Two shots strong hand only from the holster

If you made all of your hits at 7-yards, try again at 10 yards. Move the distances back incrementally to 15 yards, 20 yards, and 25 yards until you either miss one of your shots or fail to make the time.

Alternating Targets Drill

• Target: Any target with a head and body area
• Distance: 5-yards for pistol and 10-yards for rifle
• Rounds: 40 rounds
• Start Position: High ready
• Score/Par Time: No misses

This drill works on a combination of the fundamentals. It’s a simple drill that can be done at 5-yards for pistol and 10-yards for rifle, on any target with a body and head, or you can use any kind of paper to represent a body and head.

Start from the high ready position, and on the go signal, push your gun out and fire two shots at the body. Follow through properly and scan and assess if desired.

Then, on the next repetition, do the same thing but this time, shoot at the head twice. Alternate back and forth between target areas for a total of 20 reps (i.e. 10 to the body, and 10 to the head).

Each target area should have 20 shots on target–no misses are allowed.

4567 Drill

• Target: 6-Inch Circle
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 20 rounds
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time:
  • Beginner: 22 seconds
  • Intermediate: 18 seconds
  • Advanced: 13 seconds

Designed by Chris Edwards and Todd Green, this drill is run four times, five rounds each, on a six-inch circle at 7-yards, thus the name 4567 Drill.

The four courses of fire are:

• Draw and fire 5 rounds from concealment, two-handed
• Draw and fire 5 rounds from concealment, strong hand only
• From the ready position fire 5 rounds, weak hand only, fire 5 rounds
• From concealment, two-handed (repeat of string 1)

Make sure each string of fire is timed.

For any shot outside of the 6″ circle, add 1 second to your time. Total the times (and penalties) for all four strings to determine your overall score.

Circle Drill

• Target: 8-Inch Steel Plate or 8-Inch Circular Target
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 18 rounds
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: Land at least 16 of the 18 shots

The Circle Drill is intended to teach students the relationship between speed and accuracy, and how time affects marksmanship fundamentals.

The drill begins by firing six rounds at an 8-inch plate at a slow pace (1 shot per second) from 7-yards. Repeat. This is fundamental marksmanship with little or no time pressure.

Next, pick up the pace. Fire six rounds at a moderate pace (2 shots per second). Repeat. This speed is the “comfort zone” for most shooters, they should still get reasonably good hits.

Finally, maximize speed by firing six rounds at a pace of about 4 shots per second (or as fast as possible if 4/second is faster than the gun can be kept under control). Repeat.

This pace should push a shooter outside of his comfort zone and force him to work harder at recoil management and sight tracking. Accuracy will suffer but the goal is to keep 90% or more of your hits on the plate.

El Presidente Drill

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: 10-yards for pistol and 15 yards for rifle
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time (No missses):
  • Beginner: Greater than 12 seconds
  • Intermediate: 9 to 12 seconds
  • Advanced: Less than 9 seconds

The El Presidente or El Prez has been around for a long time, and there are many variations floating around on the Internet. You need to set up three targets approximately one yard apart, and ten yards from you.

The El Presidente should be shot on a target with a marked vital zone, be it the heart on an anatomy target, or the A zone on an IPSC or USPSA target. Your shots all need to be inside a designated vital area.

First, load six rounds into two magazines and load your handgun. Then place the spare magazine into a magazine pouch. You start with your gun concealed and in the holster (or you can use an overt holster if you’d like).

Your back will be to the target, and your hands will be raised in the surrender position. When the timer signals go, you turn and draw your firearm. You should draw, but wait to point your muzzle downrange until after you turn and are facing your targets.

With your gun drawn, come to the full presentation and start from left to right, or right to left. Your overall goal is to shoot two rounds into the vital zone of each target. After the initial six shots are fired, reload, and fire two shots into each target going in the opposite direction as your first string. After the 12th shot is fired, the drill is over.

Mozambique Drill

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: 7-yards for pistol and 10-15 yards for rifle
• Rounds: 3 rounds per repetition
• Start Position: Holster for pistols and high or low ready for rifles
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistols
    • Beginner: >4 seconds
    • Intermediate: 2 to 4 seconds
    • Advanced: <2 seconds
  • Rifles
    • Beginner: >2 seconds
    • Intermediate: 1 to 2 seconds
    • Advanced: <1 second

The Mozambique Drill is a classic firearms training drill that works a combination of skills. You will need a target with both the head and chest defined (a human-looking target) and three rounds per repetition.

For this drill, start at 7-yards with a pistol or 10 to 15 yards with a rifle. On the go signal, you draw (with a pistol) or push out from high or low read if you are using a rifle.

Fire a hammer pair (i.e. double tap), and then transition to the head and squeeze the last shot off.

If you get to the point where you are firing the first two shots without a sight picture, you are going too fast. See the sights and then shoot the target. Accuracy comes before speed. Also, make sure to properly follow-through, i.e,. get a final sight picture, after the headshot to avoid building bad habits.

Dot Torture Drill

• Target: Dot Torture Target
• Distance: Start at 3-yards; if you can complete the entire drill without misses, you can increase the distance
• Rounds: 50 rounds
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: No misses

The Dot Torture drill is a classic firearms drill that works a combination of skills. The Dot Torture target is made up of small dots, only 2 inches in diameter. These small targets force you to slow down and exercise proper marksmanship. To pass the drill, you have to achieve 50 hits out of 50 shots fired. A single miss is a failure.

Start at 3-yards. As you build your skills, you can increase the distance. There is no par time. The Dot Torture target includes the instructions.

With ten dots and eight strings of fire, it’s handy just to read the target and go. Here’s a summary of what is involved with each dot:

• Dot 1 – 5 shots slow fire
• Dot 2 – Draw and fire one-shot, repeat 5 times.
• Dots 3 & 4 – Draw, fire One-Shot on 3, transition and fire one-shot on 4, repeat 4 times.
• Dot 5 – Draw, and fire five shots with your strong hand. This is one draw and five shots total, not five draws.
• Dots 6 & 7 – Draw, and fire two shots on 6 and two shots on 7, repeat 4 times.
• Dot 8 – From the low ready, aim and fire five shots from your weak hand
• Dot 9 & 10 – Draw, fire one shot on 9, speed reload and fire one shot on 10 (To set this course of fire up, load the magazine in your gun with one round and the magazine in your pouch with two.)

Collateral Drill

• Target: Two targets: USPSA/IPSC targets or human silhouettes
• Distance: Start at 2-yards
• Rounds: 5 rounds
• Start Position: Holstered with a cover garment
• Score/Par Time: Less than 2.5 seconds

The drill starts with two targets roughly 2-yards from you and a yard apart. Your gun is holstered with a jacket or opened button-up shirt. This should conceal the weapon and allow you to sweep it open to reach your pistol.

The drill starts with the swipe of your left arm, simulating knocking your opponent’s gun away. Using the momentum of your swipe, your firing hand clears your cover garment and draws your firearm. From here you fire two shots from close retention at one target.

Then, rotate your body to engage the second target, stepping forward with your non-dominant leg to establish a good firing position. As you do this, you’re coming to a full presentation. From here you fire two shots to the chest and a final shot to the head. After this the drill is complete.

If you can do the drill in less than 2.5 seconds, that’s a great time. Of course, you also need to be making all five hits count. This means solid, vital zone shots or nothing.

VTAC 1 to 5 Drill

• Target: Three targets: USPSA/IPSC targets or similar
• Distance: 5-yards
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time: Less than 5 seconds

The VTACT 1 to 5 Drill works a combination of fundamentals, target transitions, and the idea of shooting until the threat is eliminated.

Despite what we might see in the movies, two rounds won’t immediately bring an opponent down. It may very well take 3, 4, or 5. You should shoot a target until it is no longer a threat.

Training too rigorously on “two shots and transition” can ingrain bad habits into a shooter that just might surface at the worst possible time and place.

For the drill, set up three USPSA/IPSC targets or similar 5 yards from you, and a yard apart from one another. On the go, from left to right, shoot the first target once, the middle target twice, and the right target three times. Immediately transition to the middle target with four shots, then transition to the left target and fire five shots.

VTAC Triple Threat Drill

• Target: Three human silhouette targets
• Distance: 5-yards
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: High or low ready
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 9 seconds
    • Intermediate: 7 to 9 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 7 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 8 seconds
    • Intermediate: 6 to 8 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 6 seconds

Kyle Lamb designed this drill using a rifle, but you can use a pistol as well.

Set up three human silhouette targets of your choice, but make sure your targets have a defined pelvis, chest, and head target area.

You should be 5 yards from the targets and the targets should be a yard apart from one another. Start with the middle target and shoot the chest three times, then immediately transition to one shot to the pelvis, then to the head.

Once that is completed, immediately transition to the left target and repeat the exercise, then transition to the right target, and repeat the same course of fire.

If any shots land outside of the designated target areas, the drill has not been successfully completed. One should be able to keep track of their sights and land accurate shots.

VTAC Reload Drill

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol, or high or low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 8 seconds
    • Intermediate: 6 to 8 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 6 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 10 seconds
    • Intermediate: 8 to 10 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 8 seconds

Designed by Kyle Lamb originally around using a pistol, you can also carry out the drill with a rifle.

Start loaded and holstered, with a USPSA/IPSC target 10 yards away. At the go signal, draw and fire three rounds to the A-zone, reload, fire three more rounds to the A-zone, reload, and fire three more rounds to the A-zone, for a total of nine rounds. If you’re using a rifle, start from the high or low-ready position.

FAST Drill

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • 10+ seconds: Novice
  • Less than 10 seconds: Intermediate
  • Less than 7 seconds: Advanced
  • Less than 5 seconds: Expert

Designed by Todd Green, this drill tests a number of marksmanship fundamentals as well as drawing.

Set up your target with a 3×5 index card for a headshot, and an 8-inch plate or circle for body shots.

Load one magazine with two rounds and a second magazine with four rounds. Load the magazine with two rounds into your pistol.

On the buzzer, from concealment or an overt holster, draw your weapon and fire two shots to the head. At slide lock, perform a reload then fire four shots to the body.

No misses are allowed.

Hackathorn 3-Second Headshot Standards

• Target: USPSA or IPSC target
• Distance: 5-yards pistol; 10-yards for rifles
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Varies.
• Score/Par Time: Less than 3 seconds for each string, and a minimum of 7 hits

This drill was designed by Ken Hackathorn for a pistol. A rifle can be used as well.

Targets are placed at least two feet apart shoulder to shoulder at a range of 5 or 10 yards depending on whether you’re using a pistol or rifle

PAR time is set to three seconds for each string. There are three strings of fire.

• Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, going from left to right
• Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, going from right to left.
• Fire one (and only one) shot at the head of each target, beginning with the middle target and then finishing with the two outside targets in any order.

A round anywhere in the scoring zone for the head (meaning both A and B zones for the IPSC target) counts as a hit. Shots fired after the 3-second PAR time count as misses.

In total, you will fire nine rounds (three shots in three seconds, times three strings of fire). Hackathorn considers a passing score to be seven hits, minimum.

With a pistol, try the drill first from a standard ready position. If you can get all your hits, try it from a holster. If you can get your hits from the holster within the PAR time, try it from concealment. With a rifle, start from high or low ready.

iHack

• Target: Three 2-inch circles or use our six 2-inch circles target
• Distance: 5-yards (Pistol) / 7-yards (Rifles)
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Varies.
• Score/Par Time: Less than 3 seconds for each string, and a minimum of 7 hits

The iHack is an indoor range-friendly version of the famous Hackathorn 3-Second Headshot Standards.

The targets are much closer together but also significantly smaller than the regular version of the drill. Most shooters find this variation harder than the original so don’t be discouraged if your score is less than you expect the first time you try it.

Set up three 2 inch circle targets in a row at 5-yards. PAR time is set to three seconds for each string. There are three strings of fire.

• Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, going from left to right
• Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, going from right to left
• Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, beginning with the middle target and then finishing with the two outside targets in any order

Shots fired after the 3-second PAR time count as misses. In total, you will fire nine rounds. A “passing” score is 7 out of 9.

Try the drill first from a standard ready position. If you can get all your hits, try it from a holster. If you can get your hits from the holster within the PAR time, try it from concealment.

Switch Hitting Drill

• Target: Two 3×5 index cards
• Distance: 3-yards
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Low or high ready starting with your strong hand only
• Score/Par Time: 2 shots on each target in less than 10 seconds, no misses

Switch-hitting is a drill designed by the late Todd Green. The drill is designed to be simple and to work your ability to hit a target with one hand.

The drill utilizes two 3×5 index cards as targets, but any small target will work. The targets are placed a foot apart and are three yards from you. Set a shot timer with a par time of ten seconds.

The starting position is the ready position but in the strong hand only. On the buzzer engage the target on your dominant hand side, for most this will be the right target. Fire one shot and then carefully pass the gun to the left or non-dominant hand. Fire a single shot at the left-hand target. Then pass the gun back to the right hand and repeat the drill until the timer buzzes again.

The goal is to place two shots on each target in those ten seconds. If you find this easy, back the target to 5 yards and try it out.

Pistol Pyramid Drill

• Target: Pistol Pyramid Target
• Distance: Start at 3-yards
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: N/A

The Pistol Pyramid Drill incorporates a custom target in the form of a pyramid (which you can download here).

In total, the target is 15 blocks and can be used in a variety of ways and in a variety of drills. The blocks are empty, but the shooter can fill them in with numbers, shapes or colors.

The target is the core of the Pistol Pyramid. Use random numbers from 1 to 5 in each block of the Pyramid. You have to use all the numbers.

The drill here is to shoot the numbers in sequential order. So you shoot all the 1s first, then all the 2s, and so on. This forces you to track both horizontally and vertically, as well as think before you shoot.

One way we like to spice up the drill is to shoot odd numbers once and even numbers twice. Again, this keeps you thinking the whole time.

Tri-Lambda Drill

• Target: Nine USPSA targets
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards (pistol); 7 to 15 yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 18 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with pistols; low or high ready with rifles
• Score/Par Time: Less than 8 seconds (pistol); less than 10 seconds (rifle)

Designed by Kyle Lamb, the Tri-Lambda uses nine USPSA targets. The goal is to get shooters away from the idea of a fast double-tap and into what Lamb likes to call a “controlled pair.”

Three targets are arranged side-by-side at 3 to 5 yards away. On the left are three more targets at a 45-degree angle to the first trio and three more are on the right, also at a 45-degree angle to the center.

One target in each of the two side banks will have a “hostage” covering all but a few inches of the center “A” zone or set up to force a headshot.

At the buzzer, the shooter will draw his/her pistol and fire two shots at each center target, then reload and shoot two shots at the right or left targets as they prefer. Last, reload and fire two shots each at the remaining targets.

Most first-timers complete the drill in about 15 seconds. With practice, times usually drop to 10 seconds. The best do it in less than eight seconds.

Scoring is simple. One-half second is added for each point dropped—shots out of the “A” zone of a USPSA target or center bullseye on any other target. A miss adds 20 seconds. If you shoot a hostage, it’s 20 seconds, plus 20 more for the miss.

The original drill uses a pistol, but you can modify the drill so you can use a rifle at 7-15 yards.

Punto Banco Drill (Rifles)

• Target: Six 6 or 8-inch circle targets
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 39 rounds with no misses
• Start Position: Low ready
• Score/Par Time: No misses

The Punto Banco Drills is shot on six circle targets you make. The circles should be 6 to 8 inches in diameter. For reference, six inch circles have only 56% of the area of eight inch circles, so choose according to your skill level.

Write the numbers 1 to 6 onto each circle randomly. Write the numbers in the circles in different places each time you shoot the drill.

The object of Punto Banco is to shoot each circle with the number of shots indicated in each circle, no more and no less. Shooting the drill clean will result in thirty-nine hits in all the circles combined.

The drill requires you to assess how well you shoot each circle in real-time. Punto Banco teaches you to place reasonably accurate shots, rapidly shift your focus from target assessment to front sight, and to transition from target to target. It is an untimed drill.

Sequence 1 (12 rounds)

1. Place the target at 7 yards, so you can see your hits.
2. Load with a magazine of no more than 10 rounds.
3. Start from low ready with your rifle
4. Fire two shots on each circle in numerical order; (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6).
5. Reload as necessary during the sequence but do not reload at the end of the sequence.
6. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (2), you miss 1 shot, you must shoot 1 more shot, that hits, into it before continuing on to engage (3).
7. After reloading, you must continue to engage the same circle if you haven’t finished firing all shots required for it.
8. Put down your weapon. Top off your magazines but not the magazine in your rifle.

Sequence 2 (6 rounds)

1. Start from low ready with your rifle
2. Fire one shot on each circle in numerical order: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6).
3. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (2), you miss, you must shoot 1 more shot, that hits, into it before continuing on to engage (3).
4. Reload as necessary during the sequence but do not reload at the end of the sequence.
5. Put down your weapon. Top off your reload magazines but not the magazine in your rifle.

Sequence 3 (21 rounds)

1. Start from low ready with your rifle
2. Fire (1) one time, (2) two times, (3) three times, (4) four times, (5) five times, and (6) six times.
3. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (4), you miss 2 shots, you must shoot 2 more shots, that hit, before continuing on to engage (5).
4. Reload as necessary during the sequence.
5. Put down your weapon.

Punto Banco Drill (Pistols)

• Target: Six 2 or 3-inch circle targets
• Distance: 3-yards
• Rounds: 39 rounds with no misses
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: No misses

This drill is a pistol version of the Punto Banco drill.

For this drill, everything remains the same, but you should shoot the drill starting from 3 yards. (If it’s too easy, you can move further away.)

Pistol Punto Banco is shot on six circle targets you make. The circles should be 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Write the numbers 1 to 6 onto each circle randomly. Write the numbers in the circles in different places each time you shoot the drill.

The object of Punto Banco is to shoot each circle with the number of shots indicated in each circle, no more and no less. Shooting the drill clean will result in thirty-nine hits in all the circles combined.

The drill requires you to assess how well you shoot each circle in real-time. Punto Banco teaches you to place reasonably accurate shots, rapidly shift your focus from target assessment to front sight, and to transition from target to target. It is an untimed drill.

Sequence 1 (12 rounds)

1. Place the target at 3 yards, so you can see your hits.
2. Load with a magazine of no more than 10 rounds.
3. Start from the holster.
4. Fire two shots on each circle in numerical order; (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6).
5. Reload as necessary during the sequence but do not reload at the end of the sequence.
6. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (2), you miss 1 shot, you must shoot 1 more shot, that hits, into it before continuing on to engage (3).
7. After reloading, you must continue to engage the same circle if you haven’t finished firing all shots required for it.
8. Holster your weapon. Top off your magazines but not the magazine in your pistol.

Sequence 2 (6 rounds)

1. Start from the holster.
2. Fire one shot on each circle in numerical order: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6).
3. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (2), you miss, you must shoot 1 more shot, that hits, into it before continuing on to engage (3).
4. Reload as necessary during the sequence but do not reload at the end of the sequence.
5. Holster your weapon. Top off your reload magazines but not the magazine in your pistol.

Sequence 3 (21 rounds)

1. Start from the holster.
2. Fire (1) one time, (2) two times, (3) three times, (4) four times, (5) five times, and (6) six times.
3. If you miss any shot, before moving on to the next circle, you must make up the shots you missed. For example, if when shooting (4), you miss 2 shots, you must shoot 2 more shots, that hit, before continuing on to engage (5).
4. Reload as necessary during the sequence.
5. Put down your weapon.

Par 5 Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: 25-yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Low or high ready
• Score/Par Time: No misses, 5 second par time for each string of fire

This is an advanced drill created by Justin Dyal. It is advanced because of the distance to the target, but you can do the same drill at shorter distances if you’d like.

The drill will familiarize you with the relationship between sight alignment and trigger break at different tempos/distances. The drill consists of four strings of fire, each shot at 25-yards in a time limit of five seconds, on a standard NRA B8 Bullseye Repair Center from the ready position.

• String 1: Fire one shot
• String 2: Fire two shots
• String 3: Fire three shots
• String 4: Fire four shots.

The four strings give a combined ten shots and 100 possible points. Late hits are scored as misses.

Diminishing Dot Drill

• Target: Diminishing Dot Target
• Distance: 3 to 7-yards
• Rounds: 100 rounds
• Start Position: Low or high ready
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Different sized targets require a differing level of precision with regards to sight alignment. A good drill to work on this facet of shooting is called “Diminishing Dots” created by the late Ron Avery.

We’ve created a PDF target that has four circles, 1 to 4, from left to right, i.e. the first circle on the left is #1 and the furthest circle to the right is #4.

The drill requires 100 rounds from between 3 to 7-yards depending on your skill level. Start from high or low ready, and it’s a good idea to do the entire drill dry first, then go live.

1. Present to circle 1 and fire four shots, then shoot 2, 3, 4 – 4 times (16 rounds)
2. Present to circle 2 and fire four shots, then shoot 3, 4, 1 – 4 times (16 rounds)
3. Present to circle 3 and fire four shots, then 4, 1, 2 – 4 times (16 rounds)
4. Present to circle 4 and fire four shots, then 1, 2, 3 – 4 times (16 rounds)
5. You now have 46 rounds left. Do 10 rounds of any sequence you want, i.e. 10 rounds each circle. Play with it. have fun.
6. You now have 6 rounds left. Shoot the Tactical Hyve logo.

There is no time limit, but you ought to be shooting faster with the larger circles, and slowing down to get more precise sight alignment and a clear sight picture. Keep in mind, you’re not trying get all shots in the same hole. You’re looking to land shots within the circle.

Modified 5-Yard Round-Up Drill

• Target: 3×5 Index Card
• Distance: 5-yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Less than 9 seconds

This drill was designed by Dave Spaulding, inspired by Justin Dyal’s 5-Yard Round-Up Drill.

From 5-yards, shoot a 3×5 index card with the following course of fire.

• Draw and fire five rounds with both hands (freestyle)
• Transition to your strong hand and hoot three rounds strong hand only
• Immediately transition the pistol to your weak hand and fire two more rounds.

A passing score is all hits in under 9 seconds.

1-2-Reload-3 Drill

• Target: Tactical Hyve 1-2-3 Circle Target
• Distance: 3 to 5-yards depending on your skill level
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Less than 7 seconds

This drill is a modified version of the late Todd Green’s 1-2-R-3 drill. Here, we will be using our 1-2-3 Circle target, which can be downloaded here.

Start the drill with three rounds in the gun, holstered. Using a shot timer, give yourself a 7-second PAR time. On the buzzer, draw and fire six rounds as follows:

• One round at the 1″ inch circle
• two rounds at the 2″ circle
• Perform a reload
• Fire three rounds at the 3″ circle.

Hateful 8

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Bullseye Target
• Distance: 8-yards (pistol); 15-yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 8 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) or high or low ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 8 second par time (80 maximum points)

This drill was designed by Bill Blowers around a pistol, but you may use a rifle as well with some modifications.

Use a B-8 Repair Center target at 8 yards. Start with your gun holstered and loaded with 4 rounds, and have two magazines on you, each loaded with 2 rounds. For a rifle, start at 15 yards.

On the buzzer, draw your weapon and fire 4 shots, reload, fire 2 shots, reload again, and fire 2 more shots. (Start from the high or low ready wit ha rifle.)

Consistency Drill

• Target: 1-2-3 Circle Target
• Distance: 3 to 5 yards depending on your skill level
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: High or low ready position
• Score/Par Time: 8 second par time (80 maximum points)

Using our 1-2-3 Circle Target, starting from the high or low ready position, shoot the top row with the 1-inch circles. Begin from left to right. Once you can hit each circle with no misses, then repeat the drill right to left.

If you have no misses, move on to alternating circles from the outside in; and finally, if you make it to the fourth round, alternate circles starting from the center most circles and working your way out.

Mind Games Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: 25-yards
• Rounds: 50 rounds
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: Try to land as many shots in the black as possible

Designed by Mike Pannone, the drill is designed with the two major steps intended to consciously contradict each other to work adjustments in your pace and precision.

You will be drawing your weapon as fast as possible, followed by slow fire bullseye shooting. The drill consists of 40 draws (10 with a transition to support hand), 50 precision shots (30 freestyle, 10 strong hand only, 10 support hand only), 5 slide lock reloads, and 5 magazine exchanges.

If you concentrate and make every shot a proper one that is a lot of work in a short period of time.

1. Freestyle (both hands) slow fire: 10 rounds (from the high ready)
2. Strong hand only draw then fire: 10 rounds
3. Support hand only; draw with strong hand and transition to support hand: 10 rounds (if you’re advanced, you can draw with your support hand)
4. Draw, shot, slide-lock reload, shot: 10 rounds
5. Draw, shot, magazine-exchange, shot: 10 rounds

Throttle Control Drill

• Target: One 8.5 x 11 piece of paper
• Distance: 5-yards
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Less than 7 seconds

This drill was designed by Subject Matter Expert, Fred Ruiz, for our August 2019 Challenge. It works on a combination of fundamentals and throttle control.

Use a standard size 8.5×11 piece of paper and tear it into 5 pieces and mark the pieces of paper as shown in the attached video.

Shoot box A 5 times, Box B 1 time, conduct a reload, then shoot Box C four times, Box D two times, and Box E three times.

10-10-10 Shooting Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Repair Center Target
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: All shots in the black in 10 seconds

There are many variations of this drill, but they seem to all be variants of a drill designed by Ken Hackathorn.

Using a B-8 Center bullseye target, start from 10 yards away, and land 10 shots in the black in 10 seconds.

For more experienced shooters, this will be relatively easy to accomplish. To make things more difficult, try drawing from concealment and stepping off the X right before starting the drill.

15 in 10 Shooting Drill

• Target: USPSA Targets
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: All shots in the A-Zone in 10 seconds

We’ve tried to find the creator of this drill, but cannot seem to find anything definitive. What we’ve found thus far points to Mike Pannone as the creator. We first learned about this drill from Fred Ruiz.

It’s a great drill that works on a combination of skills and throttle control, as you will be engaging targets at different distances.

Using three USPSA targets, set the first one 5 yards from you, the second 10 yards away, and the last target 20 yards away.

On the go signal, you want to fire five rounds at 20 yards; five rounds at 10 yards, and five rounds at 5 yards.

Record your time for each repetition and total your times. Your goal is to keep all shots within the A zone in under 10 seconds.

Wizard Drill

• Target: USPSA Target
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 5 rounds
• Start Position: Concealed carry holster
• Score/Par Time: Each string of fire should be completed in 2.5 seconds with all shots in the A-Zone

Ken Hackathorn designed this drill, which is meant for concealed carriers. It requires only 5 rounds and a USPSA/IDPA target.

The drill starts with your pistol in a concealed carry holster and each string of fire should be completed within 2.5 seconds.

• String 1) 3 yards, one headshot strong hand only
• String 2) 5 yards, one headshot using both hands on the gun
• String 3) 7 yards, one headshot using both hands on the gun
• String 4) 10 yards, two body shots using both hands on the gun

All shots should be in the A-zone. Any misses result in a failure. If you fail the drill you can start it from the ready position. Once you can complete the drill successfully, then try using the concealed holster again.

3 Target Transition Drill (Static)

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 7-yards (pistol) and 10 yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) or high or low ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time (Total):
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 10 seconds
    • Intermediate: 7 to 10 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 7 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 7 seconds
    • Intermediate: 5 to 7 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 5 seconds

This drill is originally from the Modern Service Weapons blog. It requires three partially obscured targets set up like the photo below using USPSA targets.

Start at 7-yards and from the holster with a pistol or from 10-yards with a rifle. Shoot three strings of fire:

1. 1 on each target, Left-Right
2. 1 on each target, Right-Left
3. 1 on each target, Center-Left-Right or Center-Right-Left

Try to land all of your shots in the A-zones.

Police Marksman Drill

• Target: 3 x 5 index card
• Distance: 3, 5 and 7-yards
• Rounds: 50 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • 3-yards: 20 seconds
  • 5-yards: 22 seconds
  • 7-yards: 26 seconds

This shooting drill was taken from Police Marksman Magazine. It works a combination of skill sets like moving and shooting, dealing with malfunctions, and weapons manipulations.

You’ll need 50 rounds total. Load up magazines as follows:

• Start with 1 magazine with 2 rounds
• 2 magazines with 4 live rounds and 2 dummy rounds in each in random order. Dummy rounds shouldn’t be loaded one after the other and shouldn’t be first in the magazine nor last.

Shoot a 3″x 5″ note card at three yards. Draw and fire all the rounds in the the first magazine at the card. Reload and continue to fire, working your way through the other two magazines and clearing the malfunctions. Move laterally on each reload and malfunction clearance.

Repeat the drill at 3-yards, do it again at 5-yards, then repeat the drill twice at 7-yards.

X Drill

• Target: Two 3 x 5 index cards and two 8-inch circles, or any target with a defined head and body area
• Distance: 7-yards (pistol); 10-yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 16 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol); ready position (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Designed by the late Todd Green, this drill works on target transitions and helps shooters regulate the balance between accuracy and speed necessary to get hits against different size and distance targets.

Create two targets, A and B. Each target will have a 3×5 card as a head zone, and an 8″ circle as a body zone.

From the 7-yard line (pistol) or 10-yard line (rifle), starting from the holster (pistol) or ready position (rifle), fire two rounds at each target zone in an “X” pattern. Repeat the drill four times, starting with a different zone each time.

1. A-head, B-body, A-body, B-head
2. B-head, A-body, B-body, A-head
3. B-body, A-head, B-head, A-body
4. A-body, B-head, A-head, B-body

Pairs fired at large body zones should be faster than pairs fired at small head zones. Shooters should learn to adjust their cadence to get off shots as fast as they can appropriate to the range and size of the target.

If your headshots are just as fast as your body shots and you’re getting all hits, you need to be taking the body shots faster. Shoot at the speed the target allows. You can carry out the same drill with a rifle at the high or low-ready from the 10-yard line.

1-Reload-2 Drill

• Target: USPSA Target
• Distance: 5-yards (pistol); 10-yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 3 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol); ready position (rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 4 seconds
    • Intermediate: 2.5 to 4.0 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 2.5 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 6 seconds
    • Intermediate: 4 to 6 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 4 seconds

This is a close range drill from Todd Green that allows you to practice your reload and re-acquisition of the target as quickly as possible.

With a pistol, from the 5-yard line using a USPSA / IDPA target with your gun on target, on the go signal, fire a single round at the A-zone. Then perform a reload and fire two more rounds at the target at the A-zone.

This is an improvement over the traditional 1-reload-1 drill because by requiring two shots after the reload, the shooter is forced to get a good grip and properly follow-through to get two accurate and fast hits.

Depending on how you perform the drill, your reload can be a slide-lock reload, a speed reload, or a retention (aka tactical) reload. With a rifle, conduct the same drill, but from 10-yards.

26662 Shooting Drill

• Target: 26662 Pistol Target or Rifle Target
• Distance: 5-yards (pistol); 10-yards (rifle)
• Rounds: 5 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol); ready position (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: Varies

The 26662 drill, designed by the late Todd Green, will help you develop a good draw and the ability to change between high accuracy shots and high-speed shots.

Use a target with two 2″ circles and one 6″ circle. You can download printable targets at the link above.

The distance to your target can be anywhere from three to seven yards (pistol) or 7 to 10 yards (rifle) depending on your skill level.

From the holster (pistols) or high or low-ready (rifles), fire one round at the top 2″ circle, three rounds at the 6″ circle, and then one round at the bottom 2″ circle. Shoot the circles in that specific sequence. Record your time and establish a good par time for yourself.

Then start to chip tenths of a second off the par to improve your speed. Once you are consistently getting all of your hits within 3-4 seconds, try putting the target out another yard or two and starting again.

To keep the drill from getting stale and to keep you from getting too familiar with the specific movement from circle to circle, rotate the target to a different orientation each range session, i.e. sometimes the little dots will be on the right, sometimes of the left, sometimes on top, and sometimes on bottom.

You can use a rifle with this drill as well, though we recommend moving back to the 7 to 10 yeard line depending on your skill level, and instead of using two 2-inch circles, we recommend using two 3-inch circles with the one 6-inch circle.

3×5 Card Drill

• Target: 3 x 5 Index Card
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Holster (pistol); ready position (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: No misses

Using a 3×5 card, the shooter fires six rounds at the index card at their own pace for accuracy. Start at three yards, the goal is to have all six bullet holes touching.

After that, all shots need to hit the card. Fire another six rounds but this time from 4-yards. If all six shots hit the card, increase your distance to 5-yards.

If you continue to land all six shots on the index card, continue to move further from the target until you start to miss.

For an added challenge with pistols, use three cards and perform the drill freestyle, strong-hand only, and weak-hand only at each distance.

For a rifle, you can do the same drill but start at the 5-yard line and remember to use your holdovers to ensure accurate shots.

4 x 20 Transition Drill

• Target: Four steel plates or similar
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Holster (pistol); ready position (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 20 hits in under 10 seconds (pistol); under 8 seconds (rifle)

Designed by Scott Warren, this drill is best run with four steel plates, but you can also use paper plates, sheets of paper, or anything similar.

Targets are placed at least two feet apart edge to edge at a range of ten yards. You’ll need a timer.

On the go signal, present and engage one shot per target back and forth for 20 rounds total. Do not shoot the targets at the end twice, i.e. you shoot them once and then reverse direction.

The sequence should be: T1-T2-T3-T4-T3-T2-T1-T2, etc. There are no makeup shots. If you miss a shot, move on to the next target.

The goal is to get all twenty hits in under 10 seconds.

You can do this drill with a rifle as well, but you should use frangible ammo as you will be shooting steel up close (unless you use paper targets). Also, for a rifle, strive to get all twenty hits in under 8 seconds.

5 x 5 Skill Test

• Target: USPSA Target
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: 25 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time:
  • Grand Master: 15 seconds or less
  • Master: 20 seconds or less
  • Expert: 25 seconds or less
  • Sharpshooter: 32 seconds or less
  • Marksman: 41 seconds or less
  • Novice: 50 seconds or less

This drill was designed by Bill Wilson from Wilson Combat. The drill is conducted at 10-yards using a standard USPSA or IDPA target. You’ll be shooting 25 rounds in total.

Starting with your hands on your side and from the holster, there are four strings of fire, which are timed.

1. Draw and fire 5 shots freestyle.
2. Draw and fire 5 shots (strong hand only)
3. Draw and fire 5 shots freestyle, reload from slide-lock and fire 5 more shots freestyle
4. Draw and fire 4 shots to the body and 1 shot to the head, freestyle.

Press Six Drill

• Target: Six 2-inch circle target
• Distance: 3 to 7-yards
• Rounds: 62 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Varies for each string of fire.

Press Six is a drill designed by the late Todd Green involving six strings of fire. It helps improve both your press-out skills and your ability to hit low probability targets at speed. Use a sheet with six 2-inch circles, two rows, 3 circles in each row. You can download the target here.

The range can be anywhere from three to seven yards depending on the shooter’s skill level.

The six strings of fire are:

• Top left dot. Draw and fire one shot, focusing on a proper press-out. No time limit. Repeat ten times.
• Top center dot. Draw and fire one shot, focusing on a proper press-out. 3 second PAR time. Repeat ten times.
• Top right dot. Draw and fire one shot, focusing on a proper press-out. 2 second PAR time. Repeat ten times.
• Lower left dot. Draw and fire two shots, focusing on a proper press-out and good sight tracking. No time limit. Repeat five times.
• Lower center dot. Draw and fire two shots, focusing on a proper press-out and good sight tracking. 3 second PAR time. Repeat five times.
• Lower right dot. Draw and fire three shots, focusing on a proper press-out and good sight tracking. 3 second PAR time. Repeat four times.

Start at a distance where you can reliably get all of your hits on the slow strings (1 and 4), then push yourself to develop the speed necessary to make the PAR times. Once you are getting all of your hits on every dot, add a yard or two to the distance.

Langdon 9-Second Standards

• Target: Three IDPA or USPSA/IPSC targets
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 60 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Each string has a 9 second par time; no misses allowed; all hits must be in the -0 zones or A zones.

For this drill, you will need three IDPA or USPSA targets placed at shoulder height with at least two feet of separation between each target. You must get all -0 or A zones hits.

You will also need a shot timer, set to a 9-second PAR time. Each string has a 9-second PAR time.

Dropping any points or going past the PAR time is considered a failure.

• Vice Pres Modified: 7-yards
  • Two body shots on each; slidelock reload; two body shots on each with your strong hand only.
  • Repeat

• Vice Pres: 15-yards
  • Two body shots on each; slidelock reload; two body shots on each (freestyle).
  • Repeat

• Speed at Distance: 25-yards
  • Two body shots on each (freestyle).
  • Repeat

At the end, you should have 20 hits to the “-0” or “A” zones of the body of each target. To get a passing score, the drill should be run twice with no misses and no shots fired past the PAR Time.

Six Steel Plate Rack

• Target: Six Steel Plate Rack
• Distance: 7-yards with a pistol; 10-yards with a rifle using frangible ammo
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) / Low or High Ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: 4.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 2.6 to 4.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 2.5 seconds or less
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: 3.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 1.6 to 3.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 1.5 seconds or less

The six plate drill is excellent in increasing your ability to see faster and transition from target to target.

You’ll need access to a plate rack.

With a pistol, start at 7-yards from the holster. With a rifle, start from at least 10-yards from the high or low ready using frangible ammo. If you do not have frangible ammo, do not do this drill with a rifle to avoid any injuries.

On the go signal, start engaging the steel plates from left to right or right to left. Try to clear the plate rack with no misses.

Modified Six Steel Plate Rack

• Target: Six Steel Plate Rack
• Distance: 7-yards with a pistol; 10-yards with a rifle using frangible ammo
• Rounds: 3 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) / Low or High Ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: 3.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 2.1 to 3.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 2.0 seconds or less
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: 2.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 1.1 to 2.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 1.0 seconds or less

Like other six plate drills, this drill is excellent in increasing your ability to see faster and transition from target to target.

You’ll need access to a plate rack.

With a pistol, start at 7-yards from the holster. With a rifle, start from at least 10-yards from the high or low ready using frangible ammo. If you do not have frangible ammo, do not do this drill with a rifle to avoid any injuries.

Different from the traditional six plate rack drill, you will be shooting every other target. Each repetition will include 3 shots, i.e. 3 plates.

On the go signal, start engaging every other steel plate from left to right or right to left. Try to clear the plate rack with no misses.

Six Steel Plate Rack – Alternating

• Target: Six Steel Plate Rack
• Distance: 7-yards with a pistol; 10-yards with a rifle using frangible ammo
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) / Low or High Ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: 4.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 3.1 to 4.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 3.0 seconds or less
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: 3.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 2.1 to 3.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 2.0 seconds or less

Like other six plate drills, this drill is excellent in increasing your ability to see faster and transition from target to target.

You’ll need access to a plate rack.

With a pistol, start at 7-yards from the holster. With a rifle, start from at least 10-yards from the high or low ready using frangible ammo. If you do not have frangible ammo, do not do this drill with a rifle to avoid any injuries.

Different from the traditional six plate rack drill, here, you will shoot the plates working your way from the outside to the inside in an alternating fashion.

Steel Plates: Target Transition Drill

• Target: Six Steel Plate Rack and a steel target
• Distance: 7-yards with a pistol; 10-yards with a rifle using frangible ammo
• Rounds: 5 rounds per repetition
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) / Low or High Ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Like other six plate drills, this drill is excellent in increasing your ability to see faster and transition from target to target.

You’ll need access to a plate rack and a steel target next to the rack.

With a pistol, start at 7-yards from the holster. With a rifle, start from at least 10-yards from the high or low ready using frangible ammo. If you do not have frangible ammo, do not do this drill with a rifle to avoid any injuries.

On the go signal, engage two of the six plates then immediately transition to a larger steel target and land three rapid shots.

Steel Plates: Target Transition Drill (Variation)

• Target: Six Steel Plate Rack and a steel target
• Distance: 7-yards with a pistol; 10-yards with a rifle using frangible ammo
• Rounds: 18 rounds per repetition
• Start Position: Holster (pistol) / Low or High Ready (rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: 10.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 8.1 to 10.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 8.0 seconds or less
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: 8.1 seconds or greater
    • Intermediate: 6.1 to 8.0 seconds
    • Advanced: 6.0 seconds or less

This drill builds upon the “Steel Plates: Target Transition Drill.”

With a pistol, start at 7-yards from the holster. With a rifle, start from at least 10-yards from the high or low ready using frangible ammo. If you do not have frangible ammo, do not do this drill with a rifle to avoid any injuries.

On the go signal, start by engaging one steel plate then immediately land two shows on a steel plate positioned next to the plate rack. Continue this process until all steel plates are down. You should strive to fire 18 rounds with no misses.

Weaver Drill

• Target: USPSA Target or similar
• Distance: At least 10-yards
• Rounds: 30 rounds
• Start Position: Low ready position
• Score/Par Time: N/A

We learned about this drill from Subject Matter Expert, Dave Steinbach. The focus is on building and improving your movement and mechanics and indexing the target line rather than shooting.

Here, you’ll have a USPSA or similar target at least 10-yards from you. Position another target next to you at the 10-yard line, which is perpendicular to the target downrange (see video).

Start the drill from the low ready with your body on one side of the target that is next to you. You should be facing the target that is down range. On the go signal, side step to the other side of the target by lowering your weapon. As you move to the other side, raise your weapon along the target line and engage the target with two shots.

As this drill focuses more on movement and mechanics, your shot placement does not matter as much, but to maintain some accuracy standards, try keeping all of your shots within the A-Zone.

Run the drill with 30-rounds, but if you want more repetitions, you can do more.

Weaver Drill with Turns

• Target: USPSA Target or similar
• Distance: At least 10-yards
• Rounds: 30 rounds
• Start Position: Low ready position
• Score/Par Time: N/A

We learned about this drill from Subject Matter Expert, Dave Steinbach. The focus is on building and improving your movement and mechanics and indexing the target line rather than shooting.

Here, you’ll have a USPSA or similar target at least 10-yards from you. Position another target next to you at the 10-yard line, which is perpendicular to the target downrange (see video).

This drill is similar to the basic Weaver Drill, but this time, you will be starting with either your right or left shoulder facing the target down range.

To begin the drill, start from the low ready with one of your shoulders pointing to the target that is next to you. You should NOT be facing the target that is downrange.

When “shooter ready” is called out, make sure you look at your target downrange. On the go signal, you will side step to the side of the target where your back was facing. As you move to the other side, raise your weapon along the target line, stepping forward towards your target, and engage the target with two shots.

As this drill focuses more on movement and mechanics, your shot placement does not matter as much, but to maintain some accuracy standards, try keeping all of your shots within the A-Zone.

Run the drill with 30-rounds, but if you want more repetitions, you can do more.

Bill Drill

• Target: USPSA Target or similar
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / High or Low-Ready (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time:
  • Pistol
    • Beginner: Greater than 3.5 seconds
    • Intermediate: 2.5 to 3.5 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 2.5 seconds
  • Rifle
    • Beginner: Greater than 2.5 seconds
    • Intermediate: 1.5 to 2.5 seconds
    • Advanced: Less than 1.5 seconds

This is a classic drill that works on a combination of skill sets. The classic Bill Drill starts at 7-yards with an USPSA or IPSC target, though any 6-shot drill done at speed on a single target can achieve the same basic goal.

From the holster (pistol) in the surrender position or high or low ready (rifle), on the go signal, six shots are fired as quickly as the shooter can achieve six hits on the target.

The drill teaches sight tracking, proper visual reference, recoil management, and trigger manipulation. One important aspect of the Bill Drill is learning to follow your sights during recoil so that you can fire your next shot as soon as you have an adequate sight picture. Usually, this means pulling the trigger as soon as the front sight comes back down onto the scoring zone without waiting for precise alignment or for the sight to stop movement in the middle of the target.

At full speed, the front sight is constantly moving, never coming to rest until the drill is over. The same drill can be done with a rifle.

Bill Drill 2

• Target: USPSA Target or similar
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / High or Low-Ready (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 10-second total (Pistol) / 7-second total (Rifle)

This is a newer version of the classic Bill Drill developed by Bill Wilson. Here, one gets to practice on the draw more.

From 7-yard away, engage the A-zone on an USPSA or IPSC target, the 0 zone on an IDPA targret, or an 8-inch circle, with the following five strings of fire. Deduct a half-second from your time for every miss.

There are five strings of fire, each for time:

• Draw and fire 1 shot.
• Draw and fire 2 shots.
• Draw and fire 3 shots.
• Draw and fire 4 shots.
• Draw and fire 5 shots.

Bill Wilson suggests a 10-second total score as a goal for a pistol. Shoot for 7-seconds with a rifle. You can conduct the same drill with a rifle but from the high or low ready position.

Frank Garcia’s Dot Drill

• Target: Six 2-Inch Circle Target
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 36 rounds
• Start Position: Holster or ready position
• Score/Par Time: 5 Second Par Time with no misses

Designed by Frank Garcia, this drill combines a high degree of marksmanship with enough speed to put pressure on shooters. You’ll need a target with six 2-inch circles, which you can download above.

Set the target up 7-yards away. Set a shot timer for a 5 second PAR time. On the go signal, draw and fire six shots at the first 2″ dot on the target. Record the number of hits you achieved within the PAR time. Shots fired after the 5s PAR count as misses.

Repeat the drill with the same 5s PAR on each of the remaining 2-inch dots. You will fire a total of 36 rounds with six separate start signals.

Make sure you have at least six rounds loaded in your gun before starting each dot. If your range does not allow you to draw from a holster, begin the drill from your preferred ready position.

VTAC Half and Half Drill

• Target: USPSA Target
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: 30 rounds
• Start Position: Ready position
• Score/Par Time: Par time varies

The Half & Half drill was designed by Kyle Lamb and Mike Pannone. You can use the A-zone of a USPSA or IPSC target, the 0 zone of an IDPA target, or any 8-inch circle There are three strings of fire.

With each subsequent string, you reduce the distance and the par time by half.

For rifles, use the following course of fire from the high or low ready:

• 10 rounds at 20 yards, 10 second PAR time
• 10 rounds at 10 yards, 5 second PAR time
• 10 rounds at 5 yards, 2.5 second PAR time

All shots must be fired before the end of the PAR time; shots fired after the PAR count as misses.

For pistols, start from concealment or a retention holster with the following strings of fire:

• 10 rounds at 20 yards, 14 second PAR time
• 10 rounds at 10 yards, 7 second PAR time
• 10 rounds at 5 yards, 3.5 second PAR time

Hits inside the scoring zone are 10 points each. Misses, shots fired after the PAR time, or unfired shots score zero. The maximum possible score is 300.

Prone Drill

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 15-yards (Pistol) / 20-yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 6 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / Ready position (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: Less than 8 seconds (rifle) / less than 10 seconds (pistol) – No misses.

This is a simple drill that allows you to work getting into and firing from the prone position. Using three USPSA targets or similar, space them out in one row, about 1-yard from each other.

If you’re using a pistol, start from 15-yards, if you’re using a rifle, start from 20-yards. Start from the holster with a pistol or high or low ready with a rifle.

From standing, the on go signal, drop to prone and fire two shots on each target. You want to land all of your shots in the A zone.

If you’re using a pistol, drop to prone first, then draw your weapon. It is vital to have excellent muzzle awareness and trigger finger discipline. If you are at a range where you cannot do this, draw while standing then drop to prone.

Barricade Drill

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 15-yards (Pistol) / 25-yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 12 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / Ready position (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: Less than 15 seconds both pistol and rifle

This is a simple drill you can use to work on shooting from barricades. Using three USPSA targets or similar, space them out in one row, about 1-yard from each other.

If you’re using a pistol, start from 15-yards, if you’re using a rifle, start from 25-yards. Start from the holster with a pistol or high or low ready with a rifle.

Land all of your shots in the A zone. Start from standing behind a barricade. On the go signal draw or present your weapon, and fire 2 on each target from cover while standing; then perform a tactical reload and fire 2 rounds on each from cover while kneeling.

Head-Body-Head Drill

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 7-yards (Pistol) / 15-yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 24 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / Ready position (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 3.5 second par time for pistols and 2.5 seconds for rifles; no misses

This drill is inspired by Ernest Langdon’s 3.5 second standards. For this drill, you will need three USPSA targets (or similar) placed at shoulder height with at least a yard of separation between each target. You will also need a shot timer set to a 3.5-second PAR time for pistols and 2.5-seconds for rifles.

Each string of fire has a 3.5-second PAR time. You must get all A Zone hits within the PAR time for each run. Dropping any points or going past the PAR time is considered a failure.

With a rifle, start from 15-yards. With a pistol, start from 7-yards.

T1 is the left target; T2 is the center target, T3 is the right target.

The four courses of fire are:

1. Two body T1; two head T2; two body T3.
2. Two body T3; two head T2; two body T1.
3. Two head T1; two body T2; two head T3.
4. Two head T3; two body T2; two head T1.

2-R-2 Drill

• Target: One USPSA Targets
• Distance: 7-yards (Pistol) / 15-yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 4 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / Ready position (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 3 second par time for pistols and 4 seconds for rifles; no misses

This drill is the next step after the 1-R-1 drill. It’s a solid progression as firing two shots instead of one allows you to work on maintaining a proper grip and working your recoil management.

Use a USPSA target, or other target with a defined A zone. With a rifle, start from 15-yards. With a pistol, start from 7-yards.

On the go signal, draw your weapon (pistols) or push your weapon out (rifles) and land two shots to the A zone; reload, then land two more shots in the A zone.

Moving & Shooting 3.5 Second Standards

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 5 to 10 yards (Pistol) / 15 to 20 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 4 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Pistol) / Ready position (Rifle)
• Score/Par Time: 3.5 second par time for pistols and 2.5 seconds for rifles; no misses

This drill is inspired by Ernest Langdon’s 3.5 second standards. For this drill, you will need three USPSA targets (or similar) placed at shoulder height with at least a yard of separation between each target. You will also need a shot timer set to a 3.5-second PAR time.

Each string of fire has a 3.5-second PAR time. You must get all A Zone hits within the PAR time for each run. Dropping any points or going past the PAR time is considered a failure.

With a rifle, do the drill from 20 to 15 yards. With a pistol, do the drill between 10 and 5 yards.

T1 is the left target; T2 is the center target, T3 is the right target.

The four courses of fire are:

Pistol:

• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 10yd to 5yd
• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 5yd to 10yd
• Two body shots on each target right to left while moving from 10yd to 5yd
• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 5yd to 10yd.

Rifle:

• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 20yd to 15yd
• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 15yd to 20yd
• Two body shots on each target right to left while moving from 20yd to 15yd
• Two body shots on each target left to right while moving from 15yd to 20yd.

SHO & WHO

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: 7 yards
• Rounds: 24 rounds
• Start Position: Holster (Strong Hand) / Low Ready (Weak Hand)
• Score/Par Time: 3.5 second par time for pistols; no misses

This drill is inspired by Ernest Langdon’s 3.5 second standards. For this drill, you will need three USPSA targets (or similar) placed at shoulder height with at least a yard of separation between each target. You will also need a shot timer set to a 3.5-second PAR time. Each string of fire has a 3.5-second PAR time.

You must get all A Zone hits within the PAR time for each run. Dropping any points or going past the PAR time is considered a failure. Start from 7-yards.

T1 is the left target; T2 is the center target, T3 is the right target.

The four courses of fire are:

• 2 body shots on each target left to right, Strong Hand Only.
• 2 body shots on each target right to left, Strong Hand Only.
• 2 body shots on each target left to right, Weak Hand Only (start from low-ready).
• 2 body shots on each target right to left, Weak Hand Only (start from low-ready).

Changing Gears

• Target: One 3X5 card and an 8-inch circle
• Distance: 7 yards (Pistol) / 10 yards (Rifles)
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: 3 to 4 second par time to start

This drill is intended to help shooters learn throttle control. It uses two different size targets, a small (3×5 card) and a large (8″ plate). A shot timer is used set to a par time that pushes the shooter to shoot as quickly as possible while still getting hits. 3-4 seconds is a good start; once the shooter is getting a total of 5-6 hits per run, reduce the par time for a greater challenge.

There are two variants of the drill. Both should be practiced:

Slow-to-Fast

Draw, fire two rounds at the small target, then as many hits on the large target as possible before the par time runs out. This emphasizes a very precise draw and first shot. After hitting the small target twice, the shooter must speed up to get as many hits on the large target as possible within the par time.

Fast-to-Slow Draw

Fire two rounds at the large target, then as many hits on the small target as possible before the par time runs out. This emphasizes control, because the first two shots should be very fast and then the shooter should slow down to get his hits on the smaller target.

If you’re using a pistol, start from 7-yards. With a rifle, start from 10-yards.

Blind Draw

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A simple dry fire drill to help improve your draw. Pick a specific on a target. Once you know where you want your point of aim to be, close your eyes.

When you’re ready, draw and present your weapon. Are your sights on target where they should be? If you’re near, that’s great. If you aren’t, you’ll want to work on your body mechanics and natural point of aim through repetition to improve where your POA is.

Over time, you’ll build the neuro-pathways to make movements natural. You’ll be able to draw blindly while still getting your sights on target.

Overt: Touch Points

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A simple drill to build the neuro-pathways to establishing the proper touch points on your pistol before fully gripping and drawing your pistol.

From the surrender position or with your arms naturally hanging at your sides, move your firing hand into a position to establish your touchpoints.

Your support hand should move close to your body, depending on the technique you use, to avoid flagging your support hand, and to help quickly establish a two-handed grip on your pistol once it is drawn from the holster.

Concealed: Touch Points

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A simple drill to build the neuro-pathways to establishing the proper touch points on your pistol before fully gripping and drawing your pistol from concealment.

From the surrender position or with your arms naturally hanging at your sides, clear your garment and move your firing hand into position to establish your touch points.

Establishing the proper tough points will help ensure you get a good grip on your pistol with every draw.

Overt: Freestyle Draw

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster using the technique you are most comfortable with both of your hands, i.e. freestyle. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Overt: Strong Hand

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster using the technique you are most comfortable with and with only your strong hand. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Overt: Support Hand

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster using the technique you are most comfortable with and with only your support hand. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Overt: Getting of the X

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster using the technique you are most comfortable with, while stepping to the left or the right. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Overt: With Movement

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster using the technique you are most comfortable with while moving forward, backward or laterally. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Overt: Draw to Retention

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster to a position where you can shoot from retention, using the technique you are most comfortable with. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: Freestyle Draw

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from concealment using the technique you are most comfortable with and push out to full presentation using both hands. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: Strong Hand

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from concealment using the technique you are most comfortable with and with only your strong hand. You must defeat your garment and draw your holster with only your strong hand. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: Support Hand

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from concealment using the technique you are most comfortable with and with only your support hand. You must defeat your garment and draw your holster with only your support hand. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: Getting of the X

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from concealment using the technique you are most comfortable with, while stepping to the left or the right. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: With Movement

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from concealment using the technique you are most comfortable with, while moving forward, backward or laterally. Push out to full presentation. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Concealed: Draw to Retention

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

Draw your pistol from your holster to a position where you can shoot from retention, using the technique you are most comfortable with. This drill is done dry but you can add live fire once you are comfortable.

Remedial Action

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Ready position
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a drill you can do dry with dummy rounds, or with magazines mixed with live and dummy rounds.

Here, you want to set up your weapon to have a double feed. Once you notice the double feed, you will want to lock your slide or bolt to the rear, then release or strip your magazine from your weapon.

In most cases, this should clear the double feed. On some occasions, you may need to use your hands/fingers to manually clear the malfunction.

Once clear, you can load a new magazine or use the one that was stripped if it has no issues, then rack your slide to get your weapon back into the fight.

Stove Pipe

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a simple drill you can do dry or during live fire to work on clearing a common pistol malfunction–the stovepipe malfunction.

The stovepipe occurs when a spent casing is not ejected far enough or fast enough to leave the pistol’s ejection port.

To set up the drill, use a spent case of brass and insert it into the ejection port of a pistol, locking it in place with the slide. (Watch the accompanying video for visual instructions on how ot set up the drill.)

Being mindful of the pistol’s muzzle, swipe your hand across the top of the slide to sweep the spent casing out of the slide. After the stovepipe has been cleared, tap the back of the pistol slide to ensure the slide is in battery, and shoot the handgun like normal.

Emergency Reload Drill

• Target: NRA B8 Bullseye Repair Center
• Distance: 7 yards (Pistol) / 10 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 15 rounds
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: At least 24 points within 14 seconds.

This is an easy drill from Tim Lau that will give you some additional practice with your emergency reloads.

Set up a bullseye target at seven yards–repair center. Load three magazines with 3, 5, and 7 rounds, respectively. Randomly load one of the mags into your gun and place the other two in belt pouches. Start from the low ready position.

At the go signal, shoot all 15 rounds in a continuous string, reloading as necessary. Tim suggests a scoring system of two points for hits in the 9 and 10 ring and one point for hits in the 7 or 8 rings.

For his police department, he requires the officers to complete the drill in less than 20 seconds and score at least 24 out of 30 points.

For advanced shooters using open top mag pouches, he suggests that a time between 10 and 14 seconds would be a good goal.

Speed Reload Drill

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: N/A
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A basic drill you can do dry to work your weapons manipulations. Here, you want to execute reloads when you are running low on ammo but before you have reached slide lock with your pistol or rifle. There are many ways to conduct a speed reload. Use whatever technique or variation you are most comfortable with.

Tactical Reload

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: N/A
• Score/Par Time: N/A

A basic drill to work your weapons manipulations. Here, you want to execute reloads before you reach slide lock on your pistol or rifle. There are different ways to conduct a tactical reload. Use whatever technique or variation you are most comfortable with.

The Tactical Reload is used when you have a partially full magazine and want to return the firearm to full or nearer-to-full magazine capacity.

3 Target Transition – Moving Forward

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: Start at 15 yards (Pistol) / Start at 25 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

Set up three USPSA/IPSC paper targets next to one another, at least 4 yards apart. If you’re using a pistol, start the drill from 15 yards away, and from the holster. If you’re using a rifle, start at 25 yards from the high or low ready.

On the go signal, present your weapon as you start moving forward and engaging the three targets. Take 3 shots at each target as you move. You can shoot the targets in any order you want. Make sure to land all of your shots in the A-zone. If you are missing a lot of your shots, you should slow down.

When you are further from your target, your shot cadence should be slower. As you get closer to your targets, you should be able to increase your speed while maintaining accuracy.

3 Target Transition – Left

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: Start at 7 yards (Pistol) / Start at 15 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

Set up three USPSA/IPSC paper targets next to one another, at least 5 yards apart. If you’re using a pistol, start the drill from 7 yards away and from the holster. If you’re using a rifle, start at 15 yards from the high or low ready.

On the go signal, present your weapon as you start moving laterally with the targets on your right and engaging the three targets. Take 3 shots at each target as you move. Start with the furthest target from you and work your way to the nearest target. Make sure to land all of your shots in the A-zone. If you are missing a lot of your shots, you should slow down.

When you are further from your target, your shot cadence should be slower. As you get closer to your targets, you should be able to increase your speed while maintaining accuracy.

3 Target Transition – Right

• Target: Three USPSA Targets
• Distance: Start at 7 yards (Pistol) / Start at 15 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 9 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

Set up three USPSA/IPSC paper targets next to one another, at least 5 yards apart. If you’re using a pistol, start the drill from 7 yards away and from the holster. If you’re using a rifle, start at 15 yards from the high or low ready.

On the go signal, present your weapon as you start moving laterally with the targets on your right and engaging the three targets. Take 3 shots at each target as you move. Start with the furthest target from you and work your way to the nearest target. Make sure to land all of your shots in the A-zone. If you are missing a lot of your shots, you should slow down.

When you are further from your target, your shot cadence should be slower. As you get closer to your targets, you should be able to increase your speed while maintaining accuracy.

Figure 8 Movement Drill

• Target: One USPSA Target
• Distance: Start at 25 yards
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

On a single target, we like USPSA targets but you can use any target you’d like or a steel plate, this drill introduces a shooter to dynamic movement while shooting.

Set up 4 to 6 cones starting 25 yards away leading up to your target. Each cone should have 3 to 6 yards of space in between them. The cones should be in one line leading up to your target.

On the go signal, start moving towards your target and shoot it 2 or 3 times, then immediately move between the first set of cones to the other side and engage the target again 2 or 3 times.

Follow the same pattern all the way to the end of the cones. Everytime you move from one side to the other, you should be in compressed ready.

Forward Movement

• Target: One USPSA Target
• Distance: Start at 15 yards (Pistol) / Start at 20 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 5 to 8 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

On a single target, we like USPSA targets but you can use any target you’d like or a steel plate, this drill introduces a shooter to moving forward while shooting.

There are many ways to approach the drill. We’ll describe one method and you can tweak it to fit your skill level.

With a pistol, start from 15 yards away from your target. On the go signal, draw your pistol while you move towards your target and begin engaging your target. Take 5 to 8 shots as you approach the 7-yard line. You should stop the drill once you reach the 7-yard line or after 5 to 8 shots are taken, whichever comes first. The goal is to land all of your shots in the A-zone of a USPSA target.

If you are missing a lot, you should slow down. Do the same thing with a rifle, but this time, start at 20 yards away and work your way to 10 yards. Again, you want to take 5 to 8 shots before you reach the 10-yard line, with all of them hitting the A-zone. Start from the low or high ready.

Backward Movement

• Target: One USPSA Target
• Distance: Start at 7 yards (Pistol) / Start at 10 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 5 to 8 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

On a single target, we like USPSA targets but you can use any target you’d like or a steel plate, this drill introduces a shooter to moving backward while shooting. There are many ways to approach the drill. We’ll describe one method and you can tweak it to fit your skill level.

With a pistol, start from 7 yards away from your target. On the go signal, draw your pistol while you move away from your target and begin engaging your target. Take 5 to 8 shots as you approach the 15-yard line. You should stop the drill once you reach the 15-yard line or after 5 to 8 shots are taken, whichever comes first. The goal is to land all of your shots in the A-zone of a USPSA target.

If you are missing a lot, you should slow down. Do the same thing with a rifle, but this time, start at 10 yards away and work your way backward to 20 yards. Again, you want to take 5 to 8 accurate shots before you reach the 20-yard line, with all of them hitting the A-zone. Start from the low or high ready.

Lateral Movement

• Target: One USPSA Target
• Distance: Start at 7 yards (Pistol) / Start at 10 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 3 to 5 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

On a single target, we like USPSA targets but you can use any target you’d like or a steel plate, this drill introduces a shooter to moving backward while shooting. There are many ways to approach the drill. We’ll describe one method and you can tweak it to fit your skill level.

With a pistol, start from 7 yards away from your target, with the target positioned at 1 or 2 o’clock from your starting position. On the go signal, draw your pistol while you move laterally to the right and begin engaging your target. Take 3 to 5 shots. The goal is to land all of your shots in the A-zone of a USPSA target with no misses. If you are missing a lot, you should slow down.

Make sure to reverse the direction as well. When moving left, you’ll want to start 7-yards away, with the target positioned at 10 or 11 o’clock from your starting position. Do the same thing with a rifle, but this time, start at 10 yards away. Again, you want to land 3 to 5 accurate shots. Start from high or low ready.

Angled Movement

• Target: One USPSA Target
• Distance: Start at 7 yards (Pistol) / Start at 10 yards (Rifle)
• Rounds: 3 to 5 rounds
• Start Position: Holster with a pistol or high/low ready with a rifle
• Score/Par Time: All A Zone Hits

On a single target, we like USPSA targets but you can use any target you’d like or a steel plate, this drill introduces a shooter to moving backward while shooting. There are many ways to approach the drill. We’ll describe one method and you can tweak it to fit your skill level.

With a pistol, start from 7 yards away from your target. On the go signal, draw your pistol while you move on a 45-degree angle to the right and begin engaging your target. Take 3 shots. The goal is to land all of your shots in the A-zone of a USPSA target with no misses. If you are missing a lot, you should slow down.

Make sure to reverse the direction as well. Do the same thing with a rifle, but this time, start at 10 yards away. Again, you want to land 3 to 5 accurate shots. Start from high or low ready.

Action – Reaction Drill

• Target: Varies
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Varies
• Score/Par Time: Beat the “Leader” to the shot

This is a partner drill where one person will act as the leader, and the other will be the follower. The leader will decide on a start position for the drill and the follower must copy the position the leader starts with.

This drill has different names. The accompanying video is from a class we attended where Mike Pannone calls the drill the “Rabbit and Coyote” drill.

From the start position, the leader will start the drill by obtaining their weapon wherever it may be, i.e. a holster, on the ground, etc. and engaging a target–preferably a steel target.

The follower, at the first sign of the leader moving to grab their weapon, should react to the leader’s initial movement, and try to shoot the same target before the leader does.

The follower must mirror the movements that the leader has set out for the specific repetition, and their goal is to hit the target before the leader does. Whoever his the target first, wins.

5 in 5 at 5 Drill

• Target: Varies
• Distance: 5-yards
• Rounds: 5 rounds
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: N/A

At 5 yards, from the holster, you have five seconds to fire five shots, hence the name “5 In 5 At 5.” Do it with each gun you carry. Check the times to see which you were fastest with, and pay careful attention to which delivered the best hits.

Acceleration Drill

• Target: 8-inch circle or 8.5 x 11″ sheet
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: 5 rounds
• Start Position: Compressed ready
• Score/Par Time: 1-second par time

Use an 8-inch circle, 8.5×11″ sheet of paper or similar target starting at seven yards from the target. Start position is compressed ready with your gun close in to your body, pointed at the target, both hands on the gun. Set the PAR time on your shot timer to 1.0 seconds.

On the buzzer, press the gun out and press the trigger, working on your sight alignment and timing so the shot breaks at the moment you reach full extension of your arms. If you finish with plenty of time left, slow yourself down and work on breaking a more accurate shot without going over the PAR time.

Go through one or two magazines depending on whether you have a double- or single-stack mag. Next, put up a new target. Without changing the par time, do the same drill, except fire two shots per iteration. This might be easy for you, or it might require you to push yourself to break that first shot a little faster.

Again, the goal is to get the most accurate shots you can without going over the par time. Fire the same number of repetitions (so you’ll fire two times as many shots).

If you were getting two shots in the 1.0 second, next try three, then four, and keep going until you can no longer get all your hits within the PAR time.

You’ll have to speed up a little more each time. This drill should take you from smooth accurate single shots to pushing yourself to the very limit of your speed & accuracy.

7-Yard Speed Drill

• Target: 8-inch circle
• Distance: 7-yards
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Holster
• Score/Par Time: Varies

Starting at 7 yards and shooting an 8-inch circle, first establish a baseline score. Time yourself drawing and firing three hits on an 8″ circle at seven yards. Then set a PAR time by rounding up to the next highest half second.

So if you scored 1.75 seconds, your par for this drill will be 2 seconds. Next, using that par time, draw and hit the target as many times as you can in the allotted time.

After each run, check the target and the timer to make sure you know how many actual hits you scored within the time limit. Start from the holster.

Whether you draw from concealment or an OWB holster is up to you. You can also start from the high ready or low ready if your range doesn’t allow drawing. Repeat the drill ten times. With each repetition, try to push yourself a little bit harder to make just one more hit.

Around the World Drill

• Target: 6-inch circle
• Distance: 10-yards
• Rounds: 10 rounds
• Start Position: Low or High-Ready
• Score/Par Time: All shots in the 6-inch circle

This drill will introduce you to moving and shooting by learning how to turn and aggressively drive your weapon to the target.

Starting at 10 yards and shooting a 6-inch circle, have a partner give you a number, i.e. 12 o’clock means you should be facing your target, 6 o’clock means your back should be facing your targets, 3 o’clock means your left shoulder if facing the target, and so on.

Once given the direction you should be facing, your partner will should out “standby.” This is the signal to turn your head and look at your target.

On the go signal, turn completely towards the target and engage it with one accurate shot. This is not a speed drill.

However, as you get used to the drill, you can add a par time and have your partner call out a random number of shots for each repetition.

Rhythm Drill

• Target: One USPSA target
• Distance: Start from at least 25 yards
• Rounds: 30 rounds
• Start Position: Low or High-Ready
• Score/Par Time: No time; strive to land all A zone shots

This drill will introduce you to moving and shooting and learning the relationship between shot cadence and distance.

Starting at 25-yards from your target, begin engaging the target at the go signal. Continue moving towards the target continuing to fire. As you get closer to the target, your shot cadence or rhythm should increase. Shots from far distances should be slower.

The goal is to land all 30 shots in the A zone.

Gas Pedal Drill

• Target: Multiple USPSA targets and one steel plate
• Distance: Varies
• Rounds: Varies
• Start Position: Low or High-Ready
• Score/Par Time: No time; strive to land all A zone shots

We learned about this drill from retired Army Ranger, Dave Steinbach. This drill will introduce you to alternating from moving quickly to slowing down to reach “accurate speed” and vice-versa.

You want to set up a steel plate at least 25 yards away from you–you may go further if your range and skill level allows. In between, you and the steel plate, place 3 to 5 paper targets (watch the video for a visual).

The paper targets should be spread out about 5 to 10 yards from one another. You will be engaging the paper targets as you move forward toward the steel target.

On the go signal, immediately engage the paper target closest to you three times as you move forward toward the steel plate. The first target should be at least 3 yards away.

As soon as you’re done shooting the first paper target, immediately transition to shoot the steel plate while you continue to move forward. (You need to hit the steel target before reaching the first paper target.)

Once you hit the steel plate, pick up speed as you walk towards the first paper target line. Once you reach the first paper target line, you are now clear to engage the second paper target three times. Then, immediately transition to the steel target to hit it once while moving. Once you do, pick up your walking pace towards the second paper target line. Continue his process until you have shot all of your paper targets.

The video shows Myles engaging a second steel plate with his pistol at the end. You do not need to add this, but it can serve as a variation to get some pistol work in during the drill.

Aside from learning how to increase and decrease your speed, strive to land all shots in the A zone.

Shoulder Transition Drill

• Target: N/A
• Distance: N/A
• Rounds: N/A
• Start Position: Weapon on target
• Score/Par Time: N/A

This is a simple drill to practice your rifle shoulder transitions. Practice it dry first, then you can use live ammo once your confident with your technique.

Work your shoulder transitions stationary and while moving.

Long Gun Drills

COMING SOON! Make sure to sign up to our newsletter to be updated. You can sign up here.

Shotgun Drills

COMING SOON! Make sure to sign up to our newsletter to be updated. You can sign up here.