The DotW this week is designed to improve transitions, moving the gun from one target to the next.
The target array will involve three targets at a range of 5 yards. The targets should be about 1 yard apart. The two outside targets will be large (paper plate, 8.5×11 sheet of paper, IDPA 0-zone, IPSC A-zone). The middle target will be a 3×5 card.
Start aimed in at the ground below the middle target. On the start signal, drive the gun to the left target and fire until you get one hit. Then arc the gun to the middle target and get one hit, finally moving to the right target and one hit. Repeat the drill but on the second run go from right to left.
There are two key aspects to this drill for you to keep in mind:
First, you move your eyes to the target and then drive the gun to the spot you’re looking at. Your eyes move before the gun. Once you’re looking at the target, the pistol is moved so that it intersects the line of sight between your eyes and the target. If you think about it, this is exactly what you’re going to do under stress. If you are engaging one threat and then turn your attention to a second threat, you’re going to look at it and identify it before your gun starts to move.
Second, you move the gun purposely, not wildly. You want to move fast, but not so fast that you are out of control. That’s the purpose of using a small target in the center. It forces you to be honest. You need to look and see the target and move your gun to it so you get a precise, aimed hit.
Practice the drill slowly at first, measuring your performance with a shot timer. When you are getting 100% hits, start to increase your speed. But don’t get sloppy! Make your hits. Just as with the Changing Gears drill, you should be able to break your shots on the large target faster than when you shoot the small target. Push yourself. If you can get all your hits every time in under two seconds, you’re doing a great job!
Training with firearms is an inherently dangerous activity. Be sure to follow all safety protocols when using firearms or practicing these drills. These drills are provided for information purposes only. Use at your own risk.
Todd,
is the idea to allow the recoil arc/impulse to carry your pistol to the next target, like in competition, or to transition to the next target only after you have verified your hits?
Sean — You should be reading your sights well enough to be confident of your hits. Take follow ups if you feel like you missed. At the end of the drill, see whether your shot calling was effective. Using the recoil to drive the gun certainly makes sense for static targets, but obviously in a dynamic encounter that won’t be feasible. To be honest, I don’t really think about it when I shoot because it’s of limited functionality beyond playing games. To each his own, though.