Shooting Drills
 

Let's talk shooting drills. On another thread, I mentioned a drill we do. I call it the "Buddha how many more in the box!" Drill

You load 2-3 rounds in a buttload of mags and put them in a box. The shooter stands ready and the helper kneels down on his weak side. The shooter will engage and combat reload. Over and over again. As he empties the mag pouch, the helper will replace the mags until all are done. Change over and repeat.

Don't try to pick up the empties until the weapon is safe and holsterd and don't go forward of the shooter at any time. Doesn't work real well with chest mounted pistol mags.

Also - you need to have the basics of the combat reload down before you try this. You will need to dry fire it about 10,000 trillion times prior. It is a waste of ammo IMO to do the exercise before.

Oh - and as always, marksmanship counts...;)

One thing I think is important - don't get in the habit of shooting one or two then transitioning for no reason or safetying and holstering after two every time. If you transition, you should either be dry or have a malfunction - both can be purposely introduced.

When you go to your secondary, you should vary the number of rounds you use before going back to the primary. Shoot two sometimes, more others. Every now and then, shoot it dry and combat reload.

You can use snap caps to introducce a malfunction - just have somebody else load it or do it with your eyes closed so you don't anticipate.

Grossman touches on the reasons for avoiding habitually doing the same things in On Combat. I just started it, not bad. Most of the recommendations he has so far we were doing insticitively.

Another thing I like is sliding to the side to transition or reload. Any ideas why?

Remember - you will revert to training when stressed. So train like you want to fight.

Anybody else?

On a related by different topic - anybody know where I can find the Wheel of Errors for Left-handed shooters on the net?

To get off the target line.

We teach students to move at least one step laterally between strings and to continue scanning from side to side.

TR

V&P?

Roger Sir. I was thinking more specifically about the other guy's reaction to stress.;) - and baiting a trap for your Samoan attorney.:)

A&W?

Vivo y pendejo or, for those not in 7th Group, ball and dummy drill.

Load magazine with live rounds and a randomly placed snap cap. Engage target with slow aimed fire.

It's the only drill I have been taught.

Ah, Ball and Dummy. One of my favorites. Best first drill (I won't say warm up, I don't know what the TS has told you...and I'm a little scared of him:) ) ever.

I wasn't expecting Spanish from you.

Tell us more - what is the purpose of the drill? Pitfalls? Safety considerations?

The Boarding House Rule.
 

Who's heard of this?!?!

Come on now, don't be shy...:D

While we wait, a question - when should you conduct pistol exercises from a drawn position (low ready, Sabrina [RL before the TS started training him], high ready) etc.

I think you have forgotten a thread from a while back where you taught me the term "Vivo y Pendejo."

My understanding of the purpose of the drill is to teach the shooter not to anticipate recoil and jerk the trigger. The shooter learns to squeeze the trigger smoothly because, when you hit the snap cap, you feel like a complete idiot if you jerked the trigger. I find that it is extremely helpful in this respect.

There may be other purposes or benefits of the drill of which I am not aware. I am not aware of any pitfalls or safety considerations at this time.

:munchin

How about this?

Great thread, NDD.

I didn't forget, I just wasn't anticipating Spanish from you - my bad, but the bunny stays.;)

I would say ball and dummy done properly trains the all 8 fundamentals of marksmanship. That is one of the reasons it is on the "Most Excellent Drills" list in my Magic Field binder.

Besides looking like an idiot on the snap cap - you will miss on the live round if you don't apply the fundamentals. So you get the best of both worlds and in that sense, it is better than dry fire, which is my next favorite way to work.

That's it! Dude you are Da Man!.

And thanks for the kind words.