Featured RE Factor Dead Man’s Hand Tom Marshall June 3, 2018 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More RE Factor Tactical has an entertaining, thought provoking tool to spice up your routine range days. We recently tried out their IQ Targets and Dead Man’s Hand shooting decks. While the IQ targets can be used as a standalone tool, depending on your own creativity, the decks are designed to pair with the targets. Dead Man’s Hand looks like any other standard deck of playing cards except that, instead of just a number, each card has a drill. Number of rounds, intended target, and required movement is all included on each card. The targets themselves are simply an array of colored shapes with numbers or letters in them. While it doesn’t sound like rocket science, the randomized combination of visual inputs (colors, shapes, letters, numbers) requires a surprising amount of thought. Combining the mental tasks of target discrimination and counting rounds with movement and presentation from a holster creates a well-rounded training session. The deck can be used solo by simply setting up an IQ target and just drawing cards off the top until you run out of ammo. But if you like friendly competition, grab a training partner and put each other on a shot timer for each drill. On our first outing with this set, the author indulged his inner showman by fanning out a group of cards and allowing three other shooters to take turns choosing cards from the hand. There are two Dead Man’s Hand decks – for pistol and carbine, respectively. There are also two separate IQ targets match up accordingly. The rifle target has fewer shapes that are larger, to compensate for the increased distances on the carbine drills. As long as you have the range space to accommodate movement, the IQ system forces you outside the comfort zone of slow fire marksmanship to engage a number of oft-overlooked skills that are vital to competence behind a gun, whether you carry one for security or sport. And they do so in a way that’s accessible and much more entertaining than flipping through a binder of drills printed off the internet. For only $19.95 per deck and $2.50 each per target, there’s a lot good training to be had for the price of a couple movie tickets and some popcorn. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.