Tueller Drill: A Defensive Shooting Drill for Distance and Reaction Time

The Tueller Drill, sometimes called the “21-Foot Rule,” is based on a simple but sobering truth: an average attacker with a knife can close a 21-foot gap in about 1.5 seconds. That’s barely enough time for someone with a holstered weapon to recognize the threat, draw, and fire effectively.

Originally developed by Lt. Dennis Tueller of the Salt Lake City PD in the 1980s, this drill is designed to train reaction timing, distance awareness, and rapid defensive response under duress.

Materials Needed:

  • Handgun and secure holster
  • Partner (to simulate the advancing threat)
  • Marked firing line 21-foot measured distance
  • Shot timer (or verbal start command)
  • 1 human silhouette or torso target
  • Eye and ear protection

Setup Instructions:

  1. Place the target 21 feet in front of the shooter’s start point.
  2. Shooter begins holstered, hands at sides or in a natural position.
  3. The “attacker” (partner or assistant) starts 21 feet away, aligned with the target.
  4. On signal, the attacker runs toward the shooter.
  5. Shooter must recognize the threat, draw, and fire before the attacker makes contact (or hits a secondary marker line if safety prohibits close approach).

Drill Instructions:

  1. Start with the attacker standing at the 21-foot mark.
  2. On a preset signal (beep or verbal “Go!”), the attacker rushes forward.
  3. Shooter must draw and fire at the target (usually 1–2 rounds) before the attacker reaches the shooter or a designated finish line.
  4. Reset, switch roles, and repeat.

Scoring / Pass Criteria:

  • Success = one or more effective hits on target before the attacker reaches the shooter or finish line.
  • Use a shot timer to track draw time from signal to first round fired.
  • Benchmark goal: draw and fire within 1.5 seconds.

Coaching Tips / Variations (Optional):

  • Try from concealment for a real-world scenario.
  • Vary starting hand positions (hands up, hands down, crossed, etc.).
  • Run dry reps for safety, then live fire once confident.
  • Mark the attacker’s progress point with cones or a chalk line to review shooter timing.
  • If solo, simulate the threat by using a visual cue (like a tossed ball or timer buzzer).

Recommended Target Download – Use a full-size silhouette target. High center-mass accuracy is what matters most here. Check out our free targets at MidAtlanticMunition’s free target library.

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

This drill isn’t about speed—it’s about understanding just how close danger can get, and how little time you really have. Practice it. Respect it. And share your results with us on Instagram: @midatlanticmunition. And when you need more ammo to keep up that training, swing by our handgun ammo collection.