ICT Silver Bullet vs 3 AM Session: Two Windows, Two Different Setups
- The ICT Silver Bullet runs from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST — it targets the first clean FVG that forms inside this window and uses it as the entry for a counter-London-morning move
- The 3 AM session window (approximately 3:00–4:00 AM EST) targets the early London move — the institutional directional delivery that often begins before the 9:30 AM main move
- The Silver Bullet is a reversal or counter-trend entry model; the 3 AM window is a trend-following entry model — they operate in opposite phases of the daily cycle
- The 3 AM window requires being awake during unsocial hours and suits traders in European time zones; the Silver Bullet suits US traders who operate during standard US morning hours
- Both windows require the same ICT entry conditions — valid PD array in the correct dealing range zone, aligned with the daily bias — but the specific setups they produce differ systematically
The Two Precision Entry Windows
3 AM = enter the trend early (before the Judas Swing). Silver Bullet = enter the reversal after the Judas Swing. They are complementary, not competing — they address different points in the same daily AMD cycle.
Where Each Window Sits in the Daily Cycle
The 3 AM Window: Early London Entry
The Silver Bullet: Post-Judas Reversal Entry
Which Window to Trade
Watch: ICT Silver Bullet vs 3 AM Session: Two Windows, Two Different Setups
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade both the 3 AM and Silver Bullet windows on the same day?+
Yes, and this is the preferred approach for traders who can access both windows. The 3 AM entry catches the early London directional move. If that trade runs to its target before 10 AM, the Silver Bullet may provide a re-entry or a second trade in the same direction. If the 3 AM entry was incorrect (the early move was the Judas Swing and reversed), the Silver Bullet provides the corrected, post-Judas entry.
Does the Silver Bullet always trade against the London morning direction?+
Not always. On days where the 3 AM move was the true London delivery (not a Judas Swing), the Silver Bullet may trade in the same direction as the morning move — entering a continuation or re-entry after the morning's first delivery. The Silver Bullet is a time window and entry model, not a directional rule. Direction is determined by the daily bias and what the morning has revealed about the manipulation vs delivery structure.
What is the risk of the 3 AM entry being a Judas Swing?+
This is the primary 3 AM risk. The Judas Swing often develops precisely during the 3 AM window — the first London move can be the manipulation phase, not the delivery. Mitigation: use a tight stop (below the FVG bottom for a bullish 3 AM entry), accept a possible small loss, and use the Silver Bullet as the re-entry. The 3 AM and Silver Bullet together form a two-attempt daily entry model.
Which window produces bigger moves on average?+
The 3 AM window, when correct, catches a larger portion of the daily move because it enters before the primary delivery begins. The Silver Bullet catches only the portion of the delivery that occurs between 10 AM and the end of the NY session. The 3 AM's larger potential gains come at the cost of higher manipulation risk; the Silver Bullet's smaller gains come with higher directional certainty.
Is there a 3 AM equivalent window for the New York session?+
The closest NY equivalent is the 9:30 AM macro — the NY market open window when the first significant NY session FVG often forms. This serves the same function as the 3 AM window in London: catching the early directional move of the session. The 9:30 AM macro is the NY equivalent of the London 3 AM entry.
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This article is part of the free ICT Trading education programme — 118 articles written from scratch covering the complete Inner Circle Trader methodology. All content is for educational purposes only. This site is independent and is not affiliated with Michael Huddleston or the Inner Circle Trader.