My Favorite Shotgun, Rifle & Pistol Shooting Drills — Marc Shulte

In the world of competitive shooting, drills are essential for refining technique, building consistency, and preparing for real match conditions. 

For S3 Ambassador, Marc Schulte, the drill “Close to Far – Advance & Retreat" is a standout for its ability to target key skills like movement, transitions, cadence control, and target accountability, all while requiring minimal setup. 

Whether you’re prepping for a major or just trying to squeeze the most out of a practice session, this drill will expose pacing issues, movement inefficiencies, and visual gaps fast. Here’s how to set it up and run through it.

How to Set Up:

• Targets: 6 USPSA paper targets

• Shooting Positions: 2 clearly marked cones or boxes (one uprange, one downrange), about 10 yards apart

Target Layout:

The target arrays are spaced across the bay to encourage wide transitions between positions, simulating real-world stages.

• Right Array: 2 targets at 10 yards

• Center Array: 2 targets at 15 yards

• Left Array: 2 targets at 25 yards

 

 

Drill Instructions:

1. Start at the downrange position.

2. At the beep, engage all six targets from close to far: 2 rounds each at the right (10 yards), center (15 yards), and left (25 yards) targets.

3. Move uprange to the second shooting position, retreating with control.

4. From there, engage the same six targets again from close to far.

5. Unload and show clear, or reset and repeat.

Round Count: 12 rounds per run (6 targets × 2 shots)

Recommended Runs: 3–5 per session.

Key Skills Trained:

• Cadence control: Learn to throttle back when required and push when you can

• Wide transitions: Force clean, efficient movement across the entire visual plane

• Footwork under pressure: Smooth, controlled retreating or advancing movement

• Stage pacing: Teaches how to blend aggression with discipline

• Low equipment, high return: Easy to set up, no special gear, incredibly effective

Variations:

Movement Direction

• Retreat (default)

• Forward advance

• Lateral (side-by-side boxes)

Target Complexity

• Add no-shoots

• Incorporate hard cover

• Practice headbox-only shots at 25 yards

Change Cadence Direction

• Run Far to Close instead of Close to Far

• Add a Reload between shooting positions for gun-handling pressure

Why This Drill Works:

This drill is brutally honest—if your transitions are sloppy, pacing off, or footwork weak, it’ll show. But it’s also fast to set up, easy to run solo, and directly applies to real USPSA stages. That makes it a perfect choice for shooters looking to maximize practice time with minimal gear.

Burn it down. Rebuild it cleaner. This one makes you better.