SPEED and ACCURACY:

 I continue to get calls and office visits from students wishing to improve their SPEED and ACCURACY.  These questions come from the competitive shooters and the defensive minded students alike.  Combat Accuracy Vs. Precision is often at the root of the discussions.  How fast is fast enough?  How accurate does one need to be?  What is the relationship between speed, accuracy, and their relationship to causing sufficient trauma in an effective manner. 

What is sufficient trauma?  Oh no, let's not go there today as that subject is a newsletter article on its own.  In order to develop combat accuracy, students need to understand the difference between accuracy and precision:

Accuracy - Making hits on your intended target or target zone.  Accuracy does not necessarily mean putting one round on top of another.  Accuracy is hitting a general target zone such as the upper thoracic area.  Accuracy may mean using an acceptable as opposed to a "perfect" sight picture or directing shots by body positioning.

Precision- This is putting one round on top of another.  Speed is secondary when precision is intended.  This means pressing the trigger while attempting to obtain and maintain the "perfect" sight picture. 

The goal of this kind of training is to develop combat speed and accuracy.  Shooters should not be concerned with shooting tight groups (precision).  Rather, they should be focused on obtaining combat hits (accuracy) at combat speed.  If during this type of training tight groups are being shot, you should try to speed up.

Even though the following live-fire drills have a limited round count, shooters are encouraged to shoot the number of rounds it takes to stop the threat.  The limited round count is intended to help determine the minimum number of rounds necessary for the drill only.  Shooters are encouraged to avoid round counts unless absolutely necessary.  Round counts inadvertently train us to limit the number of rounds we fire.  Shoot until the target changes shape!  Vertical to horizontal is a shape change.

Allow me to discuss some drills and practice procedures that may benefit both the sporting and defensive minded shooters. The use of paper targets is great for developing practical fundamental marksmanship skills.  Most practical fundamental drills are shot relatively slowly at close to intermediate distances.  This allows the shooter to see where their rounds are going relative to what they feel occurring at the pistol.

You only need to attend one of Bill Rogers' shooting classes at his steel target training facility in Georgia to know that the use of steel targets is one of the best ways to develop combat speed and accuracy.  Steel targets also help achieve a balance between these two critical factors.  In terms of adult learning theory, steel targets allow the development of shooting skills at the subconscious level of awareness.  The subconscious mind can learn to reflexively control the shooting process through the use of positive, instant feedback.  This is done by providing instant visual feedback when the bullet impacts the steel target and the target falls, retracts, or drops.  At the same instant, the audible feedback generated by the sound of the bullet hitting the target provides assurance of accuracy.  This compresses basic marksmanship skills and weapon handling into reaction-time components effectively programming reflexes to achieve the balance between speed and accuracy.

Training on steel targets facilitates combat speed and accuracy training by consistent repetition and feedback.  Shooters quickly improve and gain confidence in their ability to quickly and accurately engage targets.  This provides a cycle of repetition and feedback that supports the learning and training goals of adult learning theory.

Once you have developed the skills of combat speed and accuracy, you need to take those skills to the next level by learning to make the proper use of force decisions at combat speed.  There are many ways to accomplish this goal and you would be well advised to employ as many of these methods as possible.

The use of non-threat targets on the range can help you refine your use of force decision making skills in combination with your combat speed and accuracy.  These targets can be mixed with threat targets in shoot houses, general range courses and moving target courses.  You should practice different ways to draw, decide and act quickly when confronted.

Reality based training is a great way to expose yourself to scenarios that require proper use of force decision making as well as combat speed and accuracy.  When combined with a proper debriefing, reality based training offers students a holistic use of force training experience.  The use of properly designed reality based training scenarios provides an opportunity for students to utilize their skills in simulated combat conditions.  Properly designed and managed reality based training scenarios like we offer in our Tactical Pistol Class are fun and exciting for everyone and they allow you to evaluate other training needs.

Lastly, an invaluable tool for students of speed and accuracy is the addition of a shot timer.  Without a shot timer, a draw and shot that feels fast may be slow due to wasted motion.  Conversely, a draw that feels slow, but is smooth with no wasted movement, may be fast.  A properly functioning shot timer does not lie.  We know there are no stop watches in a gun fight.  But the person who can deliver accurate fire quickly is more likely to win.

Below are just a few drills that may assist you in your desire to be faster and more accurate.  Good Luck.

COMBAT SPEED & ACCURACY LIVE-FIRE DRILLS:

I.          One Round Timed Step Drill - 3 yard line

A.     Draw and fire one round from the holster while taking one step left or right. 

B.     Goal:  1 round in 1.2 seconds or less.

C.     Move to ready position, scan 360°, manage ammunition if desired, holster reluctantly.

II.         Two Round Timed Step Drill - 3 yard line

A.     Draw and fire two rounds from the holster while taking one step left or right. 

B.     Goal:  2 rounds in 1.4 seconds or less.

C.     Move to ready position, scan 360°, manage ammunition if desired, holster reluctantly.

Periodically during this type of training you should return to the basics.  Combat speed and accuracy training can lead to the development of bad shooting habits if you are not careful.  Watch for problems with trigger control and follow through.  If you start seeing problems with trigger control, spend a few minutes working on your fundamental skills by delivering precision shots at reasonable distances upon demand.  Remember my circle drill?

The One Hole Drill is a good break from working on combat speed and accuracy because it focuses the shooter on the fundamentals of marksmanship.  Depending on your skill level, the One Hole Drill can be performed from the three to seven yard line.  To stay focused on a good performance, you should only perform this drill one time.   

Using one target fire a pre-determined number of rounds (2-5 rounds).  The goal is to shoot one hole.    Example:  3 rounds at the 7 yd line; 3 rounds at the 15 yd line; 3 rounds at the 25 yd line.

III.        One-Hole Drill - 3 yard line - 5 rounds maximum

A.     Five rounds touching, no time limit.

B.     More rounds and/or more distance increases the difficulty.

IV.        One Round Timed Head Shot Step Drill - 5 yard line

A.      Draw and fire one round from the holster to the target head while taking one step left or right.

B.     Goal:  1 round in 1.5 seconds or less.

C.     Move to ready position, scan 360°, manage ammunition if desired, holster reluctantly.

V.         One Round Timed Step Drill - 3 yard line

A.     Draw and fire one round from the holster while taking one step left or right.

B.     Goal:  1 round in 1 seconds or less.

C.     Move to ready position, scan 360°, manage ammunition if desired, holster reluctantly.

VI.        One-Hole Drill - 3 yard line - 5 rounds maximum

A.     Five rounds touching, no time limit.

B.     More rounds and/or more distance increases the difficulty.

VII.       Mozambique Drill - 7 yard line

A.     Draw and fire 2 rounds to the body, and 1 to the head while taking one step left or right.

B.   Goal:  3 rounds in 1.75 seconds or less.

C.   Move to ready position, scan 360°, manage ammunition if desired, holster reluctantly.

VIII.      Two-in-a-Row (Humility Drill) - 7 yard line - 7 rounds

A.    Partner loads two magazines with a total of 1 dummy round and 7 live rounds.

B.   3 targets - Shoot each target two times in a row.

C.   If you have a malfunction, fix it.

D.   If you are empty, feed it.

E.    Shoot the gun, not the drill.

F.    Goal:  12 seconds or less.