Training Tips?

[giants1]

For home defense, I plan to use my Glock 17, revolver, or AR15.

I'm planning to buy my first revolver in mid-December and plan to shoot is double action. I have a Glock 17 with a dry-fire adapter that allows me to dry fire without racking the slide. The trigger pull tension is adjustable, right now set at 5.5 lbs, which is what Glock e-mailed me is the trigger pull for this gun. I have springs for the adapter to allow me to go up to 10 lbs. If I can get repeated steadiness in dry fire at 5.5 lbs, I plan to escalate to higher trigger tension with a target of the 10 lbs for my revolver. I'm also hoping that trigger pull is like baseball: practicing with two bats makes swinging one bat easier. That said, to keep myself in the game, I don't want to work at a trigger/spring tension that is so had to see improvement, say, in a couple weeks that I get frustrated and either cut back on sessions or give up. That almost happened when I began using the dry-fire adapter.

I'm mostly right handed (except for using knives when eating and writing). My preference when picking up hand tools, power tools, and guns is to use my right hand. Unfortunately, I'm very left-eye dominant and don't hold or shoot long rifles as well with right eye and right trigger hand compared to left eye and hand.

I've been practicing dry firing for the past couple weeks. My left trigger hand caused much more gun movement INITIALLY than my right hand. I have practiced both hands equally and strangely enough my left hand is now almost as smooth as my right. Until this morning, right hand has always been steadier than left. This morning, during dry fire practice, my left was better than my right, my right looking almost as bad as the left when I started dry firing. I have no idea what changed today. I just finished another dry fire session and right is now a little better than left.

I understand the benefits of being able to shoot with either hand, but wonder whether I should put more time into left trigger control training?

I'm now practicing about twice daily, equally between both hands, for about 10 minutes. I'm checking grip, stance, and primarily the front sights.

There is a dry-fire kit for the AR-15, but I first want to get the pistol under better mastery before taking on too many training tasks. Plus, I figure that the AR-15 is easier to shoot more accurately than the Glock 17.

Other questions:

Should I spread my time equally between left and right hand trigger, or use one more than another?

If there is any, what is the optimal frequently and duration (e.g. five minutes three times daily) for dry-fire sessions?

Any insights as to why the one particular session today was off?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Dry firing is better than nothing, but more range time might generate better results as far as accuracy.

 

[Univibe]

One thing you can't train for is the flash,blast, and concussion from letting 5.56 go in a room. That's why I have a 9mm carbine for hone defense duties and shoot the AR at the range.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

If you are fairly new to shooting I would probably give opposite advice of what you want to hear.
No more new guns. Avoid the temptation. Get lots of ammo. Carve out range time. Take classes. Get proficient with your current guns. Dry fire. A lot.
Get your sight alignment in order. Get good gear and practice with it. Adopt a mindset of a practitioner.
The only question to ask is, Are you willing to take someone down?
For me, In my mind, they decided to die willingly when they broke the law and my window to put me or my family in danger.
I do not fear a man with two thousand guns he shoots one time.
I fear the man who shoots two thousand times with one gun.
Whether that be a G17, an AR, an 870, a 686 or a ninja star.

 

[Old cop]

Here’s a drill I’ve used w/my J Frame for years: Put up a paper plate @ three, five & seven yards. Empty the gun as fast as possible, reload w/speedstrips (speedloaders if that’s what you carry) and repeat. The object is to get all ten rounds on the plate.

 

[BE Mike]

Trigger control is at the top of the list. Dry firing is very good if you are putting as much effort into it as live fire. You also must know what to look for when dry firing. Top competitive shooters dry fire a lot. DO WHAT THE BIG BOYS DO! Getting quality instruction is expensive (there are a lot of people out there who tout themselves as instructors who really aren't qualified). If you can afford it and can find enough affordable ammo, go to a quality school. You probably can't find anyone to teach you double action revolver shooting. I taught myself to shoot a revolver decently, double action. If I could do it, anyone can. Once you have some good marksmanship basics ingrained, I suggest you shoot some matches, like IDPA, etc. The match pressure helps to learn to focus. After you have mastered the basics, you might want to shoot in low light conditions as that is what you'll most likely encounter in home defense situations. Indoor ranges might be able to accommodate you. You can get well-meaning advice at the range and on the internet. Most of it isn't good advice.

 

[rct269]

A helpful hint perhaps--------------

Instead of training for the 10 lb. double action trigger pull of your revolver, you may wish to consider a "Spring Kit". Jerry Miculek's is designed such that the trigger pull is whatever you want it to be. My D.A. trainer's at 7 lbs.---the minimum recommended by Miculek, who notes failures to fire will be encountered with less pressure (and recommends Federal ammunition at the lower levels). It's perhaps noteworthy my gun runs just fine with other brands. That may be a suggestion to check my trigger pull gauge.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[ImDrRich]

Nothing but nothing is better than range time. If you have specific issues with where your rounds hit on a bullseye, talk to a more experienced shooter about trigger finger placement, breathing, etc. If you put lots of rounds downrange, you will ultimately feel more competent (and comfortable) and become an excellent shooter.

 

[AJ]

Get a good .22 LR handgun. Revolvers are good as are autos. Dry firing with snap caps is the recommended course. Lots of practice on the range is the best. Concentrate on what you are doing. Sight alignment and trigger control. Spent a lot of my time arounds firearms for over 60 years and practice is the key. With a .22 you can buy a brick of ammo for about what a box of centerfire costs.

 

[growr]

I was taught many years ago, that if you can become proficient in all aspects with a double action revolver you can handle anything.

Randy

 

[WR Moore]

It's not unusual for folks to discover that they shoot/manage the trigger better with the "other" hand. It's felt that when you're using the "other" hand, you're paying much more attention to fundamentals than you do with your "usual" hand. Yes, it's an advantage to be able to shoot with either hand. It's also an advantage to be able to do some basic hygene actions (brushing teeth, combing hair, shaving etc) with either hand in case of common injury to the usual hand. Far better to learn this while your usual hand can, uh, bat cleanup for your intial efforts.

Some highly respected trainers find that with the Glock, the so-called NY-1 (NYSP requirement) trigger produces much better results and somewhat improves safety. That trigger is in the 7-8 lb range. IIRC, it uses a different trigger return spring and connector than the regular Glock. A S&W revolver can, after a suitable breakin, be adjusted to factory specs by a trained armorer and produce a trigger pull in the 8 lb range while still being "factory spec".

 

[Lou_the_welder]

Send plenty of lead downrange

 

[VictorLouis]

.

One of the BEST old-school range exercises with revolvers is the 'ball-and-dummy' method. With a 6 shot, load just two or three rounds. Two side-by-side, and leave an empty chamber between them and the third round. Load empties into the other chambers. Gently spin the cylinder, and close it, so that you have NO IDEA where the 'live' rounds are.

Sight picture, breathing, trigger roll....and....either a bang or a click. You will quickly see if you have any issue with flinch. Typically, it's when the shooter tends to poke the muzzle downward a bit as the hammer falls, in anticipation of the recoil. IF you have a shooting partner with you, he/she can normally view this from a side-angle behind you much better than you can tell as the shooter.

 

[AJ]

Have been using the method of loading empties and loaded rounds in the cylinder for years. Go a step farther, by having someone other than the shooter load the cylinder. Sometimes will hand them a fully loaded cylinder or a completely empty cylinder and anywhere in between. We do the same thing with an auto, by having someone other than the shooter load the pistol.