Realistic Practice...What's Yours?

[Steve in Vermont]

A recent post discussed fast draw. I'd like to ask how do you practice both shooting and the draw? How often? Where? Living in a cold climate I practice from April through November, firing 100 rounds per month of handgun ammo and 3X per year with the shotgun. I practice primarily at 3 to 7 yards, moving towards cover, left and right, backing up and moving forward, strong and weak hand. I also practice reloading with speed strips. I carry both a pack and holster and use them in training. During the winter months I practice at home (dry fire) using Snap Caps. In summary I try and make my practice sessions as realistic as possible considering what I might encounter on the streets. Thanks in advance.

 

[Martya]

Mine is similar you yours, without the shotgun. 2 or 3 trips per month during the warmer weather, 100 rounds or so each trip. I also have snow and cold from Dec thru Apr, but I make it 3-4 times to the range and practice anyway in the cold and snow. (Discovered my one pair of winter gloves won't let my 642 trigger reset with fast fire.) 7-8 yds, draw and shoot 2 in 2 seconds, then two targets at 4-5 yds and 6-8 yds, draw and shooting 2 or 3 left and right. Not proficient in reloading yet when I use my wheel guns, but I do practice exchanging mags with my M&P. My goal is hitting the 8" circle at 7-8 yds with every shot. I try to be fast but accurate first, then work on my speed.

Lots of TV targeting at home...

 

[wheelyfun66]

A recent post discussed fast draw. I'd like to ask how do you practice both shooting and the draw? How often? Where? Living in a cold climate I practice from April through November, firing 100 rounds per month of handgun ammo and 3X per year with the shotgun. I practice primarily at 3 to 7 yards, moving towards cover, left and right, backing up and moving forward, strong and weak hand. I also practice reloading with speed strips. I carry both a pack and holster and use them in training. During the winter months I practice at home (dry fire) using Snap Caps. In summary I try and make my practice sessions as realistic as possible considering what I might encounter on the streets. Thanks in advance.

What you said...
I practice much like you mentioned, with an emphasis on drawing from under my everyday cover garments. It is eye-opening how often you can get snagged or hung up on clothing, if you do not practice often.

I too live in Vermont, and luckily for me, my range allows this kind of action (if no one else is on the firing line, as we share a rifle/shotgun/pistol range)
A new indoor range just opened closeby, so that allows for indoor shooting practice, but obviously is not good for movement, drawing from concealment, etc.. just gotta stand there and do the standard target practice.

I am surprised at the amount of people who only shoot from static positions, never practice drawing and firing, never from awkward positions or on the move, etc..

My favorite is very close to the target, with one hand "fending off" the attacker, while the other hand sweeps garment, draws weapon, and fires point-blank into the target one handed.

For me, this kind of practice is not only fun, but helps me to get proficient in less-than-optimum conditions... more real-world.

 

[J.P.60]

I am not fanatic about it, but, in Winter, I practice draw at home, using snap caps. No indoor range allows draw from holster, here. At the range, I pick up the gun from the bench and then fire on two staggered targets at 8 and 12 feet... two rounds each. My goal is similar... all rounds center of mass. At that range and in that drill, I do not use sights - I point shoot.

In summer, it's pretty much the same, except my club allows draw from holster... if I'm the only one there. I practice quite a bit... not so much for speed, but for a smooth and continuous draw and fire.

Of course, I shoot hundreds and thousands of round on the line for "X" accuracy, but that's got little to do with defense, IMO.

As for numbers of rounds fired, I've just ordered 1000 .45acp and will get another 1000 in April, etc. I have quite a number of .45acp weapons, but defense is handled by two... an improved Commander and a Night Guard Snubbie.

 

[mikerault]

I practice at home drawing from various positions and while moving. I have a BB gun that is nearly identical to my carry that I use for these exercises (unloaded of course) as it allows dryfire without wear on my carry piece.

J.P.60, you should consider reloading!

 

[Bratastic007]

Trips to the range once a month or so, and IDPA competitions every month it's not winter.

 

[J.P.60]

J.P.60, you should consider reloading!

I have a very good friend in KC MO who reloads commercially. I get from him. I have no time.

 

[Skidawg]

My practice sessions mirror those that have already been posted. 3-7 yards, drawing from a concealed holster, using a shot timer and reloading. I built a "range" at my house so I can practice daily when the time changes. My practice is usually 5-10 rounds 2-3 times a week with more on the weekends. I plan on building a moving target like the one shown on Personal Defense TV this week. Anybody else see this episode?

 

[cshoff]

I nearly always practice with a training partner. Depending on what we are trying to achieve, sometimes we will work on a specific skill or set of skills, or we will exercise our entire repertoire of skills and work on situational scenarios.

I am blessed with having my own private range to use in whatever manner I see fit. Sometimes we'll pull a vehicle down on the range and use it as part of our scenarios, such as a simulated attack that might take place in a parking lot where the vehicle is used as cover. Sometimes we'll set up a table and chairs or use my portable barricades and 55 gallon plastic drums to simulate restaurant booths, convenience store counters, bank counters, various walls, doors, etc. The number of situations you can come up with are really endless if you use a bit of imagination.

One of the primary advantages of using a training partner, is the partner can spontaneously call targets so the shooter has to think on his toes. In addition, the partner can call a "failure to stop" every now and then, or throw an additional "attacker" into the scenario to keep them as realistic and unpredictable as possible.

 

[Jeff Lynch]

My 200 round practice session:

#1 - Warm Up on Target (IPDA or B27 CHL) 20 rounds at 3 meters
#2 - Target (IPDA or B27 CHL) 20 rounds at 7 meters
#3 - Target (B27 CHL) 20 rounds at 15 meters
#4 - Slow Draw & Press (IPDA target) 20 rounds at 7 meters
#5 - 1-2-R-3 Drill (Pistol-Training.com) 6 rounds (10 times) at 7 meters
#6 - "Bill" Drill (IDPA target) 6 rounds rapid fire from a press (10 times)
#7 - Extra Drill (B27 CHL) 3 rounds rapid fire (2 Chest / 1 Head) at 10 meters (10 times)
#8 - Hot Shower