January — Pew Pew Crew Drills

← Back to Drill Archive

January — Month 1

Pick pistol, rifle, shotgun, or all three — whatever fits the session.


Pistol — Draw Stroke

Setup: One target at 5–7 yards, gun holstered, hands relaxed at sides (or under cover garment for advanced).

Beginner

On the buzzer, draw and fire one shot into the center-mass box. No time limit — take whatever time you need to do it correctly. The goal is a clean grip and a good sight picture, not speed. 1 round per rep, 5 reps = 5 rounds.

Intermediate

Same draw, but now fire 2 shots into the box within a 2.0 second par time. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 rounds.

Advanced

Same drill, but the gun starts under a jacket or vest (concealed) instead of an open holster, and the par time drops to 1.5 seconds for a single shot. 1 round per rep, 5 reps = 5 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
  • Concealment cover garment (Advanced)
  • First aid kit
  • Notepad or scoresheet to record baseline times
  • Ammo: 5 / 10 / 5 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)

Rifle (AR-15) — Carbine Ready-Up

Setup: One target at 15–25 yards, rifle either in low-ready or slung (advanced).

Beginner

From low-ready, fire 1 round into the center-mass box on the buzzer. No time limit — take whatever time you need for a clean mount and sight picture. 1 round per rep, 5 reps = 5 rounds.

Intermediate

Same start, fire 2 rounds within a 1.5 second par time. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 rounds.

Advanced

Rifle starts slung instead of in the shoulder, shooter mounts it and fires 2 rounds within a 2.0 second par time. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 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
  • Two-point or single-point sling
  • First aid kit
  • Ammo: 5 / 10 / 10 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)

Shotgun — Shotgun Mount (Ready-Up)

Setup: One target at 7–15 yards, shotgun either in low-ready or slung (advanced).

Beginner

From low-ready, mount the shotgun and fire 1 round into the center-mass box on the buzzer. No time limit — focus on a clean, consistent mount. 1 round per rep, 5 reps = 5 rounds.

Intermediate

Same start, fire 2 rounds within a 2.0 second par time. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 rounds.

Advanced

Shotgun starts slung instead of in the shoulder, shooter mounts it and fires 2 rounds within a 2.5 second par time. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 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
  • Sling (Advanced)
  • First aid kit
  • Ammo: 5 / 10 / 10 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv), buckshot or birdshot

Bonus — Low-Light Ready-Up (Pistol, Rifle, or Shotgun)

Run this after core drills if light's fading, or deliberately kill the lights if you're indoors/in a bay that allows it.

Setup: Same target and distance as this month's core drill for whichever platform you're running, plus a handheld or weapon-mounted light.

Beginner

Light comes on first, then mount/draw and fire on the buzzer. No par time — just building comfort shooting with a light source.

Intermediate

Light activation happens as part of the draw/mount, not before it. Par time applies.

Advanced

Light discipline drill: light on just long enough to identify the target, light off, then draw/mount and fire from memory of where the target was. 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 per shooter
  • Shot timer
  • First aid kit
  • Ammo: same as this month's core drill for the platform used

← Back to Drill Archive