Cold-shot, on-demand performance requires a skill level that doesn’t need warming up. How cool would it be to have sufficient surplus skill on board that your cold shots are the same as after you’re warmed up? Training-wise, it is just a matter of dialing it in.
Our drill this month trains you to be consistent in three critical skill sets: first shot from the draw, multiple rounds on target and then building the consistency for both. The drill consists of three parts—each one focused on a specific sub-process that, when all three are combined, results in developing consistency.
Here’s the drill
Set up a single paper or steel target with a designated center-mass and a head box at the 15-yard line. We’ll call this T1. Shooters seeking more of a challenge may increase target difficulty by either reducing target size, increasing distance or both.
Part 1 - Single Shot
Start with a holstered pistol, hands below your gunbelt. On the buzzer or “go” signal, draw from the holster to T1 and place one round directly in the visual center of the body. Run this at a pace where you can guarantee the hit (place the round exactly where you want it without error).
Running it a second time, push beyond your guaranteed hit speed and anticipate you will induce errors—because if you’re pushing yourself past your skills envelope, then you should be missing—not every shot, but a few.
The third time though go back to your guaranteed hits, but this time while pressing your foot lightly on that gas pedal. Yes, the third run through should still be guaranteed, but at an accelerated pace.
Part 2 - Multi-shot
Start with a holstered pistol, hands below your gunbelt. On the buzzer or “go” signal, draw from the holster to T1 and place five rounds directly in the visual center of the head box. Run this at a pace where you can guarantee all five hits.
Running it a second time, push beyond your guaranteed hit speed and anticipate that you will induce errors—because if you’re pushing yourself past your skills envelope, then you should be missing—not all, but a few.
The third time though go back to your guaranteed hits, but this time while pressing your foot gently on that gas pedal. Again, all five shots should still be guaranteed, though at a noticeably accelerated pace.
Part 3 - Climb the Ladder
Start with a holstered pistol, hands below your gunbelt. On the buzzer or “go” signal, draw from the holster to T1 and place one round directly in the visual center of the body. Run this at a pace where you can guarantee the hit. After delivering the perfect shot along with good follow-through, re-holster.
Run this evolution a second time, but this time deliver two rounds to center body. Then re-holster and do the same for three rounds. Then re-holster. Then four rounds, re-holster and lastly five rounds and re-holster. This is a 15-round drill. If you miss any, start at the beginning with one round.
The purpose of this drill is to dial in all three components: first-shot draw, precise multiple round placement and the combination of that draw plus multiple rounds on demand with deliberate control (consistency) resulting in accelerated accuracy.
Training at the very edge of your skills envelope will push the boundaries of your comfort zone outward, affording you that next-level skills development. So, take full advantage of this opportunity to dial it in.
