improve my FAST

[ToddG]

Are you getting a good aimed shot with a good grip from the reload or are you (a) having to relocate the sights after that first shot, (b) having to regrip the gun after that first shot, or (c) both?

[Corey]

Somehow I knew you would know the right question to ask. I would say the answer is c, but not at the same time. Normally it is relocating my sights after the first shot. I have occasionally had to shift my grip and I have noticed that it is a bigger spread in the splits when that happens. I suspect I may be breaking the first shot after the reload before my arms reach full extension, making the recovery take longer. Does that make any sense?

[John Hearne]

Just had this thought the other day and thought I'd float it. If you want to improve your FAST performance do you really want to do your development at 7 yds. Would there be any benefit to starting closer (based on your skill level) and then adding distance as your performance improves?

[Mr_White]

Just had this thought the other day and thought I'd float it. If you want to improve your FAST performance do you really want to do your development at 7 yds. Would there be any benefit to starting closer (based on your skill level) and then adding distance as your performance improves?

I had the opposite idea.

Yesterday I was working on tightening aspects of standards, other than time. I was trying not to go full speed ahead, and simply relaxed more mentally in an effort to shoot 100% hits a tad slower than usual, to a tighter target zone.

I applied this to the FAST, just for the legit three runs, using an IPSC target, shooting for the little A-zone in the head instead of a 3"x5" card, and shooting for the A-zone in the body above the letter A, and I did it from about 9 yards instead of 7 yards.

Times were a bit slower than usual (ended up with a range of about 4.6x to 5.6x) but the hits were there.

I have no data to cite, but it subjectively felt useful for trying to tighten accuracy. I'm going to try restricting myself to this more difficult version of the FAST for a while, maybe a month or two, and see if I realize increased performance (accuracy and consistency, not time) on the regular FAST.

[Prdator]

"Based on Skill Level" I think John hit it on the head there. For instance, if a shooter was running 12 second FAST's ( clean) Id say move closer and work faster on the basic items that the FAST requires ( not the FAST its self). For a guy that's running 6sec or below or blowing shots then moving farther out might be a great idea. But you have to be making the hits!! And agin work on the basics not the FAST. Its just a test to give you feedback on YOUR capability.

I do this from time to time and I do my Dryfire on either a reduced size 3x5 card or at longer ranges. I'd like to say this has really helped my FAST times but Ive yet to get a Coin.

OrigamiAK,

I think if you dedicate yourself to this it could work out very well for you!!!!!

[EVP]

I have a quick question about the fast drill.

When I shoot at an indoor range with poor lighting I some times have a little challange getting a good hard front sight focus. Some times I can't make out the lines on the paper target and kinda resort to a target focus or something in between. Do you find doing this will hamper things down the road? What works best for y'all?

[HK_Feeder]

Kevin,

The same thing used to bother me way back when--that is, different ranges having different lighting conditions: some ideal for sight picture, some not so much. Then I realized that this is actually a benefit; assuming one of the main reasons you shoot is to be proficient with your firearm in a self-defense scenario, you should realize that if that gun ever clears the holster with a purpose, you're not going to get to choose your lighting conditions. Shooting at different ranges with varying light conditions helps you to better adapt to a wider variety of conditions. Also, I found that jumping on the bandwagon and painting my front sight made a freakin' world of difference and helps tremendously in all light conditions. Food for thought.

To Fuse, the O.P.,

Hey man, I'm the guy you bumped into at the NRA range tonight. Told you I'd be a member here soon. As for your F.A.S.T. drill, I think I may be able to help. Now I'm hardly an expert--my only claim to limited authority on the subject here is that my best F.A.S.T. drill is a 5.09. However, as I mentioned at the range, I'm coming off a 6 month period with zero rounds sent downrange, and I'm so rusty right now I need a freakin' tetanus shot. My average F.A.S.T. this first week back at it has been ~5.8. I do remember what I worked on that made me as proficient at the drill as I was though, and I'm employing the same strategy again. If you like, let me know and we can hit the range some time and see if we can't smooth our edges out a bit. For now, two things jump out at me based on the splits you posted.

1) Your reload. You seem to average around a 2.6, which isn't bad at all. I'm fairly confident this is something I could help you with though, as I believe I have the mechanics of it down fairly well. One dry-fire drill I run almost daily is as follows: Tape index card to a wall, stand 3 yards away. Set shot timer par to 2.5 seconds. Start with your gun extended, sights on target, as if you're in the process of shooting it. On the beep, execute reload (don't worry about releasing the slide since its often a PITA with an empty gun and will negatively affect your time), press-out to reacquire your sights on the index card and dry fire once as soon as you believe the shot would hit. The goal is to get the 'click' before the 'beep.' Once you can do that repeatedly, drop the par time to 2.4, then 2.3, etc. You can also try standing farther and farther from the wall.

2) Your last 3 shots. This is almost totally a recoil management and sight-tracking thing. My recommendation is to do lots of bill-drills. They helped me a ton with my ability to grip-and-rip. Once you get faster at the bill-drills, double taps into an index card at 5 yards will help tighten your group (vary this by running the drill with index cards facing vertically, horizontally and eventually diagonally, which really helps you hone in on the center of the bulls-eye-less 3x5s).

Shoot angry,
Steve