Don't Neglect Dry Firing

To the OP,
Dry firing is a great exercise to do around the house. My father, brother, and I all have targets on the wall that we use on a semi regular basis when it’s really cold or raining. It does make a difference. If you’re using a handgun with a hammer and don’t have snap caps, a folded paper towel, or even small piece of rubber tubing cut to fit in the hammer slot works well to reduce to metal contact.

You can make snapcaps by taking empty brass and fill the primer pocket with good silicone. Replace silicone as necessary.

Yes, dry fire is both important and useful, very useful.

For a more fun experience, consider one of the laser bullet systems like iTarget so you can get a little feedback as a supplemental option to normal dry fire. Especially useful as an alternative to live fire for bad weather and ammo shortages.

I've been using a laser trainer cartridge for several months now..It has helped in improving my marksmanship when I get on the range with live ammo.

DMW1116 said:

Noooo! I need the brass for real ammo.

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It’s only one piece of brass....

I must be the oddball because I just won't pull the trigger on my guns unless I'm sending rounds downrange. I do normally go to the range twice a week though so there is that.

In terms of revolvers, I have read many times on different gun sites that it's best to at least use snap caps when dry-firing some later Colts. Also, for whatever reason, Taurus warns against dry-firing at least some of their revolvers.

Top tip, a 2-cent O-ring works better and lasts longer than snap caps for exposed-hammer guns.

Years ago an old timer shooter showed me he used a folded over pice of rubber-from an old bicycle tube, e.g.-for a frame mounted firing pin-he was a Colt aficionado. I use the No.6 drywall anchors in my 22s, bright yellow, easy to see, good for about 10 impressions, at $5/100 easy to replace.

To make snap caps try depriming some cases and fill the primer pockets with glue from a hot glue gun. It seems to hold up better than silicone.

I have been using Tipton snap caps in my .38 special snubbies and other revolvers for trigger practice. I had my S&W 36 at the range yesterday and I did notice some improvement in my shooting. I normally do not use dry firing as a training tool but I can’t get to the range as often as I like due to an injury so it does come in handy.

mmb617 said:

I must be the oddball because I just won't pull the trigger on my guns unless I'm sending rounds downrange. I do normally go to the range twice a week though so there is that.

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I shoot a couple of times a week too, and dry fire multiple guns every day, and in a couple of different ways. Been doing that for decades now too. Dry fire is a big part of staying on top of things, and trigger pulling is only one part of things.

General Geoff said:

Top tip, a 2-cent O-ring works better and lasts longer than snap caps for exposed-hammer guns.

View attachment 981562

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Just don't forget to pull that out. Might get embarrassing at the wrong moment.


Prior to A Zoom showed up, I tried most of the other factory made snap caps, and made a few of my own. Generally, the factory caps are the better way to go, and for a couple of reasons.

Main reason is, they generally hold up better and there is less risk of something getting into the action and causing function problems. Ive had that very thing happen in the past with homemade snap caps. Never had the issue with a factory cap.

The other reason I prefer them is, they don't look like a factory or live round, and its pretty hard to mistake one for the other. If you're making them from the same cases you normally use, they look the same. Marking them usually doesn't last or hold up.

I look at them as a safety tool as well as something to take the stress of the gun. If you're using snap caps, you cant have a loaded round in the gun if you've just put a snap cap in the chamber.

Of the two types you see most often, the A Zooms are the better choice over the Tipton type. The polymer or whatever it is they use for the striker, holds up well to constant use and Ive yet to have one come out or come apart.

The Tiptons Ive used, usually didn't last real long before the "primer" ended up stuck inside the case, and wouldn't come out.

While Ive never had any problem with the Tiptons in my handguns as far a "fit", their rifle snap caps (from a couple of different packs) in 308, would get stuck in the chambers of a couple of my 308 bolt guns, and I had to beat the bolts open with a hammer handle.

https://www.itargetpro.com This is what I use and it is a great training aid, and it's fun too. I have a couple friends that come by to use mine an some that finally bought their own. Its well worth the cost and can be used by everyone in the house to compete against each other.

For dry firing semiautos I like to use a magazine of a contrasting color. A blued pistol gets a stainless magazine, a stainless or nickel pistol gets a blued one.

I just don’t know; dry firing (to me) is like sitting in the driver’s seat of a Shelby Cobra, moving the steering wheel back/ forth and yelling VROOM, VROOM - I just don’t know?

BLACKHAWKNJ said:

For dry firing semiautos I like to use a magazine of a contrasting color. A blued pistol gets a stainless magazine, a stainless or nickel pistol gets a blued one.

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I have some colored stickers that I put on the baseplate of my dry fire only mags and keep them, loaded with a snap cap in their own location, separated from all my other mags.

Steve S. said:

I just don’t know?

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I see you don't.

Steve S. said:

I just don’t know; dry firing (to me) is like sitting in the driver’s seat of a Shelby Cobra, moving the steering wheel back/ forth and yelling VROOM, VROOM - I just don’t know?

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Proper dry fire will help reinforce and develop the fundamentals which are.... well, fundamental.

And you can get a lot more proper repetition in without the time and money sink of live fire. Not that live fire isn't essential too.

A laser trainer cartridge, and a barrelblok magazine cartridge https://bloksafety.com/ provides a safe and repeatable training environment.

I will use all three of the cartridge simulators for mag changes, along with the laser cartridge and the timer. Helps build solid skills.

Im sorry. But the dry firing concept i do not get. I practice indoors with my air pistols. I have a bullet trap i use. I like seeing holes in paper lol.

When it was raining hard enough that the target faces wouldn't remain on the frames we often whiled away the time conducting "1911 matches" in the post AMU barracks using #2 wooden pencils and targets drawn on a sheet of typewriter paper to see who could "shoot" the smallest group.




That was 60 years ago.....looks like I need a bit more practice!

Regards,
hps

My ratio of dry fire to live fire is probably 50 to 1. Probably the most valuable practice I do (and It's free).

I do, but I don’t use snap caps of any kind just to annoy the “don’t dry fire on an empty chamber” people.

CoalCrackerAl said:

Im sorry. But the dry firing concept i do not get. I practice indoors with my air pistols. I have a bullet trap i use. I like seeing holes in paper lol.

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That is why laser bullets are nice. With accompanying software that shows where the point of impact is. Also air guns can provide holes in paper feedback.