Originally created by Jeff Cooper, the El Presidente is a timeless benchmark for pistol shooters. It’s designed to test draw speed, target transitions, recoil control, reload efficiency, and follow-up accuracy—all in under 10 seconds. If you want a drill that exposes flaws in your fundamentals, this is it.
Materials Needed:
- Handgun and holster (concealed or duty)
- 6 rounds of ammunition per run
- Shot timer
- 3 silhouette or IDPA-style targets
- Eye and ear protection
- Spare magazine and mag pouch (or pocket)
Setup Instructions:
- Place three targets side by side, spaced 1 yard apart, shoulder to shoulder.
- Distance from shooter to targets: 10 yards.
- Shooter begins facing away from the targets, hands up in the “surrender” position.
- Firearm is loaded with 6 rounds, spare magazine with 6 rounds on the belt or in pocket.
Drill Instructions:
- On timer beep:
- Turn 180 degrees
- Fire two rounds into each target (left to right or right to left)
- Perform a reload
- Fire two more rounds into each target, in the same order
- Movement should be efficient and controlled; transitions and reloads are key.
Scoring / Pass Criteria:
- All shots should land in the high-scoring zone (A-zone or equivalent).
- Standard goal time:
- Advanced: Under 10 seconds
- Intermediate: 10–13 seconds
- Beginner: 13+ seconds
- Penalties: Add 1 second per hit outside the scoring zone.
Coaching Tips / Variations (Optional):
- Try running it mirrored—start strong side, then weak side.
- Change the start position: seated, concealed, or from a box.
- Use tighter targets or add no-shoots to increase difficulty.
- Work reload consistency dry before adding live fire.
Recommended Target Download – Use silhouette or IDPA-style targets, or printable torso targets with clear scoring zones. Download free printable targets here: midatlanticmunition.com/free-targets
Continue Your Training
This drill is part of the MidAtlanticMunition Shooting Drills & Firearms Training Hub, a growing library of handgun drills, rifle drills, dry fire exercises, training standards, and downloadable targets.
→ Explore the Full Shooting Drills & Firearms Training Hub
El Presidente doesn’t lie—it’ll show you where your gaps are. Want to tighten your reloads or clean up transitions? Run it cold and see how you stack up. Share your results and tag us at @midatlanticmunition to keep the training culture alive. And if you need ammo that’s as consistent as your shooting, check out our handgun ammo collection.