dry firing...any advantage
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Whirlwind06
Member
Dry firing IMO helps with trigger control and sight picture.
ribbonstone
Member
Recoil happens after sight alignemnt, breath control, trigger control....it's the hard work of shooting, riding the recoil is just physics. Get the first three under control with dry firing then learn to follow though and ride the rcoil (never fight it...learn to ride it).
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Indeed it can help a lot with control - and for anyone with laser grips - it will be easy to see that dot move off target with a poor trigger release.
Another major factor is with for example Ruger revo's - the triggers are not usually regarded as being up to Smith smoothness - dry fire will assist in the slow smoothing process just as fast as purely live fire - it is the repeat cycles of use that help bed in and smooth.
Could also include, for those who carry - draw practice and so telling better if a theoretical first shot is good enough by virtue of where the gun has pointed. Useful done with eyes closed facing a target with empty gun - then open eyes as the gun goes click - see where error is and adjust grip and gen technique to improve it.
Another major factor is with for example Ruger revo's - the triggers are not usually regarded as being up to Smith smoothness - dry fire will assist in the slow smoothing process just as fast as purely live fire - it is the repeat cycles of use that help bed in and smooth.
Could also include, for those who carry - draw practice and so telling better if a theoretical first shot is good enough by virtue of where the gun has pointed. Useful done with eyes closed facing a target with empty gun - then open eyes as the gun goes click - see where error is and adjust grip and gen technique to improve it.
mountainclmbr
Member
The moving parts will slick up a bit. Your muscle memory should improve. Recoil happens when it is too late to change anything. A flinch can really mess things up though.
Jenrick
Member
Dry fire is the most effective practice you can get with a weapon. As stated recoil happens AFTER the rounds out of the barrel and on it's merry way. Dry fire allows you to get your trigger pull down without any of the negative side effects of actually shooting (loud noise, flash, smoke, etc.).
Also it allows you to pratice things you can't normally do at the range, shoot on the move, draw and fire from the holster etc.
-Jenrick
Also it allows you to pratice things you can't normally do at the range, shoot on the move, draw and fire from the holster etc.
-Jenrick
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
on a centerfire S&W revolver, there is no need for snap caps
fiVe
Member
Dryfiring helped smooth out the trigger on my 642.
Cosmoline
Member
I stopped being a beliver in dry firing when I had my one and only ND doing it. Since then I've made a point of treating all firearms as loaded and just go to the range more often to get practice in.
Aside from the dangers, I really do question how useful it is. The dynamics of live fire, esp. with a handgun, are totally different from the dynamics of dry firing. Being good dry firing doesn't mean much when you add recoil, noise and the problems overcoming flinching.
Aside from the dangers, I really do question how useful it is. The dynamics of live fire, esp. with a handgun, are totally different from the dynamics of dry firing. Being good dry firing doesn't mean much when you add recoil, noise and the problems overcoming flinching.
antediluvianist
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SURE IT HELPS
Well, an ND can happen to anybody but does NOT happen to everybody, especially if the gun involved is a DA revolver with a swing-out cylinder.
The trigger pull on a DA revolver is difficult to get right - without moving the sight picture - and dryfiring certainly helps there. You can easily see if your DA triggerpull moves the sight alignment off target, and in the beginning, it DOES. Then you work out for yourself whether having the trigger at the first joint or at the fingerpad works better for you.
Recoil on a 9mm or .38 or lower is nothing much to be concerned about , and for the bigger calibers well, as everybody said above, the bullet is out the front already so if your sights were on at lockup you're OK.
And I find that extended dryfiring helps the arm get used to being extended outward without wobbling - good arm/hand exercise.
Well, an ND can happen to anybody but does NOT happen to everybody, especially if the gun involved is a DA revolver with a swing-out cylinder.
The trigger pull on a DA revolver is difficult to get right - without moving the sight picture - and dryfiring certainly helps there. You can easily see if your DA triggerpull moves the sight alignment off target, and in the beginning, it DOES. Then you work out for yourself whether having the trigger at the first joint or at the fingerpad works better for you.
Recoil on a 9mm or .38 or lower is nothing much to be concerned about , and for the bigger calibers well, as everybody said above, the bullet is out the front already so if your sights were on at lockup you're OK.
And I find that extended dryfiring helps the arm get used to being extended outward without wobbling - good arm/hand exercise.
Cosmoline
Member
Thats what I used to think 
The only way to be sure you have no ND's is to stop pointing at things and pulling the trigger unless you're at the range.
The only way to be sure you have no ND's is to stop pointing at things and pulling the trigger unless you're at the range.
wanderinwalker
Member
I practice dry-firing my S&W 629 just to keep from getting the recoil flinchy-jitteries (and use lots of low-power ammo at the range in between big-boomers).
First I secure all ammunition into its proper home, away from my firearms cabinet and myself when "snapping in". Then I always, always, ALWAYS triple check that the bloody weapon is clear. I like to stick my finger down into the chamber where needed to ensure the thing is empty. After this thorough check I'm pretty happy and proceed merrily on my way dry-firing through commercial breaks.
So I believe in it. Somebody with a bad-flinch or other poor habits will show it very quickly when the hammer falls on an empty chamber. Another good trick is to place a dime or penny just balanced on the barrel and see if you can be steady enough it doesn't fall.
Also beneficial is lots of practice using mildly-loaded ammunition. I believe good practice with a weapon will translate to good skills no matter what it is loaded with. But I do believe firing full-power ammunition is essential to learn how to handle the recoil and train your body to ignore the unpleasant stuff.
First I secure all ammunition into its proper home, away from my firearms cabinet and myself when "snapping in". Then I always, always, ALWAYS triple check that the bloody weapon is clear. I like to stick my finger down into the chamber where needed to ensure the thing is empty. After this thorough check I'm pretty happy and proceed merrily on my way dry-firing through commercial breaks.
So I believe in it. Somebody with a bad-flinch or other poor habits will show it very quickly when the hammer falls on an empty chamber. Another good trick is to place a dime or penny just balanced on the barrel and see if you can be steady enough it doesn't fall.
Also beneficial is lots of practice using mildly-loaded ammunition. I believe good practice with a weapon will translate to good skills no matter what it is loaded with. But I do believe firing full-power ammunition is essential to learn how to handle the recoil and train your body to ignore the unpleasant stuff.
Recoil and noise only occur after you have performed the mechanics of shooting. Dry firing allows you to concentrate and work on the mechanics. Once you master the mechanics then the flinching dissappear. The noise and recoil are the results of the shot. Whether the firearm is loaded or unloaded the act of shooting shouldn't vary.
pharmer
Member
Put a nickel tail side down on the top strap. Practice squeezing double action without dropping the nickel. You will improve. Joe
Owen
Moderator Emeritus
Cosmo,
There are an awful lot of USPSA and bullseye folks that disagree. There are even books written on the art of dryfiring.
There are an awful lot of USPSA and bullseye folks that disagree. There are even books written on the art of dryfiring.
muscle memory
It helps your body to “remember”, automatically the things that are difficult to train for while using live ammo. Things like trigger squeeze, moving just the trigger finger and not the other four. It also helps build speed. When dry firing, you can hear and feel the trigger reset, something that is difficult to teach with live ammo.
It helps your body to “remember”, automatically the things that are difficult to train for while using live ammo. Things like trigger squeeze, moving just the trigger finger and not the other four. It also helps build speed. When dry firing, you can hear and feel the trigger reset, something that is difficult to teach with live ammo.
sm
member
Yep.
Some stated above.
One is supposed to get where a firearm is an extension of them - the more you handle a firearm, the better the firearm becomes an extension.
There is more to dry firing than ingraining correct basic fundamentals of trigger in DA, sight aquisiton, follow thru. More to putting a dime on the front sight, or barrel to assist in smooth shooting. Smoothing a gun is nice...all these things and more do pay off when you actually do live fire.
What is often forgotton are 1) administrative 2) equipment 3) loss of motor skills if something serious were to ever happen.
Knowing you can smoothly draw from concealment, or nightstand or hidey hole in a room of your abode. Knowing you can eject the cylinders of dummies and get a speedloader back in with dummies, knowing you can safety re-holster...when there is no live ammo, pays huge dividends at the range with live fire...and if the balloon ever goes up.
Same principles I use with shotguns. I start students with as little as 10 Correct Mounting shotgun to face each day, and work up to 100 each day.
Granted it depends on person, as I have kids as young as 8, and elderly in 80's ...
Still the clay shooter can shoot 4 boxes of 25 at one time - 100 rds is a standard competition. Dry fire goes a long way with stamina.
With Revolvers [hand guns period] Student do the same similar stuff in dry fire. At the range the stamina and everything else goes to being a better shooter, safer shooter.
Start with 5 times a night drawing from holster, dry fire a cylinder. Then add using a speed loader with dummies, add more reps...
Some stated above.
One is supposed to get where a firearm is an extension of them - the more you handle a firearm, the better the firearm becomes an extension.
There is more to dry firing than ingraining correct basic fundamentals of trigger in DA, sight aquisiton, follow thru. More to putting a dime on the front sight, or barrel to assist in smooth shooting. Smoothing a gun is nice...all these things and more do pay off when you actually do live fire.
What is often forgotton are 1) administrative 2) equipment 3) loss of motor skills if something serious were to ever happen.
Knowing you can smoothly draw from concealment, or nightstand or hidey hole in a room of your abode. Knowing you can eject the cylinders of dummies and get a speedloader back in with dummies, knowing you can safety re-holster...when there is no live ammo, pays huge dividends at the range with live fire...and if the balloon ever goes up.
Same principles I use with shotguns. I start students with as little as 10 Correct Mounting shotgun to face each day, and work up to 100 each day.
Granted it depends on person, as I have kids as young as 8, and elderly in 80's ...
Still the clay shooter can shoot 4 boxes of 25 at one time - 100 rds is a standard competition. Dry fire goes a long way with stamina.
With Revolvers [hand guns period] Student do the same similar stuff in dry fire. At the range the stamina and everything else goes to being a better shooter, safer shooter.
Start with 5 times a night drawing from holster, dry fire a cylinder. Then add using a speed loader with dummies, add more reps...
Cosmoline
Member
Actually, in my experience those guys get out the range all the time, firing thousands of rounds. If you want to practice shooting, there's really no substitute for shooting. Dry firing can give you some basic understanding of how the action and trigger pull are working, but even with low-recoil rounds the rythm and dynamics of live fire shooting are totally different from those involved in dry firing. Firing my SP101 dry has no comparison with firing it live, even if I'm shooting mild .38 Special rounds. It can help get down the movements of using a speed loader I suppose, but again you really need to be doing it for real to create a GENUINE muscle memory.
I'm well aware that current CW favors dry firing. I just don't buy it.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Dry firing is practiced by every shooting champion I know or have ever met.
Sure, they shoot a lot. But they don't shoot 24/7. Dry firing can be done at anytime, anywhere -- and most good shots dry fire much more than they actually shoot.
I remember talking to Hulett Benner, and he would idly pick up a milk carton full of shot and hold it at arm's length while talking -- he was always practicing in some way or other. And dry firing made up a lot of his regimen.
Finally, to those who oppose dry firing -- what's your ammo budget? How many rounds of live ammo do you fire a day?
Sure, they shoot a lot. But they don't shoot 24/7. Dry firing can be done at anytime, anywhere -- and most good shots dry fire much more than they actually shoot.
I remember talking to Hulett Benner, and he would idly pick up a milk carton full of shot and hold it at arm's length while talking -- he was always practicing in some way or other. And dry firing made up a lot of his regimen.
Finally, to those who oppose dry firing -- what's your ammo budget? How many rounds of live ammo do you fire a day?
Deanimator
Member
Dry firing is a huge advantage. It allows you to practice the fundamentals without inconvenience or expense.
I dryfire frequently, without snap caps. This is almost never a problem with modern centerfire firearms, and with most rimfires. There's no reason why you SHOULDN'T use snap caps. I just don't see a reason why you HAVE to just to dryfire in most cases.
I started dry firing with Japanese replica firearms when I was in grammarschool. It's certainly been a big help to me.
I dryfire frequently, without snap caps. This is almost never a problem with modern centerfire firearms, and with most rimfires. There's no reason why you SHOULDN'T use snap caps. I just don't see a reason why you HAVE to just to dryfire in most cases.
I started dry firing with Japanese replica firearms when I was in grammarschool. It's certainly been a big help to me.
I don't have that type of budget. Even reloading I can't afford to shoot like that. Dry-firing works for me. I believe that I've become a better shot since I made dry-firing part of my training routine. To each their own I guess.
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