I read an article in Guns & Ammo magazine about the Bill Drill. A single target at 7 yards and a loaded, holstered handgun. On the start signal, draw and fire six rounds. If you can place all six shots in the "A" zone in two seconds or less you're good to go. If not, your gun handling techniques need work.

 

In a modified test, instead of working from the holster, you start at low ready. The target is at 10 yards. On the start signal, lift and fire six times. All six shots need to be "A" hits. You need to do it three times in a row to pass. Any bullet that touches a ring doesn't count. If you cannot do it your are considered overgunned or underpracticed.

 

What is the "A" zone?

This seems a lot like the drill that Mike put us through with the "Timed Fire" for our USPSA intro class....

That "A" body section is pretty large at 5 7/8 " x 11" to put 6 shots into.

That "A" body section is pretty large at 5 7/8 " x 11" to put 6 shots into.

 

IPSC needs to change the "A" zone so the bottom starts where they have the letter "A."

5 7/8 " x 11"

Seems like a pretty reasonable COM area to me....

-0 zone on an IDPA target is smaller

That "A" body section is pretty large at 5 7/8 " x 11" to put 6 shots into.

 

 

Then you should have no problem getting all 6 shots in there in 2 seconds or under from a holster!

 

IPSC needs to change the "A" zone so the bottom starts where they have the letter "A."

 

It is up to individual course designers to adjust the challenge presented by the target. It can be done by placement - distance to the target or angle that the target is presented at. Or you can do it by indicating hardcover by painting part of the target black or by placing no-shoots in front to partially block the target. A very typical placement of a no-shoot aligns the top of the no-shoot with the letter A.

Seems like a pretty reasonable COM area to me....

 

 

+1 I would tend to agree.. but I only care about practical stuff.. not so much a competition shooter so I have no idea about points and scoring.. but that COM zone seems totally reasonable to me..

+1 I would tend to agree.. but I only care about practical stuff.. not so much a competition shooter so I have no idea about points and scoring.. but that COM zone seems totally reasonable to me..

 

If it's only about practical stuff, then your "COM" needs to be higher. Where the good stuff lives.

BTW 2 seconds for Bill drill does not mean that you are "good to go". It means that you FRIGGING ROCK! To start with - starting with a gun in a holster and wrists above respective shoulders you need to be able to get that first shot off and on target in 1 to 1.2 seconds tops. That gives you from .2 to .16 seconds for each of the remaining shots. I for one can not do it. I can do it steady in about 2.4-2.7 seconds. At my best with a warm-up and a bunch of tries I might get one run in at 2.2. Not that I am a world class shooter by any stretch of the imagination. But if you have never tried it, you are in for a pretty rude awakening - large A zone and all.

 

P.S. All of that presupposes non-race gear. Race holster and race gun make it just a hair easier. For me it may shave off those .2 seconds and let me make it.

As long as all 6 shots are "toward" the center mass I'd be happy.

As long as all 6 shots are "toward" the center mass I'd be happy.

 

Bill drill is just a training exercise designed to develop handgun presentation and sight tracking skills. If you are not hitting those shots into the A zone, you are not learning what you are supposed to learn from it.