Incorporate simple transitions into your training

Next time you head out to the range with a friend, run this Target ID drill to get you working on basic transitions. It’s primarily a visual processing drill. It’s meant to force you to think and confirm your target before shooting. And it will test your ability to quickly get your sights on your target and press your trigger smoothly to make accurate hits.

Incorporate longer strings of fire and now you’re testing grip durability, recoil management and follow through. 

Focus on moving your eyes to the next target as soon as the first shot breaks. Keep your eyes ahead of the gun and on your target, then press your trigger as soon as your sights come back down and appear on the next target. Repeat!

I use the Target ID drill to work on target transitions and moving my eyes quickly to the next target as soon as the shot breaks.

An important aspect of this drill is learning how to use your eyes. When identifying and confirming your target, you don’t want to stare at the sights on your gun as you search for the target. You want to look where you want the gun to go, then move the gun there quickly and smoothly, having your sights arrive and land where you are looking, while continuing to apply proper and consistent grip pressure.

Set up a DT 2-A target at 10 yards. Load 15 rounds into magazine. Have your buddy call out shapes, colors and/or number. Start with one round at a time for two or three rounds. Then increase to strings of 2, then 3, then 4, remembering the sequence.

To make it more challenging, create some urgency and set a fixed time of half a second between shots when shooting 2 or more rounds.