Procedure:
Start with your pistol aimed at the target. At the signal, eject the magazine from the gun and insert a new magazine. Get another sight picture on the target.
Focus:
Learn to reload quickly and consistently.
Goal:
Your goal is a 1.0 second par time.
Micro Drills:
Drill One:
(Burkett Load) Start with your pistol aimed at the target. At the signal, eject the magazine from the gun and bring the fresh magazine just to the edge of the magwell.
Your goal is a 0.6 second par time.
Drill Two:
Start with a magazine in your hand, just at the edge of the magwell of your pistol. This start position should be exactly the same as the ending position of Drill One.
At the signal, seat the magazine, reacquire your grip, and get a sight picture on the target.
Your goal is a 0.6 second par time.
Commentary:
Reloading is a skill that many people find to be much tougher than drawing. That makes sense, as there is a much more complicated series of actions to learn to perform under pressure. Technical issues, such as how to position the gun when you reload, are things that must be sorted out by the individual. Generally speaking, you will be more consistent if you bring the gun lower down and closer to your body. I strongly recommend you pay close attention to how you angle the magwell of your pistol. I make sure to angle my gun so the magwell points at my mag pouches. Figure out what works for you, then train yourself to use that technique every time.
The biggest challenge J have during these drills is the urge to tense up. When you are tense, it is almost impossible to quickly and consistently hit your reloads. I think that is a great challenge that should prepare you for competition. If you can learn to battle that tension (and occasional frustration) in a dryfire setting, then your odds of success ‘Tor real” get that much better.
I have a couple administrative notes here.
First, it is obviously much more expedient to run Drill One, then Drill Two, then Drill One again. The start position of Drill Two is the same as the ending position of Drill One. This should save you from constantly having to reset your magazines in the pouch.
Second, the goal times are set for your first magazine pouch. I encourage you to work through all of your magazine pouches in dry-fire practice, but you should understand that when you start reaching around your body for your fourth magazine pouch you will likely be quite a bit slower. I have heard the assertion on a few occasions that you should be equally fast from all magazine pouches, but I have never observed this to be the case with my own shooting and I do not have that expectation of anyone else.
Gary Hybridge 