What is the Best Way to Practice?
- Thread starter chemcal
- Start date
If you want to master pistol shooting, start with groups and master trigger control first.
Dry fire is huge, grip strength training is huge.
For live fire, Dot Drills. Simple way is a large sheet of butcher paper and a dark colored paint can. Use the lid as a template and make 6 to 10 dots on the paper. Hang that at 5 yards. Goal is to get to where you can put 5 rounds into the dot (which is about 2.3") for all the dots, time does not matter. When you can do that, move it back to 10, then 15 yards. Start to work the timer into the mix once you can be perfect 5 for 5 for at least 75% of the dots. Say 10 seconds for the 5.
I try to use the dot drill a few times a month at 15 yards. At 2.5 seconds for 5 shots, I still drop one here and there.
Then move on to the Scrambler drill. Goal is 10 hits on a 10" plate at 15 yards. Hit or miss, you run. Here is the Scrambler with Rifle.
https://www.facebook.com/504559829685716/videos/706937132781317/
If you master those two drills, you will be able to outshoot the vast majority of people on the planet, would ace any LE/Mil qual test and be well on your way to pistol mastery. When those are down, it is all about shooting on the move.
Dry fire is huge, grip strength training is huge.
For live fire, Dot Drills. Simple way is a large sheet of butcher paper and a dark colored paint can. Use the lid as a template and make 6 to 10 dots on the paper. Hang that at 5 yards. Goal is to get to where you can put 5 rounds into the dot (which is about 2.3") for all the dots, time does not matter. When you can do that, move it back to 10, then 15 yards. Start to work the timer into the mix once you can be perfect 5 for 5 for at least 75% of the dots. Say 10 seconds for the 5.
I try to use the dot drill a few times a month at 15 yards. At 2.5 seconds for 5 shots, I still drop one here and there.
Then move on to the Scrambler drill. Goal is 10 hits on a 10" plate at 15 yards. Hit or miss, you run. Here is the Scrambler with Rifle.
https://www.facebook.com/504559829685716/videos/706937132781317/
If you master those two drills, you will be able to outshoot the vast majority of people on the planet, would ace any LE/Mil qual test and be well on your way to pistol mastery. When those are down, it is all about shooting on the move.
thibaultfelix40
New member
This is a system I used for myself and a few others. Get a box and put a few rocks in it so it will sit still and not go flying off in the wind. Tape a piece of copying paper to the box and get back about 10 feet. Take a 22 handgun of any sort at the sheet of paper just naturally pointing the gun with both hands and empty the gun. If you have not hit the paper get closer. If you plopped all the bullets in the center area of the paper, get futher away. Try to shoot as fast as you can. As you progress push your self a little for accuracy, distance and speed. I haven't found it nessasery to worry about sight picture, breath control, trigger control etc. To develope the ability to hit a soda can at 15 yards which is actually all the accuracy most of us will ever need with a hand gun. If you want to hunt, shoot competively etc. you will be beyond my instructional prowess. However, if what you want to do is to blast boogers in your house, snakes, rabid small animals, particularly ugly rocks and clods or whatever you deem in need of being shot this will do. Shooting should be fun and safe for things that don't need to be shot.
thibaultfelix40
New member
MARKCO, put it real well and more refined than I did. One of the guys I taught these casual shooting techniques was at his girlfriend's fathers farm when a bunch of her father's state police buddies showed up and started a shooting contest. He outshot the whole bunch. They were really surprised and wanted to know where he learned to shoot so well. Shooting can be really simple, easy and fun.
g.willikers
New member
The scrambler drill definitely looks helpful.
It would be even quicker if the shooter didn't have to drop his rifle down toward the ground (and his feet) as he ran back and forth.
Stepping back farther from the barricade and keeping the rifle shouldered and pointed on target would help with that.
Just a thought from the peanut gallery.
It would be even quicker if the shooter didn't have to drop his rifle down toward the ground (and his feet) as he ran back and forth.
Stepping back farther from the barricade and keeping the rifle shouldered and pointed on target would help with that.
Just a thought from the peanut gallery.
If you keep the rifle up during the scrambler drill, you will fatigue too quick and then start to miss the 10" plate at 100 yards, like the second shooter did. The rifle is always pointed at least 3 to 4 feet in front of the shooter. It is also slower to move back and forth with the rifle up than down.
The purpose of drills is to run them and try them and prove to yourself what you can and can not do. What is faster, more efficient, smoother, etc.
The purpose of drills is to run them and try them and prove to yourself what you can and can not do. What is faster, more efficient, smoother, etc.
Last edited:
g.willikers
New member
I meant that the shooter should keep the barricade between themselves and the target, but just a little farther back for clearance.
No back and forth movement, just sideways between shooting positions, still using effective cover.
g.willikers
New member
There's a cure for that - it's called a gym.
Seriously, it's easy to forget an important part of training is to get into good shape.
I was watching an otherwise very good video on using rifles from behind a barricade, similar to the video you recommended.
But the poor guy was running out of steam from just squatting down and getting back up a few times.
Generally speaking, I try to practice to improve what I do poorly rather than over-practice what I already do well.
A counter-example occurred at my local range just yesterday. A fellow shooter was firing his AR at a metal plate from a bench rest position. He hit the target every time. Then he tried to hit the same target from a standing (off hand) position. He missed his first 4 or 5 shots, gave up, and went back to the bench rest. Spent a lot of ammo and gained nothing.
As for me, I am currently practicing trigger control and follow through with my pistol. Having become adequate with my .22 rifle (which I agree is how one should first learn to shoot), I still suck at pistol shooting. It's pistol practice time for me.
A counter-example occurred at my local range just yesterday. A fellow shooter was firing his AR at a metal plate from a bench rest position. He hit the target every time. Then he tried to hit the same target from a standing (off hand) position. He missed his first 4 or 5 shots, gave up, and went back to the bench rest. Spent a lot of ammo and gained nothing.
As for me, I am currently practicing trigger control and follow through with my pistol. Having become adequate with my .22 rifle (which I agree is how one should first learn to shoot), I still suck at pistol shooting. It's pistol practice time for me.
I practice "tactical" shooting....always drawing from a holster. Bullseye practice is different in my view...in general, I had a well known instructor tell me to focus on center chest for tactical shooting ( similar to an A zone on IPSC target....and any hit in that A zone is a good shot. In fact, he advised if your groups get too tight, it's an indication that you are sandbagging the time and you should speed up....and not worry about a 4" circle ...an A zone hit, is an A.
I use a timer to add a little stress.
I create courses of fire ...of 100 Rds. Max score is 100 pts ( no misses & all under time). A miss to B zone is -1, C zone is minus 2, D zone minus 3 ...outside those areas -5 ....and a time, over the time goal for each stage is minus 2.
Standard I use for C class or about 70% of what a Master class shooter can do ....is 2 sec draw to 1 shot, 0.5 sec for a followup shot, 3 sec for a speed reloads to 1 shot -- with gun going to slide lock, you drop mag, Reload new mag and Fire 1 shot inside 3 sec ....so you can make up a drill....Draw and Fire 1 - speed reload fire 1 - speed reloads fire 1 inside of 8 Sec. It breaks down ( 2.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 )... as you get better and scores are 95% or better, drop each time by 0.1 sec..../ most drills are run between 6 and 10 yds. We may make stage 1 at 7 yds draw fire 8 - speed reloads & fire 5 ( 13 Rds inside 10.5 sec)...B to A class shooters will run it in around 9 sec. We might repeat that drill at 8 and 10 yds....39 Rds..../ then move onto stage 2...
Rapid Fire.... ( draw & fire 3 .... 3 sec, etc...
Turn ( start with back to target ) so turn on buzzer, then draw & fire ...add 0.5 sec to turn...
Speed reloads
Tactical reloads
Clear malfunctions ( tap, rack, bang drill )..use snap caps in the mix...
Buddy loads....put 3 mags, empty gun and 15 Rds on bench....buddy can load them any way he wants...he then puts a mag in gun & leaves it on bench, puts other 2 mags on shooters belt. There may or may not be a round in chamber....shooter put his gun in his holster ...and all he knows is he has 15 Rds to fire, and Reload as necessary. Ex; ... for an experienced shooters, I may put no round in chamber and an empty mag in gun, 10 Rds in 2nd mag, 5 Rds in 3rd mag... hammer is cooked and safety is on, with a 1911....so shooter draws his gun ( click) he does tap, rack, bang drill...so, tap, rack ( slide locks open)...so now he drops mag in gun & speed reloads first mag on belt, then speed reloads last mag....a disciplined shooter will run that drill in under 16 sec...even with my sinister cross up. An easy way to do it ...is 5 in each mag.... then it's just a speed Reload drill with no surprises...
It's a buddy load ...be prepared for payback....
Lots of drills to be created...
I shoot twice a week...one day of practice ( 3 - 4 boxes) working on my issues, better grip out of holster, getting my time down ( I want my draw to 1 shot under 1.8 sec...and my followup shots under .35 sec..../ so a draw & 4 shots under 2.9 sec ( 2.85 actually )...where class C per above is 3.5 sec..../ my Reload technique ( I get sloppy sometimes in the way I grip the mag off my belt...index finger needs to touch tip of bullet on mag...as it comes up & I slap it into gun....but all kinds of things to work on ....position of gun for Reload- I tend to bring it back which is not great & slower..../ sometimes under stress I tend to widen my stance adds tension, not great....
Then I shoot the organized corse of fire, for score, with my buddies ( 1 box for warmup and 2 for COF)....and as I get closer to 70, I need that practice to stay sharp -- and maintain my rolling 2 month average at 95% or more, which is my goal / I've had a good summer ...and am at 98.5 right now....for last 16 weeks...
I use a timer to add a little stress.
I create courses of fire ...of 100 Rds. Max score is 100 pts ( no misses & all under time). A miss to B zone is -1, C zone is minus 2, D zone minus 3 ...outside those areas -5 ....and a time, over the time goal for each stage is minus 2.
Standard I use for C class or about 70% of what a Master class shooter can do ....is 2 sec draw to 1 shot, 0.5 sec for a followup shot, 3 sec for a speed reloads to 1 shot -- with gun going to slide lock, you drop mag, Reload new mag and Fire 1 shot inside 3 sec ....so you can make up a drill....Draw and Fire 1 - speed reload fire 1 - speed reloads fire 1 inside of 8 Sec. It breaks down ( 2.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 )... as you get better and scores are 95% or better, drop each time by 0.1 sec..../ most drills are run between 6 and 10 yds. We may make stage 1 at 7 yds draw fire 8 - speed reloads & fire 5 ( 13 Rds inside 10.5 sec)...B to A class shooters will run it in around 9 sec. We might repeat that drill at 8 and 10 yds....39 Rds..../ then move onto stage 2...
Rapid Fire.... ( draw & fire 3 .... 3 sec, etc...
Turn ( start with back to target ) so turn on buzzer, then draw & fire ...add 0.5 sec to turn...
Speed reloads
Tactical reloads
Clear malfunctions ( tap, rack, bang drill )..use snap caps in the mix...
Buddy loads....put 3 mags, empty gun and 15 Rds on bench....buddy can load them any way he wants...he then puts a mag in gun & leaves it on bench, puts other 2 mags on shooters belt. There may or may not be a round in chamber....shooter put his gun in his holster ...and all he knows is he has 15 Rds to fire, and Reload as necessary. Ex; ... for an experienced shooters, I may put no round in chamber and an empty mag in gun, 10 Rds in 2nd mag, 5 Rds in 3rd mag... hammer is cooked and safety is on, with a 1911....so shooter draws his gun ( click) he does tap, rack, bang drill...so, tap, rack ( slide locks open)...so now he drops mag in gun & speed reloads first mag on belt, then speed reloads last mag....a disciplined shooter will run that drill in under 16 sec...even with my sinister cross up. An easy way to do it ...is 5 in each mag.... then it's just a speed Reload drill with no surprises...
It's a buddy load ...be prepared for payback....
Lots of drills to be created...
I shoot twice a week...one day of practice ( 3 - 4 boxes) working on my issues, better grip out of holster, getting my time down ( I want my draw to 1 shot under 1.8 sec...and my followup shots under .35 sec..../ so a draw & 4 shots under 2.9 sec ( 2.85 actually )...where class C per above is 3.5 sec..../ my Reload technique ( I get sloppy sometimes in the way I grip the mag off my belt...index finger needs to touch tip of bullet on mag...as it comes up & I slap it into gun....but all kinds of things to work on ....position of gun for Reload- I tend to bring it back which is not great & slower..../ sometimes under stress I tend to widen my stance adds tension, not great....
Then I shoot the organized corse of fire, for score, with my buddies ( 1 box for warmup and 2 for COF)....and as I get closer to 70, I need that practice to stay sharp -- and maintain my rolling 2 month average at 95% or more, which is my goal / I've had a good summer ...and am at 98.5 right now....for last 16 weeks...
Last edited:
thibaultfelix40
New member
BigJimP sounds like a perfectly horrible way to spend an afternoon and a good way to run rookies away from shooting. But opinions are like .......... well you know. I am sure you guys enjoy it, heck people enjoy golf. This thread shows that shooting can be from simple to as compilcated as you want to make it.
Practice with a purpose. I watch CCW holders go out a blow holes in a piece of paper. 100 rounds later and they have finished for the day.
Pretend the paper is the bad guy and you are in a gun fight. Work on your stance, grip, trigger control, breath control, sight and target acquisition. Change the distance to the target.
Work on getting on target and then accuracy. Once the accuracy comes, speed it up. Don't get sloppy. Build your competence with building blocks of knowledge.
Make every range session a training session. And do dry practice at home. Make sure you stay with quality and not quantity. Be careful not to overdo it. Rest or quit when you get tired. Stay focused. Set realistic goals and attain them.
Be safe. Never violate the four basic gun safety rules.
Pretend the paper is the bad guy and you are in a gun fight. Work on your stance, grip, trigger control, breath control, sight and target acquisition. Change the distance to the target.
Work on getting on target and then accuracy. Once the accuracy comes, speed it up. Don't get sloppy. Build your competence with building blocks of knowledge.
Make every range session a training session. And do dry practice at home. Make sure you stay with quality and not quantity. Be careful not to overdo it. Rest or quit when you get tired. Stay focused. Set realistic goals and attain them.
Be safe. Never violate the four basic gun safety rules.
Yes, shooting is fun ( and I hope my approach to practice doesn't drive rookies away --- vs giving them some thoughts on setting goals ...and some skill drills that they may find fun..and challenging)... each of us can only allow whatever time we can afford to practice...for me since i'my semi-retired....I shoot handguns 2 or sometimes 3 times a week ( and play golf twice a week )..
.....everyone needs a hobby or two....
.....everyone needs a hobby or two....Plan a session....
Warm up
Skill drill
Standard drill
Warm up and standard stay the same. The standard should require accuracy, speed and realistic approach. It should include draw, aim, movement, target transitions and reloads. It should be the same and timed to identify weaknesses for next time.
Skill drills should be timed and progressive to build a single skill up and see how it improves your standard drill time.
Warm up
Skill drill
Standard drill
Warm up and standard stay the same. The standard should require accuracy, speed and realistic approach. It should include draw, aim, movement, target transitions and reloads. It should be the same and timed to identify weaknesses for next time.
Skill drills should be timed and progressive to build a single skill up and see how it improves your standard drill time.