In April 2023, Ruger invited me to Gunsite to try out its newly released Ruger Security-380 pistol. We each shot nearly 1000 rounds through our guns, and Ruger offered to sell me the firearm afterward. I bought it and since then, I’ve incorporated it into my carry routine – preferring its light weight and easy concealability to some heavier and larger caliber pistols. As with any carry gun, it’s essential to put it through some drills, and I chose three of my favorites out of John Kolis’s excellent book titled “Pistol Practice: The Shooting Range Guidebook that Teaches You How to Practice.”
I asked Ruger to send me a new Security chambered in .380 to carry, because the aforementioned gun from Gunsite is special, with engraving on its slide. It might not be a well-known fact, but if you use a firearm to defend yourself, chances are it will be confiscated – at least until the dust settles.
So, it’s best not to carry a family heirloom or firearm that has any sentimental value for every day carry. After receiving the new Security, I cleaned it, and that’s another good idea – get the gun on the cleaning bench, read the owner’s manual that came with it, take the gun apart to the cleaning stage per the manual, inspect it while you clean it, then lightly oil and run a function test on it. This one oozed with oil, and I’ve been told that since guns might be on the shelves or in storerooms for a while, manufacturers might tend to lubricate them heavily. This one had (too much) oil that dripped onto the bench after I disassembled it, so getting it correctly lubricated was another good reason to clean it before I took it to the range.
I am a fan of training with the gun you carry, as often as you can. Dry fire should be included as well, and in the past I always started a session on the range with some dry fire … even though I shot my Gunsite pistol a lot, through dry fire I could reacquaint myself with the Security-380’s operation and the new gun’s trigger press and sight picture. But, John Kolis, author of “Pistol Practice: The Shooting Range Guidebook that Teaches You How to Practice,” wouldn’t want me to do that for the first drill, and here’s why.
In his book, Kolis includes 19 chapters of drills. In chapter 15, this drill caught my eye, titled “Cold Open.” He writes, “We are all in the habit of warming up before an activity. We may stretch before running, throw warm-up pitches, or lift lighter weights before heavier ones. Similarly, we often do our best shooting after we have been at the range for a little while and are ‘all warmed up.’ There is, however, a practical or martial element to hand gunning which begs the question of how well we can perform cold.”
Since this was the first time I had shot this gun, I did this drill later. Of course, you should dry fire and slow fire a new gun on its debut range appearance. I believe Kolis’s advice is a great way to see how I (and it) would perform should I need to use a pistol “cold.” For this practice session you’ll need an IDPA practice target or a 9-inch paper plate (attached to a larger backer). This must be the first drill of the session, obviously. Load two magazines with five rounds each, and then, complete the course of fire as indicated in the book:
Kolis says you may challenge yourself and push the target farther back to the distance you can still hit 10 out of 10. However, keep in mind that you are practicing for self-defense, which usually means closer distances.
The Ruger Security is quick to get on target, because of its compact size. Also, I am a fan of the green fiber optic front sight and U-shaped adjustable back sight. It makes acquiring the target easier than with some sights out there. I believe that this drill calls for a speedy draw, if you can accomplish it.
The next drill has become one of my favorite ones on the range and I use it for all handgun reviews. It’s called “Vertical Bars.” (If you purchase the book, you’ll get access to printing PDFs of the targets.) This drill focuses on aiming, but instead of looking downrange at a circle, you’ll be looking at vertical bars – two rows of three bars, shaded and white. Kolis explains that when we shoot at circles, we evaluate our performance based on the distance from the center. He believes that vertical bars (and he says you can just use one-inch pieces of painter’s tape on a target as well) forces a shooter to focus on sight alignment, followed by a smooth trigger press.
You’ll appreciate the trigger press on the Ruger Security for this drill. I’ve already mentioned the cool sights that will benefit you for acquiring the front sight quickly, but the trigger press is the second most important fundamental here. The gun has been designed with an internal hammer-fired, double-action trigger, which is pre-cocked, meaning that the hammer is cocked back by the rearward motion of the slide, and so when you press the trigger you complete the hammer’s cocking routine and fire the pistol. It allows for a smooth pull and a short, crisp reset.
Here’s where it gets scary and a bit … hairy. Engaging multiple targets is a nice change, but if you think about the reasoning behind this drill, it can add extra pressure to your training. After all, now you’re dealing with more than one threat. Kolis advises putting two 6- or 4-inch circles on the same target backer, because some ranges won’t allow cross-lane shooting. You should hang the targets about 18 to 24 inches apart, making sure that all shots that pass through will end up in the backstop. The drill starts from low ready. If you follow the course of fire in the book, you’ll shoot alternating pairs on left and right targets. You can even add a third target on the same backer, if you want. Fortunately, I shoot on an open private range, so I could practice transitions on two separate targets, a couple of feet apart. I’ve even placed one target farther back than the other – as if two threats were not located in the same line of fire.
Kolis recommends recording the audio of this drill, and to listen for a consistent “pop pop” as you transition from one target to another. In other words, you’re listening for what they call a “controlled pair.” The second shot should come quickly, and should occur as soon as recoil is managed and a shooter has settled the gun’s sights on the second target. Just remember: Eyes go first, sights go second.
Everything about this gun plays well with this drill. The aforementioned sights and trigger press, along with balance and the ability to load up 15 round magazine keeps you practicing, instead of reloading. The gun comes with two magazines: 10 and 15 rounds, double stacked.
If you’re able to draw from an appropriate holster and practice this drill, even better.
These are just a few of the drills I use to stay in tune and on target with this gun. I trust it for my every day carry, and I feel more confident with it after a refresher course with Kolis’s drills.
If you’re looking for a good carry gun that won’t break the bank, check out the Ruger Security-380, with an MSRP of only $389.
If you’re looking for a great gift for someone who shoots, check out Kolis’s book, which is $29.99 for a paperback.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Thanks for noting that point about the book that I listed being on Kindle. I changed the link so that you can see the paperback version at John’s website, which costs $29.99.
The link provided for the book is for a Kindle and not printed.