Starting a new year is more about self assessment than it is about how far we have come. When we take an honest look at our current abilities, have we achieved what we need to achieve? This year, we will be looking at keeping records on all of the 55 Defense 2022 metrics. How much can you improve? If this sounds like a challenge, good, because it is. The forum has been set up to allow people to post their successes and challenge others to do the same.
SAFETY: Whenever you dry fire, make sure that there is NO AMMUNITION IN THE ROOM. Find a room with an appropriate backstop or a safe direction where nobody is likely to be on the other side of the wall. Check your firearm, and then re-check the firearm. Check the magazines and then recheck the magazines. Once you are satisfied that there is no ammo in the room, you may proceed with your dry fire.
DRY METRIC 1: Draw and fire is your first, and possibly most important metric. This is the exciting part, where we can safely push the envelope. Be honest about your abilities and move at top performance.
Start position- holstered and concealed
Target- A-zone target size (6x11) OR a 3x5 index card (intermediate/advanced)
Distance- 5 Yards, or as far as your dry fire area will allow. Do not exceed 7 yards to start.
Time- Variable. This is your tracked metric. Please use your log.
Accuracy: Anything outside the acceptable hit zone is considered a miss. No exceptions.
The goal of this drill is to draw and get a single click on the acceptable hit zone as fast as possible RELIABLY. If your average time is 1.8, but your fastest single time is 1.1, how fast are you really?
DRY METRIC 2: Slow fire is a key tool when dry firing, as it tells us what we are doing right and wrong in real time. The key is to be honest with yourself about if you actually achieved your goal. We cannot cheat ourselves.
Start position- Gun in hand, aimed
Target- Small target, 1"-2" or a bulls eye style target
Distance- 5+ yards (as far as you are able)
Time: No time limit
Accuracy: This is your tracked metric. Use 10 shot blocks and write down how many were on your target out of the 10 shots. Increase the difficulty with each set.
The goal of this drill is to focus on the fundamentals. We know what we NEED to do to make a hit at this distance on these targets, but can we be disciplined enough? Do we know our sights well enough? Do we know the trigger well enough? Get to know how you and the gun work together.
LIVE METRIC 1: A draw with a transition to another target is a good way to ensure that you can deal with more than one target, while keeping the skills of efficient draw, sight alignment and recoil management in effect.
Drill: Draw and fire 2 rounds at each target
Start position- holstered and concealed
Target- 2 A-zone targets or 3x5 index cards, set up with at least 3 feet in between
Distance- 5 Yards to 10 yards (intermediate/advanced)
Time- Variable. This is your tracked metric. Please use your log.
Accuracy: Anything outside the acceptable hit zone is considered a miss. No exceptions.
The goal of this shooting drill is to work the draw, sight alignment, recoil management and reacquiring the sights on the transition. Can you put all these skills together on paper?
LIVE METRIC 2: Bullseye shooting is about getting to know the gun in the best of circumstances. It will tell you about your fundamentals of trigger press, sight alignment and sight picture better than any other drill.
Drill: Slow fire 10 rounds for score
Start position- Gun in hand, aimed
Target- NRA B-8 target
Distance- 15 Yards
Time- No time limit
Accuracy: Shoot your best score
Simply get to know what you and your gun can do together. Shoot well, and take your time.
Enjoy these metrics and remember to have fun and get better!