Hey, guys. New poster on the 2A Forums. If the title is a little confusing, I've been a shooter for 12 years, but my experience is mostly related to target shooting, whether it be 7 Mag at the Rifle Side or the .22 Silhouette Side. I've noticed that there is a general consensus that the tendencies that you pick up from target shooting, while having some fundamentally positive impacts on your ability as a shooter in general, can sort of "pigeon hole" you into being unable or rather unequipped for 3 gun competition or a home defense scenario.

Long story short, I've mostly practiced with target pistols or rifles and have just bought myself a Sig P226 for more home defense scenarios. I was just curious if there are any sort of drills any of you guys would recommend to me for this purpose.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this seems a little "newbie"ish for you guys.

dry fire, dry fire and keep dry firing.  Buy some snap caps and get to know your firearm and get a feel for the trigger.  There are a lot of videos and stuff out there too.  Dont remember all the sites off the top of my head.  Good thread though.  This will be a good review for me too.  Everyone can learn from this thread.

dry fire, dry fire and keep dry firing.  Buy some snap caps and get to know your firearm and get a feel for the trigger.  There are a lot of videos and stuff out there too.  Dont remember all the sites off the top of my head.  Good thread though.  This will be a good review for me too.  Everyone can learn from this thread.

Really appreciate the prompt and honest response, sir. Just a hypothetical; apart from the feeling for the trigger, what else am I hoping to accomplish with the numerous dry firing drills? I understand that speed and accuracy are a huge part of the process. I'm alright with being an accurate shooter, just not under duress and not when speed comes into the equation. I'll keep with my dry fire drills to get a feel for how the trigger breaks and resets, but I just have a problem with fast acquisition and firing.

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Hey, guys. New poster on the 2A Forums. If the title is a little confusing, I've been a shooter for 12 years, but my experience is mostly related to target shooting,

I've mostly practiced with target pistols or rifles and have just bought myself a Sig P226 for more home defense scenarios. I was just curious if there are any sort of drills any of you guys would recommend to me for this purpose.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this seems a little "newbie"ish for you guys.

===========================
After 12 years you should have good trigger control already.
You already know how to line up sights at longer ranges.

For home defense you need to practice quicker shooting at closer range.
Join a practical pistol club and have some fun. You will get plenty experience at fast short range shooting.

In the meantime, you can sort of practice at the regular 25 yd range like this:
Staple a sheet of copy paper to your frame.
Start with the loaded gun pointed down at about a 45 degree angle
take a nice deep breath
Raise the gun to the target and fire 1 shot in 2 seconds. Repeat this drill until you can keep all your shots on the paper.
You can count out  "one one thousand"-"two one thousand" while squeezing off your shot. That will help your timing.

After you can do that, graduate to 2 shots in 3 seconds.
Then try 5 shots in 7 seconds. Always count out the seconds to keep up your cadence. (this really burns ammo fast, tho)
The bottom line is 2 sec for the first shot. Then 1 sec per shot thereafter.
This is only at 25 yards.
You may find that you will not be able to properly line up the front sight with the rear notch in that time frame.
Don't worry about it. Concentrate on putting the front sight on the paper and squeezing the shot while counting.

Your basic trigger squeeze remains the same for self def. shooting. It's just that you are compressing the time interval shorter.

Your compression time will vary with the range at which you are engaging the target.

Example: For a close up silhouette target at 7 yds, your timing would be in the order of 1.5 to 2 sec. to come up to target and fire 2 shots.

Hope this helps.

I agree 100% with what Old Fart said!

You can also join the HDF (Find link above) and do some live fire practice drills once a month or so.

===========================
After 12 years you should have good trigger control already.
You already know how to line up sights at longer ranges.

For home defense you need to practice quicker shooting at closer range.
Join a practical pistol club and have some fun. You will get plenty experience at fast short range shooting.

In the meantime, you can sort of practice at the regular 25 yd range like this:
Staple a sheet of copy paper to your frame.
Start with the loaded gun pointed down at about a 45 degree angle
take a nice deep breath
Raise the gun to the target and fire 1 shot in 2 seconds. Repeat this drill until you can keep all your shots on the paper.
You can count out  "one one thousand"-"two one thousand" while squeezing off your shot. That will help your timing.

After you can do that, graduate to 2 shots in 3 seconds.
Then try 5 shots in 7 seconds. Always count out the seconds to keep up your cadence. (this really burns ammo fast, tho)
The bottom line is 2 sec for the first shot. Then 1 sec per shot thereafter.
This is only at 25 yards.
You may find that you will not be able to properly line up the front sight with the rear notch in that time frame.
Don't worry about it. Concentrate on putting the front sight on the paper and squeezing the shot while counting.

Your basic trigger squeeze remains the same for self def. shooting. It's just that you are compressing the time interval shorter.

Your compression time will vary with the range at which you are engaging the target.

Example: For a close up silhouette target at 7 yds, your timing would be in the order of 1.5 to 2 sec. to come up to target and fire 2 shots.

Hope this helps.

Great advice...

Good advice here.
I almost failed the quals in the academy. I shot mostly highpower rifle and spent very little learning to shoot very quickly. The most important thing as in target shooting is muscle memory. Practice draws, reloads, target acquisition and identification as if YOUR LIFE depended on it NOT a score. That was the biggest mental hurdle. Instructors yelling at me, running, getting heart rate up etc. helped replicate stress. I learned how to shoot the Army way prior to the academy but then it was just for rifle quals, then I picked up highpower.

.....................I was just curious if there are any sort of drills any of you guys would recommend to me for this purpose. .................

I'd suggest taking a class.  There are some legal ramifications you should be aware of.  Also different people have different views on SD and it's important to know them and why certain people advocate certain things.  As with most things firearms there is almost never a one thing fits all situation.

Yo brother, it is almost impossible to re-create the changes your body will go through when you are in the moment and your house has been breached by someone or multiple someones...

What you need to do is become VERY familiar with your handgun. You could also do what I do...practice at home. Meaning, think of the ways someone could gain entrance into your home. For each scenario, think of the best tactical response to that and practice. Think of it as if you were blind and had to become familiar with your home without seeing. I hear a lot of people who would just say, "if someone breaks into my house, I am going to kill them". Well that is all fine and good if he or they are armed and you are in fact in fear for you and your families lives. Personally, I would make it know that I was armed, if they don't leave then, it is a safe bet that they came to do harm to you and your family. Then you would be just in responding with deadly force. Make sure to plan a route that you would get all of your family as far away and to a safe location first...before you decide to confront the home invader(s). Just my two cents...

Getting very comfortable with your gun just really means shoot it A LOT! So when you pull it up, it is natural and easy!

is the pistol bullseye 25 yards? Haven't been on that side yet, but isn't that kind of far to be practicing with a hand gun?

yes, it is 25 yards
hard to justify a self-defense shoot at 25 yards
that's why i don't shoot pistol at the koko head range
a good reason to participate in hra funshoots or HDF

is the pistol bullseye 25 yards? Haven't been on that side yet, but isn't that kind of far to be practicing with a hand gun?

yes, it is 25 yards
hard to justify a self-defense shoot at 25 yards
that's why i don't shoot pistol at the koko head range
a good reason to participate in hra funshoots or HDF

is there someplace else to shoot at a shorter distance? what is the fun shoot or HDF?

honolulu firearms and range, but it is expensive

fun shoot is put on by hawaii rifle association
hdf is hawaii defense foundation
there may be schedules somewhere on this board, but you could also google it

is there someplace else to shoot at a shorter distance? what is the fun shoot or HDF?

I would still recommend shooting at the bullseye side because there is no charge and it will reinforce basic marksmanship skills and muscle memory. Shooting pistol at the silhouette side is $5 for all day. The targets are farther, but you can practice the some other skills that you cannot use on the bullseye side.

I also recommend airsoft in the model of real gun that you own. You can practice drawing from concealment, presentation and close target engagement. Just don't disturb your neighbors. You don't want to get "swatted"

Really appreciate the prompt and honest response, sir. Just a hypothetical; apart from the feeling for the trigger, what else am I hoping to accomplish with the numerous dry firing drills? I understand that speed and accuracy are a huge part of the process. I'm alright with being an accurate shooter, just not under duress and not when speed comes into the equation. I'll keep with my dry fire drills to get a feel for how the trigger breaks and resets, but I just have a problem with fast acquisition and firing.

Use things like the surefire shot timer, regular shot timers etc. 
Look at the laserlyte target setup.

Start with clear, draw, sight in / press in 3 seconds perfect form.  Just practice stuff like this for five minutes (that's a lot of trigger pulls)

Once you are getting that down consistently, speed it up to 2 seconds.... 1.5.... etc.  You have to train just like any other sport; start small and speed it up.

Your goal would be to popping a double action trigger as you reach max press extension.

Lastly, I would look at coming to one of our classes to refresh your fundamentals.  Most people laugh, but many of them get their ass stomped on the range because they are not working their fundamentals.   Some things are just more efficient than others, and it may help to really have someone cover it again.

If you are military, I shoot at schofield for speed.  You can shoot  5 to 75 yards, place multiple targets, shoot from holsters and multiple positions, rapid fire, have silhouette targets (or milk jugs and whatever), transition rifle/shotgun/pistol, and is alot more flexible than koko head.  Main restriction is you can't move and shoot and it's not open every weekend.  http://www.schofield-gunclub.org/

Got a question having never been to the pistol side at KK - can you do MALF drills pulling mags from a holster?   (not the firearm which would go from low ready to on target, already having been setup for the MALF)

Got a question having never been to the pistol side at KK - can you do MALF drills pulling mags from a holster?   (not the firearm which would go from low ready to on target, already having been setup for the MALF)

I've done this without the holster, I just stick mags in my pocket.  Range guys might look at you funny thinking you have problems with your gun.

===========================
After 12 years you should have good trigger control already.
You already know how to line up sights at longer ranges.

For home defense you need to practice quicker shooting at closer range.
Join a practical pistol club and have some fun. You will get plenty experience at fast short range shooting.

In the meantime, you can sort of practice at the regular 25 yd range like this:
Staple a sheet of copy paper to your frame.
Start with the loaded gun pointed down at about a 45 degree angle
take a nice deep breath
Raise the gun to the target and fire 1 shot in 2 seconds. Repeat this drill until you can keep all your shots on the paper.
You can count out  "one one thousand"-"two one thousand" while squeezing off your shot. That will help your timing.

After you can do that, graduate to 2 shots in 3 seconds.
Then try 5 shots in 7 seconds. Always count out the seconds to keep up your cadence. (this really burns ammo fast, tho)
The bottom line is 2 sec for the first shot. Then 1 sec per shot thereafter.
This is only at 25 yards.
You may find that you will not be able to properly line up the front sight with the rear notch in that time frame.
Don't worry about it. Concentrate on putting the front sight on the paper and squeezing the shot while counting.

Your basic trigger squeeze remains the same for self def. shooting. It's just that you are compressing the time interval shorter.

Your compression time will vary with the range at which you are engaging the target.

Example: For a close up silhouette target at 7 yds, your timing would be in the order of 1.5 to 2 sec. to come up to target and fire 2 shots.

Hope this helps.

well said, thanks for the info

aloha
-branz