Moving Targets

posted on September 25, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rackley2015_fs.jpg (3)

Much of our shooting and training take place from static positions against motionless targets because adding movement at a range can be expensive and difficult.

Many ranges have no way to safely allow movement on the part of shooters. Other ranges just don’t want the hassle of setting up the specialized areas needed for moving targets or moving shooters considering the number of people that just want to put holes in targets. And, of course, many moving target systems are just too expensive for small, personal ranges.

All of this is preventing many of us from obtaining real-world experience against moving targets. And that is too bad since I seriously doubt that an attacker is going to stand straight and tall and allow someone the time to draw, aim and fire, and neither should you. The moment an attacker realizes his victim has a way to fight back, he’s going to start moving.

Over the years, I’ve had times when I could set up movement situations for shooters. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to afford a moving target system, though I have shot against a few. I did, however, set up a way to practice on moving targets using an old tire.

Simply tape a piece of cardboard to the inside of a tire, and have a friend roll the tire into the shooting zone. Of course, this must be done safely, so pay careful attention to the course set up. Unless you have bulletproof barricades, the only safe way to conduct this drill is from an angle on the same line as the shooter. Simply roll the tire at an angle away from the shooter. A hill really helps both motion and speed.

Remember, a fight is not a duel, where two people take careful aim and are honor bound to stand. Because of this, you’ll need to know how to move during a fight, and how to hit a moving target. What tips can you provide for setting up affordable ways to train against moving targets?

Latest

Winchester Supreme Long Range Artv 1
Winchester Supreme Long Range Artv 1

Behind Winchester's New Supreme Long Range Ammunition

For 2026, Winchester Ammunition took a big step forward in its ammo offerings with Supreme Long Range. Unlike previous offerings from the company, this purpose-built long-range hunting and shooting line required the company to invest in an entirely new projectile design: the BC Max bullet.

New For 2026: Magnum Research Suppressor-Ready Desert Eagle .50

With the growing popularity of suppressors, Magnum Research is bringing its iconic .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol up to date with a suppressor-ready, threaded-barrel version.

Three Reasons the U.S. Supreme Court Should Reaffirm that AR-15 Bans are Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court has finally agreed to review the constitutionality of AR-15 bans. As the mainstream media is unlikely to give a fact-based analysis of these bans, here are three points that should be in every article about this challenge.

America 250th Anniversary Ammo Offerings

We’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of the greatest country on Earth, and we have some new limited-edition munitions to commemorate that achievement.

Tennessee Police Department Adopts the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol

Beretta USA recently announced that a major metropolitan police department in Tennessee has approved, and begun to field, the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun, a more-affordable model recently introduced by the company.

America’s Lever Revolution

America is known across the world as a nation of gun owners, but only one firearm action has the distinction of being uniquely American: the lever-action.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.