This month’s skill builder comes from attending the Low Light Instructor Course at the DEFCON26 Conference. One of the drills we conducted was a left or right step while manipulating the weapon-mounted light switch.
Most law enforcement officers are taught a step-and-drag technique to move left or right, and that is a technique for some situations. I like to also have the ability to crossover step left or right by using my feet in a natural movement. This month is not about right and wrong; it’s about more tools in your toolbox.
At War HOGG Tactical, one of the biggest things I see with my students is that they typically have only one way to conduct a skill technique. I don’t tell my students what to do — I show them some different techniques, tell them the “WHY” behind each technique, and let them choose the best course of action. I also have a dry-fire block before a live-fire drill to give them a chance to work on their technique and figure out the best technique for them.
The crossover step versus step and drag left/right step drill is designed around a single, simple goal: find the best movement technique to build efficiency in your left or right step movement, incorporating past War HOGG skill builder drills like Draw From the Holster, The Accelerator, and more. If you are new to the Safariland CADRE Dispatch, start with the War HOGG Skill Builder library.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Normal range and firearms equipment
- Live-fire range
- Dry-fire training area
- The Firearms Training Notebook — available on Amazon
- Shot Timer — we recommend the PACT Club Timer III. Click the link to learn how to use a timer effectively in your marksmanship training.
- Recording device and tripod/holder — this will be key to watching your footwork.
- War HOGG Tactical Training Target
How the Monthly War HOGG Skill Builder Works
The War HOGG skill builder model is simple. At the beginning of the month, shoot the drill cold, with no warm-up. Just shoot the skill builder, and let the target and your shooting data show where your performance on demand stands. Record the data, along with any notes from that live-fire session, in your copy of The Firearms Training Notebook.
From there, you build your dry-fire and live-fire plan around what the shooting performance data exposed. Later in the month, you come back to the live fire range and reshoot the skill builder to see whether you actually improved on that skillset.
Set Up for Pistol Movement Footwork
Set up your target at 5 to 15 meters, depending on your skill set, with the War HOGG Tactical Training Target. I’m using the humanoid side of the target. Load a couple of magazines for your pistol and a magazine for your carbine, if you wish to add the carbine component.
You can fire your pistol from the ready position or from the holster, and your carbine from the low ready. I would set up my phone or camera to see what my foot movement looks like. Remember, be an athlete!
How to Run the War HOGG Skill Builder
Run the drill as follows:
- Start from your position of choice with the pistol. If it’s coming from the holster, practice hands above the waist and hands below. For the carbine, start from the low ready.
- On the audible tone of the shot timer, engage at least 2 rounds (you can shoot more) and make your left or right step and fire two more rounds.
- Repeat the process so you conduct an even number on both sides and try both the step-and-drag technique and the crossover step technique.
- Record your shooting performance data in The Firearms Training Notebook and make any notes after each execution of the drill.
Build Your Dry Fire Plan
Once you shoot the War HOGG left/right step skill builder with your pistol and/or your carbine, build your dry fire plan from the shooting performance data you recorded. In my experience, the crossover step gave me more distance covered and was slightly faster than the step and drag technique.
You definitely need a camera recording your sessions so you can watch your foot movement. Remember, on the crossover, your foot goes in front of the other, not behind.
Be prepared to fire your shot as soon as your foot plants; a lot of shooters take too long before they fire that shot after the movement.
The Skills: What Pistol Footwork Movement Develops
- Foot movement to a shootable position
- Vision focus on a small part of the target
- Not waiting for a perfect, settled red dot
- Calling your shot
- Acquiring a proper grip
Check Your Work
Sometime near the end of the month, go back out and reshoot the War HOGG skill builder pistol foot movement left and right step drill. Compare the end-of-the-month shooting performance data to your data from the first of the month. If you put in the work, you should see improvement when you compare your data in your firearms training notebook.
Build Your Shooting “CREW”
Training with like-minded shooters pushes you to get better. If you have friends, family, or co-workers who share your shooting passion, start building that shooting tribe.
This way, not only do you have your own accountability, but you also have others to help you improve on your marksmanship journey. They can video record you shooting, possibly give you feedback on things they see, and add some fun competition to help you grow.
At War HOGG Tactical, our motto is “Be 1% Better Everyday!” You can always join us in sharing your marksmanship growth. Go to our On The Range (OTR) Patreon “CREW” members’ page and join like-minded shooters looking to get more proficient in their marksmanship skills.
My co-author, Mark Kelley (Kelley Defense), and I conduct bi-monthly interactive Zoom calls where we break down each shooter’s skill builder. We have even reviewed video of “CREW” members shooting during our Zoom call and given immediate feedback on where we see they can improve their shooting skills.
Conclusion: Put In The Work
If you’re running a pistol and you’ve never specifically trained any foot movement, this month’s War HOGG skill builder pistol foot movement drill is exactly the kind of skill builder that will help you build this new skill. If you’re new to movement, practice to figure out what technique is going to work best for you and build upon that skill.
Revisit this skill builder periodically so you don’t lose that ability in your footwork. Shoot it cold, record the data, study the video feedback, and build your dry fire plan. Then come back to the range and check your work.
Improvement comes from putting in the work: a solid dry fire training plan throughout the month and a way to record your progress, like The Firearms Training Notebook. Using additional tools, like a shot timer and a phone to video your training sessions, you can take your dry fire training to the next level and see increases in your shooting performance during your live training.
Don’t forget to check out the War HOGG skill builder library for more shooting tips and sign up for our newsletter. Go to warhogg.com for our upcoming training course schedule.
Train Hard, Stay Safe, and see you “On The Range” – Rick
