Looking for good dry fire drills

Shielded4good

Shielded4good

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Hi all.
Are there any programs, or methodology to get some good dry fire ideas for staying at home and not going to the range?
Any websites? or outlined drills?

(I know, I prefer to get the right feel for shooting with recoil, but I still want to practice at home..)
Thank you.
 
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I pick a very small target.....

I pick a target like a light switch screw and practice the zen art of having your trigger finger being the only solitary part of your frame that moves then I try to 'shoot wthout shooting'. All handguns, but especially DA guns really need this kind of practice.
It's easy and cheap to do this to get some practice in with your weaker hand.
 
I used to do the following with a K-Frame loaded with snap caps:
1. Present from holster and execute two aimed presses. Re-holster.
2. Repeat above.
3. Present from holster, execute two aimed presses, transition to kneeling, reload with a belt mounted speed loader (with snap caps...or Speed Strips if that's what you use), and execute two more aimed presses. Recover to standing and re-holster.
4. Present from holster and execute two aimed presses. Re-holster.
5. Repeat above.

This is an excellent revolver drill that teaches you to make smooth presentations, count your shots, execute reloads, utilize multiple positions, and execute smooth trigger control. Be certain to clear and safe your weapon before this exercise and execute your dry-firing in a safe direction. Repeat as necessary...
 
Blackshirt has a good program. Get some snap caps and practice drawing, firing and reloading. That will about cover the basics, and that's what you want to practice the most.
 
Sit or stand in front of your TV. Pick out a character on the show that on who you don't like. Holster your UNLOADED GUN. Every time that character appears, shoot'm. Very many old Cops practiced this way. ***Note*** The gun must be unloaded, your insurance likely does not cover stupidity.
 
I've tried all of the above. Bought a Laserlyte kit w/three targets. The scenarios are endless. It has helped speed up presentation, I get to practice moving before presentation. And, it's a ton of fun. Still go to the range. Laserlyte has helped me improve at the range, as well. Best $200 spent in a while.
 
Unfortunately this is a S&W forum. If it were a Glock forum I would very strongly recomment a SIRT trainer from Next Level Training. Their offering is only in the Glock G17 model but it is the perfect way to train, include using your holster, without actually firing a shot. I cannot tell you how many students I have taught proper trigger control with a SIRT. I truly wish they would come out with products in the smaller gun category. S&W Shield, having sold over one million guns, would be a perfect candidate. These guns can also be used with the many reactive laser targets now being offered by various companies.
 
The SIRT is a very good tool and I use it even though I'm not a Glock guy.

There are some very good suggestions in this. I'd like to add one thing though, I don't recommend using a fixed object in your home for a target.

Using a light switch, a picture or your TV is not the best target. When doing dry practice, put a target up at the beginning and take it down at the end. There are two important reasons for this. First, it puts you in the mindset of dry practice. It is a new item that is not normally on the wall. Also, it can be located in the safest place. This is important in the event of a negligent discharge.

Secondly, and more importantly, it's not something that is always there. This reduces the chance of, "Well, just one more time," but this time the gun is loaded. I know one guy who bought a new TV and another who put a round through a picture.

People will respond with, "Anyone who does this shouldn't have a gun." Well, I might agree with you, but anything we can do to make things safer is a good thing in my book.

Putting up a target and taking it down when done, removes the temptation to do it "one more time." It puts you in the right mindset. It alerts anyone nearby about what you're doing. It costs nothing and could save a hole, a TV or a life.
 
I do several drawing drills dry firing but also practice different stages of my draw separately ..

I break my draw down into different stages such as sweep shirt, grasp weapon ect and practice each stage separately sometimes .. I might sweep my shirt or pull up my t-shirt 50-100 times .. each stage is practiced until together they are a smooth and deliberate motion ..

I have also found practicing in deliberate slow motion can be beneficial ! practicing slowly can make you much faster !!

if you don't have a shot timer there are several phone aps that can be used that are good enough to use for home practice ..

some practice you don't even need to have your weapon on such as the shirt or jacket sweep with your strong hand/arm ..
 
ContinentalOp said:
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/the-tactical-professors-pistol-practice-program/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUk9IzO1Mqk
Click to expand...

Thank you for the video. I am a big fan of Rob Pincus myself.

I went to the range today. I watch a lot of videos to inform and educate myself in the proper and efficient use of firearms. I brought my Glock 42 with me today.
Seems that, at short range, I have no problem emptying my magazine at pretty much center mass... However, because I practice dry shooting a lot at home, I notice there is a obvious difference in feel shooting dry laser, versus having recoil, even if it is from a small caliber as mine is.

I do believe dry shooting is definitely helpful. I also just learned about target acquisition, trigger control and breathing control just recently.

My report card tonight wasn't too bad at all, But i still need to practice, practice, practice...

Question: How can you tell dry fire practice is helping you with range, live fire?

Thanks in advance for feedback...
 
rwsmith said:
I pick a target like a light switch screw and practice the zen art of having your trigger finger being the only solitary part of your frame that moves then I try to 'shoot wthout shooting'. All handguns, but especially DA guns really need this kind of practice.
It's easy and cheap to do this to get some practice in with your weaker hand.
Click to expand...

When I skimmed your post a while back, I used the various targets you mentioned, light bulbs around my apartment, light switches, door knobs and such.
Really interesting drills while moving, escaping or what have you (realistic practice...) Thanks again.
 
Blackshirt said:
I used to do the following with a K-Frame loaded with snap caps:
1. Present from holster and execute two aimed presses. Re-holster.
2. Repeat above.
3. Present from holster, execute two aimed presses, transition to kneeling, reload with a belt mounted speed loader (with snap caps...or Speed Strips if that's what you use), and execute two more aimed presses. Recover to standing and re-holster.
4. Present from holster and execute two aimed presses. Re-holster.
5. Repeat above.

This is an excellent revolver drill that teaches you to make smooth presentations, count your shots, execute reloads, utilize multiple positions, and execute smooth trigger control. Be certain to clear and safe your weapon before this exercise and execute your dry-firing in a safe direction. Repeat as necessary...
Click to expand...

Hmm, not sure what "aimed presses" are... maybe they are particular of revolvers and not semi-auto pistols. I will have to try with my laserlyte bullet on my pistols.
Thank you.
 
Jessie said:
Blackshirt has a good program. Get some snap caps and practice drawing, firing and reloading. That will about cover the basics, and that's what you want to practice the most.
Click to expand...

OK, I get the idea, however, pistol snap caps are a different breed, as when drilling with those, I have loaded one or two in each magazine, and as I rack the last one, I have practice reloading... However I have literally spend 10 minutes or more trying to find my damn snap caps... (I guess I'll have to get a biiiig bucket so I don't loose the darn things... LOL)

Thanks again.
 
shotgun693 said:
Sit or stand in front of your TV. Pick out a character on the show that on who you don't like. Holster your UNLOADED GUN. Every time that character appears, shoot'm. Very many old Cops practiced this way. ***Note*** The gun must be unloaded, your insurance likely does not cover stupidity.
Click to expand...

Hahaha! good one... If I watch MSNBC, That channel will keep me real busy around news time...

Don't think I want to ruin my TV screen either...:rolleyes:
 
neverwas said:
I've tried all of the above. Bought a Laserlyte kit w/three targets. The scenarios are endless. It has helped speed up presentation, I get to practice moving before presentation. And, it's a ton of fun. Still go to the range. Laserlyte has helped me improve at the range, as well. Best $200 spent in a while.
Click to expand...

I concur with you. I've had a lot of fun with my laserlyte bullets and targets. I really feel I've improved my aim and presentation timing... Still, am not sure what that feels like with live ammo were I to have the same scenarios I play when dry drilling...practicepracticepractice... huh?
 
Shielded4good said:
Question: How can you tell dry fire practice is helping you with range, live fire?
Click to expand...

First, I view dry fire practice as a supplement to live fire. Obviously, live fire is better but for someone like me who can't get to the range as often as one would like it helps build and maintain "muscle memory" for technique. At times the lack of recoil can actually be helpful in this regard, though recoil management is important and can only be learned with live fire.

Second, I use it to practice techniques that would not be permissible or practical at the range. For example, while I can practice drawing and rapid fire at my range I seriously doubt they'd let me incorporate falling down or engage targets in a 360-degree field of fire for obvious safety reasons. Also, I shoot at an indoor range so movement is limited, whereas at home I can "move off the X" while drawing.

As for telling if it has helped, the only advice I can offer is to use a baseline or benchmark. Either find or make up a simple drill that you can do at the range and note your performance, such as shot groups, time, or a combination. Do whatever dry fire practice routine(s) or program(s) you choose. Then the next time you go to the range perform your baseline drill and see if there's been any improvement since your previous performance.

I hope that helps.
 
Adding to my previous comment -

The room I do my dry fire practice in I don't allow any ammunition of any kind into that room .. That includes my loaded carry weapon. I do this as a safety requirement. My rule is always followed and there is no chance of a negligent discharge .. Dry firing the weapon is never done in any other room of my house !!

I also use my laser when I dry fire practice .. it shows the location your aiming at when pulling the trigger and is also good in seeing if you are flinching as you fire your pistol it will show any movement of your barrel during the practice ..

I also lay a dime on the top of my 40c and practice pulling the trigger without any movement of the dime !! thus no movement off target of my sight picture ..

One of the drills I do is to put a dime on the top of my 40c and then closing my eyes I dry fire the weapon .. the dime should remain on the top of the weapon and not move .
 
The biggest problem with dry-fire and simulator drills is lack of any recoil and noise. While it is great for learning trigger control, sight alignment, and techniques, I have always believed that live fire has no real substitute. So after dry firing, try to get out and do some live fire as well.
 
Dry fire

I am over 60 and have had guns since school but not handguns.
About a month ago I got a 9mm Shield and found I couldn't shoot it worth a darn. After a couple hundred rounds I wasn't getting much better (I can shoot in my back yard). I got the book Shoot Like a Navy Seal on the wife's kindle. I learned about concentrating on the front sight, proper grip, etc and the importance of dry firing. I think I had been flinching without even realizing it and dry firing let me gain muscle memory without the bang. Anyway after a couple weeks of dry firing my groups have gone from 12" at 8yds down to about 3"
 
I have a room I practice my dry firing in that I do not allow any ammunition in the room .. including my carry weapon .. Its my Golden Rule .. have always used this and have not had a ND in over 50 years of gun use !! "Knock On Wood !!!!!" . Would be a good idea if you would also come up with a similar plan where the room you practice in NEVER has ammunition in it !!

place a piece of paper with a straight line drawn horizontally across the paper ..tape it at eye level .. to wall or door .. Stand 1/2 inch or closer with the muzzle of your weaon from the paper on the wall or a door and practice dry firing .. with your aim point on the line .. the closeness of the line on the surface in front of the muzzle will allow you to see any very small movements up or down on the line as you slowly pull the trigger till it breaks ..

Practice till your able have the trigger break with out any muzzle movement .. you'll be surprised as a shooter how much your moving ..

but dry fire is not the only practice we need to do .. I usually practice 2 to 3 hours a week .. 30-45 minutes dry firing .. and I use snap caps .. the rest of the time would be spent drawing the weapon from what ever carry method I am using .. if you carry in a pocket practice each stage of the draw in slow motion then put them together .. continue practicing doing this while you increase the speed of each maneuver .. until your faster then you thought you could be .. timer aps available on your phone for timing if you would like to use another tool ..
 
Last edited:
Tested the ShootOFF, seemed to work pretty good, might need a new'ish pc to keep up with it. I don't have a projector tv, more functions with that.
It didn't always register the laser shot, problem could be on my end.
The thing with the laser trainer is, it will tell you where your barrel is pointed right at the instant the firing pin hits the primer on your first shot. When the pin hits a real primer,all the recoil happens, I'm still on the fence as to how useful the laser is.
 
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