April — Pew Pew Crew Drills
April — Month 4
Pick pistol, rifle, shotgun, or all three — whatever fits the session.
Pistol — Malfunction Clearance
Setup: One target at 5–7 yards. You'll need a few dummy/snap-cap rounds mixed into your live ammo — these are inert rounds that look and feel real but won't fire, used to force a jam on purpose.
Beginner
The instructor loads one dummy round into your magazine at a known spot ahead of time. When you hit it and the gun doesn't fire, practice "Tap-Rack-Bang": tap the base of the magazine to make sure it's seated, rack the slide to clear the dud round, and fire again. 3 live rounds per rep (plus 1 dummy), 5 reps = 15 live rounds.
Intermediate
Same idea, but the instructor mixes the dummy round in randomly so you don't know when it's coming. You have to recognize the malfunction and clear it live, mid-string. 5 live rounds per rep (plus 1 dummy), 5 reps = 25 live rounds.
Advanced
This drills a worse jam called a "double feed" (two rounds trying to occupy the chamber at once), which needs a more involved clearance: lock the slide back, strip the magazine, rack the slide a few times to clear it, reload, and fire. All under a par time. 5 live rounds per rep (plus dummies as needed), 5 reps = 25 live rounds.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 1 target (cardboard or rated AR500 steel)
- Tape to mark center-mass/head boxes
- Target stand
- Shot timer
- Standard holsters
- Snap caps / dummy rounds (6–10)
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 15 / 25 / 25 live rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Rifle (AR-15) — Reloads
Setup: One target at 15–25 yards, 2 rifle magazines loaded with a few rounds each (not full).
Beginner
With the rifle empty and bolt locked back, practice reloading in slow motion, no par time. Focus on dropping the empty mag, seating the new one, and releasing the bolt cleanly. 4 rounds per rep (loaded to practice the empty-to-reload cycle), 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Intermediate
Fire 2 rounds, perform an emergency reload (bolt locks back, you reload), fire 2 more rounds, within a 5.0 second par time. 4 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Advanced
Perform a tactical reload (magazine still has rounds left) while stepping to a new position, within a par time. 4 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 1 target (cardboard or rated AR500 steel)
- Tape to mark center-mass/head boxes
- Target stand
- Shot timer
- 2+ spare rifle magazines per shooter
- Sling
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 20 / 20 / 20 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Shotgun — Reloads (Port Loading & Shell Carrier)
Setup: One target at 7–15 yards, shell carrier (sidesaddle or buttcuff) loaded with spare shells.
Beginner
With the shotgun empty, practice loading shells one at a time from the shell carrier into the loading port, slow motion, no par time. Focus on smooth, consistent hand movement. 4 rounds per rep (loaded to practice the load cycle), 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Intermediate
Fire 2 rounds, "load 2" from the shell carrier to top off, fire 2 more, within a 6.0 second par time. 4 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Advanced
Perform an emergency chamber-load (single shell dropped straight into the chamber) while stepping to a new position, within a par time. 4 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 1 cardboard target
- Tape to mark center-mass/head boxes
- Target stand
- Shot timer
- Shell carrier (sidesaddle or buttcuff), loaded with spare shells
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 20 / 20 / 20 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Bonus — Low-Light Reload (Pistol, Rifle, or Shotgun)
Same reload mechanics as this month's core drill, run with a light in the mix.
Setup: One target at this month's core distance, handheld or weapon-mounted light, spare mags/shells staged as usual.
Beginner
Reload in slow motion while holding a light in the support hand (or with the weapon light on), no par time.
Intermediate
Fire, reload with the light active, fire again, within a par time slightly longer than the core drill's to account for the added complexity.
Advanced
Reload one-handed while managing the light in the other hand, or with the light mounted and hands free — whichever fits the shooter's actual gear — within a par time.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 1 target (cardboard or rated AR500 steel, pistol/rifle only)
- Weapon-mounted light or handheld flashlight
- Spare magazines/shells
- Shot timer
- First aid kit
- Ammo: same as this month's core drill for the platform used