Hobbies And Interests
Training Organizations for Draw and Fire
The NRA, or National Rifle Association, sponsors and runs The Basic Pistol Course training program, which orientates students on all the fundamental aspects of handgun safety handling and shooting. Training with revolvers and popular semiautomatic firearms are covered for both defensive shooting situations and outdoor practice and shooting. Basic and intermediate draw and fire skills are covered, with supplied weapons or privately owned firearms. The training lasts for at least nine hours, including range shooting, classroom (written test), supplied equipment, reference and study handbooks. The NRA awards a certificate upon completing the course.
Advanced NRA Draw Firing Course
The NRA offers an advanced course called the Draw and Fire Fast-Track Program, which provides a extension of learning past the basic course. Draw and Fire Fast-Track covers customized programs and training to achieve maximum results in the shortest possible times. The program teaches new, additional draw firing skills as well as improving upon past learned skills. The Skills and Drills modules can be performed in combinations or individually, depending upon the students preference and skill set.
Draw Firing Techniques
Basic holster draw involves the shooter beginning from a relaxed hands-off position and drawing a firearm from a hip holster or, in rare cases, a shoulder holster. The technique pertains to making a smooth arm and hand movement, grasp of the firearm, then a line-of-sight aim and discharge of the handgun. A draw and double-tap firing sequence involves drawing the handgun and firing two shots into the intended target. Multiple shots can be fired from the initial draw, accompanied by a standing reload. Draw and fire also covers multiple shots placed in multiple targets.
Draw and Fire Barricade and Concealment
Draw and fire from a barricade involves drawing a handgun and taking cover behind an obstacle or drawing a handgun behind an obstacle and firing around or over it. Draw and fire does not involve simultaneous draw and fire in barricade or concealment shooting because there is a delay involved in drawing the handgun and finding concealment, or positioning oneself after the draw for optimal target acquisition.
Additional Draw and Fire Postions
Draw and fire can involve various body positions, which change the shooting angles and challenge the shooter to learn body coordination skills. Draw and fire from a standing position, using a two-handed combat grip, remains the most popular defense stance. Draw and fire with an off-hand during a standing position is also popular, particularly in competitive shooting matches. Police resort to a draw, crouch and two-handed combat position to keep their profile low while firing. Draw and fire can can include drawing the weapon then assuming a kneeling, sitting or prone position, which is intended to reduce the profile of the shooter against return fire.
Draw and Fire Speed Trials
Draw and fire speed trials are used in extreme pistol shooting competitions, where the shooter must clear the holster with the quickest pull and engage the target or multiple targets with single or multiple shots. Sometimes automated moving targets are used. Competitions use speed and accuracy to determine overall proficiency. Fast-draw competitions represent the most extreme end of the sport, usually determined and judged by the use of very accurate micro-second timepieces.