Failure Drill

posted on July 14, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rackley2015_fs.jpg

The Failure Drill consists of three shots designed to ensure that an attacker is stopped by putting two shots into center of mass with a final shot to the head.

While most attackers can be deterred by the simple act of drawing a gun, and most others with a single shot or two, the Failure Drill stops those few attackers that just don’t stop due to adrenalin, motivation or drug use.

The idea is simple. Fire two shots into the center-of-mass to stop the attack, but if these don’t do the job, it should at least slow the attacker down long enough to fire a carefully aimed shot to the head. While this seems like common sense, most people automatically refer back to however they typically shoot at the range when under the stress of an attack. This is why the failure drill is so important. If you normally only fire at the center of mass at the range, then you will probably only fire at the center of mass during an attack.

Start the failure drill with the gun in your holster concealed by a cover garment with a silhouette target about 5 to 7 yards away. Have a friend time your efforts along with telling you to go. At the mark, draw and fire two rounds into center mass, then transition and fire one shot to the head. Most shooters will take around 3 to 4 seconds to perform this drill, while a good shooter can shave it down to below three. If you can do it in around two seconds, you’re good.

Latest

I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1
I Carry Springfield SA35 Galco 1

I Carry: Springfield Armory SA-35 in a Galco Combat Master Holster

See the Springfield Armory SA-35 4" High Power pistol paired with a classically styled Galco leather OWB holster and a Buck 110 Auto knife our latest "I Carry" EDC kit.

How the Mainstream Media Turned Against Armed Citizens

Why is so much of the mainstream, legacy or corporate media opposed to our right to keep and bear arms? There are real answers to this question.

The Armed Citizen® April 10, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Steyr Scout Mk II

Steyr Arms updated its Scout rifle design with a Mk II version several years back. Faced with heavy competition, is it still the benchmark for the "general-purpose rifle?"

Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Disregard “Buyback"

The National Post, a Canadian news source, reports that “the majority” of law-enforcement agencies across Canada are disregarding their federal government’s mandated Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP).

Safariland Parent Company Announces Acquisition of Alien Gear Holsters

Following a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, Safariland's parent company, Cadre Holdings, announced it would acquire Alien Gear Holsters and other assets from Tedder Industries in a $10.3 million deal.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.