How quickly can you run the El Presidente drill?
I don't.
Around seven years ago, I was intruded to it. In the course of one day's shooting, I improved my time by about 30% or more. I frankly cannot remember my best times. I was shooting a Commander-size steel frame .45. Those who were using larger frame 9mm pistols did a lot better.
Accordion to Jim Wilson,
El Presidente times of ten seconds are "par" with a semi-automatic pistol, and When shooting a revolver, par for the drill is about 12 to 13 seconds. That's caring with a cover garment.
The drill has its uses, but it's not for me, for four reasons: (1) the shooter always knows where the target is in advance; (2) the distance is always the same; (3) ten yards is somewhat beyond the range of distances at which a defensive shooting incident is likely to take place; and (4) the emphasis is all on speed, and not on achieving a good balance of speed and precision.
On (3), one
might think that skill at ten years should be transferable to shooting at two yards, but that is really not entirely true. On (4), speed is the objective of the drill, but once one can do it, it is, in my opinion better to go on to something else.
I recommend the I. C. E. PDN Combat Focus Shooting course. The distances will vary, and the student will not know where the target is in advance; "split times" are not measured--the emphasis is on a
balance of
speed and
precision. That will depend on the distance in each "encounter", each of which will involve placing three to five rounds in the upper chest area as quickly as possible after identifying the target and drawing while moving off-line. Almost all of the distances will be well within ten yards--most within five.
Reloading is part of the drill, but not after a fixed number of rounds. The gun is loaded with varying numbers, and the purpose of the reloading exercise is to help develop skills to react to an unexpected malfunction.