Rangemaster’s “Drill of the Month” has become a part of our feature rotation. It is part of that company’s monthly newsletter and it’s an opportunity for practice on a different exercise each month of the year. If you have little or no experience drawing from a holster, work up to drawing and reholstering; don’t start with that. And never quickly reholster. If you’re on a range where drawing from a holster is proscribed, lay the pistol on a table, start from there: for any defense use of firearms, a required skill is getting access to the gun. As always, start slow before trying to progress. You can also seek training and the Rangemaster instructors travel. Check their website.

Throughout 2025 we will be running a Drill of the Month in each edition of the newsletter. The goal is to help motivate folks to get to the range and actually shoot their defensive weapons, and to have some fun in the process. Each month we’ll post a drill or a short course of fire. You are encouraged to go to the range, shoot the drill, and then post your thoughts and a photo of your target on the Rangemaster Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/rangemaster/ .

ARMADA STANDARDS

My personal vehicle is a Nissan Armada, which is 18 feet long. This entire drill is to be shot at 18 feet (6 yards), the length of my vehicle. This is an incredibly common engagement distance in real life defensive shootings.

Target- B8, B8-C or FBI-IP1. Scored as printed, except anything further out than the 7 ring is zero points.

Hit factor scoring- record the time for each string. Total points divided by total time = score.

String 1: Both hands, draw from concealment and fire 6 rounds.

String 2: Start at Ready, gun in dominant hand. Dominant hand only, 4 rounds.

String 3: Start at Ready, gun in non-dominant hand. Non-dominant hand only, fire 4 rounds.

String 4: Start with 4 rounds in the gun, holstered, concealed. On signal draw, fire 4 rounds, reload immediately, and fire 2 more rounds, using both hands.

Ammo used: 20 rounds total. Total Points: 200 points possible. 

Total points divided by total time = score. Par score is 8. Your goal is a score higher than 8, the higher the better.

Here is a video demo: https://youtu.be/v5aum_B6F3E?si=TSbrv_AuX0y8RqBB.

— Tom Givens, Chief Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services