For those in the city, where do you practice drills?

[Paincakesx]

Hello all,

I'm in the unfortunate situation where I live in a somewhat urban area and all nearby ranges have relatively strict rules as to how guns can be used (no holster drills, no moving drills etc). I've thought about driving out every now and then to the woods to practice, but the weather here during 70% of the year is pretty terrible.

Anybody else in a similar situation? What do you usually do to practice more involved drills that aren't permitted by most ranges?

 

[jim243]

Most urban areas have gun clubs that will hold IDPA matches. This is the type of pratice you are talking about using live ammunition. These matches are open to the public for the first time IDPA shooter and their annual dues are small. You do not need to be a member of that gun club to participate in these activities, but do need to join IDPA after the first couple of matches.

Check the IDPA website for a club in your area that is holding these matches.

This would be your best bet.
Jim

 

[303tom]

All I can say is, if you don`t practice in that terrible weather, how will you know what to do if the situation happens in that terrible weather ?

 

[Al Thompson]

Dry practice will help bunches. It should be a part of every shooters training as it's certainly much more cost effective to work on drawing, reloading and clearing malfunctions at home than on the range.

One item that also helps immensely is a shot timer. While you probably don't want a shot in your dwelling eek, most shot timers can be used with a par time, I.E., the timer gives you a beep to start and a beep for a set amount of time. So if you are working on a draw, set the timer for ~ 2 seconds and see if you can beat that.

 

[Series 70]

What Al said. I try to get in some dry fire practice every week. I start slow, working up to using a timer for the last few minutes. On the ranges that don't allow holster work (most of them), I'll start from either low ready or step 3 (rotate/click) of the draw stroke, finish the presentation from there and shoot whatever I'm going to shoot.

 

[22-rimfire]

Practice with the guns unloaded at home.

 

[breakingcontact]

It ain't training if it ain't raining.

Oh wait, you said nothing about rain.

Dry fire, practice at home, most definitely.

 

[chicharrones]

Anybody else in a similar situation? What do you usually do to practice more involved drills that aren't permitted by most ranges?

I have the same problem. Since my family and kids clean out my monthly finances, I can't afford paid training sessions on a regular enough basis. Practicing with paper targets while being position locked in a shooting lane is good, but is limiting.

One option is set up a "shooting range" in your garage. Get an airsoft or CO2 BB Gun that replicates the firearm you want to practice with. Make some targets out of cardboard boxes tightly stuffed with newspapers to stop the BBs, then set the boxes in a variety of ways for practice. Looking at shooting videos from good sources will give you a good idea of what kind of drills can be set up in your garage.

It won't replicate recoil and muzzle flip, but it is better than nothing and can be quite fun. Eye protection is required, yet the ear muffs can be left in the closet.

Here are some places to look into replica air guns.

http://www.pyramydair.com/a/Air_gun...sionid=85B9A319D47894273D9EEFFF98DB72C7.app03

http://www.pyramydair.com/a/Airsoft_guns/Airsoft_pistols/178

 

[justice06rr]

In my area I drive out of the city to IDPA and 3-gun events. You really can't do other things within the city, other than inside your own home.

 

[pockets]

I drive down to an unsavory part of town at 2:15am and enter a sleazy bar while wearing the wrong color shirt.

Or I just do some stuff at home.
.

 

[Nickel Plated]

Get a quality airsoft replica and practice in your living room.
Make sure it's a good replica though. Not one of those $5 Crossman pistols from WallyWorld.

What gun are you using?

 

[bergmen]

Most urban areas have gun clubs that will hold IDPA matches. This is the type of pratice you are talking about using live ammunition. These matches are open to the public for the first time IDPA shooter and their annual dues are small. You do not need to be a member of that gun club to participate in these activities, but do need to join IDPA after the first couple of matches.

Check the IDPA website for a club in your area that is holding these matches.

This would be your best bet.
Jim

I agree completely. This is just about as close as you can get to real-world practice with your gun, your ammo, your holster, etc. Plus it is seriously FUN.

Dan