More on Dry-Firing (do you use any 'aids'...?)

[AJMD429]

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I've used many different 'devices', from laser-emitting fake-cartridges, laser-emitting bore-inserts, and even 'Convet-a-Pell' in a Contender (which I guess isn't 'dry-firing', but reduces the power enough for indoor practice, to the one I settled on for the past 6-8 years. The 'Mantis'.

I upgraded to their newer model last year, and it is nice. They can work on handguns, rifles, shotguns, and BOWS, with both 'dry' and 'live' fire.

They interface with your smartphone so you get a multifunction shot-timer, and target analysis that tracks the most MINUTE muzzle movements just before, during, and after the hammer-fall.

It thus enables great analytics to see what you are doing wrong (I had quite the list... ), and then you can track your progess.

Normally I dislike doing anything 'electronically' that I can do on paper, but it does make practice fun and efficient.

Anyway, it is worth checking out, and I wonder if any of you guys use some other similar thing.

[JimT]

What I did for practice did not involve electronics. I loaded 50 cartridges with wax bullets. No powder. The flash holes had been enlarged to stop primer setback which will tie up a revolver. I used these indoors, shooting into a large cardboard box to catch the wax bullets. They work fine for well aimed shooting and for quick draw and point shooting. The cartridges need to be marked so you don't get them mixed with unmodified cartridges.

[Lastmohecken]

I never owned one, but I have played around with a Glock shaped handgun that that had a trigger, etc. just like the real thing, but had an electronic lazer built into it, and it actually worked great.

As far as dry firing goes, I don't do it as much as I used to, but I still do occasionally. On a revolver, I don't have snap caps, and just used fired cases until the primers get cratered after a bit, then change out for new ones. I don't dry fire all that much anymore, because I do think it's hard on some guns. I had to replace the firing pin on a Smith and Wesson 25-2 when it finally broke. That gun got shot a lot, but I suspected dry firing might have shortened the life of the fixed firing pin on the hammer on that gun. And I have broken a couple of firing pins on 1911's but then again, but then again, those guns got shot extensively.

[jeepnik]

I dry fire a fair amount. I use snap caps. They don't last forever, but they also don't cost all that much. I'm a southpaw. From time to time I've buggered up my left hand. I've always been happy I spent that time dry firing with my right.

[AJMD429]

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We are fortunate enough to live in a rural area and our only neighbor who would probably even hear a gunshot would be my daughter who lives next-door.

I have a gong that is kind of off into the woods and is maybe 25 yards from where I park my vehicle in our driveway.

It also seems a good idea to rotate carry-ammo periodically, too, and 9mm JHPs have gotten good and affordable.

So... I’ve started trying to develop the habit of pulling in the driveway when I get home and then when I exit my vehicle I fire one shot at the gong.

This involves me drawing from my normal concealment holster with my normal clothing, and trying to hit a reasonable target at a reasonable distance in a reasonable time.

It’s not as much fun as some of the other range drills, and it doesn’t give me the feedback that the Mantis system does, but in the end, it may be one of the most practical things I could do.

I might try pulling in and parking in a position I could fire FROM the vehicle, but haven't done that yet.

I always wear an un-tucked shirt or sweater, and recently I've been using the T-Rex 'Ironside' holster, which is sort of a hybrid hardshell holster on a comfortable 'pancake' kind of backing, designed for IWB carry, and so far I pretty much like it.

As I'm sure you all know, comfortably concealing a full-size semiauto handgun is barely easier than doing so with a full-size big-game-hunting revolver, but I've always felt that if one is serious enough about protection of self, loved ones, or others, to conceal-carry, it makes sense first to pick the ideal firearm and ammunition, and then modify the clothing to suit, even if it isn't 'comfortable'. Fortunately, the Ironside holster does a good job, and honestly I'm not really aware of the gun/holster at all during normal work or errand activity. It also helps to live and work in an environment not overtly 'hostile' to CCW, so although I try to be discrete, I never have to worry about being 'spotted'.