Hackathorn Standards

The Hackathorn Standards, designed by Ken Hackathorn in 1993, are a foundational test of practical pistol performance and served as a blueprint for the IDPA Classifier. This 60-round course evaluates a shooter's proficiency across various distances, positions, and time constraints.

Course Setup:

• Targets: Three IPSC (or IDPA) targets spaced 1 yard apart at varying heights: 5', 6', and 4' (from left to right).

• Rounds Fired: 60 rounds total.

• Scoring:

  • Head shots: 5 points

  • A-zone (-0 on IDPA target): 5 points

  • C-zone (-1 on IDPA target): 3 points

  • D-zone (-3 on IDPA target): 2 points

  • Miss: 0 points

• Penalties: Shots fired more than 0.30 seconds after the PAR time count as misses. A 0.30-second grace period is allowed beyond the PAR times.

• Start Position: Varies by string.

• Concealment: Not required.

• Makeup Shots: Not allowed.

• Shooting Positions: 2H = Two Hands (freestyle), SHO = Strong Hand Only, WHO = Weak Hand Only.

Strings of Fire:

1. 5 yards, 2H: Draw and fire one shot to each head (3 sec).

2. 5 yards, SHO: Draw and fire one shot to each head (4 sec).

3. 5 yards, SHO: Draw and fire one shot to each body (3 sec).

4. 5 yards, SHO: Draw and fire one shot to each body (3 sec).

5. 8 yards, 2H: Draw and fire two rounds on the left target (2 sec).

6. 8 yards, 2H: Draw and fire two rounds on the center target (2 sec).

7. 8 yards, 2H: Draw and fire two rounds on the right target (2 sec).

8. 10 yards, 2H: "El Presidente" – Begin facing up-range with 6 rounds in the pistol; on the buzzer, turn, draw, fire 2 rounds on each target, reload from slide lock, and fire two rounds on each again (10 sec).

9. 10 yards, WHO: Begin standing with the strong hand in the small of the back; pistol is on the ground, butt towards the strong side; on the buzzer, retrieve the handgun, fire one shot on each target from standing or kneeling (5 sec).

10. 12 to 8 yards, 2H: Draw and fire two shots on each target while advancing from 12 yards to 8 yards (5 sec).

11. 15 yards, 2H: "Transition Drill" – Begin with hands at shoulder level as if holding a rifle; on the buzzer, draw and fire one shot on each target (4 sec).

12. 20 yards, 2H: "Prone Drill" – Begin standing; on the buzzer, drop to prone, draw, and fire two rounds on each target (10 sec).

13. 25 yards, 2H: "Barricade Drill" – Begin standing behind the barricade; on the buzzer, draw and fire two rounds on each target from cover while standing, perform a tactical/retention reload, then fire two rounds on each from cover while kneeling (24 sec).

Scoring Benchmarks:

• Excellent: 250 points or more.

• Acceptable: 200-249 points.

• Needs Improvement: Below 200 points.

The Hackathorn Standards are a comprehensive evaluation of a shooter’s skills, demanding precision, speed, and adaptability across various shooting scenarios and distances.