10s
Par Time
10 yd
Distance
12
Rounds
3
Reps
36
Total Rounds
El Presidente is one of the most iconic and demanding pistol drills in existence. Designed by Jeff Cooper, it tests virtually every core handgun skill in a single string of fire.
Start facing away from three USPSA targets spaced 1 yard apart at 10 yards. At the buzzer, turn 180 degrees, draw, and fire two rounds on each target (left to right or right to left). Perform a reload, then fire two more rounds on each target. That’s 12 rounds total with a mandatory reload in the middle.
The standard par time is 10 seconds, which is achievable for most intermediate shooters. Competitive shooters run it under 7 seconds with all A-zone hits. This drill rewards smooth transitions, efficient reloads, and the ability to maintain accuracy while moving between targets at speed.
Range Setup
Setup
Three USPSA/IPSC targets spaced 1 yard apart at 10 yards. Start facing uprange (back to targets). Pistol holstered, hands at surrender position.
Scoring
All 12 hits scored. A-zone = 5 pts, C = 3, D = 1, miss = -10. Calculate hit factor: points / time. Track both raw time and points.
Tips
The turn is free time — use it to get a perfect grip. Your draw should be complete before you face the targets.
Progression
Start by focusing on clean hits, then compress time. Sub-8s with all A-hits is strong. Sub-7s is expert level. Vary your transition direction.