Shooting the DOE SMG Qual with the DOE SMG

Did you know the Department of Energy has a highly trained security force that wields everything from handguns to light machine guns and grenade launchers? These guys are armed to the teeth. With that in mind, their various firearms quals are available online, and today, we are going to shoot the DOE SMG qual.

The Department of Energy is responsible for national energy policy and production, as well as research and development of nuclear power, the military’s nuclear weapon program, and nuclear reactor production.

Anything that deals with nuclear power goes through the Department of Energy, which is also tasked with protecting nuclear material. This requires top-notch security and well-trained operators. Today, we get a little bit of a clue of how well trained.

H&R BLEM Retro DOE 7.5″ 9mm Complete Pistol, Black

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	Harrington & Richardson Retro 635 9mm Carbine Rifle, 1/10 Twist, Gray	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1199.99
	Harrington & Richardson Retro 635 9mm Carbine Rifle, 1/10 Twist, Gray	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1199.99
	Harrington & Richardson BLEM Retro 635 9mm Carbine Rifle, 1/10 Twist, Gray	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1149.99
	Harrington & Richardson BLEM Retro 635 9mm Carbine Rifle, 1/10 Twist, Gray	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1149.99

The DOE Submachine Gun Qual – Parts and Pieces

That blasted Hughes Amendment, and the NFA makes getting a real submachine gun an expensive and difficult endeavor. Since I couldn’t get a real submachine gun, I got the next best thing, a replica of the Colt 633, aka the DOE SMG. Palmetto State Armory owns Harrington and Richardson, which produces a variety of retro ARs.

One of their latest guns is a copy of a micro-sized Colt SMG designed for the Department of Energy in the mid-1980s. This niche, micro-sized AR-9 is famous among AR enthusiasts and has a unique look and design. It’s an old-school AR with a carry handle upper, A1 sights, a short 7.5-inch barrel, a handguard from an M231 port-firing weapon, and H&R’s HAR-15 brace.

Using the DOE SMG to shoot the DOE Submachinegun Qual seems only appropriate. That’s my go to subgun, but I think any PCC or subgun will serve you well for this exercise. You’ll also need 60 rounds of ammo and two magazines. You’ll need some form of mag pouch to hold your spare, I used a micro chest rig.

These drills have a time and accuracy standard. You’re supposed to use a DOE Standard Target, which is easy to find. However, you could use an FBI Q, USPSA, IPSC, or similar target and get the same training benefits. Since time is a factor, you’ll need a shot timer or at least a phone app with programmable par times.

Let’s forget our need for basic safety, such as eye and ear protection.

Shooting the DOE SMG Qual

We have nine stages to shoot our way through. The stages start at three yards and go as far as 50 yards. You’ll shoot most of these drills more than once with repeating strings of fire. All drills will start in the low ready. The qual calls for some burst fire, specifically two-round bursts, but we can’t do that. Instead, each burst will be a double tap. Let’s dig into it and start sending lead downrange.

Stage 1 – 3 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a short distance using controlled bursts of fire in the automatic mode.

At the signal, aim and fire a two-shot burst to the torso in two seconds.

Repeat this DOE SMG drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 2 – 5 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a short distance using controlled bursts of fire in the automatic mode.

At the signal, aim, and fire two 2-round bursts center mass of the target, then transition and fire a two-round burst to the head of the target. You have five seconds to complete this portion of the DOE Submachine gun qual.

Repeat this drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 3 – 5 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a short distance using controlled bursts of fire in the semiautomatic mode.

At the signal, you’ll fire a failure drill consisting of two shots to the body and one shot to the head in three seconds.

Repeat this DOE SMG drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 4 – 7 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a short distance using controlled bursts of fire in the automatic mode and continuing the firing after reloading.

Make sure the magazine in your firearm is loaded with one round and that you have an additional round chambered. At the signal, aim and fire a two-round burst, then immediately reload and fire a second two-round burst from your fresh magazine. You have ten seconds to complete the reload portion of the DOE Submachine gun qual.

You’ll only shoot this drill one time.

Stage 5 – 7 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a short distance using controlled bursts of fire in the semiautomatic mode.

This is a very simple drill. At the signal, aim and fire two rounds in semi-auto within two seconds.

Repeat this drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 6 – 10 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a moderate distance using controlled bursts of fire in the automatic mode.

Alright, we’re at the 10-yard line. Can we make it to the end zone? At the signal, you’ll aim and fire two 2-round bursts in three seconds.

Repeat this DOE SMG drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 7 – 15 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a moderate distance using the semiautomatic mode.

This DOE SMG drill gets relatively repetitive. We’ll repeat it six times total, but it’s one shot per run. At the signal, you’ll aim and fire one well-aimed headshot in three seconds.

Stage 8 – 25 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a moderate distance while moving to a more advantageous shooting position, using the semiautomatic mode.

This portion of the DOE Submachine gun qual has us moving. We’ll start in the standing position, but at the signal, you’ll transition to the kneeling position and fire two rounds on target in four seconds.

Repeat this drill for a total of two runs.

Stage 9 – 50 Yards

Technique: Immediate response to a lethal threat at a long distance while moving to a more advantageous shooting position using the semiautomatic mode.

Oh boy, 50 yards is quite the range with a subgun, right? Not really; it’s pretty easy to handle at this range. We’ll start in the standing position and, at the beep, transition to a prone position and fire two rounds. You have six seconds.

Repeat this drill for a total of two runs.

Unload – Show Clear

That’s the DOE Submachine gun qual. It’s fairly simple and easy to shoot. I had no problems blasting through it and passing every portion of the qual. Keep in mind I’m using an old school DOE SMG clone with tiny A1 peep sights and I need about a third of the time allotted.

Admittedly, as I shot the DOE Submachine gun qual, it dawned on me that the real challenge would be firing two-round bursts in full auto mode. That takes trigger control and isn’t easy without a fair bit of practice.

The H&R DOE SMG was a ton of fun to shoot, and I highly recommend the gun. If you own one, go shoot this qualification and get the full Department of Energy experience. If you want a real challenge, cut the times in half and use IPSC A-zone for the torso and a 3×5 card for headshots.

I’m not sure I could pass that one with peep-sights. What do you think of the DOE Submachine gun qual? Let us know below! Also, if you like articles like this, let us know. I’d love to shoot some more police quals.

About Travis Pike

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.