September — Pew Pew Crew Drills
September — Month 9
Pick pistol, rifle, shotgun, or all three — whatever fits the session.
Pistol — Decision-Making / Target ID
Setup: Two or more targets, at least one marked or styled as a "no-shoot" (a photo, a different color, or a marked "X"). This drill trains recognizing a valid target before firing, not just speed.
Beginner
One shoot target, one no-shoot target. The instructor calls out which one to engage right before you draw. 2 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 10 rounds.
Intermediate
This is the "Cognitive Box Drill" — targets are numbered or colored, and the instructor calls out a number or color mid-string, after you've already started. You have to process the call and adjust which target you're shooting on the fly. 4 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Advanced
Multiple targets mixed with no-shoot targets, the instructor calls it randomly each run so you can't memorize a pattern, all within a par time. 8 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 40 rounds.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 2–3 targets: shoot targets can be cardboard or steel, but the no-shoot target should be cardboard/splat (photos, color, or "X" marking hold better and reset easier than on steel)
- Tape to mark center-mass/head boxes
- Marker/tape or paint to mark no-shoot targets
- Target stands
- Shot timer
- Standard holsters
- Designated caller/instructor for the session
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 10 / 20 / 40 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Rifle (AR-15) — Barricade / Cover Shooting
Setup: One target, plus a barricade or solid object to shoot from behind.
Beginner
Shoot from behind the barricade, strong-side shoulder only. 5 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 25 rounds.
Intermediate
Shoot from both strong-side and support-side (weak-shoulder) around the barricade. 4 rounds per rep (2 each side), 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Advanced
Support-side only, from both left and right edges of the barricade, within a par time. 6 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 30 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
- Barricade or cover prop
- Shot timer
- Sling
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 25 / 20 / 30 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Shotgun — Barricade / Cover Shooting
Setup: One target, plus a barricade or solid object to shoot from behind.
Beginner
Shoot from behind the barricade, strong-side shoulder only. 3 rounds per rep, 5 reps = 15 rounds.
Intermediate
Shoot from both strong-side and support-side (weak-shoulder) around the barricade. 4 rounds per rep (2 each side), 5 reps = 20 rounds.
Advanced
Support-side only, from both edges of the barricade, 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
- Barricade or cover prop
- Shot timer
- First aid kit
- Ammo: 15 / 20 / 20 rounds per shooter (Beg / Int / Adv)
Bonus — Low-Light Target ID (Pistol, Rifle, or Shotgun)
Extends this month's decision-making theme into low-light conditions, where target identification is genuinely harder.
Setup: Two or more targets, at least one marked no-shoot, same as this month's core drill, plus a light source.
Beginner
Light on, instructor calls which target to engage, shooter fires. No par time.
Intermediate
Light comes on only after the shooter is already oriented toward the targets, instructor calls the target as the light comes up. Par time.
Advanced
Full low-light scenario: light off at the start, shooter must light up, identify, and engage the correct target only — all under a par time.
Checklist
- Eye protection (one per shooter)
- Ear protection (one per shooter)
- 2–3 targets: shoot targets can be cardboard or steel, but the no-shoot target should be cardboard/splat (marking holds better and resets easier than on steel, especially in low light)
- Weapon-mounted light or handheld flashlight
- Shot timer
- Designated caller/instructor
- First aid kit
- Ammo: same as this month's core drill for the platform used