Practice sessions certainly can be shorter, but each shot must be taken with attention to detail - not necessarily slowly - but with attention to the fundamentals.
Full attention to sight picture and trigger press are vital for each shot. 50 shots with attention to detail is better than throwing 500 rounds down range without regard to fundamentals.
Here are some suggested courses by some well-known trainers:
Ken Hackathorn’s Basic Training CCW Skills Drills
3 yards
On the signal draw keeping the gun in the retention position (Gun close to body) and fire 2 rounds center mass. Repeat twice for a total of 6 rounds.
5 yards
On signal draw and fire either 1 round or dedicated pairs firing strong hand only. It is advisable to make some shots eye level point shots with hard focus on the target, not the sights. Fire a total of 6 rounds.
3 yards
On signal back away from the target, draw and fire 3 rounds center mass while moving. Try to get to the 7 yard line by the time you fire your last round. Repeat once for a total of 6 rounds.
7 yards
On signal draw and fire a dedicated pair center mass, slowly go to ready and scan the area and reholster. Repeat twice for a total of 6 rounds.
7 yards
Move from center of target a few steps. On signal draw and fire 3 rounds center of mass moving laterally across the range. Repeat going in the opposite direction. Move only as fast as you can hit the target.
6 and 10 yards
Draw and fire 1 round on each of 3 targets placed at varied distances on the range. Targets are placed between 6 and 10 yards, also vary heights of targets. Repeat using dedicated pairs on each target.
7 yards
Place firearm on the ground, on the signal with your strong hand tucked into your belt pick up the firearm with your support hand and fire 1 round center of mass. Repeat once for a total of two rounds.
15 yards
Draw and fire 1 round in 2.5 seconds. Repeat twice for a total of 3 rounds. These should be very precise hits. (Hack considers this long range for self-defense, however should be practiced.)
With additional ammunition repeat course utilizing your favorite flashlight technique, or add movement away from targets on all 10 yard or less stages.
The Drill by Clint Smith
100 rounds
Clint has come up with a simple drill to maintain skill needed for self-defense.
Targets
Standard white paper plates and a 3” X 5” index card at 15 yards for all exercises will be used. Stack dinner plates one above the other with the index card placed above the top dinner plate.
Marksmanship
“Shoot well not fast”
From the ready position fire 10 singles on chosen target.
From the ready position fire 5 sighted doubles.
(Practice your trigger reset.)
Loading
Put one round in your handgun, fire, when the gun goes empty keep the muzzle on the target and reload.
“An empty gun is not bad luck; it’s simply a reality of being in a fight.”
Keep the gun between you and the target and reload. Do this drill 10 times.
Non-Compliant Threats
From the ready position fire 2 shots on the center plate and 1 shot on the card. Do this 2 times.
Fire 3 shots on the center plate and 1 on the card. Do this 2 times.
Fire 2 shots on the center plate, 2 shots on the lower plate and 1 shot on the card. Do this 1 time.
Slow down for your head shots. “Remember the head is not a smaller target, it’s just different.”
Drawing
Practice our drawing stroke smoothly, speed comes with practice. Fast is spelled SMOOOOTH.
With an UNLOADED firearm draw 10 to 15 times correctly, and smoothly, following through to include a sight picture and hammer fall. (Remember your dry fire practice rules.)
Load, draw and fire 10 singles, holstering between shots. Remember safety on and finger straight while holstering.
While drawing take one step back and fire 1 shot. Do this 10 times.
Remember: M & M. “Maximize the distance, minimize the threat.”
Malfunctions
“Fights and family vacations have something in common, they rarely come out the way they were planned.”
Leave the magazine unseated with one in the chamber and fire when ready.
Stick a piece of brass in the top of the ejection port.
Set up a double feed.
The response is always the same, when the gun does not fire. Tap the magazine. Rack the slide harder and attempt to fire. If it still doesn’t work, remove the magazine and place under your strong hand little finger. Rack the slide 3 times and reload the gun and fire if you have a valid target.
Run variations 5 times and after clearing, fire 1 shot to complete the cycle of operation in your head. Go slow and do it correctly. You have 21 rounds for this portion.
Strong and Support Hand
Fire 5 shots strong hand only from the ready position, carefully transfer the gun to your support hand and fire 5 shots.
Go slowly and carefully, speed and skill will come with time – and practice.
Depending on your skill level lessen the distance if you’re not hitting the target. Only hits count!! Beginners should start at 5 yards and move back as skill increases.
Jeff Cooper:
The shooter starts with the pistol holstered, with hands hanging loosely at their sides-- no "cocked" starts. The original course of fire specified "discrete" carry. (That's "concealed" for you folks.)
El Presidente
The El Presidente is probably the classic test of pistol skill. While the speed loading requirement can be faulted, anyone who does well on it is probably a pretty good handgunner.
Three IPSC "option" targets are placed 3 feet apart, 7 to 10 yards from the shooter. The shooter starts with his back to the targets and on signal, pivots and engages each target twice, reloads, and engages each target two more times. Score is hit value minus 10 points per miss, divided by the time in seconds. Par time is 10 seconds with all center hits.
For a very useful modification try replacing the second set of pairs (after the reload) with single head shots to emphasize precision using the same time frame for par.
Dozier Drill
This is best run with steel reactive targets. Five targets are placed in front of the firing position at ranges from 7 to 15 yards. Shooter starts with back to targets and on signal engages each target. Score is 5 points for each target knocked down, -10 points for any missed target, divided by the time in seconds. Par time is about 5 seconds.
A useful modification is to have a sixth target at 50 yards and require a tactical reload behind cover before engaging it.
The Way-Out
This is best run with steel reactive targets. Two targets are used, one at 15 yards and 1 at 100 yards. On signal draw and fire two rounds at the 15 yard target and then engage the 100 yard target with two rounds from any position. I don't have a par time for this but in my "young and foolish (and limber)" days I cleaned it in about 7.5 seconds.
The Cooper Drills
These drills were related in Jeff's "C Stories" as what he believes a good pistol shot should be able to do. All hits must be in the "5" zone of the target. All stages shot from a condition of discrete carry.
7 yards - 1 target. Draw and fire 1 round (1 sec) Repeat 5 times.
10 yards - 3 targets. Facing away from the targets, pivot, draw, and fire 1 round on each target. (3 seconds). Repeat for a total of six rounds.
50 yards - 1 target. Draw and fire 1 round. (3 seconds) Repeat 5 times.
As an alternative, shoot each stage only once on a given day, and shoot it on 3 different days--cold. No practice allowed.
