Overview
This course assumes you can shoot a consistent group from a supported position. Now we break that comfort zone. Advanced Pistol Marksmanship pushes your established fundamentals into more demanding contexts — faster, farther, and under greater cognitive load.
You'll work on your draw stroke, learn to manage the tradeoff between speed and precision consciously, engage multiple targets efficiently, and develop the mental framework that allows your skills to hold up when the pressure is real — whether on a competition stage or in a defensive situation.
Expect a high round count, critical feedback, and measurable performance benchmarks at the end of the day.
Curriculum
Draw Stroke Development
The full draw sequence from holster to first shot — grip acquisition, clearing the holster, drive-out, and trigger prep. We work this slowly before building speed. Dry-fire integration for home practice.
Speed vs. Precision — The Tradeoff
Understanding the accuracy-speed continuum and making conscious choices about where your shots fall on it based on target size, distance, and context. Practical application drills.
Extended Distance Shooting
Pushing your effective range to 25 yards and beyond. How your fundamentals must adapt at distance, and building the patience that long-range pistol shooting demands.
Multiple Target Engagement
Transitioning between targets efficiently — visual transitions, body mechanics, and the decision process for sequencing. Bill drill, Mozambique drill, and stage-based scenarios.
One-Handed Shooting
Strong hand and support hand only — the mechanics, the challenges, and why you need to train it before you need it.
Reloads Under Pressure
Speed reload, tactical reload, and emergency reload — when to use each and how to execute them without breaking your shooting platform.
Mental Performance Framework
Managing performance under stress, building pre-shot routines, recovering from misses without compounding errors. The cognitive side of high-performance shooting.
Benchmarking & Assessment
Timed standards and accuracy benchmarks to give you objective data on where you are and what to work on before the next session.
What to Bring
- Your pistol with a quality holster (OWB or IWB, no retention holsters for this course)
- 150–200 rounds of ammunition
- Minimum 3 magazines
- Eye and ear protection
- Belt capable of supporting holster
Who This Course Is For
- Graduates of Basic Pistol Marksmanship or demonstrably equivalent skill
- Competitive shooters looking to improve stage performance
- Concealed carriers who want to stress-test their skills
- Experienced recreational shooters ready for structured progression
Who Should Consider a Different Course First
- Shooters who haven't completed Basic Pistol Marksmanship or equivalent — fundamentals must be in place first
- Those who cannot safely draw from a holster