Intermediate
Pistol
Bill Drill
Source: Bill Wilson
4s
Par Time
7 yd
Distance
6
Rounds
5
Reps
30
Total Rounds
The Bill Drill is one of the most well-known pistol drills in competitive and defensive shooting. At the buzzer, draw from a holster and fire six rounds into a single USPSA or IPSC target at 7 yards. The goal is simple — all hits in the A-zone, as fast as possible.
What makes this drill so effective is that it isolates two critical skills: your draw speed and your ability to manage recoil while maintaining acceptable accuracy. There’s nowhere to hide — every split counts, and a single miss tells you something important about your fundamentals.
A par time of 3.5 seconds is a solid benchmark for intermediate shooters. If you’re consistently cleaning it under 2.5 seconds, you’re running with the fast crowd. Track your times and hit percentages over multiple sessions to measure real progress.
What It Trains
Recoil control and grip under speed — driving six fast shots back onto the same A-zone without the sights climbing.
Range Setup
Setup
Stand facing a single USPSA/IPSC target at 7 yards. Pistol holstered, hands relaxed at sides. Use a shot timer.
Scoring
Pass/fail: all 6 rounds must be in the A-zone. Track total time. Misses outside the A-zone = failed run.
Tips
Your grip does the work. Lock your wrists, let the sights bounce back naturally — don't chase them.
Progression
Start at a comfortable pace and work toward sub-3.5s. Once consistent, push for sub-3.0s. Focus on grip and recoil tracking, not trigger speed.
Common Mistakes
- Outrunning your sights — pressing the next shot before the front sight or dot has returned.
- Milking the grip: letting grip pressure pulse with each shot instead of holding it constant.
- Chasing a fast split time while hits drift out of the A-zone.
- Starting the draw slow, then rushing the string to make up time.
Skill Standards
7 yd · 6 rounds · all hits in the A-zone
| Novice | > 5.0 s |
|---|---|
| Carry-Ready | 3.5–5.0 s |
| Competitor | 2.5–3.5 s |
| Elite | under 2.0 s |
DrillLane benchmark from widely cited Bill Drill times, including Gabe White pin standards.
FAQ
What's a good Bill Drill time?
Sub-2 seconds with all six hits in the A-zone is elite. 2–3 seconds is competitive, and under 5 seconds is a solid intermediate benchmark. Any miss out of the A-zone means the run doesn't count.
How many rounds is the Bill Drill?
Six rounds, fired at a single target from the holster.
What distance is the Bill Drill shot at?
The standard distance is 7 yards (about 6.4 meters) on one USPSA/IPSC target.
What does the Bill Drill measure?
It isolates draw speed and recoil control — firing six fast shots while keeping every hit in the A-zone.