Why Moving Targets Matter

It's time to start training for the fight, not just the range.

In real-world engagements, there’s no such thing as a perfect stance, a still target, or unlimited time to pull the trigger. Yet many law enforcement agencies and military units continue to train in environments that don't reflect the realities of the job.

📉 Studies show that officers miss 85% of shots in actual engagements. That’s not a small margin. That’s a systemic failure.

It’s not because these officers lack discipline or potential. It’s because they’re being trained to shoot at static targets—flat paper silhouettes that don’t move, don’t fight back, and don’t resemble what they’ll face in the field.

The Legal Mandate for Realistic Training

This issue isn’t just about performance—it’s also about responsibility. In the landmark case Popow v. City of Margate (1979), the court ruled that departments have a duty to train officers under conditions that reflect what they’ll face on the street. The case involved a fatal shooting during a foot pursuit, where the officer had never been trained to shoot while moving.

The court’s decision made one thing clear: If your training doesn’t match real-world conditions, you’re not just falling short—you could be held liable.

Why Moving Targets Matter

The reality is simple: threats move. They don’t wait for you to line up your sights. They don’t stay at the same distance. And they certainly don’t freeze in place while you decide.

Training with moving targets changes everything. It forces shooters to:

• Track and lead targets under pressure

• Time their shots based on movement

• Adapt in real-time to dynamic scenarios

• Develop true situational awareness

  
  

This kind of training builds more than accuracy, it builds decision-makers who can stay calm, focused, and effective when seconds count.

Leadership Starts with Preparation

If you’re in command, whether in a police department, special unit, or military command structure, your responsibility is clear: prepare your people for what’s coming, not just what’s easy to run on a flat range.

Every missed opportunity to train realistically is a risk. A risk to your officers, your unit, your community—and yes, your legal liability.

Static targets build confidence. Moving targets build competence. And when it matters most, competence saves lives.

📧 Interested in including Dynamic Range X1 targets in your training program?

Contact us at info@dynamicrangeX1.com. We’ll help you build a range that trains for the real world.

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Got any questions or feedback? Email us at info@dynamicrangeX1.com