War HOGG Skill Builder: Shooting on the Move — Own the Dot, Own the Fight

Rick Hogg demonstrates Walk the War HOGG Line Drill, which emphasizes perfecting forward and lateral movement techniques for effective use of pistols and carbines a critical task in close quarters combat. Click the video to watch the instructional video.

The Flat Range Isn’t the Fight - But You Better Train Like It Is

Shooting on the move is one of those skills that people talk about like it’s some advanced “operator trick.” It’s not. It’s a critical firearms skill for close-quarters combat, and it’s a skill you’re going to need if you want to stay alive when the problem is close, fast, and not standing still.

Here’s the part most shooters get wrong: they assume you must practice shooting on the move only on a live range. That thinking keeps people stuck. Your foundational improvements come from dry fire, then you validate them with live rounds on the flat range.

When I was an instructor at 7th Special Forces Group teaching the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat course, shooting on the move was a key skill we built into our Green Berets before they ever stepped into the shoot house. We built a marksmanship foundation with pistol and carbine first, then layered in forward and lateral movement in day and night conditions.

At War HOGG Tactical, we don’t chase gimmicks. We combine real-world experience with a building-block methodology. That means we build the base, test it, stress it, and then confirm it holds up.

And if you want this skill to matter, you need to treat the flat range like the real world: add shoot/no-shoot targets so you’re forced to ID while moving, and consider percentage targets as you build the skillset.

The Safety Reality: Movement Doesn’t Excuse Sloppy Discipline

Before we talk footwork, here’s your reminder: movement amplifies errors. If your muzzle discipline is weak, it will show. If your trigger-finger discipline is lazy, it will show. If your range doesn’t support movement, don’t force it, build the fundamentals dry and then validate where it’s allowed.

When you set up movement work, you follow the four rules every time, especially rule four: identify your target, what’s in line with it, and what’s behind it. Don’t shoot what you haven’t identified, and ensure rounds go into the berm.

And when you lower the firearm during movement or between reps, finger off the trigger and weapon on safe.

Train hard, but train smart.

Overthinking Is the Enemy: Walk Like a Human

When it comes to shooting on the move, most people overthink it. I try to walk as naturally as possible while keeping my sights as still as I can. There will always be some sight movement, the amount of movement is what matters.

A lot of shooters believe their feet must be “perfectly planted” before they can fire. That mindset slows you down and creates hesitation. The standard is simple: if the red dot (or sights) are on the acceptable scoring area, send the shot.

If you’re consistently shooting low when moving forward, pay attention to when you break the shot. Taking the shot as your lead foot comes down can drive the gun down, so your shot goes low.

That’s not a mystery. That’s timing and biomechanics.

Footwork That Works: Short Stride, High Cadence, Soft Knees

Let’s talk feet, the part everyone wants to ignore.

I walk heel-to-toe like I normally would. I shorten my stride for stability, and if I need to move faster, I increase step frequency while keeping the shorter stride. I also add a slight bend in the knees as a shock absorber over uneven terrain.

That knee bend matters. It reduces the vertical bounce that makes your sight picture look like a jackhammer.

Now, will your body type be identical to mine? No. You have to experiment and find what fits you. But the principle stays the same: don’t stomp. Don’t bounce. Don’t “tactical waddle.” Move like a human who can fight.

Shooting On The Move, Forward Movement First: Earn Lateral Movement

If you want real progress, learn forward movement before you attempt lateral movement.

Start close. Build the skill. You may not fire a lot of rounds early, but that’s how you build a foundation that holds up when you push distance.

Once you’re comfortable moving on a single target, start adding complexity the right way. Place a couple targets out at 15–20 degrees and work target ID while moving.

Progression matters. The shooter who rushes steps is the shooter who builds bad habits at full speed, and then has to spend months undoing them.

Carbine Reality: Point of Aim vs Point of Impact Will Humble You

Here’s a problem that makes good shooters miss shots for no good reason: forgetting the point-of-aim / point-of-impact difference with a carbine.

Up close, mechanical offset can matter. If you’re driving hard and trying to “go fast,” you can do everything right and still miss because you aimed like it was a pistol instead of a rifle. The solution isn’t slowing down forever, it’s being honest about the realities of your platform and confirming your holds during training.

Dry Fire Is Where You Actually Get Better

If you want to get better at shooting on the move without wasting ammo, dry fire is your multiplier. This is where you build clean mechanics, reduce unnecessary movement, and learn what “acceptable wobble” looks like.

And I’m going to give you a tool that helps a lot of shooters see what they’re doing.

The Visible Laser Tool: Feedback You Can’t Argue With

A visible laser can be a great dry-fire tool for movement work. You can use something like a PEQ-15 or a handheld visible laser.

I like the laser for two reasons.

First, if you’re new to a red dot, you may or may not truly see how much that dot is moving. The laser makes the platform movement easier to see. Second, if you have a training buddy, they can watch that laser movement and give you input you might miss.

That’s what training partners are for: to see what you can’t see while you’re in the work.

Use laser feedback, use video, and then take that cleaned-up technique to the live range.

Lateral Movement: The Missing Piece Is Usually Your Waist

Forward movement teaches you stability. Lateral movement exposes your body mechanics.

When you go lateral, apply the same principles as forward movement, with one important addition: the waist pivot. Some shooters struggle with that pivot, and it wrecks their ability to shoot laterally, especially with a carbine. The goal I want is the ability to pivot at least 90 degrees to each side.

Here’s a lesson that saves time: get your technique solid first, then introduce a plate carrier or the kit you normally wear and work through the gear-related problems.

Don’t train slick and hope it works loaded. Train loaded and make it work.

Moving Laterally With a Carbine: Your Support Hand Position Matters

Most shooters find running a carbine easier from the support side because of body mechanics.

But the big key, especially when shooting off your firing side, is this: slide your support hand back toward the magazine well. If you keep your hand out in the “normal” extended position, it can restrict your waist rotation and reduce your engagement area.

You have to figure out what works for your body style and your setup.

And here’s the real-world gear question you better answer in training: if you move your hand back, are you losing contact with your white light or IR laser pressure pads?

This is why “range reps” without realistic setup are fake reps.

The War HOGG Monthly Skill Builder Plan: Measure, Train, Retest

If you want this to become a real skill, something you can call on when you’re tired, under pressure, and in low light, you need structure.

So here’s how I want you to run your monthly plan using the principles from this skill builder:

Week 1: Baseline Test (Keep It Simple)

On the range, start close. One target. Forward movement only. Record hits and notes. Then add two targets at slight angles (15–20 degrees) once you’re stable.

Don’t get hung up on being “fast.” Get hung up on being clean.

Week 2–3: Dry Fire Focus (Where the Gains Happen)

Use a visible laser and video to see your platform movement while walking naturally, shortening stride, increasing cadence, and using soft knees.

Build your timing so you’re not breaking shots as the lead foot drops (that low-shot problem).

Then begin adding lateral movement with a deliberate waist pivot. Work toward a 90-degree pivot each side while staying stable.

Week 4: Retest and Confirm

Go back live. Same distance. Same target. Same movement. Confirm improvement.

If you want this to fit the War HOGG “shooting performance data-driven” approach you’ve seen in our other monthly skill builders, use your The Firearms Training Notebook, record results, and build par-time goals you can actually beat through consistent dry practice. (That notebook-and-plan approach is a War HOGG staple for skill builders, because tracking progress is how you stop guessing and start improving.)

The Mistakes I See Every Time

If you want faster improvement, stop repeating the same predictable errors.

Overshooting the acceptable area because you’re trying to “outrun” your eyes. Fix your visual patience.

Stomping and bouncing because you think “aggressive” equals “effective.” Walk like a human, not a pogo stick.

Shooting low because you break the shot on the lead-foot impact. Fix your timing.

Forgetting carbine offset at close distances. Confirm your holds.

Trying lateral movement without earning forward movement first. Build the base.

Ignoring the waist pivot and trying to “arm swing” the gun laterally. Pivot with purpose.

Training slick but fighting loaded. Add your kit and solve those problems on the range—not in the moment you can’t afford mistakes.

Accountability: Don’t Train in a Vacuum

Accountability matters. You can do it alone, but a partner or group will see things you missed.

If you don’t have that network, join ours. Share your marksmanship growth with the On The Range “CREW” members page. Mark Kelley and I do bi-monthly interactive Zoom calls where we break down skill builder work and even review training videos live to give immediate feedback.

You don’t need cheerleaders. You need standards and honest eyes.

Conclusion: Put In the Work, Walk The Line

To improve shooting-on-the-move marksmanship, you must put in the work. That means a solid dry-fire plan and a way to record progress. Use tools like a visible laser and video to level up your dry fire, and then go confirm the improvement in live training.

Train hard. Stay safe. See you "On The Range" - Rick