The 5x5x5 Drill (also called the “5-yard Roundup”) is a classic pistol performance benchmark. It doesn’t take long to run, but it’ll quickly show whether your fundamentals are solid. It’s a great drill to use at the start or end of a range session, giving you a repeatable metric to track progress over time.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you—5 rounds at 5 yards in 5 seconds demands speed, accuracy, and tight fundamentals.
Materials Needed:
- Handgun and holster (optional draw)
- 5 rounds of ammo
- 1 target with clear scoring zones (bullseye or 5-inch circle preferred)
- Shot timer or stopwatch
- Eye and ear protection
Setup Instructions:
- Set a target at 5 yards.
- Use a bullseye, 5-inch circle, or equivalent size aiming point.
- Shooter begins from low ready or concealed carry position.
- Set timer for 5 seconds.
Drill Instructions:
- On the buzzer or go signal, shooter will fire 5 rounds.
- The time limit is 5 seconds.
- All shots should be on target within the scoring zone.
- Drill can be repeated from various starting positions or stances.
Scoring / Pass Criteria:
- Benchmark standard: All 5 hits inside the 5-inch scoring zone in under 5 seconds.
- Hits outside the circle = failure.
- Time over 5 seconds = failure.
- Track hits and total time to monitor improvement.
Coaching Tips / Variations (Optional):
- Try from concealed draw for an EDC benchmark.
- Increase or decrease the target size to adjust difficulty.
- Use strong-hand or support-hand only to vary training.
- Run it cold at the start of training sessions as a performance snapshot.
Recommended Target Download:
Use a 5-inch bullseye grid or printable accuracy circles, to run the drill as intended. Check out MidAtlanticMunition’s free target page.
The 5x5x5 Drill is a fast, no-nonsense check on your pistol skills—no excuses, no fluff. Snap a photo of your target and tag us @midatlanticmunition to show us how you stacked up. Swing by our handgun ammo collection, when you’re ready to restock!