Duty Gun Course

Target: 5 point Silhouette picture

Ammunition: 50 rounds service ammunition

STAGE I

18 ROUNDS

Starting Point: 25 yard line

Time Allotted: 75 seconds

Start with a fully loaded weapon. On command shooter draws and fires 6 rounds prone position, decocks, fires 3 rounds strong side kneeling barricade position, 3 rounds weak side kneeling barricade position, and  6 rounds strong side standing barricade position. Upon completing stage I, the shooter will conduct a magazine exchange and holster a loaded weapon. - Note, the "barricade" is usually just a 2X12 board planted vertically in the ground using a steel brace embedded in concrete. You could also just as well use a tree trunk. It has to be at least as tall as the shooter.

STAGE II

10 ROUNDS

Starting Point: 25 yard line

Time Allotted: 2 rounds in 6 seconds (run, draw and double tap)

4 strings of 2 rounds in 3 seconds each (double taps from low ready, hammer down)

Start at the 25 yard line. On command the shooter moves to the 15 yard line, draws and fires 2 rounds in 6 seconds, decocks, and returns to low ready. The shooter will fire 4 strings of 2 rounds in 3 seconds, decocking and returning to low ready after each string. Upon completing Stage II, the shooter holsters a loaded weapon [without reloading unless gun capacity is only 10 rds --ed].

This is the stage that usually brings in the most failures through a combination of misses and late shots. You will probably find it necessary to practice the timed double taps a lot in order to not lose any points on this stage since the distance is still far enough to miss. Many law enforcement agencies and tactical instructors wimp out and run this standard down to 7 yards instead of 15. Running it at the 15 yard line is where the real challenge is. Use the pause at the end of this stage to prep your weapon and magazines for the next stage.

STAGE III

12 ROUNDS

Starting Point: 15 yard line

Time Allotted: 15 seconds

Start at the 15 yard line. On command the shooter moves to the 7 yard line, draws and fires 12 rounds in 15 seconds, to include a reload. Upon completing stage III, the shooter holsters a loaded weapon. Shooter then arranges remaining 10 rounds to have 5 rounds in the weapon and 5 rounds in a spare magazine.

STAGE IV

10 ROUNDS

Starting Point: 7 yard line

Time Allotted: 15 seconds

Start at the 7 yard line. On command the shooter moves to the 5 yard line, draws and fires 5 rounds with strong hand only, reloads, transfers the weapon to weak hand and fires 5 rounds weak hand only. Upon completing stage IV, the shooter will unload and holster an empty weapon.

Note: you are only moving two long strides on this one, so running will cause you to stumble, which can disqualify you if you step over the line. This makes the strong hand string a little more difficult because it involves stepping and drawing, shooting, and then reloading from slide lock. The "weak hand" string is firing only, since the entire course is over once the time is up or the last shot is fired.