CCW Drills at a non-IDPA Range

[matsaleh]

I want to start doing practice drills that will help me improve my effectiveness if I ever need to actually use my CCW. However, the only IDPA-style range (i.e. one that lets you shoot from cover, shoot while moving, prone, etc.) is about 1 hour away and I just don't have the time to frequent it.

There is a nice little family range about 15 mins from my house that is almost always empty by the time I get there. However, they, like many of the ranges I've been to, have some rules that make practicing for CCW hard. For instance, no rapid fire (double-taps ok), shoot only from behind the bench, and only at paper targets.

However, I'm pretty sure there are drills I could do that would be useful for CCW. Just like we practice drawing our gun from our holster at home and dry-firing to become (at least partially) proficient.

Here are some I've either tried or thought of:

1) Double-taps (of course).

2) Handgun held in ready position (forward, pointed down), raise to acquire target and fire upon some signal not under my control.

3) Handgun placed on bench, loaded and safety on, pick it up with either strong or weak hand, acquire target and fire.

4) Load mag with 2 rounds, and have another full one handy; fire one round, then switch mags with one in the tube and then fire a double-tap. This would simulate a "tactical reload" (correct term?) without having to empty the first mag using rapid fire.

5) Handgun in hand (but not necessarily in ready position), move to support post on either side of bench, "hide" behind it, acquire target and fire to simulate shooting from behind cover.

6) Handgun in hand as in 5, standing back from the bench but still on the firing line, take up position behind bench, using bench for "cover", acquire target and fire.

7) Using several smaller targets spaced apart on same board, (I like the stick-on black ones that show flourescent holes when penetrated), do double-taps on each target in succession. Depending on how wide the lane is, targets could be spaced as far apart as two humans standing next to each other.

8) When range is otherwise vacant, choose a bench not directly in line with target and do the above drills. (Not sure how well this would go over with the range people - the angle could not be great enough as to place the round outside of the backstop area.)

How do these sound? Does anyone have other ideas? Please don't suggest "finding another range" because I've already thought of that and it's not currently an option for me.

Thanks, and cheers!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Aside form what is described, malfunction drills are always good and don't need to involve a holster.

You have touched on it, but any type of sight picture drills are good.

While you can't draw and fire, I will often practice having the gun at the center of my chest- the location where the drawn gun meets with the off hand. Then I will do 50 reps of thrusting the gun forward in a smooth fashion until and despressing the trigger in a very deliberate and controlled manner just as the sights align with the target and my eye. Then I stay on target for a couple of seconds and then retract back to that position and repeat.

You can start the drill one step sooner where you have the gun in your strong hand, just over the holster, but horizontal and pointed in the direction of the target. Bring the gun up to meet the off hand at the center of the chest and the rest of the drill is the same as above.

These two drills cover much of what happens in gun handling between the holster and the first shot. Your first shot will likely be your most critical, so it is best to get off the best first shot you can.

You can also work on strong hand and weak hand shooting.

If you can't make it to an IDPA range, then use the time to work on improving mechanical issues that you don't want to waste your time on at the IDPA range when you finally get a chance to get there. When you get to the IDPA range, then make use of your time working on all the drills you can't do at the family range.

 

[BluesBear]

Since you have written all of this down for us...

Why not print it out and take it to your range?

Ask the RO or the manager/owner if and when the range is empty or almost empty if you could be allowed to do this.

If they see you are serious and not just someone looking to play Cowboys and Carjackers they might respect your desire to become more proficient.

 

[matsaleh]

Why not print it out and take it to your range?

You know, after I typed it up, I thought about doing just that. I just wanted to get feedback first. Your point about building legitimacy in the minds of the range management is excellent. For what it's worth they probably will go along, since they do hold CHL classes themselves.

I learned a long time ago that what you have to include in a written set of rules is a lot more restrictive than what two reasonable people can agree on.

Cheers.