Don't Neglect Dry Firing

[hps1]

Dryfiring provides valuable feedback that live fire simply cannot due to the effects of recoil. Dryfire reveals very important shooter error, such as failure to follow through on the shot, etc. etc.

I'm sure some firearms are more "fragile" than others and can be damaged by dry firing w/o snap caps, however, consensus seems to be that most 1911's can be dry fired w/o damage and I have dry fired a Mod. 70 Target rifle tens of thousands of times and recorded over 25,000 live rounds on the range, replacing only barrels.

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

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best! Especially great for single action rimfires.

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.

Looks like a great tool and a lot of fun, but a #2 pencil is cheaper and still provides the feedback. Besides there were no cell phones in 1961.

ETA: The M9 or M17 might be a tad more accurate as the wooden pencil would fit closer in the 9mm barrel, but it is surprising the groups which can result w/good letoffs even in a sloppy .45 cal. barrel. I'd bet a couple of propper sized teflon o'rings on the pencil would tighten groups a bit more....may try a couple of wraps of teflon tape and see.

Hold tight & jerk right, whether it be live or dry fire!

Regards.
hps

 

[BWS]

Spoiled rotten here,my loading room has a cpl long windows. Have unobstructed 300 yd rolling fields out one of them. There's one particular white,small football sized rock @175 yds that is a favorite dry fire target,with my varmint rigs.I have worked on trigger control,holds,bolt work,and follow through. Have plenty of places here to shoot,and I do.... but dang,working on that white rock sure has made a difference.

Can't imagine trying to get to the next level without dry firing? Shooting well,clean,and keeping mistakes at bay requires a tremendous amount of practice/discipline that there's just no easier process than dry fire. A lot of sports don't have this,archery for one.

Good luck with your project.

 

[JR24]

Spoiled rotten here,my loading room has a cpl long windows. Have unobstructed 300 yd rolling fields out one of them. There's one particular white,small football sized rock @175 yds that is a favorite dry fire target,with my varmint rigs.I have worked on trigger control,holds,bolt work,and follow through. Have plenty of places here to shoot,and I do.... but dang,working on that white rock sure has made a difference.

Can't imagine trying to get to the next level without dry firing? Shooting well,clean,and keeping mistakes at bay requires a tremendous amount of practice/discipline that there's just no easier process than dry fire. A lot of sports don't have this,archery for one.

Good luck with your project.

I was never a big fan of DA/SA guns, had many over the years and always moved on since SAO and strikers were easier for me to shoot well. Last spring/summer I had a chance to grab a Sig 228 in a nice trade and did, deciding to learn the trigger.

Simply dry firing a bunch during lockdowns made my live fire almost catch up with my Glocks and 1911 on almost the first live session. Went from throwing my first shot a few inches to a consistent sub 5 second FAST with less than 100 rounds fired live.

The laser systems I find really helpful for holster work, especially getting a first shot on target on time, no need for live fire here anyway as recoil has no bearing on a first shot drill.

 

[Sundance1908]

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.

I do this too. I use snap caps when I'm not looking for feedback. I use the G-Sight system when I want feedback on aim. Great for home defense practice.

 

[hps1]

Spent a couple of minutes developing a new "match grade" pencil this morning.
1. Squared the eraser by cutting flush with the metal retainer band.
2. Added two -010 neoprene o'rings which fit loosely in the .45 barrel.

IDK if that improved accuracy or not. The 84 YO eyes and too much coffee today definitely didn't help. Called the 9 o'clock flyer due to poor natural aim point. 10 "shot" group @ .500" :

Experimenting w/target size, believe smaller is better. You know, aim small, miss small.

Added a third o'ring to see if I can lower muzzle velocity and may add more, and find a number 1 (harder?) lead pencil, as this one is a bit worse for the wear after only 10 "shots".

This reminds me I have worked on my rifle shooting but neglected the handguns lately

Havin' fun in S TX,
hps1

 

[SwampWolf]

This may sound preachy and simplistic but I make it a practice to keep all live ammunition in another room whenever I'm engaging in dry-fire practice. Too easy to put the wrong cartridge in a chamber, whether you want it to shoot or not to shoot.

 

[Insignificant bill]

This may sound preachy and simplistic but I make it a practice to keep all live ammunition in another room whenever I'm engaging in dry-fire practice. To easy to put the wrong cartridge in a chamber, whether you want it to shoot or not to shoot.

Yup, that is the proper procedure.

 

[JR24]

This may sound preachy and simplistic but I make it a practice to keep all live ammunition in another room whenever I'm engaging in dry-fire practice. To easy to put the wrong cartridge in a chamber, whether you want it to shoot or not to shoot.

Yep, as I said I go even further and have specific mags only used for dry fire marked on the baseplates.

I'd prefer to have specific guns for dry fire only but I'm not that wealthy ... yet