Quick answer: five proven drills to run on steel with a shot timer are the Bill Drill, El Presidente, a plate rack run, the Mozambique (failure-to-stop) drill and a gong ladder. Each one trains a different skill, from recoil control to transitions to shrinking-target accuracy. Run them from at least 10–15 yards with a non-magnum pistol (25 yards with a magnum, on 3/8" steel only), wear eye and ear protection, and use the timer to track progress instead of guessing.
Steel tells you instantly whether you hit. A shot timer tells you how fast you did it. Put the two together and you get honest, measurable practice. These are classic drills shooters have used for decades. We've adjusted each one so it works safely on steel.
Shot timer drills at a glance
| Drill | Rounds | Skill trained | Steel needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Drill | 6 | Recoil control, fast follow-up shots | One USPSA/IPSC torso |
| El Presidente | 12 (with a reload) | Turn and draw, transitions, reloads | Three torsos |
| Plate rack run | 6 (one per plate) | Target-to-target transitions, precision at speed | Plate rack (six plates is classic) |
| Mozambique | 3 | Changing from a big target to a small one | One torso + one small gong |
| Gong ladder | 4+ | Adjusting speed to target size | Four gongs of different sizes |
Why train with a shot timer
Most shooters think they're faster than they are, and they don't know where they lose time. A timer settles both. Nearly any shot timer will do the same basic jobs:
- Random start delay: the beep comes after an unpredictable pause, so you react instead of anticipating.
- Total time: from the beep to your last shot.
- First-shot time: how long it took to get the gun up and break the first shot.
- Splits: the time between each shot. Long splits show you exactly where you hesitate.
- Par time: a second beep at a time you choose, so you can practice beating a goal.
One tip: timers listen for gunshots, so on a busy range they may pick up the shooter next to you. Check the shot list after each run.
Safety first: adjusting classic drills for steel
Many of these drills were written for paper at 7 yards. That's too close for steel. Bullets break apart on hardened steel, and fragments travel outward along the face of the plate. Back up to at least 10–15 yards with a non-magnum centerfire pistol and use standard lead or jacketed ammo only. Magnum handguns (.357 Mag, .44 Mag) need at least 25 yards and belong on 3/8" steel only. Never shoot steel-core, armor-piercing, green tip, tracer, incendiary or steel shot.
Set targets in front of a berm, angle or hang them so the face points slightly down, and keep everyone on the line in eye and ear protection. Start from the low ready unless your range allows holster work and you've trained for it. Our safety information page and our guide on how far away to shoot steel targets cover the details.
The 5 drills
1. Bill Drill
Setup: one torso target at 10–15 yards.
Run it: on the beep, fire six rounds as fast as you can keep every hit on the plate.
This drill is all about recoil control. If you're getting the sights back on target between shots, you'll hear six rings. If you're slapping the trigger and hoping, you'll hear misses. Watch your splits. Once they're even from shot to shot, push a little faster. Once you start missing, back off.
2. El Presidente
Setup: three torsos in a row, about a yard apart, at 10–15 yards. Load your pistol with six rounds and keep a spare magazine on your belt.
Run it: in the classic version, you start with your back to the targets, pistol holstered and hands above your shoulders. On the beep, turn, draw and fire two rounds at each target. Reload, then fire two more at each target, for 12 rounds total.
El Presidente packs a turn, transitions and a reload into one short string. The classic goal is under 10 seconds with every hit on target, but use your own first run as your baseline. Only use the classic turn-and-draw start if your range allows holster work and you've trained it. Otherwise, start facing the targets at the low ready and skip the turn. Never turn with a loaded gun in your hands.
3. Plate rack run
Setup: a plate rack (six plates is the classic layout) at 10–15 yards with a non-magnum pistol, or with a rifle on our Speed Rack, which is rated for rifle impacts up to 3,000 fps and 2,300 ft-lbs at the target, at 100 yards or more (200 yards for loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle). Some full-power .308 and .30-06 loads carry more than 2,300 ft-lbs at 100 yards, so check your load first.
Run it: on the beep, hit every plate once, left to right. Then reset if needed and run it right to left.
A plate rack punishes sloppy transitions. Each plate is small, so you have to stop the gun on each one, break a clean shot and move. Count your total rounds as well as your time. A fast run with three misses isn't really fast. Our Speed Rack carries six 8" SR500 plates and is our rifle-rated pick for plate work. For pistol, our Deluxe Plate Rack resets with a pull of a rope, so you spend more time shooting and less time walking.
4. Mozambique (failure-to-stop)
Setup: one torso target, plus a small gong on its own hanger, offset slightly to the side and above the torso so its chains and hardware aren't behind the torso's top edge, to act as the "head," at 10–15 yards.
Run it: on the beep, fire two fast shots to the torso, then one careful shot to the small gong.
This drill teaches you to shift gears. The first two shots go fast on a big target. The third shot needs a slower, more precise press on a small one. Most misses in this drill come from rushing that last shot. Your split between shots two and three should be noticeably longer than between shots one and two.
5. Gong ladder
Setup: four gongs of different sizes, side by side at the same distance. Our Gong Ladder Set (16", 8", 6" and 4") is made for this.
Run it: on the beep, hit each gong once, from largest to smallest. Then run it smallest to largest.
The ladder trains you to match your speed to the target. You can drive fast on the 16" gong, but the 4" needs a steadier sight picture. Your splits should grow as the gongs shrink. If they don't, you're probably either too slow on the big ones or too fast on the small ones.
How to track your progress
- Run each drill cold, as your first string of the day, and write down the time and hits.
- Only count runs with every hit. A miss means the run doesn't count, or add a penalty you choose.
- Change one thing at a time: grip, stance, or trigger press. Then check whether your splits improved.
- Use the par time feature to set a goal slightly faster than your average.
Common mistakes
- Running 7-yard drills at 7 yards on steel. Back up to at least 10–15 yards with a non-magnum pistol, and 25 yards with a magnum.
- Chasing time and ignoring hits. Speed only counts when the steel rings.
- Anticipating the beep. Use the random delay and stay relaxed until you hear it.
- Not reading the splits. Total time tells you how you did. Splits tell you why.
- Shooting damaged steel. Retire any plate that's pitted, cratered, bent or cracked.
What to buy
For the Bill Drill, El Presidente and the Mozambique, start with our USPSA/IPSC torso (use three of them for El Presidente), hung from T-post hangers or target hangers. Add a small gong from our Small Gong Set (4", 6" and 8") for the "head" shot.
For plate work, choose the Speed Rack (pistol or rifle) or the Deluxe Plate Rack (pistol). For the gong ladder, grab the Gong Ladder Set. Keep your steel easy to read with target paint.
You'll find more options in our bundle deals.
FAQ
What's a good first shot timer drill?
The Bill Drill. It's six rounds on one target, and it quickly shows how well you manage recoil.
Can I run these drills with a rifle?
Yes, on rifle-rated steel at 100 yards or more, such as our Speed Rack (rated to 3,000 fps and 2,300 ft-lbs at the target). Keep impact velocity under 3,000 fps, and skip magnum rifles like .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua and .50 BMG. Rifle loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle (including many 55-grain 5.56 loads) need at least 200 yards, and very fast varmint rounds need even more.
How close can I stand to steel for these drills?
With a non-magnum centerfire pistol, at least 10–15 yards. Magnum handguns need 25 yards and 3/8" steel. Closer than that, switch to paper.
Do I need an expensive shot timer?
No. Any timer with a random start delay and split times will handle every drill here.
How often should I run these?
Pick one or two per range trip and run them at the start of the session, so you see your real, cold performance.
Want help building a drill setup? Contact us and we'll point you to the right steel for your range.