8 yd
Distance
10
Rounds
2
Reps
20
Total Rounds
Every fast drill you’ll ever shoot is built on this one. Strip away the timer, strip away the stress, and all that’s left is the mechanics: grip, sight alignment, trigger press, reset. If those break down here, they’ll break down everywhere else too — just harder to diagnose.
Run one IPSC target at 8 yards (7 m). Standing, two-handed, gun at low ready around 45 degrees. Fire two strings of five rounds, ten total. No time limit. After every shot, fully reset the trigger and re-acquire your sights before breaking the next one. Score by group size: everything in the A zone is a pass, a group under 3 inches (8 cm) is good, under 2 inches (5 cm) is excellent.
When it gets easy, shrink the target. Move from a 6-inch circle to a 4-inch, then a 2-inch. After three clean sessions on the smaller target, add a loose par time to start layering in pace. This drill belongs at the start of almost every range day — new shooters building fundamentals, experienced shooters calibrating before working on speed.
Range Setup
Setup
1x IPSC target at 8 yd (7 m). Standing, two-handed grip. Gun at low ready, muzzle down around 45 degrees. Two strings of five rounds.
Scoring
All hits in A zone = PASS.
Group under 3 in (8 cm) = GOOD.
Group under 2 in (5 cm) = EXCELLENT.
Measure group size across the two widest hits.
Tips
If the group opens up, slow down. Press straight back like you're squeezing a tennis ball — don't fight the trigger.
Progression
Shrink the target: 6 in circle, then 4 in, then 2 in.
After three clean sessions on the smaller target, add a loose par time.
Progress to one-handed slow fire at the same distance.