Key Takeaways
- Understanding minimum standards is crucial, as they set the baseline for performance in self-defense with firearms.
- Minimum standards are not about acceptability but about getting started; they represent the first step towards proficiency.
- Every gun and carry method adheres to minimum standards, which apply universally across the board.
- An example of a minimum standard is completing 5 rounds in 5 seconds at 5 yards into a 5″ target, emphasizing the importance of on-demand performance.
- Choose your standard based on logic and hold yourself accountable to it for continuous improvement.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
It is important that we understand these two concepts, and how they intertwine with each other. Hopefully, if you are carrying a gun for self-defense, and especially if carrying a gun professionally, you have set for yourself a minimum standard. Where that line should, or needs to be placed, is a discussion for another day. We are just talking concepts for now.
What a Minimum Standard Is
Minimum standards are not standards of acceptability, they are standards of not so bad to be rejected. It is like the bottom floor of a building. We are in the door, but only in the door. If all we do is stay one step inside the door, we aren’t doing enough to actually make the building useful.
Imagine, you need to go to the wild world of Walmart to pickup some groceries. You get to the parking lot, manage to park your vehicle of choice mostly between the lines, walk up to the automatic sliding doors, take one step inside the door, and then stop. Are you really accomplishing what you are there for? No. But, you are positioned to accomplish it, you just have to go do it. That is a minimum standard. The first step of a thousand step journey. Keep going.
The Catch (There Always is One)
Now here is the trick (you knew there was one), minimum standards apply to every gun, from every carry method. It doesn’t matter if it is a 2011 from a duty holster, or a J-frame from a pocket holster, the minimum standard applies across the board. All guns, all carry methods.
An Example
A common minimum standard is 5 rounds, in 5 seconds, at 5 yards, into a 5” target. It is attributed to Gila Hayes. If you do the math, that is a 2 second draw, and 0.75 splits if you want to shave it down to exactly 5 seconds. Really though, you need a little breathing room, so let’s say 0.70 splits.
A variation of this is the 5^5 as adapted by Claude Werner. The addition is that instead of shooting it once, you shoot it five times in a row. We have written about that variation of the drill HERE.
More from USA Carry:
What is On Demand Performance
This gets us to on demand performance. Something that you can do over and over and over again, regardless of level of preparation, or condition of circumstance. On demand means you can shoot the standard cold, regardless of how cold. In the rain, in the snow, in the sun. Basically, anywhere you would (or wouldn’t) eat green eggs and ham.
This is how these two things go together. The minimum standard is not something you should need to work up to. It isn’t something I shoot at the end of a range session to see if I make it. It is something I shoot at the beginning of a range session, preferably without even touching my gun beforehand. Shoot the ammo that is in it, then replace the ammo with fresh carry ammo at the end of the practice session.
Choose Your Standard
So, go choose your standard. Base it in some type of logic. There are plenty of suggestions on this website. Then hold yourself to the standard.
