This is Rangemaster’s “Drill of the Month” – a piece that has become a part of our feature rotation. It is part of that company’s monthly newsletter. As always, start slow before trying to progress. If you’re not familiar with use of the holster – especially from concealment – and, not familiar with the most dangerous thing you’ll do at the range, putting the gun into the holster – seek education first. You can shoot the whole thing from low ready, just to see how you do. The Rangemaster instructors travel. Check the website.
From the Rangemaster newsletter:
DRILL OF THE MONTH
Throughout 2026 we will be running a Drill of the Month in each edition of the newsletter. The goal is to help motivate folks to get to the range and actually shoot their defensive weapons, and to have some fun in the process. Each month we’ll post a drill or a short course of fire. You are encouraged to go to the range, shoot the drill, and then post your thoughts and a photo of your target on the Rangemaster Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/rangemaster/.
Miami Shoot-Out
April 11, 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the infamous shoot-out in Miami, FL, involving a squad of FBI Special Agents and two hard-core bank robbers. To commemorate this historic event, this month’s drill will seek to approximate some of the conditions encountered by the agents during the fight. The names on the drills reflect the name of the agent who had to do something very similar at some point in the fight.
You will need 2 RFTS-Q5 or IDPA targets. Score the 8” circle in the chest or the head ring as 5 points. All other hits on the silhouette count as 2 points.
McNeil Drill- Start at 3 yards, gun in hand at Low Ready. On signal, fire 1 head shot on one target, and 1 head shot on the other target. Time limit is 2.5 seconds Do this drill 3 times.
Mireles Drill- Start at 7 yards, gun in hand, all dominant hand only. Fire 2 rounds at 1 target, chest. Take 2 steps forward. Fire 2 rounds at the other target, chest. Take 2 steps forward. Fire 1 round at one target’s head and 1 round at the other target’s head, all in 10 seconds.
Hanlon Drill- Start at 10 yards, holstered. On signal draw, drop to kneeling and fire 2 shots on one target and 2 shots on the other target. All to the chest. Time limit is 6 seconds
Risner Drill- Start at 25 yards, holstered. On signal, draw and fire 4 rds in 10 seconds, all to the chest on one target.
20 rounds total 100 points possible
April 11,1986 A true watershed event.
April 11th will be the 40th anniversary of the famous FBI shoot-out in Miami, Florida. This event pitted nine FBI agents against two heavily armed, skillful, and extremely dedicated hold-up men. When the gun battle was over, both Bad Guys were dead, but so were two FBI Special Agents, plus another five wounded. This was a watershed event, leading to the change-over from revolvers to semi-automatic pistols in American law enforcement; to the modern high performance ammunition we have today; and a host of training and doctrinal changes. One of the surviving agents, who killed both the suspects, was Ed Mireles. Ed has written a first person account of the fight and I strongly recommend his book if you are serious about winning violent, bloody confrontations with criminals. Reading the words of the man who actually did the deed is far better than a report done by someone else long after the fact. Available from Amazon for about $20.00, or on Kindle even cheaper.
-- Tom Givens, Chief Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services