Is Dry Fire plus Square Range enough?

[Doc7]

Hello all,

I am making the leap from NJ to VA. Thank the heavens!

I already have my Utah CCW permit and am excited to exercise my rights for the first time.

However I am discovering that VA is not the paradise I thought it was! It appears that Chesterfield VA is farther from public hunting lands than I am here, less public access to freshwater fishing, and I'm moving away from my vacation property which has a private range in the woods, and annual membership fee based 24/7 access range : ( It appears that indoor, pay-by-the-hour ranges in Richmond are the best I'm going to get!


I watch YouTube and read threads here and love watching and learning about different drills. It appears that the ranges I have found won't allow drawing from holster etc.


Obviously I know a great majority of CCW holders out there aren't visiting THR.Org and aren't approaching it with the same great training mentality you see on threads here. But would you recommend carrying under the circumstances of me only being able to practice drawing in dry-fire conditions at home and target practicing on a square range?


I had a vision in my head that VA was a big version of my spot in the Poconos where I am a 15 minute walk from fishing in secluded streams or a stocked lake, 10 minute walk from entering a 20,000 Acre state game land, and a 100 yard rifle range in the woods. I was wrong!

 

[rockhopper46038]

Given no other options, I would still say that carrying is a better decision than not carrying; it just behooves you to be very, very aware (and honest with yourself) of the limitations that your inability to train places on your capabilities.

But I would look hard for other options. Make the time to travel to train if you must. I'm completely unfamiliar with that area, but there has GOT to be someone or some group with a private range that isn't as restricted as the "pay for your lane" ranges I think you are referring to.

Last choice (and not everyone will agree, but that's ok) is to get a high quality Airsoft pistol and use it to train with.

 

[strambo]

Assuming your skill-set is there, I see no reason why your circumstances would limit you in a meaningful way.

At home, dryfire supplemented with a high quality gas blowback airsoft gun. Can get multiple ~$30 3D plastic targets at letargets.com http://www.letargets.com/estylez_item.aspx?item=TAC-MAN and put clothing on them for the ultimate airsoft-home engagement realism.

Supplement this with some indoor range practice just to keep your live-fire marksmanship skills up to snuff. Your actual "training" and firearm manipulation practice will be what you do at home which is un-restricted (except for following the 4 rules!).

If you haven't attended a formal training course, do so, it will give you a solid foundation for your at home practice.

 

[ATLDave]

I'll bet you can find a USPSA or IDPA match near you that will get you plenty of live-fire-from-draw practice.

 

[Doc7]

I plan on going to training courses currently have 2K saved up in my training budget (have been saving overtime money for a long time) so I plan on going to a couple of the fundamental pistol courses and then hopefully a defensive course in relatively short succession. I will be a decent drive from the facility called Academi (Blackwater) and have heard good things about their training.

 

[strambo]

Nice! I'd imagine there are a number of high quality instructors/courses w/in driving distance. W/o having to worry about airfare/car rental, $2k should get you a couple multi-day courses and ammo and a real solid foundation.

 

[sherman123]

It could be and we see many examples in NRA Rifleman's Armed Citizen about people with very little training prevailing. I don't personally consider it ideal though and believe in pursuing as much training as possible. I look at square range training like hitting a heavy bag. Necessary but only one piece of the puzzle. Simunitions/airsoft training is like getting in the ring and sparring. Good luck with future training and it's good that you're starting this conversation that's way more than most people will pursue.

 

[Jenrick]

Once the gun comes out of the holster, it's all the same. You can practice drawing to position three (or whatever the intermediate two hands on the gun position is in your draw sequence numbering) dry fire all day long to get good at everything prior to that. Go ahead and and get a dry fire trigger press rep in too while you're working all that.

From that intermediate ready position you can practice punching out and firing a good COM or CNS hit at the range live fire. I've never seen a range that had a problem with that, even if you're at a place that only allows slow fire.

Between dry fire 1 shot from the draw reps, and live fire 1 shot from the ready reps you should have a very solid first shot which is the most important one.

Remember there is very little you CAN'T practice dry fire. There is very little you should practice live fire. Live fire is the confirmation of the correct mechanics and timing practiced and refined in dry fire.

-Jenrick

 

[Deaf Smith]

Depends on what the square range allows.

Where I shoot they allow me to do everything but charge the targets or twirl my guns.

 

[strambo]

Where I shoot they allow me to do everything but charge the targets

Heh, that sucks...it's my favorite tactic! Shoot 'em while chargin' 'em & beat 'em.

 

[tuj]

I like training with laserlyte cartridges. That way, same trigger, same controls, same gun.