This is the third installment in the breakdown of the Rogers Shooting School test.
Stage Three is probably the most straightforward part of the entire 125-point test. It’s also the first time you start with a holstered gun and involves two draws over the course of the stage.
Stage 3: two-handed, from the holster, 6.0 seconds per string
Maximum points: 14
Draw and hit each target T1 through T7; repeat
The targets come up in three groups: T1 & T2 rise at the start; T3 – T5 come up shortly after; and finally, T6 & T7.
Like the first part of the test,the biggest thing here is to keep your head straight. There is plenty of time to get the hits but not enough time to make mental errors.
Tip #1: Be certain of your grip on the draw. You simply do not have enough time to fix your grip and catch up.
Tip #2: Even though it’s not a rule for this stage, try to knock the plates down in order. Closer plates are easier to hit and there’s no point leaving big close-range targets standing while you try to bullseye one that’s 20yd away.
Tip #3: Know what plate you’re going after next so as soon as you knock down the plate you’re on, you can drive immediately to the next target. Time you spend choosing or scanning for targets eats up time for aiming and pressing the trigger.
Tip #4: The instructors control the timing between the first string of fire and the second (identical) string. They give everyone enough time to get back in the holster. I recommend reloading between strings. Even if you think you have enough ammo to get through all 14 plates with one magazine, why risk coming up dry and losing points because of poor ammo management?
Here is a video of me shooting it clean:
You might notice that on the first string, I actually hit T1 twice: once low on the plate as part of the draw, then a second time knocking it down after hitting T2. According to the Rogers rules, both of those hits would count as a point. But because I knocked down all seven plates I already scored the maximum possible.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
What camera and mount are you using?
matt — It’s a Contour HD on their normal mount. You can see a photo of the setup on this page’s banner.
So are you on your honor to wait until the first target begins to appear before drawing? Sounds/looks like that’s the signal to begin shooting.
You start at the activation of the target system, which is the plate rising.
You can hear the activation before you see it though right?
It depends on the test. For example, as I’ll discuss in a later entry, one of the tests begins with T5 and the gas pump for that target happens a quarter second or so before the target appears. The instructions are specifically to ‘draw at the sound of the pump’ on that test.
For T1 — which is the target that appears first for every string of every other stage — the pump and the movement of the plate are close enough to identical that I don’t think you could judge.
Ah ok. Cool
The thing that finally struck me about these videos is how little the camera (on your head) moves. Something for me to strive for!