Drill of the Month - January 2020

Well here is my last run at this month's drill. This time I went from the draw partial concealment. The gun was covered but not the manner I carry everyday and not in my everyday holster. I shot this drill before any other shooting so it was cold to semi cold.

First up in the Wilson Combat EDC-X9. I ran this one clean all the way through and under a par time of 5 seconds. It was pretty solid all around but there were some consistency issues. #1 and #3 were my best runs. I must have liked that piece of paper. I think I am still rushing my shots and not letting the pistol settle before yanking the trigger which is sending some shots high see 2, 3, 4 & 5. On 5 I think I just lost concentration and dipped the gun low. Still not a bad effort.
  1. 3.52
  2. 4.72
  3. 3.68
  4. 4.48
  5. 4.60
QM9CV0p.jpg


Second was the Yost Browning High Power. Again this one was clean but the targets were inconsistent. 1 & 5 were my best runs. It was not fast for some reason. Out of the holster the BHP is slower for me. I am not sure why.
  1. 4.11
  2. 4.09
  3. 4.37
  4. 4.55
  5. 4.66
2MVCYK1.jpg


The Third run was will the Custom Colt 1911. This was the only dropped shot of the session. Dropped one sot high on target #3. I did my best to drop a shot on #1 and #2 but managed to keep them in on the line. There were some nice tight groups like #3 and #4. Still dropped that shot and am disappointed. All runs were completed under 5 seconds.
  1. 4.77
  2. 4.60
  3. 4.73
  4. 4.63
  5. 4.34
nBUli0n.jpg


The forth run was with a CZ Shadow 2. I don't have a pic of this run because I shot it over the 1911 targets because I only brought 3 sets. This one was the fastest of the day. This gun is built for speed. It is huge and heavy so it simply does not move off target. I could almost pull the trigger as fast as I can without looking at the sights at all and it would score hits. All the runs were under 4 seconds and it did not drop a shot.
  1. 3.85
  2. 3.47
  3. 3.75
  4. 3.96
This was a fun drill. I like it because it worked on draw, presentation and cadence. I need to work on my cadence. I sometimes find myself hesitating between shots as if I am waiting for verification that I shot and hit something when really my sights should have already told me where the bullet was going. Offhand grip pressure was also identified as a weakness and of course overall consistency is somewhat lacking. Looking forward to next months drill.
 
I thought this was an excellent drill and I used to help a new competition shooter increase , his hits and reduce his time. We started using this drill as base line he and shot a 6.8. I then changed up using the small target small miss concept slow fire, using a number of different drills that included steel. Finally, he got the exercise down to 3.8 sec with all hits and I was darn proud of him.. he got a great big smile on his face when I showed him the timer and his words were " It didn't seem that fast " That's when you know, you Got It ! When it seems natural and slow in your mind.. I gave it a try myself a few times and found that in bezerk mode I would drop one shot, but if I just backed it off a notch I got all hits and only added .3 seconds to my time.. Proves a slightly slower hit beats a fast miss every day..
 
I thought this was an excellent drill and I used to help a new competition shooter increase , his hits and reduce his time. We started using this drill as base line he and shot a 6.8. I then changed up using the small target small miss concept slow fire, using a number of different drills that included steel. Finally, he got the exercise down to 3.8 sec with all hits and I was darn proud of him.. he got a great big smile on his face when I showed him the timer and his words were " It didn't seem that fast " That's when you know, you Got It ! When it seems natural and slow in your mind.. I gave it a try myself a few times and found that in bezerk mode I would drop one shot, but if I just backed it off a notch I got all hits and only added .3 seconds to my time.. Proves a slightly slower hit beats a fast miss every day..

That’s great work and exactly what this thread is all about! Few tings are more rewarding that being able to help another shooter find their path to performing better. Nicely done and thanks for sharing that.
 
So I've got my YT channel set up. Got video of the drills edited and ready to go.
Then I realized I shouldn't post these for viewing. Because, as I mentioned in the dot torture drill thread, not enuff live shooting and I have reverted back to noobie skills, including unsafe gun handling. I just can't put it out there.
I could see my video being used as a
"This is NOT how you do it" example in a gun safety course. It's embarrassing at the least, and it's hard to admit it but I must be honest with myself, I'm dangerous at this point..again. I've seen myself exhibit this behavior in other videos from 2 years ago when I started shooting IDPA, and worked on it specifically to eliminate it but it was very much present in these videos.
So... thoughts are I need to start all over again with the basic rules of safety, or quit shooting. One or the other, right now.

That all being said, if it even matters, I'll post a pic of my target and thoughts.20200321_014707.jpg

Using 4.25" M&P out of a Daranich Tactical IDPA holster, 125gr Blazer.
If I have all day to do it I have a pretty good trigger press I think. 1st two shots in the test circle were in the red. Then my grip relaxed some and the next three are going low left.
On #1-5, I was focused on being accurate not fast and still have a couple of misses.
Could push it into the sub 4 range but would miss more. Overall I'm happy with it.
Two problems that I fight are tracking the sights and blinking. Every shot is like the 1st shot in that I acquire a sight picture like I do when lining up for the 1st shot. I've never, ever seen the front sight lift.
Grip isnt what it needs to be so the sight return is inconsistent and I probly over-confirm as well. Also not experienced enough to know what I can get away with either and probly wait for a too perfect sight picture and then jerk the trigger and the sights off target when I think I see it.
Opinions??
 
Last edited:
So I've got my YT channel set up. Got video of the drills edited and ready to go.
Then I realized I shouldn't post these for viewing. Because, as I mentioned in the dot torture drill thread, not enuff live shooting and I have reverted back to noobie skills, including unsafe gun handling. I just can't put it out there.
I could see my video being used as a
"This is NOT how you do it" example in a gun safety course. It's embarrassing at the least, and it's hard to admit it but I must be honest with myself, I'm dangerous at this point..again. I've seen myself exhibit this behavior in other videos from 2 years ago when I started shooting IDPA, and worked on it specifically to eliminate it but it was very much present in these videos.
So... thoughts are I need to start all over again with the basic rules of safety, or quit shooting. One or the other, right now.

That all being said, if it even matters, I'll post a pic of my target and thoughts.View attachment 197946

Using 4.25" M&P out of a Daranich Tactical IDPA holster, 125gr Blazer.
If I have all day to do it I have a pretty good trigger press I think. 1st two shots in the test circle were in the red. Then my grip relaxed some and the next three are going low left.
On #1-5, I was focused on being accurate not fast and still have a couple of misses.
Could push it into the sub 4 range but would miss more. Overall I'm happy with it.
Two problems that I fight are tracking the sights and blinking. Every shot is like the 1st shot in that I acquire a sight picture like I do when lining up for the 1st shot. I've never, ever seen the front sight lift.
Grip isnt what it needs to be so the sight return is inconsistent and I probly over-confirm as well. Also not experienced enough to know what I can get away with either and probly wait for a too perfect sight picture and then jerk the trigger and the sights off target when I think I see it.
Opinions??
Looks great to me, but what do I know? LOL.
 
So I've got my YT channel set up. Got video of the drills edited and ready to go.
Then I realized I shouldn't post these for viewing. Because, as I mentioned in the dot torture drill thread, not enuff live shooting and I have reverted back to noobie skills, including unsafe gun handling. I just can't put it out there.
I could see my video being used as a
"This is NOT how you do it" example in a gun safety course. It's embarrassing at the least, and it's hard to admit it but I must be honest with myself, I'm dangerous at this point..again. I've seen myself exhibit this behavior in other videos from 2 years ago when I started shooting IDPA, and worked on it specifically to eliminate it but it was very much present in these videos.
So... thoughts are I need to start all over again with the basic rules of safety, or quit shooting. One or the other, right now.

That all being said, if it even matters, I'll post a pic of my target and thoughts.View attachment 197946

Using 4.25" M&P out of a Daranich Tactical IDPA holster, 125gr Blazer.
If I have all day to do it I have a pretty good trigger press I think. 1st two shots in the test circle were in the red. Then my grip relaxed some and the next three are going low left.
On #1-5, I was focused on being accurate not fast and still have a couple of misses.
Could push it into the sub 4 range but would miss more. Overall I'm happy with it.
Two problems that I fight are tracking the sights and blinking. Every shot is like the 1st shot in that I acquire a sight picture like I do when lining up for the 1st shot. I've never, ever seen the front sight lift.
Grip isnt what it needs to be so the sight return is inconsistent and I probly over-confirm as well. Also not experienced enough to know what I can get away with either and probly wait for a too perfect sight picture and then jerk the trigger and the sights off target when I think I see it.
Opinions??
I am in the same boat, was doing idpa in 2013/14 was in top 50% then stopped competing and skills went to poop. I have been getting coaching with David B. every other week. I use same setup M&P /holster etc... I think I am at 4 sessions, starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. I had to install the sandpaper Talon grips, this has helped a lot, that and dry firing.
 
............ I have reverted back to noobie skills, including unsafe gun handling. I just can't put it out there.
................... Overall I'm happy with it.
Two problems that I fight are tracking the sights and blinking. Every shot is like the 1st shot in that I acquire a sight picture like I do when lining up for the 1st shot. I've never, ever seen the front sight lift.
Grip isnt what it needs to be so the sight return is inconsistent and I probly over-confirm as well. Also not experienced enough to know what I can get away with either and probly wait for a too perfect sight picture and then jerk the trigger and the sights off target when I think I see it.
Opinions??

Wow......where do I even start with this one.

1st) If you are mature enough to recognize that you are being unsafe AND put it out there in a forum post, you are mature enough to fix it. AND you are a better man that most, because they would just ignore it and move on. Kudos for admitting that you have stuff to work on (as we all do) and committing to doing so.

2nd) The fact that you are focused on things like sight tracking, inconsistency, over confirmation of the sights and trigger control, tells me that you are FAR MORE experienced than you give yourself credit for.

3rd) If you quit now, you would be doing yourself a disservice. Keep plugging away at your defined deficiencies, ONE at a time and you will find tremendous gains before you know it.

For sight tracking and learning to call shots, I would recommend the berm drill. Essentially, what you are going to do is, stand about 3-5 yards away from the berm, with no target at all. You are going to shoot a 6-10 round volley of fire, with the sole goal of watching what the sights are doing. With no target to worry about, no hits to look for immediately after you fire the gun, you are left with one job and one job only, tracking the sights in recoil. After a few magazines, 3-5 or so. You will be tracking those sights consistently, even with a target in front of you. Give it a shot and let us know how that works out!
 
Wow......where do I even start with this one.

1st) If you are mature enough to recognize that you are being unsafe AND put it out there in a forum post, you are mature enough to fix it. AND you are a better man that most, because they would just ignore it and move on. Kudos for admitting that you have stuff to work on (as we all do) and committing to doing so.

2nd) The fact that you are focused on things like sight tracking, inconsistency, over confirmation of the sights and trigger control, tells me that you are FAR MORE experienced than you give yourself credit for.

3rd) If you quit now, you would be doing yourself a disservice. Keep plugging away at your defined deficiencies, ONE at a time and you will find tremendous gains before you know it.

For sight tracking and learning to call shots, I would recommend the berm drill. Essentially, what you are going to do is, stand about 3-5 yards away from the berm, with no target at all. You are going to shoot a 6-10 round volley of fire, with the sole goal of watching what the sights are doing. With no target to worry about, no hits to look for immediately after you fire the gun, you are left with one job and one job only, tracking the sights in recoil. After a few magazines, 3-5 or so. You will be tracking those sights consistently, even with a target in front of you. Give it a shot and let us know how that works out!

(1) I've never been ashamed to admit it when I'm wrong or when I make a mistake. And with the safety factor being so imperative in this endeavor, if I can't do it safely I'm out. Just cannot risk it.

(2) I've listened well!!! I know all these things are just a part of the whole, And I don't know how to put it all together, or stay focused on just one thing till I get it before moving to something else. And it all begins to run together and becomes overwhelming. (See #3)

(3) Guilty of trying to work on everything at once I guess we can say. Look for immediate results, don't find it, move on, etc, etc.

Am more than willing to try shooting into a berm without a target.
Any advice on over-coming a blinking problem? No not drinking, blinking!!! haha:D
I do it, most of the time on the first shot of a drill or an array, randomly after that. I can "not" do it, but it takes so much focus, other things suffer.
 
Am more than willing to try shooting into a berm without a target.
Any advice on over-coming a blinking problem? No not drinking, blinking!!! haha:D
I do it, most of the time on the first shot of a drill or an array, randomly after that. I can "not" do it, but it takes so much focus, other things suffer.


Yes, the berm drill will help tremendously with the blinking as well. Focusing on watching what the sights do, and solely what the sights do, will eventually have the effect of preventing the blinking from occurring, since you have to keep your eyes open in order to see what you need to see.
 
Back
Top Bottom