Evaluation Summary
You will notice that there is no total of the evaluation scores on the sample scorecard. This is intentional. Each of the eleven drills is intended to tell its own story about the operator’s skill level with certain aspects of combat shooting. Everyone always wants to know how they
compare to others who have taken the course. Despite my advice that it really doesn’t matter, it is understandable to be curious. For this reason, I will include an unscientific summary of skill levels in the following sections.
Supported Mag Dump (#1)
The Mag Dump Drills are intended to measure one of the most basic variables of shooting – recoil management. If the shooter has proper stance, grip, and body positioning (NPA), Drill #1 should produce consistent hits in less than one second each. This drill also teaches a level of shot management. Since reloads are not allowed, the operator has to find the right combination of accuracy and speed. My average score is always 28 because that is the number of rounds I load into an AR15 magazine. Most experienced shooters will score over 20.
The average person, who typically is already a very experienced shooter, will score between 20- 30 points on this drill. With a score below 20, there is a problem somewhere that we need to find and fix. Here are some items I look for:
Tight Groupings – If the groupings are too tight, the operator either doesn’t understand the purpose of the drill or has other issues. This issue is remedied by explaining the need to sacrifice a little accuracy in exchange for more rounds on target.
High number of misses – Again, given the shooter understands the purpose of the drill, a high number of misses (shots fired but completely miss the paper) indicates rushing the shots. Equipment can also play a role here as I have found loose scope mounts, wobbly rails, and other kit-based reasons for misses.
Low number of shots attempted – This is normally a mindset problem. Even beginners should be able to align and fire at one shot per second, or 20 rounds attempted.
High number of shots attempted (finish the mag well before the time is up) – Spray and pray, or suppressive fire, is not the intent of this drill. It is almost a certainty that this issue will also result in a high number of misses. I have found suppressive fire is overrated, especially for the individual involved in a gunfight. This tactical method has its purposes if maneuvering, but from a fixed position its value is limited unless being used in a team environment.
Supported Mag Dump with Reload (#2)
It is always interesting to see the operator’s choice of position on this drill. Identical in setup to #1 (above), the shooter is given the option of how to execute the drill. Given the limited number of rounds permitted in the first magazine, knowing that a mag change is going to be required can cause many people to go into analysis paralysis.
For accuracy, going prone would be most people’s initial thought. However, a mag change, while prone, is typically not a fast maneuver. While there is no right or wrong way to execute this drill, it does provide an early indication of how comfortable a student is with their rudimental skills. It’s normally the first lesson of the day about creative thinking.
I’ve really made some operators angry when, after they shoot the drill, I pull a full mag off of my vest, toss it down to the ground and then go prone to take my turn. “You cheated,” is a common statement, to which I normally answer, “No, I was thinking.” I have also been known to shoot the drill offhand, trading the speed of a strategic magazine change for the accuracy of a supported weapon. Remember, we are shooting at a rather large target at only 50 meters. Grouping counts for nothing – putting lead on target is everything.
A mag change should be no more than a two-second affair. If you are good, you lose less time than that. I like to take the average number of shots per second (can be less than one) and determine exactly how long this common task takes.
Over the years, I have filmed a few of my clients to assist in debriefing them later. It is amazing to watch, in slow motion, what eats up the most time. Here is a quick summary of cause and effect:
a. Removing the full mag from load gear. This is commonly the beginning of the problems and one of the easiest to solve. Practice will solve this issue. Rarely is it an equipment problem. Given the different types of pouches (flap, bungee cord, Velcro) practice with your specific gear is the key.
b. Insertion of the full mag. This is where most people eat up the largest segment of time. There are several different schools of thought regarding the proper method for
slamming in a full mag. Some of these are weapon specific, so if you are using an AK, you will execute a slightly different process than an M4.
c. Reacquisition of the target. Surprisingly, this process takes more time than it should on almost every shooter I teach. During the process of ejection, acquiring a full mag, insertion, and reacquiring the target, most shooters get their feet and body out of position.
The topic of mag changes is covered in more detail in the section Improvement – Reloads Tactical and Strategic.
Another bad habit I commonly see involves the empty magazine. Even the most experienced shooters will release the empty, put it in their dump pouch, and then reach for the full mag. In a gunfight, this is just plain wasteful. I know many departments and military units require shooters to manage their empties. The problem is that this action becomes habit and under stress, people tend to execute their redundancy-enforced movements. Hit the release button, rattle the rifle, and let that empty fall. Your free hand should be reaching for the full mag before the empty is leaving the rifle. We will go back and police up your equipment later – after we carry the day.
Throughout the remainder of this book, you will encounter several exercises and drills designed to address these problems. Don’t believe that standing around in your backyard popping mags in and out of your AK is going to fix all of the issues. Under stress (the clock in our case), in different situations, your muscle memory may cause more problems than it solves.
The average operator drops to a score of 15-20 on this drill. My average goes up from Drill #1 to Drill #2. It’s not uncommon for me to score 35 on this drill. I’ve seen scores above 40.
Offhand Mag Dump (#3)
This drill demonstrates, what in my personal opinion, is one of the shortcomings of some shooting competitions. You will not always have your weapon in a ready position, facing the threat. Even in an active combat zone, your hands are used for balance, opening doors,
scratching an itch or taking a drink. You must develop the skills to grasp your weapon and bring your body into a fighting position in a quick, efficient motion.
Changing from a supported firing position to offhand really shouldn’t make much difference in the scoring on this drill. For a proper evaluation, I deduct the amount of time the shooter takes to fire the first shot and then average out the hits per second without that delay.
Obviously, the mechanics of bringing the weapon into play is one area of improvement this drill will point out. The second, and probably more important symptom that may appear, is a large difference in hits or number of shots attempted due to the offhand stance.
In initial hostile encounters, offhand is going to be the most common position you will find yourself in. There is no logical reason why the number of trigger pulls should be less than drill #1. If the shooter executes properly, the number of hits should be identical or at least within one or two.
Offhand Mag Dump with Reload (#4)
By the time you execute this fourth drill, it should start becoming redundant. The same observations and comments apply to this drill as to #2 (above). The fact that most people practice reloads in an offhand position should help the average operator feel more comfortable and obtain a slightly better score than a prone or supported position.
As with #2 above, I want to know what switching magazines costs in time. More specifically, I want that loss of precious seconds broken down into three sub-sections:
How long did it take to get the fresh mag in my hand? How long did it take to insert it and verify it had seated? How long did it take me to reacquire the target?
Each of these three usages of time is addressed differently.
Several observations can be made while watching or even filming someone switch mags. One of the most obvious advantages concerns the operator’s line of sight. While it is not safe for the observer to stand in front of the shooter and watch, I’ve developed the habit of standing parallel and paying close attention to the shooter’s line of vision during the process.
There are a few quick fixes for some bad habits. One of the most obvious examples is how full magazines are carried. If, for instance, you are using load gear and have the spares on your chest, you should have them turned in the right direction to facilitate loading. This saves the time of checking to see which way the rounds are pointed. Even if I pull magazines from my
dump pouch, I know by feeling the curve (AR15 mags) which is the proper way to insert them. Do you?
A beginner stands and fumbles through the swap, taking 4-5 seconds to execute. An
experienced shooter will use the “work space” method and complete the action in 2-3 seconds. Others never take their eyes off of the threat and can reload in less than 2 seconds while the rifle never wanders far from the ready position.
This is more than just showing off. Statistically, there is a high probably of fighting at night. This drill translates into being able to execute a reload without using your eyes.
We will discuss mag changes in more detail in the section Improvement – Reloads Tactical and Strategic.
Weak to Strong: 10 Minimum – Offhand (#5)
For many, this is the most difficult drill in the mix. The switch from weak side to strong,
hopefully under duress, will point out any eye dominance or basic issues with obtaining a sight picture. This drill can also bring sling problems to light. This topic is addressed in Chapter 4 – Equipment Check.
Probably more than any other drill in the initial evaluation, the rapid change from weak to strong side can be improved with equipment. Keeping both eyes open during shooting as well as a proper sling arrangement can make a tremendous difference in this exercise. These two items combined with a reasonable practice routine using the weak side can produce the desired results. Most professional operators can perform from the weak side with 80% or more efficiency as compared to their strong side.
My personal score is normally around 28 on this drill. If I don’t use a sling (cheating) then I can usually reach 30-35 rounds on target. Running the drill without a sling is interesting if you want to eliminate hardware as a factor. This sub-exercise is not scored because it is unrealistic to be in a combat situation without a sling.
The average shooter can score well over 20 on this drill. Anything less than 20 and there are probably other fundamental issues that should be addressed.
Pistol Offhand – Mag Dump (#6)
Many of my clients better my personal score on this exercise. My secondary weapon is a 1911A (.45) with very hot rounds, and thus a lot of recoil to manage. I don’t like any of the high capacity magazines and load up with the standard eight rounder. My extra magazines for my sidearm are not a priority either. Many shooters have them as accessible as their rifle spares. Mine are off to the side and stored in a secured pouch.
This situation often generates a lot of discussion and perhaps seems hypocritical given my view concerning long guns. My logic, typical area of operation, and skill with a carbine make it my primary. My handgun is my secondary. It is only used in event of failure or when the rare environmental need, such as a tunnel, requires it. That role may not match yours. If you are a police officer, you most likely reach for your sidearm far more often than you retrieve the patrol rifle from the trunk. If I were training for your role, my pistol would receive more attention – both in training and weapon’s selection.
This is not to say the secondary isn’t important to the Shootist. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s only meant to imply that different professions have different needs from a capabilities point of view. A 1911A fits my needs, and I put lead on target with it.
On this drill, my average score is 15. With operators, I see a wide range of results, with the best pistoleros being in the mid-20s. If your score is less than 10, there is some work to be done. Even if your secondary is a pug .357 magnum revolver, you should be able to speed load and get 10 shots onto the target.
Misses are important here. The missed shot should be rare at this range. If you are experiencing a lot of misses, there is most likely a kink in your basics that has crept into your stance, sight picture, or trigger pull.
Rifle Zip Line - 25 Meters (#7)
Now the fun has begun. When I am working with an operator, I learn more from watching a shooter execute this drill than any other. For years, advanced training facilities have used moving targets to help train their scholars of lead. One of my biggest complaints about most of these exercises has been that the target moved on a flat horizontal line.
While still helpful, this trajectory requires controlling a weapon on a single plane. This makes the drill less realistic for combat shooting as it is the rare occasion where multiple targets are on the same plane.
One of the first concepts I teach for the zipper (we give nicknames to everything) is forward foot placement.
The diagram above shows an incorrect placement. The shooter aligns the stance on the starting point on the trolley (A) and then swivels the hips (B) to follow and fire at the target as it moves right to left. The zip line is intended to simulate a likely avenue of approach being used by multiple threats. This avenue of approach could be a street, alley, or just an assigned area to cover.
The more a shooter has to twist the hips to align on the target, the less recoil management and control can be applied to the weapon. While the amount of flexibility will vary from person to person, no one can control a rifle as well with hips torqued.
Some shooters execute the zip line, body alignment initially aimed at the starting point, and then change once the target brake is hit. This additional movement again wastes time. The proper method is to align on the center of the zip line and twist only slightly to pop the brake balloon. As the rabbit (target string of balloons) gains speed, the shooter is following and gaining the proper degree of alignment on every shot until the target passes through the center of the line. This initial alignment is shown below:
If you are having trouble hitting any of the balloons, don’t hesitate to tie a larger target or single balloon and practice. I have encountered numerous, very experienced shooters who have never executed a drill against a moving target and need some time to adjust.
On all but the worst days, I can eliminate all targets with the hostage balloon surviving. The average shooter will get one or two of the targets and will hit the hostage balloon one out of three times. Drill repetition can eliminate this problem. I can’t remember the last time I hit the hostage balloon.
Pistol Zip Line - 15 Meters (#8)
You should expect identical results with this drill as #7 above. If there is a significant difference in your score, it can probably be attributed to the amount of experience and practice spent with one weapon versus the other.
About the only statistical difference I experience is hitting the hostage balloon more often. While still rare, it does seem to happen, and I mentally blame it on the recoil of my weapon.
Flying Saucers (#9)
This is my favorite drill for a variety of reasons. First of all, most operators are apprehensive about this drill. For some reason it looks much more difficult than it really is. Throwing the disk is often the hard part. I reassure people that if they don’t rush the throw and concentrate on initial body alignment (NPA) they will be surprised at how easy this is.
One would think that experienced trap and skeet shooters would smirk at this drill and perform better than those who have no experience with the sport. This has not proven to be true. What I have learned is people who have hunted grouse (a game bird) seem to excel at this test. I think the reason is in the nature of the hunt. For those who have never hunted grouse, the little demons remain still on the ground until you practically step on them and then explode with a fury of feathers and noise – seemingly right from under your foot. The successful hunter adapts to achieve NPA quickly, even when surprised.
Like the zip line above, I find the average shooter leads the target too much, resulting in misses. The distances involved using the typical assault rifle do not require any adjustment for leading the target.
On all but the worst days, I can hit five out of five disks. Wind and small pockets of thermal air can make this drill a real challenge. Everyone misses now and then. I can hit 19 or 20 throws in normal conditions, often landing more than one shot on the disk.
The average operator will hit two of five tosses, but quickly improve after realizing that the drill is not so difficult.
Numbers Game: Rifle (#10)
Up until this point, all of the drills have limited the number of OODA loop variables. Drills #10 and #11 add a new sensory input to the shooting experience – audio. On the surface, there is no situational equivalent with this test and combat. Numbered threats do not approach you while some commander shouts out the order for you to engage.
But in a firefight, audio sensory input can be critical, especially at night. Fighting in an urban area would be another example where using your ears as well as your eyes can be a lifesaving skill. Of all of the drills so far, the Numbers Game is the most difficult to improve one’s scoring once