Handgun skill, practice, drills, and evaluations posts

[Dave0317]

Inspired by discussion in the “Most reliable and Shootable pistols” thread, let’s discuss some basic pistol drills here.

A majority of handgun training material is focused on police or military use. So there is more emphasis on transitioning to other weapons, reloads, and other things that likely don’t apply to the average hunter. Making the assumption that most of us as hunters carry one handgun, with one magazine, and the other weapons on us may not be suitable for defense (bow, muzzleloader, etc.). So, I asked Form about a bear defense training or assessment drill.

Form’ suggested drill.

Grab your bear defense gun, and a couple loaded mags.

First, slow fire 10 rounds into NRA B8 at 25 yards for score. Form didn’t suggest a minimum, but I think a 90 is a reasonable goal.

Then:

“…3 of the same targets stacked in distance- one at 3.5 yards, one at 7, one at 15 yards. Start in the 15 yard target, shoot three rounds, then 3 at 7 yards, and 3 at 3.5 yards. All using a shot timer and all rounds must be in the 8 ring.”

If you shoot the drill post scores/times, and pics.
More to follow when I make it out to the range.

 

[hereinaz]

I like it!

I bought into Form’s “22 mag PMR30” as my bear pistol, so I’m fixnna do all those drills with a mag dump each time.

 

[24valve]

Didn't do the B-8 for score at 25 yards, but I did the bear drill several times for the first time today. Usually had at least one outside the 8-ring at 15 yards, and times were around 10-seconds using a shot timer app. I don't have much handgun experience, so I know I need plenty of practice!

 

[Thegman]

Didn't do the B-8 for score at 25 yards, but I did the bear drill several times for the first time today. Usually had at least one outside the 8-ring at 15 yards, and times were around 10-seconds using a shot timer app. I don't have much handgun experience, so I know I need plenty of practice!

View attachment 882988View attachment 882987View attachment 882989View attachment 882990

Well, you're definitely making him second guess his decision at 15 yards...!

 

[Bluumoon]

Inspired by discussion in the “Most reliable and Shootable pistols” thread, let’s discuss some basic pistol drills here.

A majority of handgun training material is focused on police or military use. So there is more emphasis on transitioning to other weapons, reloads, and other things that likely don’t apply to the average hunter. Making the assumption that most of us as hunters carry one handgun, with one magazine, and the other weapons on us may not be suitable for defense (bow, muzzleloader, etc.). So, I asked Form about a bear defense training or assessment drill.

Form’ suggested drill.

Grab your bear defense gun, and a couple loaded mags.

First, slow fire 10 rounds into NRA B8 at 25 yards for score. Form didn’t suggest a minimum, but I think a 90 is a reasonable goal.

Then:

“…3 of the same targets stacked in distance- one at 3.5 yards, one at 7, one at 15 yards. Start in the 15 yard target, shoot three rounds, then 3 at 7 yards, and 3 at 3.5 yards. All using a shot timer and all rounds must be in the 8 ring.”

If you shoot the drill post scores/times, and pics.
More to follow when I make it out to the range.

How much time on the three targets? Or are you saying record total time?

 

[24valve]

How much time on the three targets?

I'm not Dave or Form, but the way I understood and shot it is that the time is the variable, but that it only counts if the baseline accuracy of all shots in the 8-ring is achieved.

To use my drill results posted above as an example, not all shots were in the 8-ring so my 10-second time was invalid.

However, I'm sure it could be modified to operate like the hunting rifle drill where you have 20 seconds to build a position and get two shots off, and are then scored on accuracy within a stated timeframe.

 

[HighUintas]

I envision this drill as a charging bear scenario, so I'd evaluate my performance on a combo of time and hits in the 8 ring. Of course, there's probably a par time that you should be able to complete it in since the bear is going to start moving really quickly from the first shot if you hit him and he's determined to kill you.

How fast can a grizzly get to you from 15 yards?

I'm going to say if a grizzly's top speed is 35mph, it likely wouldn't be going that fast from 15yd.

Let's say 20mph. That's 30fps and it would take him 1.5s to get to you from 15yds.

I better start practicing a little more

 

[Bluumoon]

Let’s call these pre timed/baseline. Short on time today to set up additional targets.
Shot at 25 untimed
Walk up to 15 draw and shoot as fast as possible
Walk up to 7.5 same
Walk up to 3.5 same

 

[Thegman]

I envision this drill as a charging bear scenario, so I'd evaluate my performance on a combo of time and hits in the 8 ring. Of course, there's probably a par time that you should be able to complete it in since the bear is going to start moving really quickly from the first shot if you hit him and he's determined to kill you.

How fast can a grizzly get to you from 15 yards?

I'm going to say if a grizzly's top speed is 35mph, it likely wouldn't be going that fast from 15yd.

Let's say 20mph. That's 30fps and it would take him 1.5s to get to you from 15yds.

I better start practicing a little more

I'd say your time estimate is pretty close. I shot this bear while it was facing me, at about 10 yards. I remember thinking "This better work, he could be on me in about 1 second".

Fortunately, it did work.

 

[HighUintas]

I'd say your time estimate is pretty close. I shot this bear while it was facing me, at about 10 yards. I remember thinking "This better work, he could be on me in about 1 second".

Fortunately, it did work.
View attachment 883182

He's a big boy! Where was the shot placed?

 

[Thegman]

He's a big boy! Where was the shot placed?

Center of chest.

I was talking with someone recently who shot a brown bear center of chest and commented how quickly it died. He said that in a conversation with a guide, the guide noted how well that shot worked on bears in particular. I don't have nearly the experience with that to say myself, but could be.

 

[RockAndSage]

Center of chest.

I was talking with someone recently who shot a brown bear center of chest and commented how quickly it died. He said that in a conversation with a guide, the guide noted how well that shot worked on bears in particular. I don't have nearly the experience with that to say myself, but could be.

How quickly are we talking here?

 

[Thegman]

How quickly are we talking here?

He said a few seconds. Turned and ran a few feet and collapsed. I think it was with a 300 WM or something of that nature. I think about an 8.5" boar.