Intermediate
Rifle
NSW Lateral Drill
Used in: Defensive · Military Qualification
Source: Naval Special Warfare (NSW) training cadre. Common in tactical shooting courses as an introductory movement drill.
8s
Par Time
15 yd
Distance
4
Rounds
4
Reps
16
Total Rounds
The NSW Lateral Drill comes from the Naval Special Warfare training pipeline and teaches a simple but critical concept: don’t stand still after you start shooting. Two rounds to an IPSC target, a 3-yard lateral step, then two more rounds — four hits total while your body is in motion or just finished moving. It’s the entry point to fighting off the X and trains you to break accurate shots while your platform is still settling.
Set a single IPSC target at 15 yards (15 m). Start from low ready. On the beep, fire two rounds to the A zone, execute a lateral step of roughly 3 yards (3 m) to either side, then fire two more rounds to the A zone. Par time is 8.0 seconds. The lateral step should be aggressive — a real move, not a shuffle. Your sights will bounce when you plant; the skill is pressing the trigger only when the dot returns to the zone.
Track A zone hit rate across the full string. All four rounds in the A zone under 8 seconds is a clean pass. Once that’s consistent, push the par to 6 seconds or add a second target at the lateral position. Run it on both sides — most shooters have a weaker lateral direction and this drill will expose it fast.
Range Setup
Setup
1x IPSC target at 15 yd (15 m). Rifle with loaded magazine, safety on. Start in low ready position. Lateral step distance: ~3 yd (3 m) to either side. Shot timer required.
Scoring
4 rounds total per rep — 2 before lateral step, 2 after.
All 4 hits in A zone under 8.0 seconds = clean pass.
Hits outside A zone = marginal.
Any miss = failed rep.
Track split times: first pair, transition/step time, second pair.
Tips
Plant your feet before pressing the second pair. The lateral step should be fast and aggressive, but the shots come after you stop — don't try to shoot while still moving until the basic version is clean.
Progression
Push par time from 8.0 toward 6.0 seconds with clean hits.
Add a second IPSC at the lateral position for a two-target version.
Alternate step direction each rep (left/right).
Increase lateral step distance to 5 yards.
Run from concealment draw instead of low ready.
Add a reload between the two pairs for a 6-round version.