An evaluation drill for handgun carriers

[Chasbo00]

From an old master, Ken Hackathorn:

Of the vast number of people that carry guns for self defense, only a very small number are competent with them. In my business to provide an enhanced level of combat marksmanship to the private sector, law enforcement, and military customer for the past 30 years, I have noted a number of trends.

While the overall quality of most training and practice has provided a higher level of skill, the increase of people from all three markets that now have access and carry sidearms has progressed very little than it was decades ago. Yes, we do know much more about how to train and prepare people to use their sidearms for self protection. But, that does not equal necessary skill across the spectrum. I am often asked to provide a skill check or ‘test’ for those that take their combat marksmanship serious.

I offer the following ‘Wizard Drill’. It is very simple, requires only five rounds of ammo, and can be shot on any range that allows work from the holster.

http://soldiersystems.net/2014/12/06/gu ... kathorn-7/

[MarcSpaz]

Can't wait to get home to check this out. It won't open on my phone.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Chasbo00]

Links sometimes change or go away. So, here is the drill quoted below.

I really like this drill because it stresses what I think is key, getting the gun out coupled with first shot effectiveness and doing both quickly.

IDPA or IPSC (USPSA) targets are ideal. Place a 4″ circle centered in the head of the target. The handgun you use should be the one you carry, in the manner you routinely pack it. Ammo should be the self defense or duty ammo you carry as well. The time for each string of fire is 2.5 seconds. Start at 3 yards. On signal, draw and fire one head shot strong hand only at the head. Repeat at 5 yards, but you may use both hands.

Repeat at 7 yards, again both hands are permitted. Last, at 10 yards draw and fire two (2) body shots in the allowed 2.5 seconds. When you are done, you should have three head shots and two body hits. A miss is a fail. You can drop 2 points and past the test, anymore is a fail. Set your timer at 2.5 seconds. I allow 2.7 as that is about the length of the buzzer on most timers. If you are using a pocket carry mode, you may start with your hand on the gun in the pocket. Otherwise, hands normal at sides, no touching of the gun until the buzzer. Hits in the 4″ head circle or cutting the line are considered down zero, outside the circle but inside the head perforation is down one point. Competent and practiced shooters may consider this drill simple, but let’s be honest these folks make up less than one tenth of one precent of the people that carry firearms for self defense.

Try it, you may be in for a humbling experience. Don’t be surprised to find that those little 2″ airweight .38 special revolvers and pocket 380 autos are nearly impossible to pass this drill with. In police work we call this “a clue”.

[MarcSpaz]

Nice! I'm going to try that out.

I have to say, last time I went for pistol practice (just the other day), I got a wake-up call on my speed. I ran the target out to 7 yards for some and 10 for others. I had the timer set to two seconds and was drawing from an OC retention holster. Sometimes, I was so slow to respond, that I didn't have opportunity to pull the trigger before the target edged up. And for the first 50 rounds fired, I was pretty disappointed at my first trigger pull (DA) being way off to the target's right (my left). I had to give myself a 3 second timer to successfully draw, acquire the target and fire 3 rounds. I also noticed, once you get the first round off, the follow-up shots are actually pretty quick an easy. Getting there is tough.

I'm going to try this out next time I go. It looks like a great exercise. If I feel brave, I'll bring the camcorder so you guys can get a good laugh.

[Chasbo00]

Like Hackathorn said, only about 1/10 of 1 percent of those carrying guns can do this. I've shot enough action pistol to feel confident that I can do this drill easily with my Glock 19. But, I have no confidence whatsoever that I can do it with my snubbie. I'm going to give that a try. I suspect succeeding with the snubbie may become my winter training goal.

[Viper21]

Looks like a pretty challenging test. Definitely going to have to try this.

[jdonovan]

ya, when I was doing IPSC for a while you started to learn how slow you were, and after a lot of practice and dry fire you could get the numbers down.

surefire has a shot timer app for your smart phone. nice way to figure out how fast/slow you are against a real timer. Take a empty gun, a blank wall, and 2 seconds... its hard.

I worked and worked, and the best I ever got to was about .7 from horn to first shot. I still watch jerry miculek's you-tube videos and feel humbled.