F.A.S.T. (Fundamentals, Accuracy, & Speed Test)

The F.A.S.T. Test, created by Todd Louis Green of pistol-training.com, is a popular standard used in his classes to assess a shooter’s fundamentals, accuracy, and speed with compact, double-action carry guns equipped with iron sights. Shooters who successfully complete the drill in under five seconds with no misses, twice, receive a commemorative challenge coin, highlighting their proficiency.

Course Setup:

• Range: 7 yards.

• Target: 3×5 card (head) and 8″ plate (body).

• Start Position: Weapon concealed or in duty condition with all holster retention devices active. Shooter faces downrange in a relaxed stance with arms down at sides.

• Rounds Fired: 6 rounds total.

Drill Execution:

• Start: From the holster with the pistol loaded with exactly two rounds.

• On the Buzzer:

  1. Draw the pistol.

  2. Fire 2 rounds at the 3×5 card (head).

  3. Perform a slide-lock reload.

  4. Fire 4 rounds at the 8″ plate (body).

Additional Considerations:

• The F.A.S.T. must be shot from concealment or a recognized retention holster.

• Using open-top retention holsters without concealment (e.g., Blackhawk SERPA, Safariland ALS) incurs a 0.50-second time penalty.

• Using a standard duty retention holster (e.g., Safariland SLS, SSIII) with flap/retention magazine pouches grants a 0.50-second time reduction.

Scoring Benchmarks:

• Expert: Less than 5 seconds

• Advanced: Less than 7 seconds

• Intermediate: Less than 10 seconds

• Novice: 10 seconds or more

The F.A.S.T. Test challenges shooters to demonstrate quick, accurate shooting and efficient reloads, reflecting their ability to handle realistic concealed carry or duty scenarios under time pressure.