The Drill:
The Circle Drill was introduced to us by longtime friend and mentor George Harris, co-founder of the SIG Sauer Academy. This drill is designed to help you improve speed and accuracy while finding your natural shooting cadence. You will start out slowly and then increase your speed as the drill progresses. There are three strings of fire, each consisting of six rounds. Your fundamentals will be tested. You will learn how time constraints affect accuracy and in the process, discover your limitations.
The Setup:
You will need a standard silhouette target that has an 8-inch-circle target zone. For the video, we used USCCA targets on target stands. Since this is a live-fire drill, you will need your pistol, holster and 18 rounds of ammunition (in the video, we completed each string twice, totaling 36 rounds). If your magazine capacity is low, multiple magazines will make the drill run smoother and elevate the need to reload mags during the drill. A training partner can be very helpful here to ensure your rate of fire, or cadence, adheres to the intended pace. As with any live-fire drill, eye and ear protection is a must.
The Skills:
Speed and accuracy are obviously important when we’re talking about self-defense. The Circle Drill will probably push you outside of your normal shooting pace. Building speed and accuracy will give you a greater chance of defending yourself in a violent situation where every second counts.
The Details:
Start out facing the targets from approximately 15 to 21 feet away and with your firearm in its holster. You will fire three strings of six rounds into the 8-inch circle. Each string of six rounds will begin from the holster, requiring you to draw to the target. Rate of fire will increase for each string. The details for each string are as follows:
String 1: Draw and fire six rounds at a rate of one round per second
String 2: Draw and fire six rounds at a rate of two rounds per second
String 3: Draw and fire six rounds at a rate of four rounds per second, or as fast as possible while still being safe
Each string will obviously increase in difficulty as the rate of fire, or cadence, is increased. You will notice that your shot pattern will start to spread out as you increase your rate of fire. The goal is to have all six rounds hit within the circle. For added difficulty, try firing one-handed, strong hand only and off-hand only.
Safety Considerations:
Be sure to follow the four universal safety rules at all times. The Circle Drill involves increased rates of fire, but you should never shoot faster than you can safely complete the drill. Adding in single-hand fire will significantly increase difficulty. When firing one-handed, ensure that your support hand is against your chest to avoid injury.
Closing Thoughts:
The Circle Drill will help you shoot faster and more accurately. Finding your natural cadence and pushing your limits will help you grow as a shooter. Once you determine your limits, you can customize your training routine to focus on the areas that need additional work. Change up your training routine regularly to avoid training scars. Make every shot count. Remember, every round you fire should have training value.
Vary your training. Keep it fun. Keep it safe. And keep practicing.
