Drills and Tests to Assess Pistol Shootability

[Tensaw]

I hope this hasn't been done before, but it's ya'll's fault anyway with threads touting both the Macro and Gen 5 G26.

I am trying diligently to pare things down to one carry pistol. I would really love to get to a place where I am carrying the same pistol (almost) all the time regardless of the setting. My goal is to identify the pistol that gives me the best performance in *my* hands (and/or understand where a particular pistol gives up some performance in comparison to others). Given that the intent is for this pistol will be a do-all defensive rig, I would like to be able to test performance metrics that cover both speed and accuracy, as well as the combination of the two.

So the question is what are some drills, tests, and assessments that can be run to objectively quantify performance across various pistols? The F.A.S.T. comes to mind, but surely there are others. If it matters, the focus for the use case is exclusively defensive shooting (as opposed to gaming or anything else). In other words, I'm trying to identify the pistol that I shoot best in any scenario from an attempted mugging/carjacking in the Walmart parking lot, to putting one across the bow of a 200 pound rottie charging across the lawn (or bear charging down the trail if that makes you feel better). It would be super if we could start to get a pretty good assessment with 50 - 100 rounds of ammo per pistol. That's it. Let me have it! TIA.

[Clusterfrack]

I hope this hasn't been done before, but it's ya'll's fault anyway with threads touting both the Macro and Gen 5 G26.

I am trying diligently to pare things down to one carry pistol. I would really love to get to a place where I am carrying the same pistol (almost) all the time regardless of the setting. My goal is to identify the pistol that gives me the best performance in *my* hands (and/or understand where a particular pistol gives up some performance in comparison to others). Given that the intent is for this pistol will be a do-all defensive rig, I would like to be able to test performance metrics that cover both speed and accuracy, as well as the combination of the two.

So the question is what are some drills, tests, and assessments that can be run to objectively quantify performance across various pistols? The F.A.S.T. comes to mind, but surely there are others. If it matters, the focus for the use case is exclusively defensive shooting (as opposed to gaming or anything else). In other words, I'm trying to identify the pistol that I shoot best in any scenario from an attempted mugging/carjacking in the Walmart parking lot, to putting one across the bow of a 200 pound rottie charging across the lawn (or bear charging down the trail if that makes you feel better). It would be super if we could start to get a pretty good assessment with 50 - 100 rounds of ammo per pistol. That's it. Let me have it! TIA.

Great question! I suggest using isolated "micro-drills" instead of tests that combine several skills. Isolate recoil control by shooting doubles and practical accuracy. Also SHO and WHO. Isolate draws and reloads, maybe even in timed dryfire. I like the accelerator drill for simulating a far-to-close encounter.

Another option would be to run a few USPSA classifiers, but I prefer the isolated skills approach.

[Tensaw]

Great question! I suggest using isolated "micro-drills" instead of tests that combine several skills. Isolate recoil control by shooting doubles and practical accuracy. Also SHO and WHO. Isolate draws and reloads, maybe even in timed dryfire. I like the accelerator drill for simulating a far-to-close encounter.

Another option would be to run a few USPSA classifiers, but I prefer the isolated skills approach.

Great point! I actually had exactly that in mind and so I almost did not reference the FAST, but it is a great assessment tool. So yeah, I would love to get as granular on this as possible. Also good points on SHO/WHO.

[GJM]

From experience, I can say both those are excellent pistols, that are reliable, durable and accurate. If concealment is important, they carry differently, with one thinner and the other shorter in the grip. I prefer thinner for comfort, but others prefer shorter in the grip.

Evaluation drills are good, but they may tell you more about where you are right now, and not be indicative of the performance of the pistol with some dedicated practice. For example, if you shoot larger Glock pistols, the 26 is a natural. If you are shooting a larger gun with a grip angle more like an Sig or 2011, the Macro will probably be a better fit.

You can almost solve this intellectually and train up on either.

[Tensaw]

From experience, I can say both those are excellent pistols, that are reliable, durable and accurate.

Heh,... and therein lies (part) of the problem. I've read your postings re: the Macro and was all set to grab one. (The Macro seems like a *great* One Gun option.) But, then I got to really looking at things and I can comfortably carry and conceal a G19 sized grip - and I've got a few in that size range. So I thought I should look at the performance metrics on those before I go chasing after another shiny thing. (G43X was the last shiny thing I chased... and caught.) And the nut of the question (and I would pose this directly to you, GJM) is - if you *knew* you were going to be in a pistol fight at dusk today, in unspecified circumstances, what concealable pistol would you choose? That is the question I seek to answer for myself. What concealable pistol can I shoot the best- across all performance metrics? I'd like to pin down that pistol that I am already best with, and then train up from there - if that makes sense.

Also, you (GJM) are an above-average shooter and can probably use an LCP to outshoot most people who are using the pistol of their choice. I think that for the rest of us mortals, the pistol may make a bigger difference perhaps? I get around okay, but I can also use all the help I can get.

ETA: Totally with you on the grip angle thing. I shot Glocks exclusively for the last 30 years, but more recently got a PDP which I am trying to learn to love. That would make the Macro a good fit - but if can run the PDP measurably better than everything else, I would just deal with the size/concealability issues.

[PNWTO]

The ol’ reliables for me to establish a baseline are the Bill Drill and the Defoor Hat Qual.

Probably a better approach but those two are revealing enough for my needs. Toss in doubles at 15 for S&Gs.

[NETim]

25 yard group shooting on B-8's give a pretty indication how you and the trigger are getting along IMHO.

Seconding Bill Drills. How well you are able to control the gun during the recoil cycle.

[BN]

I like Hackathorn's Wizard Drill.

[Lon]

Great question! I suggest using isolated "micro-drills" instead of tests that combine several skills. Isolate recoil control by shooting doubles and practical accuracy.

I’m just the opposite. Usually the first drills I shoot to evaluate a pistol is the FAST, the Casino Drill and Dot Torture (shot first).

[Tensaw]

The ol’ reliables for me to establish a baseline are the Bill Drill and the Defoor Hat Qual.

For those of us not on the 'gram, Defoor apparently added a few elements to his Hat Qual a couple of years ago. And, he has different par times for irons and dots at 25.