Public range drill inspired by recent events

[T3Pros]

We've all probably seen the video of the church shooting where a member of the public stopped a mass murderer.

Here's a simple drill that you can practice at your local public range without violating any of their rules that roughly simulates a head shot at distance.

You will need:

3x5 card (pack of 100 at Staples for $1)

Shot timer (https://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...prod22292.aspx)

Directions:

Place a 3x5 card horizontal on a target backer, send out to 15 yards.

Load your pistol, decocked/safety on, and place on shooting bench directly in front of you, muzzle pointed down range.

Set a 3 second par time on your shot timer, with a 1-3 second random start.

On the buzzer, pick up your pistol and fire 1 round within 3 seconds.

Repeat 5 times.

Save the 3x5 card, date it, and place it in your range bag. Repeat each range visit, keep each card.

You can dry fire at home. Cut a card into 1.5x2.5 and stand 22 feet away. Place tape over the buzzer mic if too loud indoors. Just 5 minutes a day.

Have fun and happy new year.

[Matt P]

I compliment you on making the effort to create a drill that reflects on current events. Although a horrible tragedy that has affected many persons here is a way to bring a little good from it without glorifying any aspect.

My thoughts to those families and victims impacted by that senseless act.

[Packy14]

We've all probably seen the video of the church shooting where a member of the public stopped a mass murderer.

Here's a simple drill that you can practice at your local public range without violating any of their rules that roughly simulates a head shot at distance.

You will need:

3x5 card (pack of 100 at Staples for $1)

Shot timer (https://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...prod22292.aspx)

Directions:

Place a 3x5 card horizontal on a target backer, send out to 15 yards.

Load your pistol, decocked/safety on, and place on shooting bench directly in front of you, muzzle pointed down range.

Set a 3 second par time on your shot timer, with a 1-3 second random start.

On the buzzer, pick up your pistol and fire 1 round within 3 seconds.

Repeat 5 times.

Save the 3x5 card, date it, and place it in your range bag. Repeat each range visit, keep each card.

You can dry fire at home. Cut a card into 1.5x2.5 and stand 22 feet away. Place tape over the buzzer mic if too loud indoors. Just 5 minutes a day.

Have fun and happy new year.

[kemasa]

Yes, center of mass is best in ideal conditions, although the shooter can keep shooting, but in a place like a church or other places with objects and other people around, the head might be the only target available. Certainly, you can count on the center of mass being an available target.

It is also important to be aware of everything that is going on in the area.

[Librarian]

As specified, this drill is suitable for a local public range - where it would be unusual for the management to allow holster work.

[AFTII]

Why not from holster. Why only one head shot. Center of mass is still usually best. If you aren’t carrying drills for carry don’t make sense and guns aren’t just laying around. I get what you intend but this is not a good or useful drill.

I don't know the OP's rationale, but here is what I think he was getting at. You are carrying in a public building. You hear a loud bang. People start screaming and running. You draw your gun, but may still have not located a threat.

When you do locate a / the threat, the scene is dynamic and you have very little time to take the shot.

As for the remainder, hitting a 3X5 card at 15 yds in 3 seconds is not an easy task - even from low ready. But, I think the OP's title speaks to why he suggests picking up the gun from the table rather than drawing from a holster. This is a public range drill and most public ranges will not let you draw from a holster. (Edit: Librarian beat me to it.)

I think a lot of people would go home with unpunched cards. Certainly, there wouldn't be many 5 hole cards.

I also think the drill emphasizes accuracy. Aim small hit small - which is essential in a room full of potential innocent victims. In a packed room, you may not see center of mass. You may only see a head or the shooter may be wearing body armor. In any event, I think the aim small hit small mentality is essential to this type of scenario.

[Scratch705]

as librarian stated, public ranges rarely allow holster draws.

you can practice holster draw during dry fire at home, or if you have access to a private range.

as for head shot only. imo, by practicing to make fast accurate shots in non-stress environment, this helps in reducing how badly you will miss during high-stress environments.

instead of thinking "head shot", just think of it as practicing to hit a small target. maybe an exposed body part if the shooter took cover in real life.

[jimbo74]

As specified, this drill is suitable for a local public range - where it would be unusual for the management to allow holster work.

yup.

none of the ranges around here allow use of a holster unless leo with credentials

[IVC]

Why only one head shot. Center of mass is still usually best. If you aren’t carrying drills for carry don’t make sense and guns aren’t just laying around. I get what you intend but this is not a good or useful drill.

This is an extremely useful drill - it's a version of the variety of similar "trigger press at speed" flavors which you'll find in every dry fire book and will be a standard for any skills assessment.

The skill you are learning is "very fast movement of the hands and gun, followed by slowing down just sufficiently to fire an accurate shot." People who have never done this will start drawing/operating the gun at the same slow speed they believe is required for accurate shot and will take way too much time. People who practice these types of drills will draw/get to the gun as fast as if they were shooting at 5 yards center of mass, only to let the sights settle down a fraction of a second longer, which is required for accuracy at that distance.

I practice drawing on a 55 yard steel at my local range and am at around 1.5 seconds. It's less than a second to draw the gun to the eye level, followed by a bit longer time to settle down the sights so they don't "dance out of the steel" and pressing the trigger as soon as the sights are set, without disturbing the sight picture.

Again, this is an extremely useful drill, particularly for those who are not familiar with the "run at full speed all the time, let eyes dictate the speed of shooting."

[broadside]

This is an extremely useful drill - it's a version of the variety of similar "trigger press at speed" flavors which you'll find in every dry fire book and will be a standard for any skills assessment.

The skill you are learning is "very fast movement of the hands and gun, followed by slowing down just sufficiently to fire an accurate shot." People who have never done this will start drawing/operating the gun at the same slow speed they believe is required for accurate shot and will take way too much time. People who practice these types of drills will draw/get to the gun as fast as if they were shooting at 5 yards center of mass, only to let the sights settle down a fraction of a second longer, which is required for accuracy at that distance.

I practice drawing on a 55 yard steel at my local range and am at around 1.5 seconds. It's less than a second to draw the gun to the eye level, followed by a bit longer time to settle down the sights so they don't "dance out of the steel" and pressing the trigger as soon as the sights are set, without disturbing the sight picture.

Again, this is an extremely useful drill, particularly for those who are not familiar with the "run at full speed all the time, let eyes dictate the speed of shooting."

Folks really should try one of the action pistol games at least once. They be surprised how bad of a shot they are under the simple stress of a timer and increased pulse and breathing if they've never done it before

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Packy14]

As specified, this drill is suitable for a local public range - where it would be unusual for the management to allow holster work.

I get the objective of the drill but obviously have my qualms. I agree people should train with timers under stress, and should dry fire practice regularly, and if physically able take part in some kind of action pistol game. The problem to me with this drill is that if its a scenario like a public place shooter, anyone who doesn't carry won't have a pistol, and those who do will have holsters (and should practice often drawing and firing under stress). My local range allows holster draw to qualified members (LEO, LTC holders who show proficiency, class takers, etc). I do like the 3x5 card idea, I shoot 8" paper plates and 3x5 cards as my standard targets at all distances (due to similarities to IDPA and USPSA targets, and critical anatomy). That being said, to each his own. Stay safe and practice often.

[Packy14]

Folks really should try one of the action pistol games at least once. They be surprised how bad of a shot they are under the simple stress of a timer and increased pulse and breathing if they've never done it before

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Definitely.

[hambam105]

Speaking of being surprised...

If you show up to competitive shooting event you may actually see how well some people shoot while under stress.

[Jimi Jah]

Is there a range in CA that has moving targets like in an arcade?

[eaglemike]

Speaking of being surprised...

If you show up to competitive shooting event you may actually see how well some people shoot while under stress.

Agree!
Every person that considers some sort of actual use of a firearm for defensive purposes should shoot in competition, even if just a few times. It's amazing how much one learns. Things that can go wrong (equipment or shooter).
Developing good/safe habits while handling the stress is a very good thing.

Regarding the op's drill: why not? It's far better IMHO than just running the target out to 10 or 15 yards and banging away with no goal. Making the first shot count in situations like that in Ft Worth is crucial. Having the skill and confidence to take and make it is wonderful in real life.