One class I took at this year’s RangeMaster Tactical Conference was Phill Groff’s, focusing on qualifications. The qualification shoot in one form or another is required for virtually all armed American law enforcement, and some states require qualifications for concealed carry permits for private citizens as well. Phill, a Marine no longer in service and an active part-time sworn police officer for a quarter century, is a very experienced instructor with spot-on insights on the matter of qualifications.
Some high points from Phill’s excellent presentation, which included live-fire shooting of various quals in addition to lecture:
“Quals should be relatively easy to give more time for relevant, mandated training!”
Amen, brother. A qualification is a skill test, and while skill testing is a component of training it is not necessarily training in and of itself.
Groff said, “The goal of qualification should be finding points of failure and pushing them farther out.”
The qualification – much like shooting competition – allows the shooter to identify weak points, which the instructor can then help the shooter to rectify.
Phill presented the radical concept of a 21-round course of fire conducted at five yards with five strings of fire. A single shot that misses the entire target disqualifies the shooter, as does a single failure to get all shots off within the designated time. If that sounds unforgiving, you understand why he calls it the “Five At Five Challenge.” Phill teaches through Vigr Training LLC.
After a quick visit to the website, I’d like to see the target and course of fire for the 21 round qual course. Also the full size target for the 25 round course.
He has a great point about relevant, mandated training. One of the great problems is sustainment training, and in some cases, creating inspiration that this stuff matters. Our qual course started at 25 yards and moved in. Despite the stage instructions about a timed reload at 7 yards with depleted mags, there’d always be a few who were totally amazed when the gun didn’t go bang anymore. At least no one threw the empty gun at the target and the light finally dawned.
In my opinion, the MAG 40 1X speed is the most comprehensive qualifier I am familiar with. It covers all the appropriate components of pistol shooting with only 60 rounds of ammo. It is simple but not easy.
If it were done individually, starting from the holster on all strings (except 4yd off hand, and 10 yard cover crouch, high kneel,low kneel) would make it the perfect pistol qual
So? What is a “Five At Five Challenge”? Can’t find it on the Vigr Training Site…
I had the same question as a couple others I guess.
Found this on an Apache Solutions post from 2021-10-29. Assuming it is still the same. I’m not sure which specific target was being used but Phil gave the scoring dimensions. The demo video was draw from concealment or LE retention. The 2.5 inch head circle is smaller than typical 3 – 4 inch circles I’ve seen.
Five at Five Drill
Target chest upper half A-zone, 2.5 inch head circle
21 Rounds
Draw 1 chest 2 sec
Draw 5 chest 3 sec
Draw 3 chest 2 head 4 sec
Draw 3 emergency reload 2 chest 5 sec
Draw 5 head 6 sec
SWAT par time 1 sec less on each stage (1,2,3,4,5)
Should be easy to remember. First string is 1, the rest are 5. The par times go up 1 sec with each string of fire.
That is a pretty tough drill. Times are tight and the 2.5 inch head circle is small…