From Ben Stoeger, a top GM shooter.

All the videos, and an FAQ on what you need to do it, can be found here.

These drills will dramatically improve your gun handling, footwork, position entries/exits, draws, weak and strong hand shooting, sight acquisition.

BTW:If you don’t have a timer. MattBurkett.com has an online one.

The targets are IDPA, but the movement and other things he discusses certainly apply in USPSA as well.

One thing, a bit controversial, is round dumping. He talks about shooting “3 into the first moving target” to “make sure he got a zero”.  This is so he will go to slide lock and not have to do a retention reload (slower).  This practice is somewhat controversial in IDPA circles. You’ll note that when he actually runs the stage, he drives down the first popper with 3 shots, instead of dumping three into the first target while moving.   I’ve SO’d stages in IDPA where round dumping would be a “Failure to Do Right” (FTDR) penalty of 20 seconds – effectively zeroing any stage.   You would issue it if you found 3  zero (A zone) hits in a target and the shooter had a slide lock reload.

Rules like this keep IDPA from growing, IMHO. IDPA has a lot to offer practical shooters, but in trying to introduce a controversial tactic (tactical reload) they cause a lot of shooters to shy away because of concern over learning an unsafe tactic. Better would be to stick to certain tactical advantages – like shooting from cover, from odd positions, weak handed/strong handed, and while moving.

But hey… I just like to shoot and if they want to make me reload and keep my bullets, I’ll oblige. (-:

This video, also of Bob Vogel has some interesting grip and arm advice to maximize recoil management – he keeps his left arm higher than the gun and explains why:

IDPA uses time-plus scoring. Their targets have  0, –1, –3 points areas. A “miss” is –5. These are points. You shoot the course of fire, then add up your points down * .5 and add that many seconds.  The classifier uses 90 shots and tests the core of IDPA shooting, including weak and strong hand, shooting from cover, and of course the controversial “tactical reload”.

I shoot a Glock 34 in their Stock Service Pistol Division. He shot a Canyon Creek customized XD Tactical in their Enhanced Service Pistol Division. Here are the breakouts of times needed and rankings:

My goal was < 1 second per shot hard time (90 seconds), and no –3’s or misses.   Alas, I scored 111 seconds with about 13 penalty seconds.  Brian got 117 seconds, but with substantially more penalty seconds due to misses early in the strings.

I was in the middle of Expert. And Brian in the middle of Sharpshooter.  ESP is a tough division, as it is mostly made of people shooting custom 9mm 1911’s with very low power factors (125).  If Brian wants to compete there we will have to reload or buy 9mm with a softer punch.

Brian actually shot at the high Expert level after the first 3 strings, but he so botched those (missing 3 head shots) that Expert was out of reach by the 10th shot of the 90 shot classifier.

As to me… I trained at the IDPA Master level and expected to make it easily. BUT… it took an inexplicable 7 seconds to get my first weak hand shot off on one string, and I’d practiced Bianchi barricade 30 yard shots, but was presented with a stacked barrel barricade instead. They require different positions and movement (not just leaning) and I didn’t adjust and had a very awkward stance with resulting penalties.

Oh well…. c’est le guerre!

We will put this practice to test at the IDPA Arizona State Championship at the end of the month in lovely Tuscon, AZ.

Here is a video of both of them running today’s practice stage.

To show this in video form, we’ve been looking at top shooters on You Tube. They all move in quick, cat like steps, unless the running stretch is quite long.  What you could cover in 3 steps, they take 5 or 6, and keep their bodies and guns largely in the athletic shooting position. Thus, when they arrive, they simply extend (or press) to the target and bang! 

Timing it out last evening in practice, it is quite a bit faster.  It is quite counter-intuitive until you break the steps down and actually time it.

While looking at videos these “fun” stages came up. They show Dave Sevigny working through obstacles and on a platform.  Note that on the platform his movements are much like on terra firma.  Anyway, these looked fun to me. Let us know if you think we should try something similar. (=:

http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/compete_0309/

Walt, a former director of the USPSA, and a co-founder of the IDPA writes:

If you are serious about developing and maintaining defensive handgun skills, regular participation in the formal competition of one of the practical shooting sports is the best way to do this. Simply put, in these formal shoots there are no excuses. You have to do it right the first time, on demand and when the timer goes off. Before you tune out, thinking, "This isn’t for me; I get enough stress in my everyday life; I don’t need more," consider this: What is a real-world encounter if it’s not a situation where you have to do everything right the first time and on demand?

Thank you Walt. I’ve never had to defend myself with a handgun, but I do feel like maybe I could pull it off if I had to.

BTW: We just celebrated our 1 year match anniversary. Yippee!

Yesterday, Brian and I shot an IDPA match down in Las Vegas. The evening before Brian had watched, on my enthusiastic recommendation, the DVD.  Or part of the DVD… I’ll explain how watching only 1/2 of it impacted things in a bit. But first, lets cover the video…

The video, which is just Saul Kirsch – a top rated IPSC shooter shooting mostly in Europe – talking to a class in Sweden.   No shooting. Not a gun in sight.  But what he says is magic.

Here it is in a nutshell:

• Only things you do subconsciously are fast.   Training’s purpose is to build subconscious skills. Like drawing your pistol without thinking about it.  And finding the front sight again after recoil. If you have to think to do it, you are slow.  An analogy is your drive to work… you don’t remember doing it, but somehow you got there safely.  He talks about how to train to build subconscious skills.
• The subconscious minds does what you see and it doesn’t understand negatives. It understands only the last 3 words of “don’t hit a no-shoot”.  The subconscious uses pictures as instructions. So visualize good things – like double alphas, and getting a round of applause as top overall shooter.  Basically, this section is “how do you tell the subconscious what you want it to do”.
• Stress is good. The adrenaline it produces makes the subconscious faster. BUT  not too much or it makes it worse.  He talks about how to ramp stress up or down into an optimum bell shaped curve of peak performance.   In summary, “how do you make your existing skills faster on match day”.
• Stage analysis/tactics are for the conscious mind. But as soon as you can you should visualize your plan to give it to the subconscious mind.

Brian has been working since Christmas with his new airsoft  to make fundamentals like drawing, movement, transitions and picking up the front sight be subconscious.  I knew that was important before the video. So we started him on a daily training program to build those subconscious skills.

But the video showed him to visualize properly.  And he did that to good effect on 5 of 6 stages, putting in top 3 to 5 scores (of 50 shooters).  

But as the final stage came, he knew he had a great run going, and he was stressing.  And what part of the video hadn’t he got to yet… how to reduce stress.  He tanked the last stage, and while he had a good match, if he had just shot in the middle of the pack on that stage, he would have finished 4th of 50 shooters overall.  He just didn’t have the stress management skills yet to handle the brink of success.

So we plan to finish the video this week and integrate some stress into his training using drills like 10 alphas, where you have to draw and shoot an alpha, repeatedly until you get 10 in a row.  The stress you get at shots 9 and 10 can be significant, since you have to start again from one if you miss.

In summary, the DVD was a pleasantly helpful surprise.  It will be available for loan at the next match.

Thrown in a CED Air Soft timer, and some 1/7th scale USPSA steels and plate rack to make a complete training system in garage, basement or backyard.

The system uses “green gas”, which is basically propane without the scent. One $19 tank of actual propane and a $5 dollar tube of silicon oil will keep him shooting for a few thousand airsoft shots.

The system blows back the slide and is an exact replicate of an SVI Infinity 5”. They fit in my 2011 holster system and the magazines fit in the magazine holders on my belt as well.

Once we sorted it out (the manuals are in Japanese) we found it quite realistic and very accurate.  Using a USPSA target sized to simulate 20 yards, he got 1.30 second draw to A zone hits in our first tests.  Hitting pop cans at 15-20 yards is no problem. We have the system dialed down a bit now, but we can rev up the gas it uses to better simulate recoil.

Driven by the popularity of airsoft IPSC in Japan and Asia, there are many after market options for these guns.

Q: What is the best resource for USPSA/IPSC/3-Gun shooting on the net?

A: www.brianenos.com

Brian Enos is a legend in practical shooting.  And his website is now the central gathering place for USPSA and practical shooters in America and the world.

Here is a set of tips, culled by an enterprising BrianEnos.com reader from hundreds and hundreds of posts in the site’s very busy forum.  Enjoy reading them. I refer to them often when looking for inspiration on how to get better at our sport.

Tips Culled from www.BrianEnos.com (isn’t the 3rd one apropos for Stage 1 of today’s match?):

Avoid standing reloads whenever possible. Always plan the stage so you can reload while moving.

Dry Firing every night will drastically increase your confidence level when you get on the line.

You must practice strong and weak hand shooting on a regular basis. You don’t want to be surprised by this at a match. I’ve seen grown men cry…

If you wish to excel at IPSC shooting, you must seek out your weaknesses and make them strengths, or at the very least, non-issues.

When planning a stage, look at it from many angles. Don’t discount an irregular path through the stage, it may save time.

Shoot for points.

You must learn to call your shots on steel with confidence. Waiting for them to fall takes time. Calling all shots is important, but steel is crucial.

You can break fault lines if you don’t shoot while outside them. The good shooters at your club will most likely be glad to help you…if you just ask.

Your draw and reload must be consistent and sure, even if not lighting fast. A blown reload is disaster for a speed shoot or classifier.

Trust your skills and shoot at a pace where you’re able to see everything you need to see. Never go too fast.

Don’t trust how fast something "feels". Use a timer to check which mental state gives you the best times.

If you shoot a revolver, practice reloads a lot.

Overconfidence leads to minimal awareness. Try not to lose interest in the shooting that’s happening right now, because you’ve overpracticed.

Stay hungry. Never be just "satisfied."

Listen to everyone.

Have someone experienced critique your style and execution.

He who will sacrifice the most for the battle will win every time.

Learn to harness your own ability to be aware of everything that happens while shooting. That includes visual, auditory and spatial.

Have fun. If you want to get mad at yourself, take up golf.

Learn humility, and learn from it.

Smooth really is fast.

During major matches don’t shoot outside your comfort zone.

If you make a game plan, stick with it.

Watch the super squad every chance you get. Don’t just ape them but observe and evaluate.

Learn how to build an accurate shot.

In practice try to go full out, just to see what its like, and then try to go even faster.

Try the 50 yd+ shots in the routine.

Don’t get brought down by somebody elses bad attitude, if they don’t want to try, then that’s their problem.

Full mags all the time, do not put empty ones back in your belt.

Make sure you see all the targets before you shoot and know your plan to shoot them.

If reloading your own ammo, know that it is all good, if in doubt buy an electronic scale and weigh it, and chamber check it.

Have an "on the line" routine especially in practice, go through in your mind the same thought everytime before the timer starts.

Zero the sights.

Understand the COF, and know what has to be done.

Calling your shots saves time.

When you shoot faster than you can see you are gambling.

The more you practice the "hard" shots in practice, the better the nerves are on match day.

Never take anything for granted, make sure you know everything is A OK.

Whiners SUCK!!! It is about getting to shoot guns and have fun, right? Leave the bad attitudes at home.

You cannot miss fast enough.

Find a spot on the target. Shoot that spot.

Learn how to stop smoothly and be shooting when or before you stop. (this is my current "thing")

Don’t look for bullet holes!!!

Pick one or two things you want to improve and think about them all the time. If you can’t visualize yourself doing the "thing", it is very hard to actually do it.

Too many people "tune out" the RO when they are preparing too shoot. Always pay close attention to the RO when you come to the line. Look them straight in the eyes when they are taking to you. Nod your head or whatever, but communicate with the RO. This will save you MUCH GRIEF someday.

If you aren’t having fun, you are doing "something" wrong.

If you’re shooting minor, you MUST get A’s.

Aim small, miss small.

Make a checklist for your match gear so you don’t spend the drive wondering if you forgot something.

Bring water and a lite snack to keep your energy up.

Plan ahead for colder and warmer weather than you’re expecting.

If you’re planning an unconventionally angled shot, ask the RO BEFORE you shoot if HE considers it a 180 violation. It’s too late afterwards.

Dry fire groups on tiny targets in addition to your action dry fire drills. It helps more than know.

You must be able to shoot on the move with conidence.

You need positive actions in your head, not negative ones. Think, "I will hit the A zone twice" NOT, "I better not hit the no shoot."

Don’t be afraid to challenge the RO on a hit. You might win. If you know it’s there, argue for it politely and professionally.

Have you stage plan DOWN. A well executed plan always beats a miracle plan than you can barely remember. Confidience is in simplicity.

None enough practice enough.

Bring equipment that works. Never show up to a match with the same "stuff" that didn’t work last time. Know that you gun, ammo and mags function.

Learn to call the shot. Know where the bullet will hit by reading the sights.

It is impossible to miss if the sights are in proper alignment with each other and the target…when the bullet leaves the barrel.

Most all the things that are blamed on equipment…turn out to be the shooter. (But hey…we need a good reason to buy new stuff!)

Progress comes from within.

Never do a standing reload. They are worse than misses.

Misses suck! You get no points…you just waste time. Use your time to get hits.

Take however much time you need to get a "good hit".

I "hope" is a miss.

A "good hit" in Minor power factor is an Alpha. A "good hit" in Major is a Charlie or better.

There are no Charlie hits on steel.

Economy of motion is vital.

Shoot ammo that you KNOW makes major PF, not ammo that you HOPE makes major PF. Cutting it close is not worth the anxiety.

"Equipment that works" does not necessarily mean the most expensive equipment. It just needs to work, every time, regardless of cost.

Spend most of your shooting budget on ammo, not new guns.

The most important shot on the stage is the one you’re taking NOW!

While drawing, keep your shoulders level, don’t move head too much.

When transitioning from target-to-target, keep your upper body position the same. Rotate at the hips, waist, knees, ankles and toes.

Give yourself an advantage. Drink water, eat sensibly, get into the shade.

Think positive. You know you can do it, so just do it!

Think about every little thing while practicing.

Don’t think at all during the match —->trust.

Think positive thoughts. Leave your Ego at home.

Learn something new at every match.

Have fun, you are not at work.

Never change anything before a match. I had squadmates at the Nationals buying the latest/greatest techmo device and putting it on on the safety area. Stupid.

On the first stage turn it back to 90%. In fact try that for the whole match.

Know your split times since that’s the only way to say is A or B faster.

Practice accuracy relentlessly. If not, you will not win, it will catch up with you.

Buy a wagon, cart or gun bearer. A chair is good too.

Relax.

Negative thought and people are to be avoided.

A clean gun/glasses/equipment is an advantage.

Don’t get hung up on a .8 draw. That won’t win a match by itself.

Pro Grip/Grip tape/modified grip Nuff said.

Reloading is a skill. Get good at it. Its part of the win.

Thank your RO.

When your plan goes away. Relax and shoot the sight. Don’t rush or try to make up time. You will lose then.

Never give up. Your competition could also have a 20 second jam on the next stage.

Shoot with confidence. Confidence is developed in practice and is NOT cockiness.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone better or worse than you for advice. I would lean more to the better but when you quit learning, well….

NEVER "double tap" a target. Each shot gets it’s own sight picture.

When you get GOOD, share what you know. That’s how you pay back those that helped you.

Pay attention, to everything at all times.

When you make a mistake or blow a stage, or even tank a match…Find something to learn from it and move on.

When all else fails. Shoot the sights, no matter what.

Keep your mind open.

Once you get a stage plan in your head, do not change it after watching another shooter do something differently. UNLESS…you are absolutely CERTAIN you can apply it without any hesitation or uncertainty. The plan you have SET is almost always better.

If you arrive early to help set up a club match, you can really get a good feel for the stages. And, it’s the right thing to do.

And lastly but not least from me. "Aligning the sights correctly for the first shot is faster than having to make up for a miss!"

If you want to see all the Tips just click on the Category “Tips” on the right side of the website.  And please send me any links you have so we can build up a decent resource.

Personal Shooting Coach offers online, home based IPSC/USPSA training. That is an interesting concept. Rob Leatham also offers his “Drillmasters Club” training in a similar fashion.

Video examples from PSC can be found here:

http://www.personalshootingcoach.com/videos/

The videos include help for building a grip, improving timer reaction speed, finding your natural point of aim (very important to learn), how to shoot the sights not cadence, and the four basic rules of safety.