Fast Entries
Get ready to shoot the moment the target becomes available to get shots off sooner.
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What is the Fast Entries Drill?
Engaging targets “sooner” while entering a position is a powerful skill. Instead of moving to a position, planting your feet, and then getting the gun on target – engage targets while the feet are still moving and entering into the position.
The sooner shots are put on target, the sooner the target becomes neutralized.
For this drill, the point is to move quickly into position, get the gun up, and break the shot the moment the target becomes visible.
Smoothly entering the position really helps enable shots to be taken sooner, while a rough entry will cause the sights to bounce around which creates misses or delays the time to first shot as the sights settle.
Drill Setup
- 2 Targets with 1 yard laterally between the targets, one target at 3 yards and one at 9 yards, directly in front of the shooting box which is next to a vision barrier.
- Start position: 5 yards to the side of the shooting box, gun in one hand hand at the low ready.
- 4 shots required for each string, 8 rounds total.
If space allows, have a start position to the right and left of the shooting box to work on movement in both directions.
The target array can be simulated at 3 yards with a full size target and a third size target.
Drill Steps
- At the beep, move to the shooting box while getting the gun up and ready.
- As soon as the target becomes visible, engage the close target with two shots.
- Transition to the far target and engage with two shots.
- Reset for the next string.
- At the beep, move to the shooting box while getting the gun up and ready.
- As soon as the target becomes visible, engage the far target with two shots.
- Transition to the close target and engage with two shots.
Drill Modifications
- Move diagonally into position or move straight forward into position to change up the footwork.
- Push the targets farther to improve accuracy at speed.
- Try longer and shorter movements. Variety in movement distance is good. Longer movements works the ability to control the deceleration into position.
Drill Tips
The key to this drill is having the gun up and ready to shoot before the target becomes available to shoot. That way the moment the target becomes available, the gun is up and ready. The sooner the shot breaks, the quicker it becomes neutralized.
When moving longer distances, square up the shoulders and hips in the direction of movement. It’s faster to move when facing the direction of movement.
Doing things “faster” tends to induce errors. Shoot faster splits, and accuracy will decrease. However, doing something “sooner” doesn’t induce errors. If I can take a shot sooner, the target will get neutralized in a shorter amount of time. So the key with almost all shooting techniques is to find ways to accomplish tasks “sooner.”
Drill Diagnostics
Pay attention to your sights while you’re entering the position. Are they bouncing around? When you take your final step, do they bounce? A good entry still be smooth with minimal distribution to the sights.
However, stomping feet send reverberations through your body – which will jar your sights. Smooth steps are soft and quiet. If your can’t hear your steps, your sights probably won’t be bouncing around.
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Drill Environment
More Drill Modifications
Modifications to focus on: Conceal Carry
- Add walls to lean around - More info »
- Move through a door - More info »
- Start drills with something in your hand - More info »
- Start from a seated position - More info »
- Turn the lights out and use a flashlight - More info »
- Use a variety of your daily wear clothing - More info »
Further Training with:
Accuracy at Speed, Distance Changeup, Vision Speed
