Why You Should Dry Fire Practice
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over dry fire practice today. Many shooters engage in dry fire practice and stand to benefit from doing so. We are going to define this practice while also delving into associated benefits and considerations. Without further ado, let’s talk about why you should dry fire practice.
What is Dry Firing?
Put plainly, dry firing is the act of shooting a firearm while empty. This is done by having a cocked firearm and an empty chamber. One simply pulls the trigger as they normally would to dry fire a firearm. Dry firing can be done with many types of firearms such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns. Additionally, one can effectively dry fire various types of designs such as bolt action, lever action, pump action, and semi-automatic firearms.
Does Dry Firing Hurt Your Gun?
Generally speaking, dry firing a firearm will not hurt it. Most firearms can handle dry firing with zero risk of damage. In fact, some firearms require dry firing to facilitate disassembly. This is famously the case with Glock handguns which require their striker to be released prior to removing the slide. Shooters can expect to be able to dry fire an overwhelming majority of centerfire handguns and rifles on the market. This also holds true for a number of shotguns out there as well. Of course, with some older, antique firearms one will want to do so sparingly. Metals can age over time and become brittle with excessive use. Modern production firearms of the aforementioned types can generally be fired with little issue.
Despite these exceptions, there are a few instances where dry firing can in fact damage a firearm. This is particularly true with rimfire pistols and rifles. The issue with dry firing rimfire firearms is the fact that rimfire firing pins are prone to deformation and breaking if dry fired excessively. This can be a problem down the line which can impact the overall reliability of a firearm. Of course, there are a few examples of rimfire firearms which are resistant to damage and can be dry fired sparingly, but these are ultimately exceptions to the rule. Additionally, one should avoid dry firing revolvers with hammer mounted firing pins. These structures are typically integral to the hammer itself or are pinned in place. Regardless of attachment method, these pins are subjected to a great deal of force when dry firing, meaning it is easy to break these brittle components.
Dry Fire Practice is Cheap and Accessible
To engage in dry fire practice, one simply needs a firearm. Ammunition is not required for this purpose so one does not need to spend money to acquire a consumable resource for training. Due to the lack of a consumable resource, one can dry fire at any time without being dependent upon external goods. This makes dry fire practice cheap and accessible as only a firearm is needed to engage in this type of training. Additionally, dry fire practice is also an easy way to stay fresh on one’s fundamentals during times of ammo shortages, high prices, or if you simply can’t make it out to the range.
Dry Fire Practice Builds Firearm Familiarity
By engaging in dry fire practice, one will become more familiar with their firearm. One will become well acquainted with the trigger pull of their firearm in addition to things like placement and application of controls. By practicing one’s trigger pull and operation of controls, one will effectively improve their ability to manipulate and utilize a firearm. Dry fire practice allows users to safely get to know their firearms and develop familiarity without the presence of live ammunition.
If one becomes familiar with their firearm prior to going to the range with it, they will set themselves up for success. Simply put, one will be able to spend more time shooting rather than first becoming acquainted with their firearm. Granted, there is a degree of universality when it comes to handling certain types of firearms, but it is still beneficial to build familiarity with your specific firearm.
Allows One to Practice Fundamentals without Shooting
With dry fire practice, a shooter can practice shooting fundamentals without firing a single round. A shooter can practice basic fundamentals such as grip, trigger pull, sight alignment, and manipulation of safety features easily. Additionally, one can practice things such as sling manipulation, drawing and firing from a holster, and reholstering efficiently with dry fire practice. Put plainly, one can practice various facets of firearm manipulation and shooting fundamentals without expending a single round. One can build familiarity with these concepts in a dry fire setting and better prepare themselves for live fire shooting.
Dry Fire Training Aids
There are a number of products and accessories shooters can employ as dry fire training aids. These implements augment the dry fire practice experience by introducing new elements and function. Some of the most popular training aids of this type are dummy rounds. These goods can be utilized to practice loading magazines and firearms and are safe alternatives to live ammo. Additionally, these dummy rounds are able to withstand being chambered and “fired,” allowing for more realistic practice. Some shooters will even mix dummy rounds into their practice magazines when training to practice malfunction drills. These types of accessories are affordable and easily found, allowing dry fire practice to become easier and more realistic.
Other accessories such as purpose-built laser and target sets along with components which allow for realistic cycling are also popular. Laser oriented products of this type project where a shooter’s shot will have gone when they pull the trigger during dry fire practice. These products allow an end user to quickly identify issues with their trigger pull or flinch without even firing a shot. Devices which facilitate realistic cycling allow for users to have a more natural dry fire experience. These devices cycle slides and bolts in firearms, allowing for proper trigger reset and mechanics to take place. Without one of these devices, shooters often need to recock their firearm each time unless they are using a double action firearm.
Is Dry Firing a Replacement for Actual Training?
The answer to this is a resounding and obvious “no.” While dry fire practice can certainly be valuable, it is by no means a replacement for actual training. Dry fire training, even in its most advanced and augmented form, will lack many important traits of real shooting. For example, one will not realistically emulate recoil in dry fire settings, even with added products which cycle slides and bolts. The only thing which will effectively and realistically feel like shooting an actual gun is actually shooting a gun.
Additionally, one cannot effectively utilize dry fire practice for things such as mechanical offset, zeroing, knowing and applying holds, and other shooting skills. These aspects of shooting are best practice at the range with live ammunition. In short, dry fire practice has the potential to improve one’s skills as a shooter but it is not a replacement for actual shooting. One should ultimately employ dry fire practice as a supplemental training method which supports a regular firing schedule.
Conclusion
All in all, dry fire practice is a great way to hone and develop one’s fundamentals without firing a single round. This type of practice will benefit shooters of all types and use cases in both private and professional sectors. Whether you are dedicated to self-defense, competition, recreational shooting, hunting, or carry a firearm professionally, you stand to benefit from dry fire practice. Of course, as mentioned above, this method of practice is not a replacement for the experience one receives from actually shooting. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of ammo for sale to help you get out and hone your skills. With popular calibers and gauges such as 9mm, 5.56, .22 Long Rifle, and 12 gauge, we cater to shooters of all types. Whether you are after individual quantities or want to buy bulk ammo, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
One Response
Hey Guys — thanks for a super article and for the recommendation of practicing firing. I’m old school and was taught to not dry fire, and I appreciate the recommendation and education. I had to sell all my guns years ago to help pay for medical expenses for one of my daughters, and this year I have started building back my collection buying several pistols and long guns including AR style rifles. I have limited mobility and do not have a range close by that I have found, and this will let me do some practicing with confidence. I really appreciated this article and others you have written, and I believe y’all are an asset out there for us gun-owners.
Thanks again!