Pistol Drills With Transitions

[WrongHanded]

There are of course many pistol drills out there. There are also several different kinds of transitional skills. I'm beginning to form the idea that drills which include transitions may be preferable in that they can compress training/practice, and maximize the value of ammunition expenditure.

Here's one example using a torso and head target, two mags and 5 rounds:

1. Draw and fire strong hand only, one shot to torso
2. Transition to two hand grip, one shot to torso
3. Transition to target's head, one shot and hit slide lock
4. Emergency reload
5. Two handed grip, one shot to torso
6. Transition to head for one shot

I'm not suggesting this drill is perfect by any stretch, or that it covers a realistic scenario. But it does compress a number of transitions into a 5 round drill that can be accomplished on a square range. It includes a draw, one hand shooting, transitioning to two hands, transitioning to a secondary target/aim point, reloading to fire again, and recoil control. I suppose if one wished, they could add in a kneel for the reload to simulate taking cover. Or maybe something else entirely.

How important do you think working on transitions is for defensive shooting? What do you include in your training/practice? Is there anything you'd like to include but haven't been able to?

I would like to practice transitioning to a secondary pistol, but don't particularly want to drop my guns on the ground repeatedly to practice it. Maybe I should consider a dump pouch. Not a perfect solution, as I'd have to "drop" the gun with more care, but it could work.

 

[shafter]

If you get shot in your strong arm so that you lose the use of it most likely you're going to have dropped the pistol. I think it's more realistic to train to access your pistol from the holster with your off hand.

 

[Jim Watson]

I do much of my practice with .22s in these days of panicdemic shortages.
I shoot a lot of transitions so as to not get used to the lack of recoil in the "double tap."
I have some six bull targets that allow a variety of movements to the second and third shot.

There are whole libraries of canned drills on the www, Pistol-forum.com goes into them.

If you want to practice the New York Reload, take a cushion to drop gun #1 on.
I dry fire a revolver over a bed so I don't have to stoop to recover my dummies and speed loaders.

 

[WrongHanded]

If you get shot in your strong arm so that you lose the use of it most likely you're going to have dropped the pistol. I think it's more realistic to train to access your pistol from the holster with your off hand.

Not sure I under this. If you get shot in your strong arm and drop the pistol, the pistol would not be in the holster to access it with the off hand.

Or are you talking about accessing a backup gun with the non-dominant hand? Because this reasoning is precisely why many people (myself included) who carry a BUG, carry it on the non-dominant side.

 

[shafter]

Not sure I under this. If you get shot in your strong arm and drop the pistol, the pistol would not be in the holster to access it with the off hand.

Or are you talking about accessing a backup gun with the non-dominant hand? Because this reasoning is precisely why many people (myself included) who carry a BUG, carry it on the non-dominant side.

No, if it fell then I'd just pick it up with my off hand if I could. I'm talking more about a situation where my strong hand is taken out of the fight right away before I had a chance to draw whether it got shot or it's pinned or restrained somehow.

I agree about having the backup on the off side.

 

[WrongHanded]

No, if it fell then I'd just pick it up with my off hand if I could. I'm talking more about a situation where my strong hand is taken out of the fight right away before I had a chance to draw whether it got shot or it's pinned or restrained somehow.

I agree about having the backup on the off side.

Okay! In that case, I completely agree.

Accessing a primary gun with the non-dominant hand is a good skill to have. When I carried AIWB (and no BUG), I practiced drawing with the non-dominant hand and shooting two shots one handed like that (10 of my 50 rounds were used for that). It was always slightly slower than draw and two shots with the strong hand only, but not terribly slow after the initial learning curve. That was even including clearing the cover garment with the weak hand only.

If you carry at 3-4 o'clock, it's a little or a lot harder, depending on body dimensions and flexibility. It's also far less likely to be allowed at even a relaxed shooting range. But could be practiced dry fire at home.

 

[bearcreek]

I would like to practice transitioning to a secondary pistol, but don't particularly want to drop my guns on the ground repeatedly to practice it. Maybe I should consider a dump pouch. Not a perfect solution, as I'd have to "drop" the gun with more care, but it could work.

Do you normally carry a second pistol? What kind of surface are you standing on during practice? There is a variety of solutions depending what you're working with.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Here's one example using a torso and head target, two mags and 5 rounds:

1. Draw and fire strong hand only, one shot to torso
2. Transition to two hand grip, one shot to torso
3. Transition to target's head, one shot and hit slide lock
4. Emergency reload
5. Two handed grip, one shot to torso
6. Transition to head for one shot.

I like the focus on transitions, and I like your drill. I also like your suggestion for kneeling/moving during the reload if range conditions allow...could the last two shots be taken while kneeling?

Two more transitions can be bolted on pretty easily:

If you add one round and a second target, you can include a horizontal transition to a second bad guy after the reload. The extra round is to be sure to train to be prepared to put two in the torso and one in the head (if necessary) for all targets.

You can also train to transition hands if you shoot the last three rounds non-dominant-hand only.

If range rules allow, you could even do a one-handed reload.

These are all skills that I need to spend more time on!

 

[WrongHanded]

Do you normally carry a second pistol? What kind of surface are you standing on during practice? There is a variety of solutions depending what you're working with.

Yes, I often carry a second pistol.

Surfaces vary a little. Up until recently, I'd been shooting mostly indoors and it wasn't practical. But I am now shooting either on loose rocky areas such as dry riverbeds, plains dirt and grass, or sometimes bare rock.

 

[WrongHanded]

I like the focus on transitions, and I like your drill. I also like your suggestion for kneeling/moving during the reload if range conditions allow...could the last two shots be taken while kneeling?

Two more transitions can be bolted on pretty easily:

If you add one round and a second target, you can include a horizontal transition to a second bad guy after the reload. The extra round is to be sure to train to be prepared to put two in the torso and one in the head (if necessary) for all targets.

You can also train to transition hands if you shoot the last three rounds non-dominant-hand only.

If range rules allow, you could even do a one-handed reload.

These are all skills that I need to spend more time on!

Great ideas! No range rules for me anymore. I shoot in the "wild" these days. Sometimes as part of a hikes, sometimes a dedicated shooting trip.

 

[Jeff White]

Surfaces vary a little. Up until recently, I'd been shooting mostly indoors and it wasn't practical. But I am now shooting either on loose rocky areas such as dry riverbeds, plains dirt and grass, or sometimes bare rock.

Get a blue gun and use that as your primary when you train on transitioning to your BUG.

When I worked the street I carried my BUG on the inside of my weak side ankle where it was accessible with either hand.

 

[bearcreek]

Yes, I often carry a second pistol.

Surfaces vary a little. Up until recently, I'd been shooting mostly indoors and it wasn't practical. But I am now shooting either on loose rocky areas such as dry riverbeds, plains dirt and grass, or sometimes bare rock.

Sounds like where I shoot. A roll of old carpet works well if you don't want to drop the gun or mags on the rocks.

 

[luzyfuerza]

No range rules for me anymore. I shoot in the "wild" these days. Sometimes as part of a hikes, sometimes a dedicated shooting trip.

I'm with you.

This is one of the ranges I built on my property. In addition to the pistol section shown, I have benches built at 100 and 400 yards away that impact in that berm.

The land beyond the berm is public, open to shooting. If I wanted to, I could set up targets at 1500 yards. But it would be a bit of a hike...


And for action pistol shooting, I have a range with a bit bigger backstop.

I'm the RSO.

One challenge, though, I'm always looking for good drills to keep my practice fresh.