Thinking Man's Corner

Article By: Leo H.

Let me introduce you to the GALEFI-Q Target (of which GALEFI is paid 0.0% of sales).

The National Rifle Association (NRA) debuted the B-27 target in 1962 to replace the older B-21. This new design superimposed a large 10-ring international rapid-fire scoring boundary over a human silhouette. Throughout the 1970s, the B-27 served as the default target for U.S. law enforcement. During this decade, critics argued that shooting at a solid black human outline fostered negative psychological impacts and implicit racial biases. Manufacturers responded by offering the B-27 in multiple colors and photorealistic variations. Although newer tactical standards have emerged, the B-27 can still be found on training ranges today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) introduced its iconic bottle silhouette in 1988 via the FBI “Q” Target. The design was meant to eliminate social bias and correct the poor training habits caused by the oversized B-27. By removing traditional scoring rings, the Bureau centered its qualifications around a strict focus on high-vital center mass and the head corridor. Historically, legal and tactical experts found the target to be an exceptional means of training and measuring firearms proficiency. Although the original target has since been updated, modern federal versions still rely on this foundational bottle shape.

The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council introduced the SQT-A1 (Standard Qualification Target) in 2005. It debuted alongside the Georgia Semi-Auto Pistol Qualification course to provide a uniform benchmark for agency scoring. The target utilizes a plain white human silhouette with a dashed inner 10-ring boundary, ensuring an objective and featureless scoring area. To this day, the SQT-A1 remains the mandatory baseline target for state qualification.

Recognizing a need to bridge the gap between rigid state qualifications and dynamic tactical training, the GALEFI-Q was designed in late 2014 following a “meeting of the minds” in Carrollton, Georgia. The Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors met to discuss replacing the standard SQT-A1 target with a more versatile alternative. They sought a single target adaptable for both official qualifications and diverse skill-building drills. To establish a legally and tactically sound foundation, they layered multiple training shapes and scoring zones onto the classic FBI QIT bottle silhouette, expanding its utility on the range.

The target measures a standard 23 by 35 inches. Its bottle outline represents the upper torso and head, featuring scoring areas equivalent to the POST-recognized SQT-A1 for consistency during state qualification courses (GSAC). The 10×8-inch chest zone includes a tighter 3×5-inch inner box and a 1-inch aiming dot. The silhouette also features a dedicated head box, a 2-inch neck, and a 1-inch aiming square. To enhance accountability, a line bisects the bottom of the bottle to restrict the primary scoring area, though shots below it can be utilized for “vest drill” follow-ups. Finally, integrated numbers and shapes permit a variety of sequential command drills.

Baseline scoring is simple. Hits inside the primary zones score 10 points. Shots inside the bottle but outside the 10-point area score either 8 or 5 points, depending on the specific course of fire. To increase difficulty, instructors can command shooters to target specific features, such as “two to the dot and one to the square.” Furthermore, the integrated numbered shapes enable multi-step command drills on a single target.

The GALEFI-Q takes a different tactical approach than the standard state target. Where the SQT-A1 focuses strictly on qualification scoring, the GALEFI-Q layers multiple training shapes onto the standard QIT bottle silhouette. As a result, it easily handles advanced skill-building drills—including head shots, inner-box precision, and numbered command sequences—alongside baseline scoring. Notably, a January 2024 directive reinforces that Georgia POST still requires the SQT-A1 for official GSAC qualification. Even so, the GALEFI-Q provides instructors with a far more flexible platform to move beyond simple pass/fail scoring.

The target is available in paper and weather-resistant card stock from Action Target, TargetsOnline, and similar suppliers. Target Eagle also produces a high-visibility smart version. For instructors who need one target that can handle both formal qualification and progressive skill-building, the GALEFI-Q remains a practical choice.

Try it out – A 200 Round Training Day.

“The danger of a standard qualification target is that the shooter finishes the drill the moment they see the outline. By integrating numbers, colors, and varied geometric shapes into the target layout, we force the shooter to look, process a command, and make a conscious choice before breaking the shot. It transforms a mechanical reflex into an act of deliberate processing.” – John Hearne

Semper Optimum