Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about overcoming flight or flight impulses like tunnel vision and auditory exclusion. If you missed that article, be sure to check it out by clicking on the link here. This week, I wanted to talk about something relatively important when it comes to carrying concealed. We oftentimes can get so much out of dry firing but working on those skills at home only do so much. It really takes getting out to the range to practice all the skills together to become proficient. Ammo prices are thankfully coming down so I figured I would add my absolute favorite drills at the moment when it comes to helping train concealed carriers. Let’s take a closer look at some great concealed carry shooting drills.
Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:
1. T-REX Arms Triple Ten Drill
Probably my favorite drill to test conceal carriers has to be the Triple Ten Drill from T-REX Arms. Unlike the other drills on this list, the Triple Ten Drill makes you shoot not only fast but accurately as well under time. I am a firm believer in longer strings of fire when it comes to training. For most drills, in an effort to conserve ammo, they only take 4-6 rounds to complete the drill. The Triple Ten Drill though takes 30 rounds instead of the regular 6 rounds of most drills. When ammo was selling at a crazy high price, these types of drills were a no-go since they burn so much ammo.
For one complete rep, you’re shooting 30 rounds whereas you could do 5 reps of other drills. You get more out of shorter drills when ammo is expensive but when it starts to become more affordable, these longer drills can really show you what your shooting ability is. Ten round strings will show you how often you flinch, loosen up your grip, or any other oddities that may cause you to throw a shot. Keeping all ten rounds in the circles with reloads against time really does test your skills and gives you a baseline on where to work from.
Out of the three drills, this is by far the most challenging one but will also tell you the most about your shooting ability as well. My best time shooting it clean was a 15.61 which shows I still have work to do. I love challenging drills that force you to train harder to progress. Having to shoot ten rounds quickly at varying-sized circles with a reload between every string is a real challenge. This is an excellent drill to practice from concealed so you get reps on your draw stroke, sight picture, trigger press, recoil management and everything else. Be sure to check out this drill for a true challenge!
2. F.A.S.T. Drill
The F.A.S.T. Drill (Fundamentals Accuracy & Speed Test) is an absolute classic for me. I’ve written about this drill in its own review a few years ago but it’s still a fantastic option. The point of this drill is to start off by engaging the smaller 3×5 card with two rounds before performing a slide lock reload and engaging the larger circle with four rounds. The F.A.S.T. Drill has been a favorite of mine for years because it allows you to practice so many skills in such a short firing cycle. It allows you to do everything from draw work, throttle control, reloads and recoil management along with everything that comes with shooting accurately.
I fully understand ammo cost may still be a serious concern for some of you. Not everyone can burn 30 rounds on a single drill like the Triple Ten but you can do multiple reps of the F.A.S.T. Drill for the same ammo cost making it an incredible value for training. Depending on your skill level and confidence drawing from concealment, you can practice this drill at 3, 5, or 7 yards. The flexibility and allowing you to challenge yourself not only with time but distance is another reason it’s one of my go-to drills regardless of how expensive ammo is at that particular moment.
3. Baer Solutions Standard Drill
The Baer Solutions Standard Drill has become an industry benchmark for most shooters. This allows people to look at where they land in terms of ability. Just like the F.A.S.T. Drill, the Standard Drill can be done at either 3, 5, or 7 yards. The basics of the Baer Standards Drill are firing 5 rounds in each rectangular box before performing a slide lock reloading and engaging the smaller circle with 3 rounds finishing the drill. It’s a fun drill while forcing you to throttle down to make your hits on the last 3 rounds.
Baer Solutions says anything under 9 seconds to complete the drill is a pass. I love having a goal when it comes to the time as a gauge of your ability. Most will start out at 3 yards and once they shoot the drill with no misses in under 9 seconds, they can move out to 5 yards and so on. Recently I have been really focusing on making the time limit at 7 yards with a decent amount of success.
The smaller middle circle is what throws a wrench into the system. For me, the larger rectangles are easy to hit with proper sight picture and trigger manipulation but the circle is a challenge just due to its size at distance. If you haven’t used something like this Baer Standard Drill, you really should as a benchmark for your current skill level as well as later down the road to see how you progressed. It’s a great way to physically track your progress and gauge your current skill level. Add in drawing from concealment and you have a great drill to induce some level of stress without overwhelming yourself.
Overall Thoughts
When it comes to training for carrying concealed, drills where you can progress and track your progress really are the way to go. They allow you to track your progress as well as give you a baseline of your current level. It’s always good to rotate drills on your range days so you’re not just shooting the same drill over and over. I typically have a binder full of drills where I can pick between them to keep things fresh. At the end of each drill, just write down your time so you can track your progress and see how you do. With just a little bit of practice on a regular basis, you will start to see your time fall as well as your groups tighten up.
I’d love if some of you printed out these drills and put your times down in the comments below. I am by no means the fastest guy out there and would love to see how you all do! If you guys do start posting your times and targets, remember to keep it respectful in the comments. Also, let me know what other drills you guys love for range training. If you have questions about range drills or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeopeartor. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner!
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