Favorite drill?

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • BehindBlueI's

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    29   0   0
    Oct 3, 2012
    25,890
    113
    View attachment 64109

    With the understanding no one drill does everything, I'm finding I really like the "Find your level", as it focuses on aspects of shooting that are high reward. Knowing how much sight picture you need to make various difficulties of shots and what cadence you can shoot at to keep your shots in a given group as well. It's not as forgiving as a Bill Drill, making more of a balance between speed and accuracy.

    I can clear level 2 consistently, but not level 3. I can't clear the second square or circle in the par times yet, and am about .75 over on a good run, 1.00 on a bad one. The 2nd circle is the toughest for me accuracy wise, not getting in too much hurry and pushing the second shot.
     

    Topshot

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Oct 16, 2015
    285
    18
    Terre Haute
    I was just looking to get some targets for doing drills so this thread is great timing. The casino drill seems to be popular.

    I was wondering who is a good online source from which to purchase these types of training targets? I've only bought official NRA or USA Shooting targets in the past.
     

    BehindBlueI's

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    29   0   0
    Oct 3, 2012
    25,890
    113
    I just print off "Find your level", dot torture, NRA repair centers, and trigger stripes. Then tape or sticky-spray them to a cardboard backer to hang them.
     

    cayce

    Shooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Feb 17, 2018
    188
    18
    Carmel
    I printed some from Lucky Gunner and here is the drill. 50 rounds slow fire .22 target followed by two targets 12-14 inches apart. I double tap the first then the second then switch back. 10 mags, 80 rounds gets me a good workout in 20 minutes.

    Crazy thing is ALL the R.O.'s and most of Point Blank employees think I am CRAZY. They teach ONLY slow fire, breathe, relax, aim, slack, pause, squeeze. I explain teaching one shot every 5 seconds will not save someones life in a defensive situation and will get someone killed thinking this type of training is the ONLY type.

    Slow aimed fire is only part of the equation. Double taps on multiple 'targets' is equally important. 8 inches from 21 feet in rapid fire will solve most problems.
     

    EyeCarry

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    May 10, 2014
    1,532
    63
    Bloomington
    Larceny. Oh wait , I read "swill." I do like printing out different targets like this one , dot torture, and others. Sometimes I will just draw a large triangle on a sheet of paper with a marker. Shoot it, pushing the speed, trying to keep centered and vertical if you get my drift.
     

    rhino

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Mar 18, 2008
    30,906
    113
    Indiana
    My favorite drill is what we (ACT) call the "Henk Drill," which he used as the test for passing his course at the time I was in his class. He actually got the drill from John Farnam who used it as well (and still might), but the Farnam version has more restrictions (like no more than four shots fired without moving).

    Target is either a playing card or a 3x5" index card (for rifle), glued to a backer target. All shots have to be inside the border of the target. Unlike other scoring systems, if it breaks the line, it misses (which is why I didn't pass the test in his carbine class).

    Distance is 7 yards (I think) for pistol.

    Par times varied by the type of class, but when I do it now, I just do it as quickly as I can without a timer. I think I did it in about 14 seconds when I passed it for Henk's handgun class.

    Chamber is loaded. Magazine has six rounds plus a dummy placed in the magazine by someone else, but it can't be the top or bottom round. Spare magazine on belt is loaded.

    At the start, move of off of the line of force until you you're on target, then shoot until your gun malfunctions (due to the dummy). While moving, correct the malfunctions with whack,rack,back (aka tap-rack-bang or tap-rack-resume).

    When the malfunction is reduced, continue to engage the target until you run empty. While moving, reload, then engage the target with 3 more rounds.

    Time stops on last shot fired if you use a timer, but shooter must scan afterward and can take about as much time as they want. After scan, reload, holster, drill over.

    Drill takes 10 rounds, so you can do it five times with one box of ammo.
     

    chezuki

    Human
    Rating - 100%
    48   0   0
    Mar 18, 2009
    34,151
    113
    Behind Bars
    My favorite drill is what we (ACT) call the "Henk Drill," which he used as the test for passing his course at the time I was in his class. He actually got the drill from John Farnam who used it as well (and still might), but the Farnam version has more restrictions (like no more than four shots fired without moving).

    Target is either a playing card or a 3x5" index card (for rifle), glued to a backer target. All shots have to be inside the border of the target. Unlike other scoring systems, if it breaks the line, it misses (which is why I didn't pass the test in his carbine class).

    Distance is 7 yards (I think) for pistol.

    Par times varied by the type of class, but when I do it now, I just do it as quickly as I can without a timer. I think I did it in about 14 seconds when I passed it for Henk's handgun class.

    Chamber is loaded. Magazine has six rounds plus a dummy placed in the magazine by someone else, but it can't be the top or bottom round. Spare magazine on belt is loaded.

    At the start, move of off of the line of force until you you're on target, then shoot until your gun malfunctions (due to the dummy). While moving, correct the malfunctions with whack,rack,back (aka tap-rack-bang or tap-rack-resume).

    When the malfunction is reduced, continue to engage the target until you run empty. While moving, reload, then engage the target with 3 more rounds.

    Time stops on last shot fired if you use a timer, but shooter must scan afterward and can take about as much time as they want. After scan, reload, holster, drill over.

    Drill takes 10 rounds, so you can do it five times with one box of ammo.

    Hmm... that seems like the kind of drill that could make clearing a malfunction almost automatic. :)

    See final string:

    [video=youtube_share;-Fe9Ns6dNfc]http://youtu.be/-Fe9Ns6dNfc[/video]
     

    Jackson

    Master
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 31, 2008
    3,334
    63
    West side of Indy
    I like dot torture, the casino drill, and slow fire on one inch dots. I also commonly incorporate something like the FAST drill.

    We were playing with the idea of coming up with our own composite test with a score to track progress but never finalized it. We have used other scored tests for that purpose in the past, such as the Hackathorn standard.

    We have also been playing with hanging golf balls and tennis balls from paracord as standard size tarets to work with. In the past, when I maintained a respectable level of practice and proficiency, I liked to use a 4" circle on a white piece of paper as the accuracy standard for any given speed test.
     

    joe138

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 20, 2009
    698
    79
    Lawrence County
    It's not so much a drill, but a qualifying course. The MEU that Pat Rogers used. Both for hand gun and carbine. It tests several skills; shooting on the move, various positions, ranges and reloading.
     

    BehindBlueI's

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    29   0   0
    Oct 3, 2012
    25,890
    113
    I like dot torture, the casino drill, and slow fire on one inch dots. I also commonly incorporate something like the FAST drill.

    I like the FAST, but I never put the time in on reloads to really smash it. I got under 7 seconds reliably when I was doing it a lot, but ultimately decided it wasn't a strong match for what I really wanted to work on. I should break it out again and see where I am now.
     

    cedartop

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Apr 25, 2010
    6,687
    113
    North of Notre Dame.
    I printed some from Lucky Gunner and here is the drill. 50 rounds slow fire .22 target followed by two targets 12-14 inches apart. I double tap the first then the second then switch back. 10 mags, 80 rounds gets me a good workout in 20 minutes.

    Crazy thing is ALL the R.O.'s and most of Point Blank employees think I am CRAZY. They teach ONLY slow fire, breathe, relax, aim, slack, pause, squeeze. I explain teaching one shot every 5 seconds will not save someones life in a defensive situation and will get someone killed thinking this type of training is the ONLY type.

    Slow aimed fire is only part of the equation. Double taps on multiple 'targets' is equally important. 8 inches from 21 feet in rapid fire will solve most problems.

    So are you actually doing "double taps", that is two shots one sight picture? For most people not shooting an open gun this ends up in the second shot being not so accurate.
     

    Jackson

    Master
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Mar 31, 2008
    3,334
    63
    West side of Indy
    So are you actually doing "double taps", that is two shots one sight picture? For most people not shooting an open gun this ends up in the second shot being not so accurate.

    I think a reliable double tap in an 8" circle at 5-7yds is achievable. I also think getting on the sights could put it in a 4" circle with a minimal time loss.
     
    Last edited:

    cedartop

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Apr 25, 2010
    6,687
    113
    North of Notre Dame.
    I think a reliable double tap in an 8" circle at 5-7yds is achievable. I think getting on the sights could put it in a 4" circle with a minimal time loss.

    Achievable yes, common no. Most things are achievable if you put in the work, but for the majority of hobbyists that I see shoot it ends up looking more like Chezuki's cute hashtag.

    I was talking to an A class shooter at the class this past weekend at dinner. Everyone was oohing and aahing at his .10 splits. They were impressive. It sounded like he was shooting a full auto handgun. He admitted to me that they are actually now holding him back because he can't see that fast and shoots way too many charlies.
     
    Top Bottom