Why you should incorporate the Bill Drill in your firearm training.
If there was ever a shooting drill that best tests your draw, grip, sight acquisition, recoil control and trigger press, it’sthe famed Bill Drill.
Although the drill is simple to execute, it reveals a lot about your shooting performance under pressure.
That said, the Bill Drill does require a shot timer and goes as follows…
Set up a target 7-meters from the firing line. When you hear the buzzer, draw your pistol and fire six shots at the target as quickly and accurately as possible. All six shots must hit within the center-mass / A-zone area. If any shots land outside the A-zone, you’ll need to run it again.
The Bill Drill is a great tool for refining specific aspects of your shooting performance, such as grip variations or holster-drawing techniques.
However, the drill also allows you to assess your shooting fundamentals at the start of any firearm training session – when you’re “cold” and haven’t had a chance to warm up.
Best of all, the Bill Drill is shot by fellow gun owners and enthusiasts all over the world, allowing you to compare your performance against a global shooting standard.
On that note, some standard times for the Bill Drill are:
- Beginners: 3.5 to 4 seconds
- Intermediate: 2.5 to 3 seconds
- Advanced: 2.0 seconds
- Elite: Sub 2.0 seconds
The drill is typically shot without concealment.
A good draw is vital to the Bill Drill. If you’re slow on the draw or slow in terms of sight acquisition, it’s going to be near impossible to achieve a fast Bill Drill time.
Moreover, if you rush the draw and miss your grip, your shots will either fall outside the A-zone, or you’ll have to slow down your follow-up shots to compensate for poor recoil control.
At an advanced level, your draw will typically be around the 1-second mark, and your follow-up shots (or splits) at every 0.2 seconds. If your draw is slightly longer than 1-second, you’ll have to make up for the lost time via your splits and a good grip (recoil control).
Happy shooting!
