September 12, 2019
By Josh Froelich
This drill will help you improve your draw speed and target transitions—along with reloading skills and sight picture and trigger control. It also reinforces the importance of controlling the gun’s recoil. It’s a great drill for competitive shooters, but because of the basics it addresses it’s good for defensive handgunners as well.
Gear: Spare Magazine Mag Pouch Shot Timer Drill: Three IPSC-style targets. Targets 1 and 3 are seven yards to the left and right of the shooting position (use a USPSA-type shooting box if you’re practicing for competition) and one yard downrange, facing the start position. Target 2 is 15 yards directly downrange from the starting position. Start with arms at sides. At signal, draw and shoot targets 1 and 3 with two rounds each. Perform a reload and shoot target 2 with two rounds.
Goals: It all starts with the draw, which needs to be done with urgency (and safety, of course). Targets 1 and 3 are close enough that they can be shot with a fast cadence, but you need to ensure you have a tight grip to limit muzzle flip. Drive hard from target 1 to target 3 by using your hips, not your upper body. Then, after a solid reload, because target 2 is at distance you’ll want to use a controlled cadence to get your hits.
