The first part of this feature is Rangemaster’s “Drill of the Month” – a piece that has become a part of our feature rotation. It is part of that company’s monthly newsletter. CAUTION: 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. The second part is a note about ammo compatibility. 

From Tom Givens:

This is a simple, low round count drill that works on several skills in a very brief exercise. The target is the RFTS-Q silhouette, an IALEFI-Q, or an IDPA cardboard target. If the IDPA target is used, add a 2” circle to one shoulder. The drill is fired at 6 yards, about the length of a typical SUV.

Shooter starts holstered, concealed. On signal, draw and fire 3 rounds to the 8” chest circle, 2 rounds to the head circle, and 1 round to the zero circle above the target’s shoulder. Use an electronic timer or have an accomplice time you with a stopwatch. Record the time for each run. All 6 rounds must hit the indicated area for a run to count.

Shoot the drill 3 times, for a total of 18 rounds. A single miss is a disqualification. If all 18 rounds hit the intended target zones, total the times for the 3 runs. The total time becomes your score. Your goals are as follows:

Normal earth people who carry- 30 seconds or less

Well trained shooters- 18 seconds or less

Instructors- 15 seconds or less

This drill tests a rapid concealed presentation, varying cadences, a vertical transition and a horizontal transition, and a strict accuracy/accountability requirement, all in very few rounds. Give it a try.

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Tom Givens, Chief Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services

NOTES - From a “normal earth person” who took a top-flight, high level pistol class discussing the distressing fact that his pistol experienced stoppages at the class – a stoppage he’d not before encountered: 

Anytime a pistol ceases function in the midst of a string, it’s a stoppage, whether it’s the anomaly cited here, failures to feed, extract, eject – or the gun’s out of ammunition. Know how to deal with it.

The pistol was a Gen5 GLOCK 19 that demonstrated premature and unneeded slide lock during firing strings. The student went through an entire examination of possible reasons. He concluded that bullet shape/surface of the (highly respected, well made) ammunition was likely the cause. Upon posting his warning on social media, he was shouted down by fans of the gun and the ammo. 

Aside from the inanity of those who criticized, what lesson do we learn from this? 

Not all guns work well with all ammo. It’s a fact of life and something you need to check – particularly with ammo you carry for defense. For taking a class, it’s all’s well that ends well and an important reminder.

— Rich Grassi