For me, drill practice is about isolating a few critical performance elements and pushing them under honest pres- sure. The goal is not to chase perfect runs, but to build a repeatable process that holds up when time, distance and consequences start to stack. Progress comes from consistency, not from the occasional lucky score.
The Pistol Standard Xray 2 is a clean, demanding test of pistol fundamentals at distance, combined with a reload and a position change. Shot at 25 yards, it forces you to respect sight picture, trigger control and recoil management while staying aware of the clock. The drill is simple on paper, but it does not forgive sloppy execution. In my experience, the most common mistakes are poor grip out of the holster, shooting beyond skill, rushing the reload and poor kneeling position. Pay attention to these as you shoot the drill for the best shot at a good run.
When I run this drill, I’m not trying to beat the clock. I’m trying to run my race and let the clock report back. The critical moment in this drill is the reload to kneeling, where most shooters rush and lose visual discipline, and the solution is not speed, but clean execution. Keep the gun working, keep your eyes on the target, arrive stable and the last four rounds will take care of themselves. If the score is low, I don’t argue with it. I look at where the process broke; usually on the draw, the reload or the first shot from kneeling, and I fix that piece before I worry about anything else. Good luck, have fun and remember, you are trying to improve your skill level, not beat the competition.
Here’s the drill:
Begin from the holster. On the signal, draw and fire six rounds. Perform a reload, drop to a kneeling position and fire four more rounds to finish. The total round count is 10. The par time is 25 seconds, with a three-point penalty for every second over. The target is either the TCT MK4 or the NRA B8 repair center—both honest targets that make you earn every point.
Course of Fire:
Distance: 25 yards
Time: 25 seconds (three-point penalty per second over)
Rounds: 10 total
Sequence:
1. From the holster, draw and fire six rounds
2. Reload while moving to the kneeling position
3. Fire four rounds to finish
Scoring:
The drill is scored for a maximum of 100 points. Final score determines performance level:
80–89, Passing: The shooter demonstrates solid control, clean execution and reliable performance while under time pressure.
90–100, Mastery: The shooter shows disciplined fundamentals, efficient movement and precise hits without wasted motion.
Read the full article here