I’m always on the lookout for a good drill, and “Run Gun Heather” from Girls with Guns demonstrates one in the video linked below. The Dot Torture Drill is run here with a handgun but could easily be adapted for a rifle if you want.
The entire drill as demonstrated requires sixty rounds. I’ve seen another version that requires fifty. That may seem a little ammo intensive, but you practice several different skills along the way. If you were to break those skills down individually it would probably be a wash, so do it how you want. If nothing else, this saves you from setting up different targets and goes in a logical progression.
Heather runs the drill from a timer-initiated holster draw. You can do that or go from the ready if you want.
With a handgun, the drill is recommended to be shot from three to five yards distance, depending on your proficiency level. Obviously, if you’re nailing it from three, you should back up a yard or two to challenge yourself and develop those skills more. Here, Heather shoots from five.
Her weapon of choice is her Sig P320 with the cool purple slide. Use whatever gun you want but make sure you have extra magazines to run the drill properly. She likes to do a few dry fire exercises before shooting, which is probably a good idea.
Drill Progression
The target consists of ten numbered circles, or dots. You can get those targets on the interwebs, including free printable versions. Each dot represents a different task or skill for the shooter. Heather does not time each stage, but you could if you wanted. She runs it from a surprise draw prompt from her timer. Let’s break it down by dot, as Heather runs it:
Dot 1: Draw, five slow shots.
Dot 2: Draw, one shot, holster. Five repetitions.
Dots 3 and 4: Draw, one shot on Dot 3, one shot on Dot 4. Four repetitions.
Dot 5: Draw, five shots with your strong hand.
Dots 6 and 7: Draw, two shots on Dot 6, two shots on Dot 7. Four repetitions.
Dot 8: Ready, five shots with your weak hand. OR, draw, switch hands, five shots from your weak hand.
Dots 9 and 10: Draw, one shot on Dot 9, one shot on Dot 10, reload, one shot on Dot 9, one shot on Dot 10. Four repetitions.
Many of you have likely seen or run this drill before but it’s good to be reminded sometimes that fundamentals matter. Plus, we have a ton of new gun owners out there. If you’re one of those folks, welcome to our community.
The Dot Torture Drill is something you can do to gauge proficiency and improve skills without setting up a bunch of different targets. You don’t even have to have a shot timer. Just get out there and practice!
