“Two to the head, one to the chest” refers to the Mozambique Drill, also known as the “failure to stop” drill, which is a firearms training exercise. It involves firing two shots at the chest (center mass) and, if the threat continues, firing a final shot to the head to ensure incapacitation. This drill was developed to quickly and efficiently stop an assailant, as torso shots may not always be immediately effective due to factors like body armor. 

Breakdown of the drill 

• Two shots to the chest: The initial shots target the largest, most easily hit area of the body (the center mass) to quickly reduce the threat. 
• One shot to the head: If the initial shots don’t stop the threat, a third shot is aimed at the head to target the central nervous system and brain. 
• Purpose: The headshot is meant to be a decisive shot to ensure the threat is neutralized after the body shots have failed to stop them. 

Origin of the drill 

• The drill was named after a firefight incident during the Mozambican War of Independence, according to Ammo To Go and this Reddit post. 
• A Rhodesian mercenary named Mike Rousseau encountered a fighter who kept coming after being hit twice in the chest. 
• The mercenary then fired a shot that hit the attacker’s throat, severing the spinal cord and ending the threat. 
• Firearms instructor Jeff Cooper incorporated this three-shot sequence into his training after hearing about Rousseau’s experience. 

Modern training context 

• While the Mozambique drill is a well-known concept, some modern firearms training focuses more on continuous shooting at center mass rather than pausing for a headshot, citing potential issues like the time and accuracy needed for the third shot under extreme stress