Lee Weems of First Person Safety recently shared the current Georgia state police qualification course of fire, and sent me a few of the SQT A-1 targets to use. The course of fire was designed for both semiauto and revolver, so all mags are loaded to 6 rounds, and the reload times are quite generous. I’m a fan of lower round count courses of fire. In 30 rounds, this course covers a lot of skills. It is split into blocks at 25, 15, 7 and 3 yards. To shoot the course, you will need two targets and a barricade (two 55 gal drums, or even a vertical 4×4 post or the divider between lanes at an indoor range could be used – anything to give you something to shoot around.
Not only the timing, but the context and start positions for each string vary, incorporating moving to cover, stepping off line, ready and holstered starts, and other elements. Compared to many state and local courses of fire I’ve looked at, the Georgia course includes more realistic elements and context. The only elements it might need to make it more complete would be a tap-rack malfunction clearance and a few rounds fired one handed.
The SQT A-1 Target
As shown in the pictures, it’s an anatomically correct target with scoring zones in the right places and generally in the right sizes. I made some overlays, showing the 4″ and 8″ zero-down rings of the IDPA target, and the torso area of the KRT-2 target, to give you an idea of relative scale. I only had two SQT A-1’s and I wanted to keep one unshot, for my collection, so I used an IDPA target, a KRT-2 overlay and a magic marker to make a bootleg SQT A-1 to use as my 2nd target for my demo run of the course of fire.
General Instructions:
Firearm: Standard Service large caliber Semiautomatic Pistol/Revolver
Ammunition: 30 rounds
Target: SQT A-1 (two targets per shooter)
Clothing: Range attire & police service leather
General: Magazines may be loaded with 6 rounds each or as ordered
Equipment: Shooter will need a barricade for both the 25 and 15 yard strings.
All reloads are shooter’s responsibility. Malfunctions must be cleared and no alibis, with the exception of defective ammunition. The shooter will be given an opportunity to shoot defective rounds only. Any subsequent rounds are the responsibility of the shooter. Rounds may be made up at the stage where problems or malfunctions occur, but only within the allotted time limits for that stage. Leftover rounds at any stage are to be given to a line instructor.
Scoring targets:
Inside the center mass line – 10 points
Outside the center mass line – 8 points
Maximum Raw Score – 300 points
Minimum Qualifying Score – 240 points – 80%
25 yards (4 rounds)
Using the angular search technique, on command shooter assumes left side cover pointing weapon at right target. Avoid contact with the cover object.
1 round – 4 seconds right target & return to cover
1 round – 4 seconds left target & return to cover
Holster
25 yard line using the angular search technique, on command shooter assumes right side cover pointing weapon at left target.
1 round – 4 seconds left target & return to cover
1 round – 4 seconds right target & return to cover
Holster
15 yards (4 rounds)
Shooter stands outside cover facing targets weapon holstered & snapped in, (with a total of 2 rounds in the pistol or revolver.) On command shooter draws the weapon moves to cover & fires 4 rounds in 12 seconds
1 round – right target
1 round – left target
Drop to a kneeling position (RELOAD)
1 round – right target
1 round – left target
Holster
After viewing my video, Lee Weems commented: On “cover” the shooter draws and moves to cover. On “search” the shooter searches for and aims in on the target. The four seconds for the shot begins with the shooter aimed-in.
So when I shot the test I made it harder than the actual test. Based on Lee’s explanation, on “shooter ready” the shooter should be “searching” and sometime between standby and the beep, should be aimed at the target.
7 yards (14 rounds)
On command shooter draws and fires 4 rounds in 5 seconds
2 rounds – right target
2 rounds – left target
(Reload 2 Magazines 6 rounds)
Standing in front of the right target, on command shooter draws and fires 2 rounds right target, then moves one step left and fires 2 rounds right target in 6 seconds
Stand facing right target
2 rounds – right target
Step left
2 rounds – right target
Holster
Standing in front of the left target, on command shooter draws and fires 2 rounds left target, then moves one step right, reloads and fires 2 rounds left target in 12 seconds.
Stand facing left target
2 rounds – left target
Step right, reload
2 rounds – left target
Holster
On command shooter (from a low ready position) fires a failure drill, 2 rounds in 3 seconds into the cranial vault.
1 round – right target (Head shot)
1 round – left target (Head shot)
Holster
3 yards (8 rounds)
On command shooter draws while taking one step back and giving verbal commands, fires 2 rounds in 3 seconds.
1 round – right target
1 round – left target
Reload and holster
On command shooter draws while taking one step back and giving verbal commands, fires 4 rounds in 5 seconds.
2 round – right target
2 round – left target
Come to the High ready position, evaluating the targets
On command shooter will fire 2 rounds in two seconds.
1 round – right target
1 round – left target
Come to the low ready with an empty weapon. Once the weapon has been cleared by a line instructor, holster a safe and empty weapon.
After viewing this video, Lee points out: On the movement stages at the seven, on one string they are all in the right target. On the other string, they are all in the left target. It’s draw and shoot two right, step left, shoot two more right in six seconds. Then it’s draw and shoot two left, step right and reload, shoot two more left in 12 seconds.
In the video I shoot 2 rounds on each target, changing targets after I move. It ends up either being “two wrongs make a right”, as I end up with the correct number of rounds on each target at the end, or 40 points that don’t count, because I didn’t follow the directions exactly. To quote Lee: it’s a convoluted course of fire.
My score
I ended up with a 298/300, or 98%. I dropped two points at the 3 yard line because I attempted head shots, instead of body shots, for the very last string. If I re-shoot the test following all the directions correctly, I should be able to shoot a 300/300 on it.
My performance
If you watch the videos carefully you’ll see me ducking my head (moving my eye-target line) as I move and draw. This is something I wasn’t aware that I was doing, until I recorded myself on video and watched it. Fixing that problem is my #1 dryfire training goal. The “lesson learned” from this is that regardless of skill level it’s useful to record video (slow motion/high frame rate video if you have that capability) and study it to make sure you are doing what you think you are doing.
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