Post by Rook on Apr 10, 2012 8:04:09 GMT -5
Dry firing is the practice of "firing" a firearm without ammunition. That is, to pull the trigger and allow the hammer or striker to drop on an empty chamber.
This is the best technique for those who do not have the time for the range or money for ammunition but still want to refine their techniques. Dry firing works to perfect and refined trigger control.
Many other drills can be done dry fire style to create muscle memory of the motions of drawing, aiming, and moving from one target to the next. Many shot timers can likewise pick up the sound of the firing pin just as well as it can pick up the retort of live ammunition. While live fire practice is essential (and fun) for a number of reasons (such as recoil management, reloading proficiency, etc.) dry fire is an excellent tool for those who need practice when live fire is not an option.
Go slowly but have perfect technique. It is tempting to try and perform any drill as quickly as possible. It is better to go slow and ensure that your movement is precise. Remember “slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Speed will come with practice.
Know your firearm and its mechanism! Dry firing modern center fire firearms cause no damage to the firearms. On the other hand dry firing a shotgun or rimfire firearm can damage the firing pin. Furthermore, damage can occur to the chamber mouth of a rimfire firearm.
If you have a rimfire firearm or a shotgun, or are worried about damage to the firing pin anyway, use a product called snap caps. They are rubber or metal shaped like a round and allows the firing pin to strike a surface with the same resistance that an actual round does, eliminating the potential for damage. Snap caps come in almost every caliber and bore size imaginable.
IMPORTANT WARNINGS ABOUT DRY FIRE PRACTICE: If you intend to dry fire practice using any kind of dummy ammunition such as snap caps do not store your snap caps in the same room of the house as you do your live ammunition, and never bring live ammunition into the room that you store and use your snap caps. When dry fire practicing triple check that your weapon has no live ammunition and always dry fire practice against a wall or a berm that can absorb an accidental live discharge. Always create triple contingencies in case an accident occurs to ensure that no one is hurt or killed by an accident. Paying your landlord to fix a while in the concrete basement wall is far better than paying to have a family member put in the ground.
This is the best technique for those who do not have the time for the range or money for ammunition but still want to refine their techniques. Dry firing works to perfect and refined trigger control.
Many other drills can be done dry fire style to create muscle memory of the motions of drawing, aiming, and moving from one target to the next. Many shot timers can likewise pick up the sound of the firing pin just as well as it can pick up the retort of live ammunition. While live fire practice is essential (and fun) for a number of reasons (such as recoil management, reloading proficiency, etc.) dry fire is an excellent tool for those who need practice when live fire is not an option.
Go slowly but have perfect technique. It is tempting to try and perform any drill as quickly as possible. It is better to go slow and ensure that your movement is precise. Remember “slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Speed will come with practice.
Know your firearm and its mechanism! Dry firing modern center fire firearms cause no damage to the firearms. On the other hand dry firing a shotgun or rimfire firearm can damage the firing pin. Furthermore, damage can occur to the chamber mouth of a rimfire firearm.
If you have a rimfire firearm or a shotgun, or are worried about damage to the firing pin anyway, use a product called snap caps. They are rubber or metal shaped like a round and allows the firing pin to strike a surface with the same resistance that an actual round does, eliminating the potential for damage. Snap caps come in almost every caliber and bore size imaginable.
IMPORTANT WARNINGS ABOUT DRY FIRE PRACTICE: If you intend to dry fire practice using any kind of dummy ammunition such as snap caps do not store your snap caps in the same room of the house as you do your live ammunition, and never bring live ammunition into the room that you store and use your snap caps. When dry fire practicing triple check that your weapon has no live ammunition and always dry fire practice against a wall or a berm that can absorb an accidental live discharge. Always create triple contingencies in case an accident occurs to ensure that no one is hurt or killed by an accident. Paying your landlord to fix a while in the concrete basement wall is far better than paying to have a family member put in the ground.