One of my favorite YouTube channels is Modern Tactical Shooting. The host, Jeff Gurwitch, brings a wealth of experience as a Green Beret and an amazing way of breaking things down. He’s an experienced shooter, and his Facebook page is full of shooting drills. Today, we’re shooting the Go-and-Reload Drill.
Jeff Gurwitch’s experience doesn’t start and end with his military career. He participates in practical shooting contests like USPSA and and stays sharp with modern, effective shooting techniques. The Go-and-Reload drill seems to combine practical and tactical shooting experience into a simple but effective exercise.
It balances the efficiency required to actively compete in USPSA, with the tactical skills necessary to be able to move and fight.
Gear Up: What You Need for the Go-and-Reload Drill
This Drill can be run with a rifle or handgun. I ran it with the Ruger RXM. A holster isn’t necessary, but I wanted to add a draw to my runs using the Safariland 6304 RDS.
If you want to score it as designed, you’ll need four USPSA targets. I went with an FBI Q target with USPSA A-Zones stapled to the center. After shooting it, I feel like the A-zone would be a simple option, requiring excellent accuracy while simplifying setup compared to four full-sized USPSA targets.
You’ll need eight rounds per run and two magazines, with four rounds in each magazine. Be sure to have a way to carry your spare magazines—I used the Safariland Slimline mag pouches.
Additionally, you’ll need cones or a similar device to mark two shooting locations. Boxes, poles, or any other markers will work to designate the shooting zones. Don’t forget your eyes, ears, and shot timer.
Setting Up The Drill
Set up your targets on the right and left, with two on each side. The targets on the right should be ten yards from those on the left. Next, you’ll set your cones or boxes up ten yards from each set of targets.
The setup is easy, but I have to admit, I got really frustrated by the wind that kept blowing my targets over. After setting them up a half-dozen times, I was very happy to shoot them. Once everything is set up, choose which side you want to start on and stand at the cone.
Shooting the Go-and-Reload
I started on the left-hand side and got myself ready. I’m drawing, but using the holster doesn’t seem to be a requirement. At the beep, fire two rounds into each target from your starting position.
From there, sprint to the second cone, aiming to reload before you reach it. As you reach the second cone, pivot and shoot two rounds into each target.
That’s one run. Your goal is to be able to shoot eight rounds, sprint, and reload within eight seconds. If you’re using a USPSA target, you can grade your score.
- C zone hits: 0.5-second penalty
- D zone hits: 1-second penalty
- Misses: 5-second penalty (a miss results in a failure of the Go and Reload)
My Thoughts on the Go-and-Reload Drill
My first round was a failure. The hits were good, but it took 8.63 seconds. The first run, the cold run, is arguably the most important because it shows your ability to perform on demand.
I ran the Drill six times, using 48 rounds of ammo. My second run was 7.34 seconds, and my third was 7.24. I eliminated the draw for one run and did it in 6.8 seconds. I never passed it with my handgun holstered, but I got close enough that I knew it was on the horizon, and that means I need to train more.
This drill is more challenging than you might think. You have to find the right balance of speed and control. You want to sprint the 10 yards between cones as fast as possible, but sprinting too fast makes it challenging to reload efficiently.
Finding that right balance dramatically affects your ability to land hits, reload, and get an acceptable par time. The target calls for you to hit an A-Zone to get a perfect score, which drives you to work shot placement on the clock.
The elements of this drill force you to work through several different skill sets while adding a moving element to everything. I like it— a lot. It will enter my little book of drills, which I often refer to while reviewing guns, optics, and more.
More Than One Drill
The Modern Tactical Shooting Facebook page has way more than one Drill. Most of the drills require some form of movement and shooting. I’ve only shot the Go-and-Reload but can’t wait to dive into the other drills listed.
Please like the Modern Tactical Shooting page and subscribe to the Modern Tactical Shooting YouTube channel. Both are fantastic resources that deliver practical shooting advice, historical analysis of the GWOT, and a fair bit of humor.
Give the Go-and-Reload Drill a run for its money. Literally, you’ll be running! Working shot placement, movement, and reload skills take less than ten seconds. Run it live, run it dry, but always run it safely.
