Some argue shooting is a science. I counter that it is more of an art form. Science is the systematic learning of our world through observation, experimentation, and testing of theories until evidence is obtained. While that is part of developing sound shooting skills, there is an art behind it. Art is the application of human creative skills. In shooting, creative skill and imagination produce many novel concepts and drills. Those drills are then tested (hopefully) scientifically to determine if the “art” is practical.

The mag change is an art form unto itself. Some, like Travis Tomasie, have perfected the mag change with such efficiency and speed that it’s awe-inspiring. Mag changes are critical as they keep your gun in the fight. Unlike movies, you’re bound to run out of ammunition. While the likelihood of a mag change during a gunfight is low, playing the odds is bound to invite Murphy’s Law. If it can go wrong, it will. Thus, mag changes are a skill worth developing on and off the range.

Magazine Position

Magazines can be positioned in a multitude of locations. The primary question when carrying a magazine is, “Can I access it for a reload?” For concealed carry, I carry mags on my non-dominant side on the hip or in a pocket. Pocket carry, while more discreet, presents some challenges as I’m unable to access the mag easily with my dominant hand. Practicing with these positions irons out deficiencies and identifies issues that may arise from that carry position.

There are some shooting rules that are non-negotiable. In my opinion, one of those is magazine orientation. I’ve seen many shooters carry their mags oriented with bullets facing behind them. This mag orientation is slow and I’ve seen many shooters fumble their way through reloads after emphatically stating it was “fast” for them. Over the years, I’ve seen only one shooter exhibit competency with this orientation out of the hundreds I’ve encountered.

Orienting the magazines with bullets facing forward (or towards the belt buckle) allows the shooter to properly index the mag when conducting a magazine change. The hand easily grasps the magazine and can withdraw with the index finger resting on the cartridge. This allows the shooter to easily feed the magazine into the mag well.

Firearm Position

Firearm position is critical to an efficient magazine change. Ideally, mag changes should be conducted behind cover or concealment in a defensive situation. However, it’s not ideal to lose sight of the target or threat you just engaged. The firearm should be brought towards the body and placed approximately shoulder height, just below the sight line of your target. The dominant arm moves towards the body with the elbow at an approximately 90-degree orientation. Point the mag well towards your non-dominant hip side. This places the firearm within your sight line without obstructing your view of the target.

The non-dominant hand draws the magazine and brings it to the magazine well. You now have a visual index of where to place the magazine. By placing the finger on top of the magazine, you also have a tactile reference point of where your magazine needs to be. The palm of the hand holding the magazine then firmly presses it into the firearm to seat it. Seat the magazine with sufficient force to ensure the magazine catch has engaged on the mag so it doesn’t inadvertently fall out.

“Charging” Methods

There are several basic methods of “charging” your semi-automatic firearm after a magazine change. To load a semi-automatic firearm, you must rack, or charge, the slide by pulling it to the rear and allowing it to load a live cartridge from the magazine. While it may seem obvious, this is a critical step in getting your gun back into the fight after a mag change.

There are three basic forms of charging the firearm during a mag change. The first method is to use the slide release. Unfortunately, some shooter’s hands are small and can’t reach the slide release. Left-handers aren’t as fortunate and can’t use their thumb to manipulate the slide release. I have larger hands and can reach the slide release with my trigger finger during a mag change. Over the years, I’ve practiced and became proficient at using my trigger finger to drop the slide and charge the firearm. However, this technique isn’t for everyone and it’s up to the shooter to find if, or what, works for them.

The last two methods offer some benefits over the slide release method. These methods involve gripping the slide or optic and using it to charge the weapon. This technique is arguably slower but fully compresses the recoil spring, offering less likelihood of the slide not seating completely and an out-of-battery malfunction occurring. After seating the magazine, the shooter obtains a complete grip on the slide with fingers (or palm and fingers) and pulls it towards their body. Once the slide is completely to the rear, the shooter lets go of the slide and allows the recoil spring to do the remaining work. Some novice shooters attempt to push the slide forward instead of letting go. This can cause a stoppage that prevents the slide from seating completely. Once the slide is to the rear, let go and let the gun do the work for you.

Optics are also handy for charging the gun. The non-dominant hand hooks onto the optic, which acts as a charging handle, and pulls the slide to the rear. The hand slides off the optic and allows the slide to close.

Types of Magazine Reloads

There are two basic types of reloads: an emergency or “slide lock” reload and a combat or tactical reload. Shooters experience an emergency reload when they’re unable to count rounds fired due to stress and the gun runs dry. The combat reload is a form of ammunition management where, during a lull in shooting or engaging the threat, the shooter conducts a magazine change to top off their firearm.

An empty firearm requires an emergency reload. The shooter immediately drops the empty mag while accessing the spare magazine. The shooter then reloads and charges the firearm as previously discussed.

The combat or tactical reload is a method of recharging the firearm during a tactically sound moment in a defensive encounter. For instance, if the shooter has fired several rounds and encountered a lull in the engagement, they can remove the partially expended magazine and replace it with a full magazine. This minimizes the risk of the shooter needing to conduct an emergency reload if there is an additional engagement with the threat(s). The pocket retains the partially expended magazine (preferably not the magazine carrier to reduce confusion over what magazines are full or not). Keep the partial magazine in the event the engagement continues.

I’ve found two schools of thought on the tactical reload. The first is to remove the partially expended magazine and retain it on your person then place a fresh mag into the firearm. I’m not partial to this method as the firearm has only one round in the chamber for a relatively long period of time. The shooter is more vulnerable if they have miscalculated the lull in the engagement.

The second method (and one I’m partial to) is to obtain your spare mag and bring it to the firearm. Eject the partial magazine into the hand holding the full magazine and conduct the mag change. Stow the partial magazine on your person. This method requires some practice to master but it is far more efficient than the first method. I’ve personally conducted this method under significant stress and found it efficient and reliable – if practiced beforehand.

Mastering the Art

Like dry fire, practicing magazine changes don’t cost you a penny and don’t require a trip to the range. Dummy cartridges are handy when practicing mag changes at home. Your time is the only expense. Earlier, I referred to magazine changes as an art form. While these basic techniques lay the foundation for efficient and competent magazine changes, there are non-standard methods a shooter may find work for their situation. By applying “art” to your situation, you can develop an efficient method for conducting mag changes.

The post The Art of the Magazine Change appeared first on The Mag Life.

Understanding the Bill Drill

The Bill Drill is a straightforward yet challenging drill that focuses on rapid target engagement and recoil management. The primary objective is to shoot six rounds into a single target within a time limit while maintaining accuracy and minimizing split times. By repeatedly practicing this drill, shooters can develop better control over their firearms, enhance their reaction times, and improve shot placement.

Wilson’s time standard is two seconds at seven yards. Although you may not be there on your first attempt, keep trying until you increase your proficiency. Many people in shooting sports bring the time down to 1.3-1.4 seconds, which is crazy to comprehend. The most unbelievable demonstration I’ve seen was from a world champion shooter who shot a Bill Drill in under two seconds, at 25 yards, with a stock 1911 using factory ammunition. You can push your skill level to whatever level you can dream of if you have enough discipline to practice efficiently. 

Executing the Bill Drill

To perform the Bill Drill, you will need a reliable handgun, a sufficient amount of ammunition, and a safe shooting environment, such as a range. Follow these steps to execute the drill effectively:

1. Establish a solid shooting stance: Start by assuming a proper shooting stance that provides stability and allows for recoil management. Ensure a firm grip on the firearm, with both hands working together to control the recoil. I recommend having your feet shoulder width part with your weight favoring forward to help keep the gun from rising. If you are off balance the fast succession of shots will start to knock you backwards. 
2. Set up the target: Place a target at a suitable distance for your skill level. As a beginner, starting at a closer range is recommended, gradually increasing the distance as you become more proficient. Try it at five yards to start, then seven yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, moving all the way out to 25 yards to see where your accuracy fundamentals are really at. Inside of 10 yards, most people will be shooting intuitively and predictively, but at 25 yards, you have to be reactive and get a near-perfect sight picture every time. 
3. Ready position: Begin the drill from the ready position, where the firearm is holstered or held at the low ready, depending on your preference and the shooting range rules.
4. Start the timer: As the drill begins, draw the firearm from the holster or bring it up from the low ready position, and engage the target with six rapid shots, focusing on accuracy and quick follow-up shots.

Benefits of the Bill Drill

1. Speed and accuracy: The Bill Drill strongly emphasizes shooting rapidly while maintaining accuracy. By practicing this drill, shooters can significantly improve their ability to deliver precise shots within a short time frame, enhancing their overall performance in dynamic shooting scenarios. Getting comfortable with my gun recoiling fast helped improve my splits on targets at matches. I could trust that my gun would settle into the correct position for my second shot. If I could cut .01-.05 seconds per split time throughout a 200-round match, that’s up to 10 seconds of saved time overall. That could make or break or placement for a podium finish. 
2. Recoil management: The Bill Drill requires shooters to quickly recover from recoil and follow up immediately with more rounds. This drill helps develop the necessary muscle memory and control to mitigate recoil effectively, leading to faster follow-up shots and reduced target acquisition times.
3. Understanding your firearm: The Bill Drill is a great way to help “feel” the recoil in your gun. When your skill reaches an enhanced level, you know exactly how your firearm is supposed to recoil. You become one with your gun, so you know if it’s empty, if you pulled a shot, or if something went astray during the course of fire. 

Tips for Success

To maximize the benefits of the Bill Drill, consider the following tips:

1. Start slow and focus on fundamentals: Begin by practicing the drill at a manageable pace, prioritizing accuracy and technique. As you become more comfortable and confident, gradually increase your speed. Everything comes with time, so you may not be hitting that two-second mark right off the bat. A great way to help increase speed is to break the drill down, where you work on a single shot draw, two shots, three shots, etc until you have worked your way up to six. 
2. Use proper gear and equipment: Ensure that you have a reliable and suitable firearm, ammunition, and holster that allow for efficient draws and smooth follow-up shots. Quality gear contributes to the overall effectiveness of the drill. I recommend using a Kydex holster specifically designed for your firearm. Leather and Nylon holsters can become unsafe with time and not allow proper firearm retention. 
3. Train with a purpose: Set specific goals for each training session and monitor your progress. Whether reducing split times or improving accuracy, having measurable objectives will help you track your improvement and maintain motivation. Open a notes tab on your phone or bring a notebook to the range. I used to be a huge nerd, bringing my laptop with an Excel sheet of all the drills I worked towards. It was a great way to see improvement over time. My personal record for a bill drill is 1.43 seconds from my USPSA belt and 1.65 seconds from concealment.
   

   

Conclusion

This is one of my favorite drills. It was one of the first drills I ever tried as a new shooter and one I will continue to do as I keep enhancing my skill. This drill is something I usually end my practice session with to end on a good note. It’s fun, it’s testing, and I always like to see what type of times I’ll lay down with whatever gun I am shooting for that day. This drill is not mutually exclusive to a pistol. It can be done with a rifle, PCC, a shotgun, or even a Barrett .50 Caliber sniper rifle. Check out this video of Jerry Miculek shooting six rounds of 50 BMG in under a second! 

The Bill Drill is a fundamental exercise that can take your shooting abilities to the next level. By mastering speed and accuracy, this drill can enhance your overall performance as a shooter, whether you engage in competitive shooting or prioritize self-defense. Remember, consistent practice, a focus on fundamentals, and a commitment to improvement are essential for success in the Bill Drill and all aspects of shooting. So, pick up your firearm, head to the range, and elevate your skills with the power of the Bill Drill!

The post Mastering the Bill Drill: Elevating Your Firearm Skills appeared first on The Mag Life.

I’ve taken a lot of lessons from that night – good and bad. One of the things I was most grateful for was having an early interest in unconventional shooting positions and prior experience with them. Shortly after the exchange of gunfire, my partner covered the house while I retrieved my patrol rifle. I took cover behind the front wheel of a Ford F-250 in a modified prone position that I’d been in countless times before during training. I remained in that position providing the only available direct cover and negotiation to the shooter for 18 minutes until our first relief arrived on the scene and allowed us to relocate. That is not a position you want to be in for the first time immediately after a gunfight.

Since that night, I’ve learned the value of unconventional shooting positions and one’s ability to effectively use and work around cover in a gunfight. I’ve said it before and will emphasize it again – the first time to be doing an action shouldn’t be during a gunfight. Ideally, training realistically and to your operating environment is the goal. In law enforcement, we don’t conduct business under ideal conditions – nor does everyone else. In the real world, cover also doesn’t come in the form of a perfectly rectangular barrel. Instead, your cover may be a tree, rock, engine block, or a pile of landscape timbers. None of us get to choose the time and place. The bad guy does.

So how does someone get experience working around real-world cover? There are plenty of inexpensive options you can do at ranges that allow it – and even at home. Working cover begins with practicing unconventional shooting positions and knowing your weapons platform.

The VTAC Barricade

The VTAC barricade is the brainchild of Kyle Lamb of Viking Tactics. The barricade features nine shooting ports designed to force the shooter to conduct business from different angles and at different heights. While it would be great to make nine shots on target from each port, there’s a catch to the VTAC barricade – you may not be able to.

The goal of the drill, as iterated by Lamb, is for the shooter to find out what positions work for them and their weapons system. Furthermore, what position are they faster in? What position are they better from? What if they’re strong side? Support side? Daytime? Nighttime? While these factors may seem unimportant to the unacquainted, they are vitally crucial to success once some time is spent on the barricade.

VTAC barricades are inexpensive and easy to build. I built mine using about 16 feet of 2”x4”, a single sheet of 5/8” OSB plywood, some spare exterior decking screws, and leftover exterior paint. Total cost: around $45. A jig or handheld circular saw is necessary to make the cuts. Overall, it was a 30-minute commitment to build. I used some leftover brake rotors to provide balance on the back side of the barricade and had rounds downrange in no time.

I recently ran the barricade with a new scope setup and was joined by a few others with new rifle builds. All of us discovered deficiencies with their setup in at least one position while enjoying the “oh, that was cool” moments of other positions based on our respective rifle setups and experience. So, what are some considerations about cover that the VTAC barricade shows us?

Standoff

Previously, I discussed the importance of understanding how your weapon and ammunition perform under low-light conditions. The muzzle device, barrel length, and ammunition type directly influence the muzzle flash to the shooter and others around them. Working around cover has similar considerations. When approaching the barricade, don’t place the flash hider against the barricade. While this may sound like common sense, I’ve seen a fair share of shooters with full-length rails that terminate near the muzzle and rest the rail against the barricade – which puts the muzzle device in line with the barricade. Consequently, the occasional piece of plywood gets ejected from the board back at the shooter in a “teachable moment”.

Working around a barricade or modified cover teaches the shooter the importance of understanding what standoff you may need to have with your weapons platform. You may want to put the rail system just forward of the barricade and rest against the foregrip versus resting the front edge of the rail against it. The opposite may be true. The only way to answer this question is to try it.

While discussing muzzle positioning on the barricade, it’s worth noting the importance of your weapon light setup. Many of us run weapon lights in a 3 or 9 o’clock position on our rifles. When shooting through the rectangular ports on the barricade, it complicates the ability to illuminate the target while using your sights. I run my weapon light in the 12 o’clock position, something I took from Larry Vickers, as it is directly in line with my sights.

If you’re back from cover, as we’re commonly trained to not hug cover; the activation of your weapon light may have an adverse result for you. Figure 3 shows how standing off from cover can illuminate your cover and “wash out” your view of the threat area downrange. Consequently, the reflection of light back at you negatively affects your ability to see the target while illuminating you. This is undeniably bad if you’re trying to not be an easy target while focusing on the threat before you.

Addressing the issue of light when using cover is something you have to practice with your weapon platform and is individual to your setup. Practice with an unloaded rifle to start and have a friend or family member provide immediate feedback of what they see versus what you see. Through trial and error, you develop a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t for your setup.

Alternative Shooting Positions

Unconventional shooting positions are effectively those beyond just standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone. Positions such as rollover prone, “Spetsnaz” prone, and other awkward shooting positions are worth attempting to develop skills for the shooter when their cover isn’t ideal. The VTAC barricade can force a shooter into those unconventional shooting positions and failures can occur if the shooter has never done them before.

In the photo above, I’m positioned with my rifle ejection port against the ground behind the VTAC barricade. While this position may be acceptable to achieve the desired shot, the photo below shows that this position, while comfortable with a right-handed shooter, can cause two issues: (1) the shooter’s sling can be positioned to obstruct the ejection port and (2) the rifle can be so low to the ground that the ejection port is obstructed by its proximity to the ground. I have experienced and seen failures to eject from a rifle due to the shooter not taking these factors into consideration while in this shooting position.

I’m lucky because I’m left-handed and can address this issue by shooting from a left-handed position, which places the rifle with the ejection port towards the sky. However, what if my cover doesn’t allow me to roll into that left-handed shooting position? I need to seek alternative cover or address where and how I will assume my shooting position.

Managing Cover

If I haven’t said it enough – learning how you and your weapon system utilize cover should be addressed on the range and in training long before application in the real world. No shooter can learn these things until they’ve attempted them and done them regularly.

Not all of us have the time to build a VTAC barricade. Not all of us have a range where we can perform these actions. Nevertheless, your backyard, home, garage, and possibly vehicle are all places where you can practice these positions. Have you tried to shoot from different angles around your bed? Your couch? The back tires of your car? Under your car? What about a pistol instead of a long gun?

Ultimately, working and training around cover is a vital skill that keeps you safe by giving the advantage to the good guys, e.g. the person defending their home, family, or friends from the underbelly of society. When looking at ways to use cover, ask yourself “How can I use this barrier or item to conceal or protect my body while still making a shot on target?” If you’re comfortable in every shooting position, you’re not training hard enough. Gunfights aren’t ideal and neither should your training. Work and train with the cover given to you and it may translate to a win for the good guys.

The post The Barricade and The Long Gun: Training for the Unexpected appeared first on The Mag Life.

What Is the Mozambique Drill?

The drill has its roots in the late 1960s era when the Mozambican War of Independence took place. It was a brutal war and the American military and mercenary presence there found themselves facing Moro warriors who took opioids to make themselves tougher in battle. This approach worked because they didn’t notice the pain nearly as much as they might otherwise, among other things. As a result, there were a lot of issues with shots fired having little to no effect, at least not fast enough to stop the Moro from injuring or killing the soldier or mercenary before finally slowing down.

One such combat moment took place when a mercenary named Mike Rousseau was involved in a firefight in an airport. Rousseau, who had a Browning Hi-Power, found himself facing an adversary armed with an AK-47. He fired two quick shots at the rifle-wielding man’s chest, and nothing happened. Not only did the injured man keep standing but he held onto his rifle and kept coming. Rousseau had already lowered his handgun, but upon seeing the lack of results from shots fired, he raised the gun again. The third shot impacted his attacker in the neck rather than the head, which was certainly effective. According to Rousseau, he’d been aiming for a headshot.

Eventually, Rousseau met the late Col. Jeff Cooper and relayed his experience. The men ended up deciding it made a good shooting drill, and Cooper is credited with calling it the Mozambique Drill, named after the location at which it originally occurred.

Mozambique Drill vs. Failure Drill

You may have heard of the Failure Drill, or maybe Failure to Stop Drill, and wondered how they differ from the Mozambique Drill. In reality, there’s no difference. A SWAT officer with the LAPD visited Gunsite Academy back in 1980 and thought the Mozambique Drill would come in handy for law enforcement training, but he wanted to change the name. Cooper gave his blessing and it became the Failure Drill. Ever so often you’ll also hear someone refer to it as the Body Armor Drill or Drug Drill, referring to the fact that the drill takes into account potential armor or a drug-crazed attacker who is unlikely to be stopped by center mass hits alone. Whatever the name, the drill remains the same.

Is the Mozambique Drill still relevant?

A question that comes up rather often is whether the drill remains relevant even though it’s been around for more than half a century. The short answer is yes, and the longer answer involves exactly why it still matters.

The Mozambique Drill can be done from the holster or low ready. The shooter must rapidly fire two shots at the target’s center mass, which is typically approximately an eight-inch space, then transition upward for the single head shot. Successful drills don’t only involve shots on paper, they involve more precise hits…fast. For example, a head shot that’s technically part of the head but is actually way off to one side isn’t going to be seen as ideal. Effective head shots are made in a specific zone in a narrow space that includes the bridge of the nose. What this drill does is teaches speed and accuracy on target along with smooth transitions.

When you’re experiencing an adrenaline dump, it can be a great deal more challenging to make precision hits. Center mass shots are going to be far easier to land on a moving, unpredictable target than a head shot. Making those two first shots center mass is smart tactically, and following up with a head shot to neutralize the threat is also smart. Hopefully, a threat will be affected by center-mass hits, but that isn’t always going to be the case. Having the practice time in working on multiple shots fired in different zones is a good idea for more thorough defensive training. This drill can also be done with moving targets for an added layer of difficulty.

The bottom line is that the reason this drill remains relevant is that it teaches speed and precision along with effective hits capable of stopping a threat. It can be fine-tuned or altered to suit different skill levels, such as changing the distance at which it’s done or the speed at which shots are fired. But the basics remain the same. Sometimes simple is best, and the Mozambique is a neatly straight-forward drill.

How To Make the Mozambique Drill Harder

There are quite a few ways you can make the drill a bit more challenging, such as:

• Move from the close-up three-yard distance out to five, seven, or even 10 yards.
• Use a shot timer to work your total time from draw stroke to head shot under three seconds.
• Run the drill shooting one-handed with your strong-side hand.
• Run the drill using your support hand alone.
• Try using different firearms.
• Change the number of shots fired to a greater number without sacrificing too much time.
• Use a moving target.
• Make the hits in even smaller zones.
• Run the drill as a transition from rifle to handgun.

However you do it, it’s a good idea to make the Mozambique Drill part of your training repertoire. The skills it teaches remain relevant and likely will for quite some time. And remember, although it’s nice to be impressively fast, it’s better to be safe. Start slowly and master the basics before attempting to ramp up speed, and don’t get ahead of yourself. You don’t want to sacrifice safety or precision and it’s worth the time and effort to clean the Mozambique at incredible speeds or greater distances. This is a real-life applicable skill. Your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth the training time.

Do you do the Mozambique Drill/Failure Drill? Think it’s no longer relevant to modern-day shooters? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.

The post Mozambique Drill: Still Relevant, or Old Shooting News? appeared first on The Mag Life.

They have a unique beat, and I don’t envy their work. I’m six-foot-five inches tall, and planes just aren’t for me. I imagine a Federal Air Marshal has to be pretty skilled. They are shooting a firearm inside a tube full of people. Their accuracy standards have to be high, and they have to be able to effectively take down a terrorist in just a few seconds. While I’m sure a lot of their job is dealing with unruly drunks, they still have to be trained for the worst situation possible.

Luckily, the Federal Air Marshal qual was plenty easy to find, and we shot it out.

What You Need

First and foremost, you will not only need a gun and holster, but you will be shooting from concealment! You’ll need a concealment holster. The Air Marshals carry a Gen 5 Glock 19, and it seems like the famed P229s are still in service as well. Generally, any gun that’s in that compact realm is a good way to go.

You need 30 rounds of ammo, so it’s not absurdly demanding in the ammo department. You’ll need at least two magazines and a concealable magazine carrier to make things happen. You’ll also need all the appropriate safety gear, including ears and eyes, as well as a shot timer to keep track of par times. Finally, you’ll be using the FBI QIT target, and you’ll need three of them.

Scoring

Scoring is simple. You get five points for hits inside the bottle of the Q target and two points for hits that touch the edge of the inner and out bottle and shots inside the outer bottle but on the target. The maximum possible score is 150 points, and the minimum qualifying score is 135 points.

There is also an interesting way they score the times. You’ll shoot most of the drills twice, and your times for each drill are combined, and they cannot exceed a specific time. For example, the first drill is shot twice, and your two times have to equal less than 3.3 seconds total. If you shoot one string in 1.3 seconds and the second in 2.0 seconds, you pass.

Shooting Like an Air Marshal

All right, let’s stop talking and start shooting. This is shot cold without a warm-up, with concealment being used twice. Prepare and ensure you can safely draw your firearm from concealment. I won’t make fun of you for going OWB for safety’s sake or to follow range rules. This qual is shot entirely at seven yards, which makes plenty of sense for an Air Marshal. Planes can be big, but even in a big plane, the lines of sight are fairly short.

Stage One: The Draw

Stage One acts as a decent warm-up. It’s quick, mean, and fast. From concealment, you’ll draw and fire one round into the target. Repeat this drill one more time for a total of two runs. Your combined times must not exceed 3.3 seconds.

Stage Two: The Double Tap

Start from the low ready. At the beep, fire a double tap into the target. You’ll repeat this drill twice for a total of two runs and four rounds fired. Your combined times for each string cannot exceed 2.7 seconds.

Stage Three: Getting a Rythym

Again you are in the low ready and doing something interesting. You are attempting to find a good cadence or rhythm. This requires you to shoot six rounds in three seconds. You’ll only shoot it once and have to find the right balance between speed and accuracy. That balance is your rhythm.

Stage Four: Reloading

Ensure your chamber is loaded, but your magazine is empty for this drill. At the beep, fire one round and do a slide lock reload and fire one additional shot. You will repeat this drill one more time for a total of four rounds fired. Your combined time for each string cannot exceed 6.5 seconds.

Stage Five: Two Targets No Problems

From the low ready, you will fire one round on the right target and one round on the left target. The targets need to be three yards apart. You’ll shoot this stage twice, and your combined time for each run cannot exceed 3.3 seconds.

Stage Six: Dancing Around

Returning to concealment for this run, you’ll be shooting three separate targets. You’ll start facing 180 degrees away from the threat. At the beep, you’ll turn, draw and engage each target with a single round. It’s basically a modified El Pres. You’ll do this stage twice, and you’ll turn to the right for the first one and to the left for the second one. You cannot exceed seven seconds between each run.

Stage Seven: Move and Reload

Things are getting tricky, and we have some moving parts here. First, ensure you have a loaded chamber and an empty magazine, and your spare magazine ready for a reload. At the beep, you’ll fire one round, and your gun is empty. Then drop to one knee and reload. Now fire one additional round on the target.

You’ll repeat this drill twice, and the sum of both runs cannot exceed 8 seconds.

Unload — Show Clear

Whoo boy, this is not an easy one. This qual made its way into one of my favorite qualifications, especially for concealed carriers. I understand its design and limitations considering the target audience. Should you practice outside of seven yards? Yes, of course. However, this is a great close combat course.

It’s different than most and seems to be well thought out for its purpose. The times are tight, and you might struggle. I know I did near the end. I made it, but not as fast as I wanted to be. After shooting this live one time, I used the Mantis Laser Academy and a hammer-fired pistol to shoot it dry. Sadly using a Glock 19 is tough because you have to recock between shots.

It’s a solid bit of training that has high demands and a low round count. Give it a try, and let us know what you think below.

The post The U.S. Air Marshal Pistol Qual appeared first on The Mag Life.

SWAT Handgun Qual — What You’ll Need

This is a long course of fire and will involve a lot of ammunition, specifically 118 rounds. That’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things, buts it’s the most I’ve seen in a handgun qual. Alongside that ammunition, you’ll need a handgun. I used my Arex Delta Gen.2 Tactical model with a Primary Arms Red Dot mounted. You’ll need a holster, as well as a spare magazine and a magazine pouch to carry it in.

You’ll also need two silhouette targets. The PDF of the Perishable Skills Program doesn’t list a specific target just mentions a silhouette target. The BT-5 target seems to be the choice of the LAPD. You will need a timer, as well as your eyes and ears.

Scoring

Scoring the qual is easy. There doesn’t seem to be a passing or failing score. It’s not listed in the PDF and the qual seems to focus more on training. Maybe calling this a qual is a bit far, but they do call it a Qualification Course in the manual. The best way to score it is only to count hits in the BT-5 ten and nine rings and the headshots. You’ll know if you can shoot or not just by that evaluation.

Heading to the Range

The LAPD SWAT handgun qual is not for everyone, and you should probably do a walk-through before conducting the qualification shoot. This is broken into two phases, the Low Ready and Draw From The Holster portions. Reloads are on the shooters unless instructed. This qual works best with a friend to give commands, but I shot it solo without much issue.

Low Ready Phase

Stage One: Three Yards – Six Rounds

From the low ready, you’ll fire a double tap on target. You have 1.5 seconds, and you’ll conduct this drill a total of three times.

Stage Two: Five Yards – Six Rounds

On the beep, you’ll conduct a failure drill (two to the chest, one to the head.) with only your support hand. You have five seconds, and you’ll conduct this drill twice.

Stage Three: Seven Yards – Six Rounds

On the beep, you’ll fire a standard failure drill with both hands. You have three seconds total.

Now conduct a tactical reload and retain your magazine in your support hand. If you have a partner, have them yell threat. If not, hit the timer. Engage the target with a failure drill while holding the spare magazine with the support hand. You have three seconds to conduct the failure drill.

Stage Four: Seven Yards – Three Rounds

From the low ready, engage the target with a single headshot in 1.5 seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

Stage Five: 10 Yards – Six Rounds

If you have a Caldwell Target Turner, you can use it here. If not, you’ll have an easy stationary target.

• Phase One: Assume a kneeling position and fire a failure drill into the target in five seconds.
• Phase Two: Assume a supported kneeling position and fire a failure drill in five seconds.

Stage Six: 15 Yards – Eight Rounds

• Phase One: Engage the target with two rounds to the torso in three seconds. Conduct this drill twice.
• Phase Two: Ensure the magazine in the weapon is loaded with two rounds and you have a spare with at least two rounds. Fire two rounds into the target, then speed reload and fire an additional two rounds. You have eight seconds.

Stage Seven: 25 Yards – Six Rounds

Fire two shots to the torso in five seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

SWAT Handgun Qual Shooting On the Move Portion

Stage Eight: Seven to Three Yards – Six Rounds

Start facing the start, take one step to the left, and on the beep, move to the three-yard line firing two rounds as you move in four seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

Stage Nine: Seven to Three Yards – Six Rounds

At the beep, move forward while firing a failure drill in four seconds. Conduct this drill twice

Stage 10: Seven to Three Yards – Three Rounds

Take a step to the right, then on the beep, move forward while firing a failure drill in four seconds.

SWAT Handgun Qual Holster Phase

From now on, every drill will begin with your weapon holstered, and you will draw before every engagement.

Stage 11: Five Yards – Nine Rounds

At the beep, draw and engage the target with a failure drill in three seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

Stage 12: Seven-Yard Line – Six Rounds

At the beep, draw and engage only with your strong hand only and fire a failure drill in six seconds. Conduct this drill twice.

Stage 13: 10-Yard Line – Six Rounds

• Phase One: Draw, assume a quick kneeling position, and fire a failure drill in six seconds.
• Phase Two: Remain kneeling and assume a supported kneeling position. From here, fire another failure drill in 3.5 seconds and then conduct a tactical reload.

Stage 14: 15-Yard Line – Six Rounds

• Phase One: Draw and fire two rounds in four seconds.
• Phase Two: Draw and fire four rounds in 10 seconds.

At the beep, draw and fire two rounds into the torso of the target in seven seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

Close Contact Drills

For this portion of the SWAT Handgun Qual, you’ll start from the holster and fire from close retention. If you have a partner during any of the three drills, the partner can yell fire after you complete the drill and force you to fire one round to the brain.

Stage 16: Two-Yard Line – Six Rounds

Draw and assume a close retention position and fire two rounds to the torso in 4 seconds. Conduct this drill three times.

Stage 17: Two-Yard Line – Six Rounds

Draw and assume a close retention position and fire two rounds to the torso as you shuffle backward in four seconds.

Stage 18: Two-Yard Line – Six Rounds

This is the same drill as above. Draw and assume a close retention position, and fire two rounds to the torso as you shuffle backward in four seconds. If you do not have a partner, add an untimed headshot to the end of this drill.

Multiple Targets Drill

Finally, you’ll need two targets for the SWAT Handgun qual. It might be a great time to swap targets, as your primary target is probably shot the hell up. You’ll start positioned between each target for the two drills. For the last drill, your partner will say left or right to designate which target you’ll shoot.

Drill 19: Five-Yard Line – Eight Rounds

Draw your weapon and fire two rounds into the torso of each target in four seconds. Conduct this drill twice.

Drill 20: Five-Yard Line – Two Rounds

There is no time limit, but don’t be slow just to be slow. Draw and shoot one target in the head. Conduct this drill twice. If you don’t have a partner shoot one target in the head and then the other.

All Done

Man, that was a long, involved course of fire. I’m exhausted. Not really, but it’s the most robust and thorough qualification I’ve ever shot. It’s a good training exercise but sadly, it’s a bit tough to find a range that will allow you to conduct this type of training. If you can’t shoot this qual locally with live ammo, maybe consider an airsoft or C02-powered BB gun.

I wouldn’t change anything. The times are tight, and the accuracy standard exists. It’s not an easy qual by any means. Sure an experienced USPSA shooter will likely breeze through it, but for most of us, it’s a good bit of fun and a good piece of training.

Try it out and let us know what you think below.

The post The LAPD SWAT Handgun Qualification appeared first on The Mag Life.

I’d undertaken the old course of fire about half a dozen times. As a machine gunner, I rated a sidearm, and I had to earn it. I made a big enough stink about having to carry an M16A4 and M240B that eventually, they agreed to issue us pistols. The clincher was that we had to qualify with no prior training. It’s almost as if they didn’t want us to qualify. Yet I did, and so did several other machine gunners. 

Would we have been so lucky under the new qual? Maybe….but it would have been a bit trickier for sure. Let’s dive into the USMC Pistol Qual. 

What do you need for the USMC Pistol Qual? 

This doesn’t require a ton of ammo. In fact, you only need forty rounds. You’ll need your handgun of choice, and this course of fire is built around a duty-sized handgun. You’ll need two magazines and a spare magazine pouch. Predictably you’ll need a holster, specifically a duty-style rig.

The Marine Corps uses the MPMS-1 Target. This target replaced the traditional bull’s eye target and works as a silhouette. The silhouette has a face and then several zones. They took a cue from IPSC and used various hit zones that coordinate different points. There is an A, B, C, and D zone. 

Don’t forget to bring your shot timer, eyes, and ears. 

USMC Pistol Qual — Scoring 

Scoring is fairly easy, but you need to pay special attention to the target and the drills you are shooting. Each area offers different points. 

• A: 10 Points
• B: 8 Points
• C: 6 Points
• D: 4 Points 

When you shoot a failure-to-stop drill, the scoring changes slightly. A failure-to-stop drill requires you to place two rounds into the torso and one into the head. When shooting the torso portion, headshots equal zero points, and when shooting headshots, torso shots equal zero points. 

You get 40 rounds, and you have the potential to earn 400 points in the USMC Pistol qual. You have to achieve at least 264 points to pass. There are several scoring classifications that reward you for higher points. 

• Expert: 364-400 Points
• Sharpshooter: 324 – 363 Points
• Marksman: 264 – 323 

Shooting the New USMC Pistol Qual 

Alright, alright, alright, this qual has three stages and a total of six phases. Each stage represents a different range. Stage 1 is shot at seven yards, stage two is shot at fifteen yards, and stage three is shot at 25 yards. 

Stage One: 7 Yards 

Phase 1: Phase 1 is a nice warm-up. Start with a magazine loaded with 14 rounds in the gun and load your second magazine with nine rounds and pouch it. Your par time is five seconds, and you start with your gun holstered. 

At the beep, draw and fire a controlled pair. A controlled pair is two shots fired, but each round has a sight picture. It’s not a double tap. 

You’ll repeat this specific phase two more times for a total of six rounds fired in Phase 1. 

Phase 2: Holster and set your par timer to seven seconds. At the beep, you’ll draw your firearm and fire a failure-to-stop drill. That’s two rounds to the torso and one round to the head. You’ll run this drill twice for a total of six rounds fired. 

Phase 3: If you’ve been tracking your round count throughout the USMC Pistol Qual, you’ll know that you only have two rounds left in the magazine. We are coming up on a reload, boys and girls. 

Set your timer to nine seconds. At the beep, draw and fire two rounds and then conduct a speed reload and fire two more rounds into the target. That’s it. You’ve finished Stage one of the USMC Pistol Qual. 

Stage Two: 15 yards 

Go ahead and grab that empty magazine and fill it with seven rounds. Pouch it. It’s a tool you’ll use later. Back up to 15 yards and get ready. 

Phase 1: Set your timer to six seconds. At the beep, draw and fire a controlled pair. Now repeat this drill for a total of six runs. Now, what you’re thinking is, “I only have seven rounds in the gun!” 

Yep, you’re gonna have to reload. After the 3rd drill, the reload is a tactical reload, which means you’ll retain the pistol magazine and reload with a fresh magazine loaded with seven rounds. Complete your seven runs, and you should have two left in the gun. 

Phase 2: Before we start, load that empty magazine with ten rounds. Set your timer to 12 seconds. Draw and fire two rounds, then speed reload and fire two more rounds. Not too hard by any means, but take advantage of that long twelve seconds to make your hits count. 

Stage Three: 25 Yards 

Take a walk to the 25-yard line and get ready to exercise those marksmanship skills. This course of fire was originally designed with the Beretta M9 in mind. The course of fire allows you to fire this portion with the weapon cocked into single action. With the adoption of the M17/M18 handguns, this might be out of date fairly soon. 

If you’re a cool guy like me, you’re using a DA/SA gun anyway, so take advantage of that single-action mode. 

Phase 1: There is no holster and drawing in this phase. You’ll use the Tactical Carry. With the USMC, the tactical carry is a high ready with a pistol. You have seven seconds to fire a single round. You’ll repeat this drill eight times in total. 

Seven seconds from the high ready is fairly easy to accomplish. Take your time. Make those rounds count. Eight rounds can be eighty points if you can land them into the ten zone. People get worried at this range, but to me, this is where you make your money. 

What I Like and What I’d Change 

Like almost all quals, the time constraints are a bit generous. Not too bad, but you could shave a few seconds off each easily. I feel like I’m crawling through the drill if I try to get close to the par times. I like the simplistic nature of the course of fire, and I love the target that encourages realistic shot placement. 

I’d like to see some additional distance added to the training with a focus on more combative shooting at a longer range. Sidearms are just that, sidearms. The USMC pistol qual should focus on transitioning from an empty rifle to a pistol and make that part of the drill. The USMC is supposed to be a Corps of riflemen, so add the rifle in. 

This is still a fun bit of training. I understand that it’s simple because it’s very unlikely a Marine would ever use his handgun. A lot of things have to go wrong to hit that point. Still, I’d like to see the Corps excel and make the best gunslingers they can. 

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