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ACTION
PISTOL SKILLS
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Week
9 - No pressure!
Partial
targets, hard cover and hostages
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For this week we are going to shift
gears and focus on a topic that has
probably haunted every shooter at some
point. I recently had a conversation
with a friend about an abundance of hard
cover and hostage targets at a match
that caused a lot of points down. While
there are not a lot of technical
pointers to this week's topic, getting
the mental programming fixed is a real
issue.
In the competition arena we often
find stages that have targets partially
obscured by walls, barricades, and
barrels, or painted on hard cover as
well as the infamous
non-threat/hostages. The trick to
shooting these is there is no trick. For
those that may be confused, let me say
that the shot you take on a smaller
target or one surrounded by no-shoots is
the same as any other shot. If you
properly align the sights to the degree
needed and pull the trigger straight to
the rear, you have no problems. The
problem is people either see really big
white no-shoots or hard cover and
immediately start doubting their
abilities or focusing on the areas
bullets aren't supposed to go. When you
are shooting at one of these targets,
simply allow your focus to rest on the
intended impact area and execute the
fundamentals. For these targets,
consider what you need to be seeing to
make the shot. Think of the sight
picture you will have for say a 35 yard
target. You are going to have an
extremely clear vision of the front
sight and have the rear sight aligned
with even amounts of light on either
side. That sight picture will be what is
needed for one of these smaller target
shots. It is important, especially on
limited round count stages, that you
take the extra fraction of a second to
get that hard sight picture and not rush
the shot.
When it comes to shooting around
non-threats, I have sometimes heard
people say that they are not going to
risk the hostage shot and would rather
take the -1 or -3 on a target. This
doesn't make sense when you apply a
little logic. With the IDPA scoring
system, a -1 on a target equals a half
second time penalty. Under that
assumption, you are going to add an
extra half second to your time just
because you want to blaze through. Why
wouldn't you slow down for even .3 or .4
of second to aim, get the -0 and come
out ahead instead of just being
penalized for a full half second? Just a
little food for thought.
An interesting "Jedi mind
trick" that I have noticed among a
majority of shooters is a tendency to
center the shots in the available space
of a target. By this, the front sight is
in the middle of the target and
therefore the bullets are in the middle
of the target. That works ok when it is
a fully-exposed target, but if it is a
partial target, you will be hitting the
-1 or -3 zones as you are trying to
center the sights on the available
space. To maximize your shots/points,
you need be aware that you will have to
adjust accordingly to make the shot. Let
me illustrate this:
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Dry-fire
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For the reload sections of the dry-fire, I highly recommend dummy rounds for
maximum effectiveness.
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Here is a minimum schedule:
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| For your
targets this week, either
reduce the size or partially
obscure the targets. Remember
to align the sights on the
best possible place of a
target and smoothly pull the
trigger to the rear. |
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| Warm up: From
the holster, smoothly draw and
dry-fire 1 shot.* |
x15 |
| Setup two, small
targets for this next drill.
You are going to repeat the
same exercise as mentioned
before, but with the gun. Aim
in on one target, then snap
your eyes to the next target.
As the eyes move, the gun
should start moving and then
come to your sight line, align
and smoothly pull the trigger.
Practice left to right and
right to left. |
x6
(each way) |
| With your reset
point in mind, hold the gun
out, dry-fire and then cycle
with your support hand. As the
gun is cycling, let off the
trigger to the reset point.
The best way to mimic firing
is to pull the slide back and
release it instead of riding
the slide forward. 1911 guys
use dummy rounds; pretty much
everyone else is ok. |
x15 |
| Practicing
turns: Start facing 90 degrees
to the right of the target.
Turn your head to find the
target, follow with the body,
draw the gun and fire a shot.
Repeat x3 and then repeat in
the opposite direction. |
x3
(each way) |
| The other
component to turns is the 180
degree turn. Start back to the
target, turn your head, then
body and draw the gun and
fire. Do this to the left 3 times and the right
3 times. |
x3
(each way) |
| Keep practicing
the reloads. The only way to
increase proficiency is
through practice. |
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| Slide lock
reload: |
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| Start with the
gun locked back, empty
magazine in place. On your own
internal start signal or beep
from a timer, perform a slide
lock reload with a dummy round
equipped magazine. When you
complete the reload, drive the
gun back to the target and dry
fire a shot. If you do not
have any dummy rounds, you can
use an empty magazine and drop
the slide. ** |
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| After your
follow through of the shot,
set it up again. |
x8 |
| Reload with
retention part 1: |
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| Start with the
gun slide forward, gun cocked,
magazine in place. On your own
internal start signal or
outside signal, release the
magazine to your hand, put in
your pocket, grab and insert
new magazine and make a
dry-fire shot. |
x8 |
| Reload with
retention part 2: |
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| Start with the
gun slide forward, gun cocked,
magazine in place. On your own
internal start signal or
outside signal, grab a new
magazine, release the old one
into your hand, insert the new
magazine, stow the old
magazine, and make a dry-fire
shot. |
x8 |
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*Remember to align the sights and
smoothly pull the trigger.
Follow-through with the shot by
staying focused on the front sight and
not moving the gun for a few seconds
afterwards.
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** Note for 1911 guys, get some dummy
rounds as prolonged dropping the slide
on an empty chamber is not good for
the 1911. Glock shooters and others
laugh at the 1911 guys and do what you
need to do.
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Movement:
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Start with the gun holstered. Draw the
gun; start moving forward towards the
target. Remember that everything
applies and get it done smoothly. Do
not dry-fire the gun, just practice
moving forwards and backwards about 5
yards if possible. Do the same going
left to right. Ideally, practice
moving a total of 15 yards in each
direction.
Now practice the same motions but
during the moving, take a dry-fire
shot. Move about 4-5 yards each time
and take a shot. Repeat 2-3 times in
each direction. Remember to follow the
front sight and get a clean trigger
pull.
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Live
Fire
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The live-fire component session should
emphasize your dry-fire. As before,
any time you start snatching or
jerking the trigger, unload your gun
and dry-fire 5 good "shots".
Don't forget to align the sights,
smoothly pull the trigger and follow
through with EACH shot.
You have the option of using
concealment this week.
The first drill of the session is
the dot drill. If at this point
shooting at 6-7 yards is easy, take
another step or two back. If you
really have your trigger control down,
working back to clean this at 12-13
yards should be a goal.
Shoot this twice at 7 yards. If you
are shoot it clean, take a step back.
If you drop one or more, take a step
forward. If you have regularly been
cleaning this and stepping back, start
at 8-9 yards. If you are still
struggling, move in to 5 yards and
remember to focus on the FRONT sight
and CLEANLY pull the trigger to the
rear.
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Targets available at LETargets.com, or
make your own. The target has 6
circles roughly 3 inches in diameter.
I use printer paper, sharpie and the
inside of a roll of tape to make my
circles.
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Fire 1 shot from low ready at
target 1, repeat 2 times
Fire 1 shot from draw at target 2,
repeat 2 times
Fire 2 shots from low ready at target
3
Fire 2 shots from draw at target 4
Fire 1 shot at target 5, and 1 shot at
target 6 from the low ready
Fire 1 shot at target 6, 1 shot at
target 5 from the draw
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Setup one target at 20 yards.
Draw and fire 2 rounds. Take your
time and get good hits. Walk up, find
your hits, take any corrective actions
and move the target back 5 yards.
At 25 yards, draw and fire 2
rounds. Walk up, find your hits, take
any corrective actions and move the
target back 5 yards.
At 30 yards, draw and fire 2
rounds. Walk up, find your hits, take
any corrective actions and move the
target back 5 yards.
The goal of this is to build your
hard focus on the sights and cleanly
pull the trigger. This hard focus will
be necessary for some of the shots
coming up.
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The next set of drills will be to work
on hard cover/partially obscured
targets while stationary.
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Here are the different types of
targets to practice on. They are
labeled and the specific drills will
call for the specific target. If you
don't have IDPA targets, whatever
target you have, cover in a similar
fashion. The cover doesn't have to be
black either. If you have a
contrasting color target, use white
computer paper as the restricted
zones.
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Setup target A at 7 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots.
Draw and fire 2 to the body and one to
the head.
Move to 10 yards, draw and fire 2
shots.
Setup target B at 7 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots.
Draw and fire 2 to the body and one to
the head.
Move to 10 yards, draw and fire 2
shots.
Setup target C at 7 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots.
Draw and fire 2 to the body and one to
the head.
Move to 10 yards, draw and fire 2
shots.
Setup target D at 7 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots to the head.
Draw and fire 3 shots to the head.
Move to 10 yards, draw and fire 2
shots to the head.
Setup target E at 7 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots.
Draw and fire 3 shots.
Move to 10 yards, draw and fire 2
shots.
Setup target F at 10 yards
Draw and fire 2 shots while advancing.
Draw and fire 2 to the body and one to
the head while retreating.
Draw and fire 2 shots to the head
while advancing.
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A modified El Presidente: Setup
3 targets (B, D, E), 3 yards apart, 10
yards away. Start with your back to
the target, 6 rounds in the gun and a
reload on the belt. If you have a
timer, start on the beep otherwise on
your own. Turn, draw and fire 2 at
each target. Perform a slide lock
reload and finish with 2 on each
target. 12 rounds total, go as fast as
-0 hits allow. Remember to get that
hard focus of the sights and cleanly
pull the trigger.
Now for the compilation
exercise, a moving El Presidente:
Setup 3 targets (A, C, F), 3 yards
apart. Move back to 12 yards. Start
with your back to the target, 6 rounds
in the gun and a reload on the belt.
If you have a timer, start on the beep
otherwise on your own. Turn, draw and
fire 2 at each target while advancing.
At the slide lock reload, keep moving.
When you finish reloading, start
moving backwards and finish with 2 on
each target. 12 rounds total, go as
fast as -0 hits allow. No need to run
while doing this, just smooth movement
and get good hits
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Finish with a 4-5 round group from a
distance of your choosing. This
session may have been a little ugly
performance wise, but you are cheating
yourself only shooting easy practices.
Finish on a good note.
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<<<
Week 8 - SADDLE UP AND MOVE OUT!
Shooting while moving
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Please email Sean
Murphy with any questions at madcapmagician_24@hotmail.com.
This article nor any
parts of it are not to be reprinted
without the permission of the author.
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Sean Murphy (IDPA A27136) is an
IDPA Master Class shooter in the
Stock Service Pistol (SSP), the
Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) and the Enhanced
Service Pistol (ESP) divisions.
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“We sleep soundly in our beds because
rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would
do us harm.” |
God
Bless Our Troops
and
God Bless America |
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| The
4 rules of gun safety |
| 1.
The Gun Is Always Loaded! |
| 2.
Never Point A Gun At Something You're Not Prepared To Destroy! |
| 3.
Always Be Sure Of Your Target And What Is Behind It! |
| 4.
Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until Your Sights Are On The Target! |
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