marksmanship Archives

The Progressive Marksmanship Drill: A 45-Round Path to Precision with Your Pistol

The journey to becoming a proficient marksman with a pistol is a meticulous process that requires not only the mastery of fundamental skills but also an ongoing commitment to analyzing and refining your technique. The Progressive Marksmanship Drill (PMD) exemplifies this process, structuring a comprehensive training regimen around the deliberate practice of 45 rounds with your pistol. This methodical approach not only emphasizes the importance of trigger control and efficient sight usage but also incorporates a critical step of self-assessment after each phase to ensure continuous improvement.

Detailed Breakdown of the 45-Round Drill

The PMD is meticulously divided into three phases, with each phase designed to incrementally challenge your shooting abilities over a series of distances with a pistol. This progression is not just about firing rounds; it’s about cultivating a deeper understanding of your shooting technique and making precise adjustments to achieve accuracy and consistency.

Phase 1: Establishing Fundamentals

Distances: Starting at 10 feet, moving to 12.5 feet, and then 15 feet.
Round Count: 15 rounds in total, distributed as 5 rounds at each distance.
Self-Assessment: After completing this phase, you’ll bring your target back for analysis. This immediate feedback allows you to diagnose and understand any deviations or mistakes in your technique, setting the stage for targeted improvements.

Phase 2: Refining Techniques

Distances: Progressing to 17.5 feet, 20 feet, and then 22.5 feet.
Round Count: Another 15 rounds, with 5 rounds allocated for each distance.
Self-Assessment: Again, you’ll examine your target after this string of fire. The increasing distance will likely amplify any imperfections in your shooting, providing clear insights into areas that require further refinement.

Phase 3: Mastering Precision

Distances: Extending to 25 feet, 30 feet, and finally 35 feet.
Round Count: The last set of 15 rounds, fired in sets of 5 at each distance.
Self-Assessment: After the final phase, the comprehensive review of your target helps identify persistent challenges. This step is crucial for understanding how to adjust your technique for better accuracy at longer ranges.

The Role of Trigger Control and Sight Efficiency

Trigger control and the efficient use of sights or red dots are at the core of the PMD. These elements are vital for ensuring that each shot is both intentional and accurate, especially as the drill progresses and the demands on your precision increase. By focusing on these key areas and regularly assessing your performance, you can identify specific habits that may be impacting your accuracy, such as flinching, rushing the shot, or improper sight alignment.

Continuous Improvement with the “Don’t Suck Chart”

An essential feature of the PMD is the “Don’t Suck Chart,” a diagnostic tool used after each phase to evaluate your shooting. This chart provides a visual representation of common shooting errors based on where your shots land on the target. By using this tool, you can make data-driven adjustments to your shooting stance, grip, trigger pull, and sight alignment, progressively eliminating errors and enhancing your overall marksmanship.

Conclusion

The Progressive Marksmanship Drill, with its structured approach and integral feedback mechanism, offers a disciplined path toward shooting excellence with your pistol. Through the intentional practice of 45 rounds and the strategic analysis of performance after each phase, shooters are equipped to meticulously refine their skills. This drill underscores the importance of patience, precision, and a proactive stance on self-improvement, principles that are essential for anyone aiming to achieve mastery in pistol marksmanship.

Concealed Carry

The Mozambique Drill

March 2, 2024 Mark Schneider

The Mozambique Drill, often referred to as the “Failure Drill” or “Failure to Stop Drill,” is a vital shooting exercise for enhancing precision, speed, and decision-making under stress. This drill simulates a scenario where an assailant is not stopped by initial shots to the torso, necessitating a follow-up shot to the head to neutralize the threat effectively. Here’s how you can practice this drill at the shooting range to improve your defensive shooting skills.

Equipment and Setup

Firearm: Any handgun that you are comfortable with, preferably the one you would carry for self-defense.
Ammunition: A sufficient amount of live ammunition for practice. Ensure you have enough for multiple repetitions of the drill.
Targets: Use silhouette targets that clearly mark the chest and head areas. These will represent your assailant.
Range: A safe and controlled shooting range environment that allows for drawing from a holster and firing at human-sized targets.

Steps for Practicing the Mozambique Drill

Starting Position:

Begin at a distance of 5 to 7 yards from your target, which is a typical range for self-defense situations.
Stand in a ready position with your firearm holstered, if drawing from the holster is part of your practice, or at the low ready position if not.

Engagement:

On your command (or a timer, if you have one), draw your firearm and aim at the target’s chest area.
Fire two controlled shots aimed at the center mass of the chest. These shots are intended to simulate stopping the threat with body shots.

Assessment:

Quickly assess the situation as if determining whether the assailant has been neutralized. This brief pause is crucial for adding a decision-making component to your drill.
Transition your aim to the head of the target, simulating the scenario where the chest shots were not effective.

Headshot:

Once you’ve shifted your aim, fire one shot aimed at the head area of the target. This shot is intended to ensure the threat is neutralized.

Completion and Safety:

After firing the headshot, reassess the target briefly to ensure the “threat” is neutralized.
Safely lower your firearm and return it to the holster or the low ready position.
Take a moment to assess your performance, checking your accuracy on the chest and head shots.

Practice and Repetition

Repeat the Drill: Practice the Mozambique Drill multiple times, focusing on improving your accuracy, speed, and fluidity of motion. Remember, the goal is not just speed but also making each shot count.
Vary the Distance: As you become more proficient, vary the distances to challenge your accuracy and adaptability.
Incorporate Movement: To add complexity, incorporate movement into the drill, such as stepping to the side as you draw, to simulate evading return fire.

Safety and Consideration

Always follow the four fundamental safety rules of handling firearms.
Ensure your practice is in line with the range’s rules and guidelines, especially concerning drawing from a holster and rapid firing.

Practicing the Mozambique Drill at the shooting range can significantly enhance your defensive shooting capabilities, preparing you for the unlikely event of a self-defense scenario. Remember, the key to this drill is not only speed but also the ability to make decisive, accurate shots under pressure.

Concealed Carry, Firearms Training, Guide, Shooting Techniques

The Air Marshal Qualification Pistol Drill

March 1, 2024May 13, 2025 Mark Schneider

Train Like the Pros: Inside the FAA Air Marshal Pistol Qualification Drill

The FAA Air Marshal Pistol Qualification Drill is one of the most difficult handgun tests in the United States. It’s not just a shooting drill — it’s a comprehensive stress test of accuracy, speed, and composure under strict time pressure. Designed to ensure Air Marshals are ready to respond to in-flight threats, this drill demands perfection.

If you shoot regularly, you’ll quickly realize how tough this is. And if you’re new to defensive firearms, this serves as a gold standard to work toward — even if you’re not aiming to be an Air Marshal.

⚠️ WARNING: Most commercial shooting ranges are not equipped to run this drill.
Stage 5 involves shooting across lanes — something most ranges prohibit.
Stage 6 requires 180° turning and shooting at three targets, which is only possible at specialized training facilities.

📋 FAA Qualification Drill Overview

Stage	Action	Reps	Start Position	Time (Sec)	Total Shots
1	Draw & fire 1 round	2	From concealment	3.30 total	2
2	Double tap (2 shots)	2	Low ready	2.70 total	4
3	6 rounds rapid	1	Low ready	3.00	6
4	1 shot, reload, 1 shot	2	Low ready	6.50 total	4
5	1 round at 2 targets, 3 yds apart	2	Low ready	3.30 total	4
6	180° pivot: fire at 3 targets	2	From concealment	7.00 total	6
7	1 shot, slide lock, kneel, reload, 1 shot	2	Low ready	8.00 each	4

🧠 Breakdown and Challenges

Stage 1: Fired twice from concealment. Both shots combined must be within 3.30 seconds. Example: if the first takes 2.00, the second must happen in 1.30 or less.
Stage 2: Two 2-shot strings. Average of 1.35 seconds per string.
Stage 3: 6-shot string with no more than 0.60 seconds between each shot.
Stage 4: Reload under pressure. Each pair of shots must average 3.25 seconds.
Stage 5: Target transition across lanes — average 1.65 seconds per pair. Not allowed at most public ranges.
Stage 6: 180° pivot to engage 3 targets. Requires a specialized range.
Stage 7: First mag holds 1 round (slide locks back). Shooter drops to a knee, reloads, and fires again. Repeated twice.

🎯 Accuracy Standards

Target: FBI “QIT” bottle silhouette
Shots Fired: 30
Scoring:
- 5 points = hits inside the bottle
- 2 points = hits on the line or outside
Total Time: 33.8 seconds
Max Score: 150
Passing Score: 135 — but you must pass every stage
Reminder: “If you don’t qualify, you don’t fly.”

Why This Matters for Armed Citizens

Even if you never plan to become an Air Marshal, this test pushes your skills in every area that counts:

Drawing from concealment
Recoil control
Target transitions
Emergency reloads
Movement and positional shooting
Shooting under time pressure

Take Your Skills to the Next Level

Want to learn how to train to this level? Start with the basics and build real defensive shooting skills in our live-fire concealed carry classes. You’ll cover use-of-force law, accuracy under pressure, and real-world shooting drills.

Ready to Train Like the Pros?

At Concealed Carry Classes of Denver, we help everyday citizens train to a higher standard, just like elite professionals. Our live-fire CCW courses are designed to build confidence, improve skill, and ensure you understand the laws of self-defense.

🔫 Sign up for a CCW class in Colorado today
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Final Thoughts

The FAA Air Marshal Qualification isn’t just a drill — it’s a real-world stress test. It teaches discipline, speed, and control. And whether you’re guarding a plane or protecting your family, those are skills worth mastering, and readiness to defend and protect in the most demanding situations.

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