I wanted a way to compare what I do from the draw vs what I do after a reload, to see if my grip is changing thus affecting my shooting, and in a fairly easy to track way. I realized most of my reload drills were variants of 1r1 or 1r2 and I didn't do any extended strings. I haven't been to a match in years and thus my reloading while shooting long field courses had went to wayside. Plus I just wanted to challenge myself and change up my range routine.
I decided to modify the Advanced Supertest, a drill that I already track, and add in a reload and a second b8 as an easy to track standard with an already established par time, skill pool, comparative standard etc...So here is what I came up with
Same course of fire as the advanced supertest only adding a second b8. The 5 shots from the draw go on one and the 5 shots after the reload go on the other. So the course of fire is as follows -
15 yards/10 rounds(5 on left b8, reload, 5 on right b8)/15 seconds
10 yards/10 rounds(5 on left b8, reload, 5 on right b8)/10 seconds
5 yards/10 rounds(5 on left b8, reload, 5 on right b8)/5 seconds
I like that it tests at various ranges/speeds/accuracy levels. For instance the 5 yard string is pure speed and at the tip of my performance envelope. The 15 yard string is accuracy intensive and should show any flaws in technique after the reload, plus the added stress of the reload itself. The ten yard string is the famous "the test" which everyone knows of and has an abundance of performance data out there for comparison while also offering a middle ground of speed/precision. Hence why the original Supertest is such a good diagnostic drill. Adding the reload is a fun twist.
I ran it today and here is what I did.
5" m&p 2.0 from a Henry Holsters aiwb under a fleece, slidelock reloads
15 yards - 89/8.81 1.62 draw/46 points 2.23 reload/43 points
10 yards - 95/7.31 1.52 draw/45 points 2.20 reload/50 points
5 yards - 97/4.92 1.32 draw/48 points 1.94 reload/49 points
Total score - 281 (139 from the draw, 142 from the reload)
Surprisingly, on this first run I put down more points after the reload than from the draw. I usually feel that on tests like the fast that I drop more points after a reload while trying to make up for time etc...this first run may be a fluke or it may prove to be consistent. Another surprise was how consistent I scored compared to my non reload runs. I ran a regular version prior to this and had a 283. My theory is that with the generous par's, that I give myself too much time to put conscious thought into the trigger press/grip/sights and end up snatching or otherwise f'ing up shots in the string, whereas in this version I am just on autopilot and can eliminate the conscious thought and just do what needs to be done without overthinking it.
I'll know more as I run it over the next few range sessions. Overall I'm suprised that I put down the score I did, as it is as good as an average go on the advanced supertest that I run regularly. It is a fun variant of the popular test. Give it a shot and see what you can do...share with us what you think and what you learned/how it compares to your normal supertest times.