Week 14: iHack

[ToddG]

Please read the rules (http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?1837-Drill-of-the-Week) before participating in this thread.

Week 14: iHack
results may be posted until 11:59pm EST on Monday 9-January-2012.

designed from the Hackathorn 3-Second Headshot Standards (http://pistol-training.com/drills/3-second-head-shot-standards)
Range: 5yd
Target: three 2" circles (.pdf target downloadable here (http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/6x2in-circles.pdf))
Start position: varies (see below)
Rounds fired: 36

The iHack is an indoor range friendly version of the famous Hackathorn 3-Second Headshot Standards (http://pistol-training.com/drills/3-second-head-shot-standards). The targets are much closer together but also significantly smaller than the regular version of the drill.

PAR time is set to three seconds for each string. There are three strings of fire.


Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, going from left to right
Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, going from right to left.
Fire one (and only one) shot at each target, beginning with the middle target and then finishing with the two outside targets in any order.



Shots fired after the 3-second PAR time count as misses. In total, you will fire nine rounds (three shots in three seconds, times three strings of fire) for each run of the drill. A "passing" score is 7 out of 9.

There are three "levels" to the drill based on start position for each 3-shot string. From easiest to hardest, they are: ready position (pistol cannot be pointed at the target), open top holster with no concealment, and either concealed or retention holster. You can choose whichever ready position you wish. If the drill proves too hard or easy, switch to a different "level" as appropriate.

Shoot the drill a total of four times (36 shots).

Please report the following when you post your results in this thread:

starting position (ready position, open holster, retention holster, or concealed)
hits for each of the four runs
aggregate score


Training with firearms is an inherently dangerous activity. Be sure to follow all safety protocols when using firearms or practicing these drills. These drills are provided for information purposes only. Use at your own risk.

[BaiHu]

Well this was a total clusterf*&k.
Too many people on the range, so I couldn't holster.
Too many people on the range, so it took me 50 rounds to fire 36, b/c my shot timer kept picking up other shots (not that those runs were any better).

On to the gory details:
starting position: resting on the table loaded with my hands down by my side.
hits for each of the four runs: everything was over, so my strings were:
String 1: 2 misses and 3.90 (0); 1 miss and 3.96 (1); all misses 3.88 (0)
String 2: 2 misses 4.16 (0); 2 misses 3.71 (0); 1 miss 3.80 (1)
String 3: 2 misses 3.38 (0); all misses 3.28 (0); 2 misses 2.94 (0)
String 4: ran out of ammo. Will have to try and do the whole drill later this week.
aggregate score: 2 POINTS! Yay!

Needless to say, my misses weren't far off, but it ain't horse shoes or hand grenades, so I get no mercy.

Hopefully, I'll run this drill again and I'll go slower for 100% hits and screw the time.

This is a sobering drill.

[JConn]

Yeah, this ones hard, at least for me.

[ToddG]

BaiHu -- Why not do it from the ready position? That's one of the allowable start positions.

[jthhapkido]

Well, that was bad.

From concealment, closed-front sweatshirt, G17 in Archangel AIWB

No "passing" scores on any run.
1: 4/9
2: 5/9
3: 4/9
4: 5/9
Total: 18/36 Bleh.

Times were consistently about 2.65-2.69. And those misses (in general) made a nice little collection about 0.25-0.50 inches outside the circle at 4 o'clock. Sights were nicely in alignment, draw was pretty consistent---and my trigger control (more precisely, the lack thereof) consistently yanked the shots down. (I did have a couple of really horrible flyers, too.)

[sigh] More dry fire practice.

I may have to run this in the original. I can HIT headshots in a 6x6 box at that distance, and the larger transitions don't bother me, and it would make me feel much better about myself. (Hm. I should have added "I think" to the beginning of that sentence, in case I blow that, too.)

[BaiHu]

BaiHu -- Why not do it from the ready position? That's one of the allowable start positions.

I will be redoing this in its entirety sometime this week-hope it gets warmer.
I'll probably do it 2 ways and MUCH slower to get hits-I was freezing my arse off too :(

[ToddG]

Please let the massive utter public humiliation of BaiHu and jthhapkido serve as warning to all who follow... :cool:

Shoot the drill from the ready position unless you are confident you can make those hits in the timeframe offered from a holster.

Seriously, guys, the bar is set high on this one. Ken tells students that there is only one unit he's worked with that the average guy can score 7 on the regular version from a holster. When I usesteal it in class, I always recommend that students do it from the ready the first time. The iHack version is substantially harder.

There's no rule against doing it twice. So give it a whirl from the ready and then if you pass try it from the holster.

[zml342]

well, unfortunately I ran this before checking the forum and seeing Todd's warning. So, here was my horrible attempt...

starting position: concealed aiwb under a closed front garment.

String 1: 3.75 (2 misses), 4.20 (2 misses), 3.39 (1 miss)
String 2: 3.73 (2 misses), 4.21 (2 misses), 3.62 (1 miss)
String 3: 3.64 (2 misses), 4.35 (2 misses), 3.74 (1 miss)
String 4: 3.68 (1 miss), 4.15 (1 miss), 4.15 (1 miss)
aggregate score: 0 POINTS!

[DocGKR]

G17 w/RMR07 AIWB from Fricke Seraphim holster under a wool sweater and soft shell TNF vest.

Before I ran the iHack, I cold shot all three Defoor Pistol tests in order from 1-3 and passed all. Then I shot the 99 drill (DOW 10) on 4x6 cards and got an 85. Finally I ran the FAST drill 6 times with a best clean score of 5.50 sec.

Feeling properly warmed up, it was time for iHack. I moved up closer to the 5 yd line. Bang, bang, bang--2.76 sec; WTF all low misses...dang sight above bore height with the RMR is an issue for me up close. Slowed it down and aimed a bit high while shooting back the other direction--all in the circles, but one was too late at 3.1 sec. Then a 2.98 sec starting with the center circle, all good for a total of 5/9 on the first run. String 2 all hits, but several too slow for another 5/9. String 3 was better with 1 too slow and 2 near misses for 7/9. Decided to speed up on string 4, all good on time, but several shots were too low for a 6/9. Basically I sucked donkey balls on this drill...

String 1: 5/9
String 2: 5/9
String 3: 7/9
String 4: 6/9

Total = 23/36

The sight over bore issue using the RMR is a bit problematic for me up close on small targets, but becomes moot beyond around 10 yds or so--I absolutely HATE 2" circles at 5 yds...

[BaiHu]

Please let the massive utter public humiliation of BaiHu and jthhapkido serve as warning to all who follow... :cool:

*BOW*

Thank you, thank you...

At least my score stood out for SOMETHING! :D

[jthhapkido]

Please let the massive utter public humiliation of BaiHu and jthhapkido serve as warning to all who follow... :cool:

Ah, so nice to be known for something on this forum!

Oh wait... [insert vomiting sound...]

[sigh]

The stupidly annoying thing is that I had plenty of time! Just really amazing levels of suckage on trigger control.

Going back out to try it tomorrow, if I get home from work before the sun sets. (This "dark at 5pm" thing is really cutting into my range time.)

[167]

I attempted the drill...pure suckage. Ran it from a high compressed ready.

5/9 - 3.85 (-1), 3.20, 3.48
6/9 - 3.28, 2.99 (-1), 2.82 (-1)
7/9 - 3.02, 3.14, 2.61
7/9 - 2.69, 3.41, 2.55 (-1)

Aggregate score - 25/36

My press out apparantly sucks. There was a very noticeable pause at full extension. I don't think I broke a first shot under 2 seconds the entire time.

[jetfire]

Ran it twice last night.

Start position: low ready, Gen4 Glock 21

7/9
8/9
7/9
7/9
29/36


After success on the first run and feeling pretty awesome, I tried it again from the holster, unconcealed.

5/9
6/9
7/9
6/9
24/36


Adding the draw to the equation actually caused me a ton of problems, because I've been practicing a more "competition" style draw, where I don't use a press out. For drawing to a low percentage target...it kind of sucks.

[ToddG]

I attempted the drill...pure suckage.

You passed ... twice. How is that suckage?


Adding the draw to the equation actually caused me a ton of problems, because I've been practicing a more "competition" style draw, where I don't use a press out. For drawing to a low percentage target...it kind of sucks.

http://blog.remote-backup.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/02/told-you-so-meter1.jpg

[jetfire]

I actually found this drill to be more difficult than the actual Hack-Headshot standards; a 6x6 target at 5 yards is a hell of a lot bigger, even if they're further apart than the dots.

The big problem was I couldn't bring myself to slow down. Breaking the three shots from the holster under 3 seconds wasn't the hard part, it was telling myself that I didn't need to do it in 2.6 seconds and to use that extra 0.4 seconds to actually hit those f****** circles.

[EmanP]

Oh crap, you guys have me doubting myself now. If it wasn't soaking rain right now I'd go try it but the targets would be mush by the time I was done.

[167]

You passed ... twice. How is that suckage?

I was hoping for a little better, I think I should have done better anyway.

[Chris Rhines]

Cold, from the high ready, on a 2.9sec turning target:

String 1 - 6/9
String 2 - 4/9
String 3 - 8/9
String 4 - 7/9

25/36 total. Definitely not my best work.

I'm used to running this drill on 3x3" Post-Its. The 2" dots make it enormously more difficult.
I may run it again when my new connector comes in.

-C

[ToddG]

Ran it twice tonight.

First was with my new G26. Stock (including the crappy plastic sights) except for a Lone Wolf 3.5 connector and Glock extended slide release. Using the turning targets at the NRA Range set to a 3s exposure, I got: 8, 8, 8, and 9 (33 total) from underneath an untucked polo using my G17 Shaggy.

Then later in the evening I ran it with my G17 test gun (iron sights, laser off) on the clock:

2.67, 2.90, 2.53 (-2) = 7/9
2.70, 2.83 (-2), 2.83 = 7/9
2.61, 2.74, 2.86 = 9/9
2.65 (-1), 2.78, 2.81 = 8/9

Total: 31/36

[UTfoiler]

Ran through it twice last night. The first time was with a Sig P226 in 9mm from the low ready.

2/9 1st string
4/9 2nd string
5/9 3rd string
7/9 4th string.

I was rushing way to fast at first. Shot all 3 shots at just over 2 seconds. Once I slowed down some and stay under 3 seconds, I was able to make more hits.

The 2nd time around I shot it with a Sig P226R in .40 S&W again from the low ready.

5/9 1st
8/9 2nd
5/9 3rd
7/9 4th.

[KeeFus]

Ready position

S-1: 3/9
S-2: 6/9
S-3: 6/9
S-4: 6/9

Aggregate score: 21/36

[Mr_White]

I mostly pulled it together on this one. I used my usual Gen3 G34, stock except for Ameriglo Defoor sights.

First, I tried the iHack engaging from threat ready (without getting into a huge ready position discussion in this thread, threat ready as taught to me is basically low ready, but with the muzzle lowered only enough to see the hands. In this case, I lowered the muzzle to the bottom edge of the upside-down cardboard silhouette I affixed the 2" circle target to.)

Starting position: threat ready
Hits for the four runs: 9, 9, 8, 7
Aggregate score: 33/36

I didn't record all the times, but noted that the first shot from threat ready was about .7-ish, and the last shot was about 2.5-ish.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6642955651_76af5f474a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642955651/) iHack_Ready_Strings_1_and_2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642955651/) by OrigamiAK (http://www.flickr.com/people/52790396@N08/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6642955821_f5fe43f4dd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642955821/) iHack_Ready_Strings_3_and_4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642955821/) by OrigamiAK (http://www.flickr.com/people/52790396@N08/), on Flickr

Then I shot it from the holster with concealment. I skipped the 'holstered without concealment' option, because I never, ever practice without concealment and I don't think there would be much benefit for me, since all my trained motions and mechanics account for the presence of a concealment garment.

Starting position: AIWB, concealed with a closed-front shirt, hands hanging
Hits for each of the four runs: 9, 7, 8, 7
Aggregate score: 31/36

I didn't record all the times, but noted that the first shot from AIWB was about 1.3-ish, and the last shot was about 2.9-ish.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6642956005_fbd558b600.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642956005/) iHack_AIWB_Strings_1_and_2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642956005/) by OrigamiAK (http://www.flickr.com/people/52790396@N08/), on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6642956225_4419e12575.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642956225/) iHack_AIWB_Strings_3_and_4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52790396@N08/6642956225/) by OrigamiAK (http://www.flickr.com/people/52790396@N08/), on Flickr

The key for me this time, and probably most of the time, is mental and visual patience. The time frames are short and this was a moment of me controlling myself and not shooting until I saw the needed precision in the sight picture and felt the needed smoothness in the trigger press (mostly.) I still got done under time. I should really work with PAR times much more than I do. I think they help me manage my mind better than an open-ended timing arrangement.

The recent posts by some of the other members here about returning to the enjoyment of shooting really resonated with me, is something I know I need to remember to do, and I think helped me be calmer shooting this drill. I wasn't so damn concerned with how I was going to shoot. I got to shoot and that was fun. So I stuck to aligning the sights and pressing the trigger for the most part.

My subjective feeling is the same as Caleb's; the iHack feels way harder than the actual Hackathorn Head Shot Standards. I ran out of time or I would have shot an immediate direct comparison to turn that subjective feeling into a more objectively-founded opinion, whatever the results. I am not sure whether the easier transition distance on the iHack makes up for the vastly smaller target area. I note that the head for the regular Hackathorn Head Shot Standards is 36 square inches in area. A 2" circle is 3.14 square inches, a scant 9% the size of the whole head box. Might be fun to try doing the Hackathorn Head Shot Standards with IPSC targets and confining the target area to the little upper A-zone.

[JAD]

...because I never, ever practice without concealment

As great as the shooting you report may be, this is the coolest thing about your post. That's something I can aspire to, thank you.

[Mr_White]

As great as the shooting you report may be, this is the coolest thing about your post. That's something I can aspire to, thank you.

Well thanks!

I come from a 'tactical defensive handgun' background, but have redirected myself to a pursuit of very refined 'technical defensive handgun' skills. This community has been an important part of that endeavor. Many things remain from the 'tactical' training, like running the gear I walk around with all the time, with the clothes I actually wear.

[ToddG]

My subjective feeling is the same as Caleb's; the iHack feels way harder than the actual Hackathorn Head Shot Standards.

It absolutely is. I can clean the normal version without breaking a sweat. I can't even guarantee a passing score every run from concealment on the iHack.

[wJAKE19]

ok, I ran this drill cold, i have not fired a live round in a month, I have been doing quite a bit of dry fire, but I can tell I have slowed way down, and can't seem to get to my sights as fast.
Here are my results:
String 1
1. 2.43 -1
2. 2.43 -0
3. 2.98 -0
so far so good, I said to myself "this will be easy"
String 2
1. 2.83 -0 (then the weels fell off)
2. 2.93 -2
3. 2.79 -2
String 3
1. 2.81 -2 (now I am not picking up my sights at all)
2. 2.61 -1 (still no sights, but i managed 2 hits)
3. 2.67 -2 (we dont need no stinking sights! )
I holstered my gun, took a min to re-group, loaded my mags, and told my self to slow down and look at my darn sight.
String 4
1. 2.98 -0
2. 2.84 -0 (finally, I am gonna clean one of these things, Right?)
3. 3.15 -1 (S#($*@&&$)_%*#&@)

5yds, from the low ready

[Mr_White]

It absolutely is. I can clean the normal version without breaking a sweat. I can't even guarantee a passing score every run from concealment on the iHack.

Yeah, I hear you. The grease ring was my best buddy a few times on this drill.

[jetfire]

Yeah, I hear you. The grease ring was my best buddy a few times on this drill.

On the passing runs I had from the holster, I was, to quote Todd "saved by the grace of John Moses Browning's big bullets."

[BN]

Ran this drill today. Weather was great for January in Ohio. :)

Started with my old Gen 3 G-17 that I have been shooting in IDPA for the last few years.

All runs were from a high compressed ready.

First run cold.

4/9, 8/9, 7/9 & 6/9. :( 25/36. Pretty disappointing to me being that I am an IDPA 5-gun Master. ;)

I had to do it again.

9/9, 8/9, 8/9, 9/9. Ha, that's better. 34/36.

Then I ran it with my Gen 3 G-17 with CTC 417 laser grips. The laser made a difference. There is a slight offset with the laser, but as long as I kept the laser in the lower right of the circle, I did OK.

8/9, 7/9, 8/9, 7/9. 30/36

Another run with the laser, 8/9, 7/9, 8/9, 7/9. 30/36

Some things learned. I think every miss was a trigger snatch. :( I need more practice on small targets. Shooting a lot of IDPA, the smallest target we usually see is the 6 inch head box.

Todd is going to make me a better shooter with these drills. :)

Bill

[Mr_White]

Pretty disappointing to me being that I am an IDPA 5-gun Master. ;)

...

I think every miss was a trigger snatch.

I've seen some document floating around the internet that had your results from an IDPA classifier you ran clean in 62.50 seconds and was hugely impressed with that.

When you snatched the trigger on the iHack, is your perception that you did not take enough time pressing the trigger, or that you took enough time but did it badly, or something else?

Thanks!

[BN]

I've seen some document floating around the internet that had your results from an IDPA classifier you ran clean in 62.50 seconds and was hugely impressed with that.

When you snatched the trigger on the iHack, is your perception that you did not take enough time pressing the trigger, or that you took enough time but did it badly, or something else?

Thanks!

I would have been impressed too. However, the best I have ever shot the classifier is 84.xx. That was with a Browning HiPower. I don't believe everything I see on the internet. ;)

I hadn't thought about the trigger snatch till you posted the question, but I think I took enough time but just did a snatch instead of a press. I get away with that all the time when I'm shooting at the 8 inch circle on an IDPA target. :) I'm going to broaden my horizens by following the teachings of Todd. :D

Bill

[Dr. No]

Well, I started out this drill as a table start and I couldn't get anywhere near clean or 3 seconds. The range I was at wouldn't allow draws, so I opted for low ready. Blech.

2.21, 2.31, 2.25 -1
2.52, 2.52, 2.51 -1
2.55, 2.50, 2.51 -1
2.32, 2.29, 2.33 -0

I need to shoot this again with the draw. I don't think I'd get close though, I rarely pull a sub-one second draw.

[C45P312]

Shot cold before work. G17 in 6004.

String 1 - 5/9
String 2 - 6/9
String 3 - 6/9
String 4 - 8/9

Aggregate: 25/36

Blah. I think the last time I shot was the DOTW #13

[JV_]

Concealed / CCC Shaggy / Untucked Polo
String 1: 9/9
String 2: 7/9
String 3: 8/9
String 4: 7/9

Total: 31/36

[CCT125US]

* starting position: ready
* hits for each of the four runs:
S1 7/9
S2 8/9
S3 7/9
S4 7/9
* aggregate score: 29/36
* Gun: HKP30 Heinie S8Q

* starting position: Concealed AIWB
* hits for each of the four runs:
S1 7/9
S2 6/9
S3 7/9
S4 6/9
* aggregate score: 26/36
* Gun: HKP30 Heinie S8Q

My problem was getting a solid grip combined with a good press out when drawing from concealment. If I did that I passed, if not failure. This drill was very challenging with no room for error. I think it's time to go kick rocks for next weeks DotW.....

[joshs]

Concealed/Shaggy/Untucked Polo

String 1 - 7
String 2 - 4
String 3 - 6
String 4 - 4
Total = 21 :(

I have a lot of visual confusion when shooting multiple two inch dots. I need to experiment with different focus points and closing one eye.

[BaiHu]

Epic fail again.
This time, I ran it from a low ready.
String 1: 4
String 2: 3
String 3: 3
String 4: 3
Total: 13/36

I just can't get on that small of a target at speed-I can get close, but this ain't grenades (ooooh! can we do that for DOTW 15??). I even ran this without trying to rush for the 3 second mark and I only made 2 of 3 shots consistently. This is obviously a drill I need to work on and, as joshs said, perhaps I need to do this drill with one eye closed. 75% success on this drill will have to go on my Christmas 2012 wish list. :(

[EmanP]

So I had someone run me through it today just before it got dark so we were hurrying. When I got home the written score didn't match the target so I'm going to have to try to shoot it again.

[Plato]

Ready Position
1. 8/9
2. 6/9
3. 4/9
4. 7/9
Total: 25

[Corey]

Start position: compressed high ready
String 1: 5
String 2: 5
String 3: 7
String 4: 5

Total 22/36

This drill was brutal. I didn’t even think about trying it from the holster. Much harder than the Hackathorn head shot standards. I guess that means I should do this drill more.

[JAD]

Great drill. Omigod I suck.

Indoors at the Bullet Hole, no 'fast draws.' Kimber Custom Classic .45 ACP, S&B 230 FMJ, starting from the high ready. I had run a mag at 25y before starting.

4, 6, 7, 2. 2!!! I was very pleased with myself until the last string. Total 19/36, lots of room for improvement, please make the outdoor version the dotw in say April.

Ran it repeatedly afterwards without the timer and burned my entire range session.

[CraigBos]

Due to my, uh, skills, I shot this from 3 yards with a 5 second par time.

Results:

starting position: ready position
hits for each of the four runs: 4, 3, 0, 3
aggregate score: 10


Like I explained to y'all once before, it's all about baselining at this point.

[EmanP]

G17 concealed. It was strange, I caught myself stressing, holding my breath and snatching at the trigger before the buzzer went off and as I was shooting it.

2.98, 2.81 (-1), 2.90 (-1) = 7/9
2.88 (-1), 2.85 (-1), 2.88 (-2) = 5/9
2.83, 2.96 (-1), 3.16 (overtime, -1) = 7/9
3.00 (-2), 2.80, 2.84 (-1) = 6/9
Total - 25/36

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg338/scaled.php?server=338&filename=20120109160952.jpg&res=medium

[ToddG]

Week 14 is now closed.
Week 15 (http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?2717-DotW-15-Changing-Gears) has been posted.