Clobber, you bring up a number of good points. At this time, I'm working on fundamentals and basic handling. I'm not targeting a specific discipline yet, as I feel that I still have a way's to go as far as fundamentals. However, whether its 3 gun, IPSC, IDPA, etc., all of them have commonalities. For example, you're shooting at targets on a timer, under stress, and likely incorporating movement. For now, I'll worry about doing things safely and efficiently, and I'll worry about game specific rules later.
I break down my sessions and choose something specific to target every night. I also limit myself to 15-20 minutes. For example, many nights are simply about picking a spot on a target and focusing just on the front sight as I press the trigger. Another night could be purely the draw from the holster and getting as high of a grip as possible. I'll feel where I've got things locked, I'll look at my grip without moving my hands so I can see if I have unnecessary gaps. I may not press the trigger at all on those nights. Another night could be about getting a good sight picture and then breaking the first shot. I have recently taken to using a timer app on my phone. I've set the sensitivity low enough that it can detect the trigger pull and the hammer getting released. I've also done a few nights where I'll draw, press the trigger, then move. What I'm checking there is not efficiency of movement, but that I've remembered to take my finger off the trigger and the trigger guard. Again, to some this may not sounds like a big deal but it's amazing how a key safety rule like this can break down under stress. The timer again comes in handy to induce this stress.
I also agree with you in regards to safety. It's all about mindset. You may be firing dry, but you are still handling a firearm. Currently I have the whole basement to myself. Two walls have targets on them. I don't have dedicated training magazines yet, but at this point I don't keep any magazines loaded in the safe. I do have dedicated practice rounds. I've loaded 50 casings with a projectile only, no powder and no primer. The brass is covered in pink Sharpie (the pink makes it easier to find that one runaway round that rolled under a desk). I created these so that the magazines actually have some weight to them vs just using snap caps. We have a rule in the house that if I'm downstairs doing dry fire, if someone comes down, they call out so I can holster. If I hear anybody on the stairs at all, I'll holster. As far as I'm concerned, the only difference between my basement and the range is that things don't go bang.
