Here's a simple drill that you can do to really test your reloads. Don't read too much into the tactical significance of this one, it's just a skill builder. I started working this after reviewing video from Area 6 and finding that direction changes confounded my reloading process and slowed me down. The setup pictured depicts two targets that are 90 degrees apart from your firing position. Distance to the targets can be set based on your skill level. I am working these on 15 yard targets for now, and mean to work toward more distant targets as well as closer ones at greater speed.
I started working this drill with my ever present and always handy SIRT pistol. I had actually trained the drill in very informal dry practice for about a week prior to trying it live fire. In dry practice, I'd just pick any two small spots on nearby walls/objects that were about 90 degrees apart. I found that even this lightly structured practice without any set targetry proved to be very valuable, translating 100% into results in live fire.
Here's the drill:
- Start facing one target, so that the other target is at your 3:00 or 9:00.
- Draw and fire 2 shots on the first target, then perform a reload as you pivot toward the other target and engage it on the move. You may perform a slide lock or slide forward reload as your preferences and training needs dictate.
My primary objectives on this drill are:
- Pivot aggressively to the second target during the reload. This simple movement will be more confounding than you'd think, and you may find yourself sailing some reloads past the gun when you try to push the speed.
- Complete the reload within the first step or two.
- Engage the target on the move as early in the movement process as possible.
The goal is to pare down the overall time for all 4 shots while completing the movements cleanly and aggressively. For the tactical/defensive shooter, this will help get you out of being static for reloads. For the competition shooter, this will shave off a lot of time during field courses.
