Practice Drills

[j_charles]

Like most everyone here who CCWs, I like to spend a few minutes practicing drawing from concealment, and reloads a few nights a week. However, I'm also a relative newb, and was wondering:

-What everyone else's particular drill consisted of?
-Any advice or tips on the proper technique for drawing from concealment? (I carry IWB at about 4:30, if that helps)
-Proper way to practice reload technique? (semi-auto for me)

I will usually spend a few minutes doing some draw practice, than another few on reloads. Any advice from those more experience than I would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[skeptiq]

This is a great question, I await great responses from the fine members of this board!

 

[MrBorland]

Personally, the best place I've found for this type of discussion is the Brian Enos forum. There's a wealth of info there.

There are some good on-line sources of drills as well. Used to be, Steve Anderson's web page had short on-line videos you could watch. Seems some hacker got into the site, though, and it's been blocked by Google. Anderson does have a pretty good book of drills (Refinement & Repetition), though, available via the BE forum.

Also check out Matt Burkett's dry fire drill page. Some great drills there, which include an on-line par timer.

A great sub-forum on the BE forum is the Video Training Tips subforum. Shooters post vids of themselves and asked to be critiqued. These are great vids & threads to watch and read closely. Very instructive.


http://www.brianenos.com/
http://www.brianenos.com/pages/reviews.html#steve
http://www.mattburkett.com/flashfiles/dryfire.html
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=142

 

[j_charles]

Thanks MrBorland. I'll definately check out those sources. I'm all for any info I can get. I am still interested to know what people here do, though. Since I'm sure there are plenty of people who do things differently.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

http://www.kuci.org/~dany/firearms/all_drills.html
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204400
http://www.krtraining.com/

 

[louie19]

I find it good to practice plain ol' dry-firing. Clearing the different types of semi-auto malfunctions is also good practice. Get some snap caps to help with that.

If you're planning to use your firearm in home defense, it is probably good to practice dry-firing (or even just pointing it) from within various points of your house with varying levels of light . Best to know your layout and good angles/concealments before BGs arrive if ever. Probably should do this when family is asleep and with shades drawn so you don't worry the neighbors.

Of course, you should double and maybe triple-check that your semi-auto is unloaded before doing any dry-firing.

 

[mavracer]

Sounds like your ahead of the curve.I would suggest finding a club and shoot some IDPA matches.the people you find there will usually be very willing to introduce you to the sport and helpfull.

 

[Luis Leon]

Find, if you can a nearby club that has IDPA or USPSA type matches. You will meet nice, like-minded people. Both of the above sports have participants drawing from their holsters engaging multiple targets and reloading. IDPA places more of an emphasis on CCW type scenarios. Both are good because competing reinforces through repetitive motion the things you practice by yourself. As long as you keep in mind that they are competitions and not actual training you'll be alright. Good luck.

best regards,

Luis Leon

 

[offroaddiver]

Dryfire is great practice. I tend to be over the top sometimes when practicing at home. I do the nickel test to smooth out my trigger control and double tap aiming at various items on my shelves in the room.

 

[VegasOPM]

+1 on Brian Enos Forums. Most of the top shooters in the country spend time there and there are pages of drills.

 

[JoeSlomo]

I will usually spend a few minutes doing some draw practice, than another few on reloads. Any advice from those more experience than I would be much appreciated.

Train for proficiency, and get involved in a local gun club that shoots IDPA or USPSA.

While gun games are NOT the end all be all to firearms training, they ARE:

1. FUN!!!!
2. Venues that offer you the opportunity to develop and maintain firearm proficiency and safety.
3. FUN!!!
4. Venues that afford you the opportunity to run courses of fire that may not be available to you at the local flat range (and from concealment in IDPA).
5. Venues that will introduce you to individuals that have a HIGHER degree of firearms skills and knowlege, and are more than willing to help you get better.
6. Venues that allow you to compare your baseline proficiency with others that actually shoot regularly.
7. Lastly, gun games are FUN!!!

Don't let it consume you, just train to be proficient, because in the end, that's all you can ask of yourself.

Your brain and situational awareness are the most important tools in personal defense, weapons proficiency comes after imo...

My advice, and it's worth what you paid for it.

 

[j_charles]

What kind of guns are generally used in an IDPA setting? All I've got is my PF-9 right now, and I'm not going to be in a situation for anything else for some time.

 

[skeptiq]

Thanks for the suggestions... great resources the noob like me