Dry Fire Practice

[AuburnHunter]

I do dry fire practice several times a week. Typically working on the draw, sight alignment, trigger pull, etc. One of the reasons for this practice is the whole "muscle memory" aspect so that I don't have to think about those steps when under stress.

However, one aspect of the dry fire practice has me concerned. After each trigger pull I work the slide in order to cock the pistol for the next trigger pull. My concern is that I might develop a bad habit of working the slide after every trigger pull in a stressful situation.

I have read about officers putting empty brass in their pockets during a gun fight because that is what they did during training. I'd like to avoid this if possible, but I am unsure on how to do that.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on what I should do to help improve my dry fire practice?

[libertarian]

The best way to avoid that 'imprint' is to separate the events. Don't automatically and instantly recock after every dry fire - practice looking around and reholstering first, or spend 10 seconds 'covering' your target after your trigger pulls. Mix it up a bit so it doesn't become a habit.

Or, make it a malfunction drill - when you hear the "click" do a tap-rack like you would on a misfire or misfeed.

[NSP]

1. Buy 20 of your gun. Cock them all before you practice.

2. Switch to a revolver

Or make cocking the pistol part of putting it into your holster routine. Don't cock it immediately after each time you pull the trigger give it a few seconds. Cock it during your down time between practice shots, don't do it when you are tense and concentrating.

[NSP]

Originally Posted by libertarian

Or, make it a malfunction drill - when you hear the "click" do a tap-rack like you would on a misfire or misfeed.

Ooh, what's a "tap-rack"?

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by NSP

Ooh, what's a "tap-rack"?

it should be tap roll rack Tap the mag in to make sure it's secure, roll the handgun sideways so that if something is jammed/not ejected it'll have gravity's help to clear, and then rack a new round into the chamber.

[AuburnHunter]

Originally Posted by NSP

Ooh, what's a "tap-rack"?

It is a malfunction drill.

Tap the magazine to make sure it is seated properly, then rack the slide.

[AuburnHunter]

Originally Posted by libertarian

The best way to avoid that 'imprint' is to separate the events. Don't automatically and instantly recock after every dry fire - practice looking around and reholstering first, or spend 10 seconds 'covering' your target after your trigger pulls. Mix it up a bit so it doesn't become a habit.

Or, make it a malfunction drill - when you hear the "click" do a tap-rack like you would on a misfire or misfeed.

Thanks, I like those ideas. Probably mix it up as you suggested.

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by AuburnHunter

It is a malfunction drill.

Tap the magazine to make sure it is seated properly, then rack the slide.

And roll...... cause if you have a misfire you might have a round still in the chamber.... heck if you pull the trigger and nothing happens you don't know if:
1. You pulled a trigger on an empty chamber cause mag isn't seater right
2. You pulled a trigger on a dud and now you gotta get it out of the chamber

[AuburnHunter]

Originally Posted by rycerz

And roll...... cause if you have a misfire you might have a round still in the chamber.... heck if you pull the trigger and nothing happens you don't know if:
1. You pulled a trigger on an empty chamber cause mag isn't seater right
2. You pulled a trigger on a dud and now you gotta get it out of the chamber

Thanks for the tip!

[Gunter]

Buy some snap caps and "load" them into two magazines. Then you get to practice reloads too. The number one reason your gun will not fire in a fight is because it is empty. That and a lot of other failures can be remedied by simply reloading, and since you have only one reaction to a non firing gun the overhead of deciding what to do is very small.

The combat reload is
- come to position norte
- remove and stow old magazine
- insert new magazine
- rack slide
- tug on magazine

This avoids having to fumble with two magazines in the support hand at the same time which would risk dropping or not properly seating your full magazine.

If the gun still does not fire the drill is
- come to position norte
- lock the slide
- rip the magazine and stow it
- rack the slide 3 times
- insert new magazine (or old if it is the only one with rounds in it left)
- rack slide
- tug on magazine

If that still does not solve the problem, run away (gunfight rule #1: have a loaded gun that works); your gun probably needs the attention of a gunsmith to get it working again.

The reason for postition norte is
- it is a fighting position (your arm and gun are protecting your head; you can still use the empty gun to strike)
- it avoids looking away from the threat
- it is an assertive position because you are not looking down at the gun

[AuburnHunter]

Ok, so what is position "Norte"?

I'm assuming that is basically getting the gun up in your line of sight so that you do not have to take your eyes off of the threat/target/whatever?

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by AuburnHunter

Ok, so what is position "Norte"?

I'm assuming that is basically getting the gun up in your line of sight so that you do not have to take your eyes off of the threat/target/whatever?

ummm as in vertical? no... if the firearm has a round in it then you still have it pointed at the target so that you can shoot if need be. Bringing it slightly closer in order to be able to reach it better with the support hand might be a good idea but that's about it.

[AuburnHunter]

Originally Posted by rycerz

ummm as in vertical? no... if the firearm has a round in it then you still have it pointed at the target so that you can shoot if need be. Bringing it slightly closer in order to be able to reach it better with the support hand might be a good idea but that's about it.

No was not thinking vertical, more along the lines of not lowering it so that you have to look down.

sort of like this, but not exactly:

[El Gato]

Originally Posted by AuburnHunter

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on what I should do to help improve my dry fire practice?

Dry fire a revolver....
or
Have the misses work the slide like the gun was recoiling... ten cycles for you... ten for her... and then swap...and again...That is how we have new officers dry fire... works pretty nifty...

[NSP]

Originally Posted by El Gato

Dry fire a revolver....
or
Have the misses work the slide like the gun was recoiling... ten cycles for you... ten for her... and then swap...and again...That is how we have new officers dry fire... works pretty nifty...

Sounds like an exercise where fingers get pinched.