Flying back from teaching the Historical Handgun and Advanced Handgun classes in Virginia last weekend, I was thinking about how the Texas License to Carry course of fire could be modified to be a better standard, but still retaining most of the characteristics of the original drill.
The Texas License to Carry course of fire is here. The target was changed to the B-27 from the original Texas CHL target (shown in the pictures in the linked article) years ago. The change to the B-27 was a step in the wrong direction, as the original target modeled human anatomy better than the B-27 did.
Target and Scoring
My modified drill will use the IDPA target, which retains the characteristics of the original CHL target, with smaller (and more anatomically correct) scoring zones.
Scoring will also be done with IDPA “points down”, so simple addition/subtraction is all that’s needed to score it. The drill is a total of 25 rounds (half of the original LTC 50 rounds). To score it, just count points down. 25 (down zero) is maximum score. 18 (70%) is passing, 20 is 80%, 23 is 90% which would be considered “instructor level”.
Misses and late shots are -5.
Unlike the Texas “License to Carry” test, this version of the drill actually tests drawing from concealment.
3 yards
The original test was:
- From ready, two handed, one shot in 2 seconds (5x)
- From ready, two handed, two shots in 3 seconds (5x)
- From ready, two handed, five shots in 10 seconds (1x)
The modified test is:
- From ready, ONE handed, one shot in 2 seconds (2x)
- Gun holstered, dominant hand on gun, support hand on chest, TWO handed, one shot in the HEAD in 2 seconds (2x)
- Hands at sides. On signal step left, draw and fire 2 shots in 3 seconds
- Hands at sides. On signal, step right, draw and fire 2 shots in 3 seconds
- Hands at sides. On signal, draw and shoot 2 head shots in 3 seconds
7 yards
Original test:
- From ready, five shots in 10 seconds
- From ready, one shot in 3 seconds (5x)
- From ready, two shots in 4 seconds
- From ready, three shots in 6 seconds
- From ready, five shots in 15 seconds
Modified test:
- Hands at sides. On signal, draw and fire 2 shots in 4 seconds
- Hands at sides. On signal, draw and fire 3 shots in 6 seconds
- Hands at sides. On signal, draw and fire 5 shots in 10 seconds
15 yards
Original test:
- From ready, two shots in 6 seconds
- From ready, three shots in 9 seconds
- From ready, five shots in 15 seconds
Modified test:
- Hands at sides. On signal, draw and fire 2 shots standing, 3 shots kneeling in 15 seconds
Discussion
The modified LTC test is more difficult than the original Texas LTC test, but not as difficult as the KR Training 3 Seconds or Less Test, which we use as the standard in our Defensive Pistol Skills program.
My changes incorporated some elements of the 3 Seconds or Less Test for the 3 yard strings and some elements of the current FBI qualification for the 7 and 15 yard strings.
The videos and target shown in this blog were first take, with no warm up, no dry fire. I just put on my daily carry gear, walked outside, set up the camera and ran the drill. Scored 23/25, with one head shot fired at 3 yards with a poor sight picture, and one shot at 15 yards going a little high out of the zero ring.
The drill can always be made more difficult by shortening the time limits or using a smaller target for those wanting a bigger challenge. My purpose in developing this modified version of the drill is to give those that stopped their training with the carry permit course (about 99% of Texas permit holders never take any training beyond the state minimum) a course of fire that’s short and challenging enough it could be run multiple times during a 100 round practice that included drawing from concealment. Those running the drill at ranges that don’t allow drawing should cut a full second off every string time (except for the strong hand only that starts from the ready position).
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