What do you practice at the range with .45 100rd limit?

[seeds76]

Ammunition is getting pretty expensive nowadays so I'm trying to be very productive with my 1911 range sessions. I'm trying to minimize my ammunition usage to 100 rounds per session. I'm doing 20 for slow fire distance marksmanship, 40 double taps, 30 for mag reload practice (3 rds in each mag), and 10 for whatever.

If you only had 100 rounds to practice with, how would you divide it up?

 

[shootist2121]

Learn to reload.....You can load a box of 100, 45 acp's (With saved brass) for about $10.00 with lead bullets.

Break down..2.80 for primers, 5.96 for bullets, and 1.28 for powder (per 100)

These are my local pricing...

You time and labor..Priceless...LOL

Be safe.

 

[russ45]

100 rounds is a short range session. Combine the reload drills with the double taps and spend more bullets on accuracy. I like to hold out a couple dozen rounds for plinking. You will find yourself reloading as you get into shooting more.

 

[crebralfix]

Here's a sample practice program:

All positions assume the shooter is right handed. In front of you is 12 o'clock, behind you is 6 o'clock.

If movement is involved, move FIRST, then draw and fire.

If rules allow it, the gun starts holstered for every shot. Reverse your draw to get a second repetition in.

Do not look down at your holster. Reload as fast as "tactically" possible-- whatever that means to you.

Vary the ranges from 3 to 45 feet. Point shooting should be done on a close target 3-15 feet away (or farther if you are comfortable with it).

5 rounds for accuracy fired from your favorite position straight on.
5 rounds: strong hand only (SH)
5 rounds: weak hand only (WH)
10 rounds: two handed rapid fire (double tap, burst, controlled pair)
5 rounds: SH only, fired from 3 o'clock
5 rounds: WH only, fired to 9 o'clock
5 rounds: SH only fired from 5 o'clock
5 rounds: WH only to 7 o'clock (45 rounds)
5 rounds: SH only, move to 11 o'clock
5 rounds: SH draw, transition to WH while moving to 1 o'clock (55)
5 rounds: SH, face left and fire while moving to 9 o'clock
5 rounds: SH with transition to WH, face right and fire while moving to
3 o'clock (65)
10 rounds: 2-4 round burst SH only on the move
10 rounds: 2-4 round burst WH only on the move (85)
5 rounds: Square stance, gun held at throat level point shooting (hits at throat level)
5 rounds: Square stance, gun held at chest level (hits at chest level)
5 rounds: Square stance, gun held at belt level (hits at belt level)

You can vary the point shooting stances if you know how to do it at different angles.

 

[TAB]

50-100 rounds of center fire pistol is my normal range trip.

I start with shooting a group.

after that it changes.

generally speaking I do few strings of what I do well, fallowed by few strings of things I do poorly. Then back to strings I of things I do well.

I always at some point shoot a mag of my "sd ammo" and a mag of weak hand.

If at any point I find things starting to go down hill, I quit. It does not matter if there is 1 round left or 100 rounds left.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Scott’s Ultimate Challenge 48 Rounds

At The Four-yard Line, On The Signal, Draw And Fire Two Rounds At Each Target In Two Seconds. Repeat This Three Times For A Total Of 16 Rounds, 8 In Each Target.

At The Seven-yard Line, On The Signal, Draw & Fire Four Rounds In The Right Target With The Right Hand, Then Four Rounds In The Left Target With The Left Hand For A Total Of 8 Rounds In Seven Seconds.

At The Seven-yard Line, On The Signal, Draw & Fire Four Rounds Alternating Between Targets With The Right Hand, Then Four Rounds Alternating Between Targets With The Left Hand For A Total Of 8 Rounds In Eight Seconds.

At The 25 Yard Line, On The Signal, Draw & Fire Eight Rounds, Head Shots, Alternating Between Targets, In 25 Seconds.

At The 25 Yard Line, On The Signal, Draw And Fire Four Rounds, Head Shots, At Each Target, In 20 Seconds.

Total Of 48 Rounds Fired, 24 At Each Target. Passing Is A Total Of 37 Hits With Maximum Of 16 Rounds In The Body Of Each Target. All Other Hits Must Be Head Shots To Count, And Must Have At Least 18 Hits In Each Target.



Copyright 2005 By Scott Ferguson

 

[twigs]

In the "Strategies & Tactics" forum there is an excellent sticky with drills to maximize the results from limited rounds.

 

[cmidkiff]

If your budget truly limits you to 100 rounds per range session, I suggest you buy a good .22 (or a .22 upper for your 1911).

You could shoot 50 rounds of .45, and several hundred rounds of .22, and still save money.

Trigger control, sight picture, sight alignment, target acquisition, weak handed drills, reload drills, holster work... all these and many more can be practiced with nearly the same effect using a .22 as with a .45. There's just no substitute for putting rounds downrange when it comes to improving your shooting skills.

 

[shotgunkevin]

I don't follow a regimented practice routine, but I always make time to practice my concealed draw to a shot. Usually only 15 to 30 of these per outing, using whatever I'm carrying that day. Do some one-handed, some two handed, some stepping left, some stepping right. I really feel that a fast, accurate draw to the shot is the most important skill to have.

 

[BlindJustice]

It Depends on whether I am taking my
1911 or the 625 revolver.

WIth the 1911 I also bring along a CZ 75B

WIth the 625 I'll bring along my 617 - for warm up.
and cheap fun.

SPeaking of economical - I'll be getting the Kadet .22 LR
conversion kit for the CZ soon.

I limit the .45 ACP or .45 AUto Rim to 60-75 rds - unless I have
both along.

The 9mm & 100 rds saves $12 per 100 over the .45 ACP

Randall

 

[dispatch]

Trying to answer to your original question. Why do you have the pistol? Do you intend to slow fire at a distance in competition? If it’s for self defense you are hopefully not going for distance over 7 to 10 yards so use your ammo with that in mind.

 

[possum]

drawstroke/presentations, mag changes, strong/ weak hand.

as far as "double taps" and other modes of fire are concerned there is not many that i practice. when i am going over a new skill or technique, then i use singles. other wise it is as fast as i can while achiving good accuracy for the given range/ skill that yi am working on, the only mode of fire that i activly work on is the fts's.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Ooooh, my favorite kind of thread!

Two rules of thumb:
1.) Don't waste ammo at the range, practicing what you could be doing via dryfire. You can practice your drawstroke, your reloads, and your trigger press at home, given a safe backstop and some free time. Therefore, don't bother spending a lot of precious ammo and range time on this stuff - concentrate on the skills that require pressing off a shot.
2.) Don't try to practice too much at once. 100 rounds equals 100 reps at most, and that's not much if you're trying to build reflexive skill. It's probably better to concentrate on one or two skillsets, every range session, then to try to do a little of everything.

Here's a sample practice session, focusing on transitions and recoil control. It should give you some ideas for creating your own. I suggest writing down exactly what you plan to do before hitting the range.

(10 rounds) Slowfire accuracy practice. 2x 5-shot groups at whatever range is a challenge for you. I usually do 15 and 25 yards.
(20 rounds) 2 shots on 1 target, either from the holster or high ready. Repeat 10x.
(10 rounds) Non-Standard Response drill. 5 rounds on a single target. Repeat 2x.
(30 rounds) 1 shot on each of 3 targets, from high ready. Repeat 10x.
(30 rounds) 2 shots on each of 3 targets, from the holster. Repeat 5x.

Hope this helps some.

- Chris

 

[umc180gr]

Buy a Ruger Mark III and 550 rounds for $12.00 and shoot away. It really is fun, I cant believe it too raising ammo prices for me to discover it.

 

[possum]

i agree alot of the skills that you need can be done with dry fire, like the above poster said, shoot 100rds when you go to the range and twice that in dry fire when you are at your home and you will be good to go.

 

[FLoppyTOE]

For reloads I like to take a couple of magazines and load them with a varying number of rounds(1-3) and mixing the mags up. It keeps me guessing as to how many shots until reload.

 

[RPCVYemen]

All very interesting.

I found realized a while back that when I shot much over 100 rounds in a range session, I wasn't learning much - I was mostly just making noise after a 100 rounds or so.

So I mostly skip the noise and stop at pretty close to 100 rounds anymore.

Mike

 

[Magic_Man]

I used to do 200 rounds or more with my pistol trips, but now I do 100-150 rounds per pistol. I have no set program I follow. I just try to hit what I'm aiming at.

 

[easyrider604]

What are you practicing for?

For games, crebralfix's, phil degraves' or chris rhines' suggestions are fine. But when I used to shoot IPSC style matches 18 years ago, we'd almost always begin with at least two dozen dry, draw and fires.

Then, we'd set-up simple courses of fire starting with some variant of the El Presidente (three targets at with varying distances and spacing say, 7, 10 and 15 yds; 2 to 4 yds spacing-two shots each then reload). Even then, we'd limit serious practice to 100-140 rds because that is what the average match consumes. For serious practice is we include running, shooting from barricades/cover, from two-handed, strong and weak hand only and from standing, kneeling or prone. Our drills changed all the time to simulate whatever upcoming or recent matches' courses of fire.

If we continued to shoot after this, it's plinking, which can use up another two hundred rounds or so. Some of us just pack-up and go home.

For HD, I do 6 shots. Gun on the table, or whatever carry method you choose. Pick up/draw and fire two COM shots quickly on 7 yd target. Do the same for 10 and 15 yd targets. End of serious HD practice. Set your own time and accuracy standards, always strive to improve. Some days, I'd just shoot one, two or three...to simulate a real gun fight. Again, I consider any post-serious practice shooting just plain plinking.

The idea behind the above, is our practice mindset that translates to competition or HD mindset.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Mozambique, El Presidente and Visa El Presidente.

I try to focus on the front sight and I try to remove the center of my target - ragged hole, with aimed fire @ 15 yards.

I like to double tap and I like to point shoot. Presentation isn't shooting, but it's part of the deal, if the range allows it, I do it.

Mostly aimed fire.

I can't carry here in California, so for me it's all practice with no possibility of anything further.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I practice with what I carry; 230 gr HydraShoks @ 7 yds.