Training yourself to shoot better is the result of developing a higher skill level upon which you may rely. The higher your skill level, the greater your odds of performing well when they are called upon. Greater skill is born from greater control; the greater the control, the better the performance.
Our drill this month trains you to put your mental foot down on that proverbial “go-fast” pedal to develop greater control in both acceleration and downshifting for those precise hits.
Here’s the Drill:
Set up three paper targets with a designated center mass at the 7-yard line, with 5 yards between targets.
Place two steel “A-box” plates (or reasonably-sized facsimiles) at the 10-yard line in the middle of the 5 yards of space between the paper targets. The array should be a total of five targets reading from either left to right or right to left—paper, steel, paper, steel, paper and although at two different yard lines, there should be about 2.5 yards of space between paper and steel.
Gas Pedal Drill—Left to Right
Start with your pistol in the holster with both hands by your side and below your gun belt. While facing downrange, on the buzzer—or go signal—present the pistol from your holster to the visual center of the left-most paper target (T1), fire two precise, center-mass hits. Transition right to the first piece of steel (T2) and deliver five accelerated rounds to the center of the A-box. Move to T3 (paper) for two well placed center-mass hits, then move to the last piece of steel (T4) for five more accelerated rounds. End with transitioning to T5 (the last paper target) for two remaining rounds.
Gas Pedal Drill—Right to Left
Start with your pistol in the holster with both hands by your side and below your gun belt. While facing downrange, on the buzzer—or go signal—present the pistol from your holster to the visual center of the right-most paper target (T1), fire two precise, center-mass hits. Transition left to the first piece of steel (T2) and deliver five accelerated rounds to the center of the A-box. Move to T3 (paper) for two well placed center-mass hits, then move to the last piece of steel (T4) for five more accelerated rounds. End with transitioning to T5 (the last paper target) for two remaining rounds.
If you miss any of the 10 hits on steel in either direction, the drill stops and you forfeit your run. If you got all hits on steel, then check your paper hits—you should have a total of six rounds exactly where you want them for a total of 16 hits in each direction. Record times only for clean runs.
The need for “control in acceleration and precision” should be apparent. After a half-dozen or so clean runs, you may notice a measurable decrease in time as your skills develop to control the “go fast” and, additionally, apply precision as needed.
