It was around 2020 when the first officially licensed Glock CO2 replica pistols hit the market. They were released by Umarex USA, a major player in the licensed replica market. Since their release, Umarex has launched multiple versions based on various Glock models. They are 1 to 1 replicas for size and weight, and utilize the same mechanics as the iconic firearm. Given its popularity with law enforcement and the general public, it makes sense that the Glock replicas are perfect for personal handgun training. In this article, we’ll take a quick look at some basic training drills to help you get to become a better handgun marksman. As a note, we will be referencing a couple of drills from the following website article: https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/6-best-self-defense-handgun-training-drills/. If you want more information, please visit their page for all the details and other drills.
Point Drills
Point drills are some of the best practice routines to improve quick target acquisition and accuracy. They require only a target and some space to shoot. Ideally, you’ll want to use a large silhouette target to simulate a typical body shape, but it’s not required.
Create several small 2” or 3” targets on the main target. We recommend the Birchwood Casey Shoot-n-c 3” adhesive targets as they are affordable and provide immediate feedback when hit. Here are the steps mentioned in the article listed above.
- Focus on a small, specific spot on the target. In our case, it would be one of the shoot-n-c targets
- Present the handgun to that spot
- Shift your focus to the front sight
- Engage the target.
To make things interesting, you can vary the distance to increase or decrease the difficulty. The Glock replicas should provide decent accuracy out to about 25 feet.
Forty-Five Drill by Richard Mann
The next drill incorporates drawing your weapon from concealment. This is a critical drill if you plan to conceal carry. It’s one thing to be armed in public; it’s another thing to be ready should a situation arise. In the event you have to draw your weapon, will you be able to do it from muscle memory, or will you choke and not be able to get it out of the holster? Putting ego aside, consider the responsibility you carry when you carry. This is a perfect drill to prepare you.
Using the same silhouette target as before, draw a 5” circle or, pick up some of the 6” shoot-n-c targets from Birchwood Casey. They work great for these types of drills. Ultimately you will want to do the following:
Goal: Draw from concealment and put five shots inside a 5-inch (or in our case 6”) circle from a distance of 5 yards in less than 5 seconds.
You may want to get a shot timer if you are really serious about getting this drill down, but it’s not necessary. If you find that 5 yards are too far, then start closer to the target and work your way back. The Glock 17 G4 or the Glock 17 Gen 5 has plenty of accuracy to get this done in the hands of the trained shooter.
Comprehensive Handgun Proficiency by Bill Wilson / Wilson Combat
The final drill will combine speed and accuracy along with multiple targets. This is for advanced shooters. We recommend the Air Venturi Diamond Targets and either the Excite Lead BBs or Air Venturi Dust Devil BBs, as we’ll be shooting steel targets. Do not try this with standard steel BBs, as they will ricochet.
You will need to set up your targets in the following way.
Here’s how you run the drill:
- Engage target 1 and target 2 with three shots each from the first position.
- Engage target 3 with two shots while moving from position 1 to position 2.
- Engage target 1 and target 2 with 3 shots each from the second position.
If you would rather use silhouette body targets, you can run the same drill but change step 3 by shooting two shots to the body and one shot to the head on targets 1 and 2 from the second position.
This final drill is far more advanced and is designed to really focus the muscle memory to draw, acquire, and fire while moving. If you can master this, you will be way ahead of the game should you ever need to pull your weapon.
Let’s wrap it up
We’ve only scratched the surface for effective pistol drills, but it’s a start. Tools like the Glock series from Umarex USA provided shooters the opportunity to train at a fraction of the cost while maintaining a similar feel and shooting experience. Of course, nothing will completely replace training with your live carry weapon, but trigger time with a 1-to-1 replica of your firearm really helps. Learn more Top Airgun Training Techniques that can help you Overcome Bad Shooting Habits. If you have questions or want to see what other options are available, just give us a call, and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
