25 Yard Line Drills

SortaTactical · April 4, 2015, 09:32 AM

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time working on grouping shots accurately at 25-yards using a handgun (Glock 22) on a 10-ring bulls-eye target (shooting from a standing, unsupported position). Even though I have seen improvement through practice, the drills I have been using - which rely heavily on the repetitive application of the fundamentals (as all good drills should) - are becoming stale. I would like to change things up with some different drills to keep things interesting.

Does anyone have any suggestions of things that have worked for them?

g.willikers · April 4, 2015, 11:45 AM

My favorite 25 yd drill consists of five smallish circles, arranged in a square, with the fifth one in the center.
They range from 4" to 8" in diameter.
Sometimes the're all the same size, sometimes not.
Shooting at them in turn, clockwise, counter clockwise, crossways, by position, 'etc. provides lots of varariations and challenges.
Do some sessions for accuracy and some for speed, too.
Single round per target, or double tap each one.

Claude Clay · April 4, 2015, 12:30 PM

a favorite for me, alone or with a 'advanced' group is
with 3 IDPA targets placed at varying distances 3,5, 7 & 10 yards

at the timer, turn, draw from concealment and engage each twice
or vary the order (draw a knife in one hand, gun in another and
cell phone in a 3rd) and than it is a matter of who to engage 1st and who Not to shoot.

include a shooting tree for the Stop Clock shot.

---> safety is 1st so perhaps start facing with gun at low ready
till you are comfortable with a timed draw
and than add draw from concealment

FireForged · April 5, 2015, 04:55 PM

I find 25 yards to be the extreme outside margin for self defense training. Sure, it should be something that you can do but I certainly do not spend alot of time with drills at that distance.

g.willikers · April 6, 2015, 08:40 AM

Since there's no guarantee of how far away the threat might be, and remembering the 75 yard shot that saved the life of Wild Bill, it might pay to practice for that long shot.
Most indoor ranges are 25 yards, so practice for that distance should be available.
One outdoor range near us has a pistol target distance out to 50 yards, so I get in some of that, too.
If the 100 yard range was allowed for handguns, I'd do that, too.
Too bad.
Including some practice for those longer range shots sure can't hurt.
Wasn't a police officer recently shot from what was determined to be a 120 yard distance?

Skans · April 6, 2015, 09:18 AM

The only gun I enjoy shooting out to 75 feet is my Sig X-Five; usually at small watter-bottle sized targets against another shooter.

Shooting handguns at this range is just for fun. I would never try to defend myself against a 2-legged bad guy at anything approaching this range!

g.willikers · April 6, 2015, 09:53 AM

Sounds like a real good excuse to burn up more ammo at longer distances.
All it takes is practice.
Being able to hit water bottles at 50 - 100 yards with handguns is not that hard, and will definitely amaze your unsuspecting pals.
Add a little bit of betting and you'll get some free lunches, too.
Until they figure it out.

DPI7800 · April 6, 2015, 01:03 PM

Here is a drill I like to do at 25 yards, it requires a 8” steel plate and a shot timer like the CED 7000 that will allow you to set multiple par times.

First beep draw to on target trigger prep,

second beep press shot recover sights recover back onto target with trigger prep,

third beep press second shot recover sights back onto target with trigger prep,

pause finger strait, holster, repeat.

The par times start out generous, after several reps with all hits, begin to decrease times. Ensure that there is plenty of time with each par setting when starting out i.e. first par time to on target with the draw 3 seconds, second par time 1.5 second, third par time 1.5 second. The long times are to make you break the shooting process down into steps. As you progress with speed and guaranteed accuracy time decreases, if you are not making the times or miss a shot back the time off.

April 4, 2015, 09:32 AM	#1
SortaTactical Junior Member Join Date: March 3, 2015 Location: Southeastern U.S. Posts: 1	25 Yard Line Drills Lately, I have been spending a lot of time working on grouping shots accurately at 25-yards using a handgun (Glock 22) on a 10-ring bulls-eye target (shooting from a standing, unsupported position). Even though I have seen improvement through practice, the drills I have been using - which rely heavily on the repetitive application of the fundamentals (as all good drills should) - are becoming stale. I would like to change things up with some different drills to keep things interesting. Does anyone have any suggestions of things that have worked for them? __________________ "Fast is fine, but accuracy is final"

April 4, 2015, 11:45 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	My favorite 25 yd drill consists of five smallish circles, arranged in a square, with the fifth one in the center. They range from 4" to 8" in diameter. Sometimes the're all the same size, sometimes not. Shooting at them in turn, clockwise, counter clockwise, crossways, by position, 'etc. provides lots of varariations and challenges. Do some sessions for accuracy and some for speed, too. Single round per target, or double tap each one. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; April 4, 2015 at 11:55 AM.

April 4, 2015, 12:30 PM	#3
Claude Clay Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 325	a favorite for me, alone or with a 'advanced' group is with 3 IDPA targets placed at varying distances 3,5, 7 & 10 yards at the timer, turn, draw from concealment and engage each twice or vary the order (draw a knife in one hand, gun in another and cell phone in a 3rd) and than it is a matter of who to engage 1st and who Not to shoot. include a shooting tree for the Stop Clock shot. ---> safety is 1st so perhaps start facing with gun at low ready till you are comfortable with a timed draw and than add draw from concealment __________________ NRA Instructor -- NRA Basic Pistol & Re-Loading Make a fire for a man and you warm him for the night Light him on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life

April 5, 2015, 04:55 PM	#4
FireForged Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 1999 Location: Rebel South USA Posts: 2,074	I find 25 yards to be the extreme outside margin for self defense training. Sure, it should be something that you can do but I certainly do not spend alot of time with drills at that distance. __________________ Life is a web woven by necessity and chance...

April 6, 2015, 08:40 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Since there's no guarantee of how far away the threat might be, and remembering the 75 yard shot that saved the life of Wild Bill, it might pay to practice for that long shot. Most indoor ranges are 25 yards, so practice for that distance should be available. One outdoor range near us has a pistol target distance out to 50 yards, so I get in some of that, too. If the 100 yard range was allowed for handguns, I'd do that, too. Too bad. Including some practice for those longer range shots sure can't hurt. Wasn't a police officer recently shot from what was determined to be a 120 yard distance? __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 6, 2015, 09:18 AM	#6
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	The only gun I enjoy shooting out to 75 feet is my Sig X-Five; usually at small watter-bottle sized targets against another shooter. Shooting handguns at this range is just for fun. I would never try to defend myself against a 2-legged bad guy at anything approaching this range!

April 6, 2015, 09:53 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Sounds like a real good excuse to burn up more ammo at longer distances. All it takes is practice. Being able to hit water bottles at 50 - 100 yards with handguns is not that hard, and will definitely amaze your unsuspecting pals. Add a little bit of betting and you'll get some free lunches, too. Until they figure it out. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; April 6, 2015 at 09:58 AM.

April 6, 2015, 01:03 PM	#8
DPI7800 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2014 Posts: 208	Here is a drill I like to do at 25 yards, it requires a 8” steel plate and a shot timer like the CED 7000 that will allow you to set multiple par times. First beep draw to on target trigger prep, second beep press shot recover sights recover back onto target with trigger prep, third beep press second shot recover sights back onto target with trigger prep, pause finger strait, holster, repeat. The par times start out generous, after several reps with all hits, begin to decrease times. Ensure that there is plenty of time with each par setting when starting out i.e. first par time to on target with the draw 3 seconds, second par time 1.5 second, third par time 1.5 second. The long times are to make you break the shooting process down into steps. As you progress with speed and guaranteed accuracy time decreases, if you are not making the times or miss a shot back the time off.