Confidence in your shooting ability

[Frailer]

...When a threat gives you a small piece of them to shoot at, you have to have the confidence to make that shot. This means practicing with smaller targets (6" and below) and being able to keep rounds inside of 6 inches on demand, COLD!

I don't mean to play semantics games, but I'd phrase this differently.

It's imperative that you know your capabilities, and such knowledge can only come from practice under a wide variety of conditions.

IMHO this is one of the greatest benefits of playing pistol games. My own club (neither IDPA nor USPSA affiliated) strives to come up with scenarios that make extensive use of no-shoots, partial cover, props, awkward positions, etc., and our scoring system places a premium on accuracy. I learn something about myself each and every time I shoot.

[C4IGrant]

I don't mean to play semantics games, but I'd phrase this differently.

It's imperative that you know your capabilities, and such knowledge can only come from practice under a wide variety of conditions.

IMHO this is one of the greatest benefits of playing pistol games. My own club (neither IDPA nor USPSA affiliated) strives to come up with scenarios that make extensive use of no-shoots, partial cover, props, awkward positions, etc., and our scoring system places a premium on accuracy. I learn something about myself each and every time I shoot.

I think it is phrased just fine.

Yes, people DO need to know their limitations, but if you cannot make the shot I described (which I find easy), you need to up your training and practice IMHO.



C4

[Ick]

[A] man's got to know his limitations.
~Dirty Harry

[Frailer]

I think it is phrased just fine.

Yes, people DO need to know their limitations, but if you cannot make the shot I described (which I find easy), you need to up your training and practice IMHO.

Agreed, but I thought you wanted a discussion.

The subject in question should indeed have had the ability to hit a 6" target from 8 yards and the knowledge gained from empirical observation that he could do so reliably.

But the question is larger than that, isn't it?

[C4IGrant]

Agreed, but I thought you wanted a discussion.

The subject in question should indeed have had the ability to hit a 6" target from 8 yards and the knowledge gained from empirical observation that he could do so reliably.

But the question is larger than that, isn't it?

Sorry, I have no idea what you are saying or what you are attempting to add to the discussion.


C4

[TElmer2]

As an avid pistol shooter myself I also do dot torture, 3x5 card drill, press six, FAST etc. I do need to do more 15-25yd shooting.

Any particular drills like the ones above to push myself and to help with my 25yd shooting? It is an area that I have begun to try to improve upon this year.

[C4IGrant]

As an avid pistol shooter myself I also do dot torture, 3x5 card drill, press six, FAST etc. I do need to do more 15-25yd shooting.

Any particular drills like the ones above to push myself and to help with my 25yd shooting? It is an area that I have begun to try to improve upon this year.

10/10/10 is the "standard" with a passing score of 90 and if your chit is wired tight, 95 and above COLD on command. I also use a variant of the 10/10/10 drill where I put up two targets side by side and put one round back and forth until there is 5rds on each B-8 Target. Scoring is the same (must shoot a 90 or above). Targets must be at least 3ft apart.

Here are two drills that I came up with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL-VV8UN4Gs

I am also a fan of KD's pistol drill where you run 25yds to the 25yds line and shoot 6rds into a B-8 Target. Must shoot a 50 or above. I add my own twist to is and put a time standard of 18 seconds onto it. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJtcz...feature=relmfu

Best I ever shot on it was a 58.



C4

[Ironman8]

As an avid pistol shooter myself I also do dot torture, 3x5 card drill, press six, FAST etc. I do need to do more 15-25yd shooting.

Any particular drills like the ones above to push myself and to help with my 25yd shooting? It is an area that I have begun to try to improve upon this year.

For anyone interested:

I have put together a list of drills and standards with Target, Distance, Par Times, CoFs, ect. all layed out in a Word Doc...with links to downloadable targets at the bottom of the page (almost all of the targets for these drills can be downloaded/printed). This particular list is modified somewhat (for some drills) that accounts for single lane/single target/static range (indoor range) shooting. This drill list is for distances from 3-25yds and include SHO/OSHO shooting at all those distances as well. It may not include your favorite drill, and I may have missed something, but it is made with the CCWer (and his/her gear loadout) in mind to work across all the skill sets that I felt were necessary. Malfunction clearances aren't included, however.

(I also have a drill/standard sheet with alot of the same drills plus others, modified for Carbine)

I will be making another list in the future for ranges where you can move and shoot and/or set up multiple targets next to each other (ie. El Pres) for both Carbine and Handgun.

If anyone wants these, PM me your email address.

Also, if I have missed anything that you feel should be added, PLEASE let me know as I am always looking for another good drill or way to work a skillset.

[Frailer]

Sorry, I have no idea what you are saying or what you are attempting to add to the discussion.

Then allow me to try again. In your original post you stated, "When a threat gives you a small piece of them to shoot at, you have to have the confidence to make that shot."

I attempted to politely point out that I would have worded this differently, but it would have been more accurate to say that it's wrong.

It ignores the possibility that it is possible--regardless of how hard you train or how much you practice--that you may be presented with a shot that you cannot make with confidence. You might have to hold your fire, reposition, look for another less-optimal target area that you can engage, or do something else.

Should anyone be able to hit a 6" target consistently at 8 yards? Absolutely. Should we train and practice to improve our ability to hit small targets? Again, yes.

But since the original post mentioned a student who declined to take a shot and asked what the collective thought about it I thought I would share my opinion that it important to know when *not* to shoot.

[TElmer2]

10/10/10 is the "standard" with a passing score of 90 and if your chit is wired tight, 95 and above COLD on command. I also use a variant of the 10/10/10 drill where I put up two targets side by side and put one round back and forth until there is 5rds on each B-8 Target. Scoring is the same (must shoot a 90 or above). Targets must be at least 3ft apart.

Here are two drills that I came up with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL-VV8UN4Gs

I am also a fan of KD's pistol drill where you run 25yds to the 25yds line and shoot 6rds into a B-8 Target. Must shoot a 50 or above. I add my own twist to is and put a time standard of 18 seconds onto it. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJtcz...feature=relmfu

Best I ever shot on it was a 58.



C4

Thanks for the references and drill videos. I did the 10x10x10 at a LAV Basic Pistol class. I will definitely try it at the 15 and 25yd line.

The other drills look fun and challenging at the same time.