Moving Draw

Practice drawing the gun like it was a defensive encounter - on the move!

What is the Moving Draw Drill?

Plenty of firearms enthusiasts practice drawing a gun from a perfect stance, perfectly squared up on the target, perfectly ready for the drill. At the beep, they draw and shoot the target once without moving and show off their draw to first shot. There is a time and a place to work on a draw from a perfect stance, and the time to first shot is a very important metric for self defenders. But in a real world DGU (defensive gun use), we won’t be standing still and we won’t take one shot.

The ability to draw the gun while moving is very important for all conceal carriers. The best way to get better at this all important skill is to practice it – which is exactly what this drill is.

How to Setup

Drill Setup

  • 1 Target at 4 yards
  • Start position: gun loaded and holstered, wrists below belt
  • 6 shots required
How to Dry Fire

Drill Steps

  1. At the beep, urgently move laterally to the target (the priority is to start moving immediately)
  2. While moving, draw the gun and engage the target with six rounds
How to Mod

Drill Modifications

  • Vary the start position. Have your hands in different positions, feet at different positions, and torso oriented in different directions. In the real world, we likely won’t be perfectly squared up on the target.
  • Start the drill at a slow walk, as if you were walking down the isle at the grocery store. Use a par timer with a randomized start time with a very wide window of a beep, like 3 to 7 seconds. At the beep, run the drill. This will sharpen reaction time and improve the ability to get the gun out into action during a real world situation.
  • At the beep, backpedal instead of move laterally. There are situations in the real world where moving laterally during a DGU isn’t a viable option.
  • If training with a partner, have multiple targets, each with a unique identifier. Be it target type, target color, or some sort of unique marker. Instead of using a shot timer to activate the first shot, have the partner call out a unique identifier on the target. Run the drill while engaging that target. For added difficulty, the partner has the option to call out an additional target while the first one is being engaged.

Drill Tips

Start this drill at a complete stand still. No creeping motion, no prep. Only move after the beep happens. Studies have shown that improving reaction times to known stimulus helps improve reaction time to unknown stimulus.


Members only content available.
Login Get FREE All Access Training

Drill Diagnostics

While moving, watch the sights as you step. Watch to see if they bounce around excessively. Try running the drill without pulling the trigger at all to see what the sights do.


Don't know what drills to run to meet your goals?

Try out a virtual training call to talk with Brian about shooting goals, training methods, and drills to best meet those goals.

Drill Environment

More Drill Modifications

Modifications to focus on: Conceal Carry

Modifications to focus on: General Modifications

Modifications to focus on: Movement

Modifications to focus on: Push Speed

  • Broaden what is considered “acceptable accuracy” - More info »
  • Decrease the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Increase the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Move targets closer - More info »
  • Put a black dot on the main point of aim on the target - More info »

Modifications to focus on: Tighten Accuracy

Modifications to focus on: Transitions

  • Decrease the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Don’t pull the trigger during transitions - More info »
  • Increase the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Transition from outside targets of an array and work inwards - More info »

Summer Practical Pistol Course

Join me for a three month virtual training program!

Learn More