After taking a beating in my first experience with 22lr house league this winter, my friends have said I would see an improvment in scores if I did regular dryfire practice over the months before next season. Others said a lighter trigger would help. Can experienced shooters give me some advice based on their own (single hand shooting) experience?
Does dryfire practice really help?
- Thread starter Fourclicks
- Start date
coldestcanuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- lower mainland bc
You're going to want to use a snap cap to avoid damage when dry firing a rimfire firearm. Will dry fire exercises improve your accuracy? You bet! A lighter, smoother trigger can also help.
Use a plastic snap cap, and replace it often - the firing pin of a rimfire can be damaged by repeatedly striking the chamber wall face, you need to put something with some give in to cushion the blow. As far as dry fire goes - all the best shooters do it, but I guess if you can afford to do nothing but live fire, you can shoot enough that it isn't necessary. It's just that you'd need to have the time and money to shoot every day.
Dry fire is a fantastic training tool, however as has been stated already it can be hard on a rimfire firing pin. I have not found a worthwhile snap cap for rimfire and have dabbled some in homemade ones with limited success.
Something else that you may do to train your muscles is hold your arm out in a shooting position as if you are holding the firearm. Work your trigger finger as if shooting. Try not to let your other fingers move or let your hand squeeze.
This is practice you can do anywhere without frightening the natives.
Something else that you may do to train your muscles is hold your arm out in a shooting position as if you are holding the firearm. Work your trigger finger as if shooting. Try not to let your other fingers move or let your hand squeeze.
This is practice you can do anywhere without frightening the natives.
Forgot to mention the snapcap - required if your pistol does not have a 'dry fire mode'. I respectfully disagree with 'NFG' 'dry fire' allows you to see the effect of your trigger press alone (without being clouded by the recoil) and has a valid part in your training regime.
I was being a little sarcastic. I should note that even some SF units (particularly the Chinese - who are first rate shooters) use extensive dry fire sessions despite having access to unlimited practise ammo.
Regular, extensive, dry fire, sessions is part of every Olympic target shooter's training regime. Just not with a nekkid rimfire.
It's excellent training for trigger control, breathing and sight picture. Not to mention it's kind of fun. Door knobs at the end of a hall way make good aiming points.
You'll want to get some upper body toning exercise too.
It's excellent training for trigger control, breathing and sight picture. Not to mention it's kind of fun. Door knobs at the end of a hall way make good aiming points.
You'll want to get some upper body toning exercise too.
The No.6-8X1 yellow drywall anchors work well for cheap snapcaps. Rotate them out as needed and don't let debris fall into your pistol.
The ones I use have small fins on them that need trimming with a sharp utility blade.
If you develop a strong finger and good control it will translate to all pistols and triggers. The best trainer I've found is a heavy double action revolver like the SP 101 or really any revolver with a double action trigger..... the long pull will strengthen your finger and force you to develop a straight inline trigger pull.
The ones I use have small fins on them that need trimming with a sharp utility blade.
If you develop a strong finger and good control it will translate to all pistols and triggers. The best trainer I've found is a heavy double action revolver like the SP 101 or really any revolver with a double action trigger..... the long pull will strengthen your finger and force you to develop a straight inline trigger pull.
I had the good fortune to spend an hour getting some tips from our Olympic coach this winter. Dry firing was one of the training techniques he stressed. I remember him saying that the Russian team did dry firing 30 minutes a day...every day.
From what I recall he said they use a blank white wall. It is all about watching the front sight.
Works quite well.
Watching the front sight in relation to the rear (sight picture) with the goal of zero movement.
I also like to move from target to target on the wall to break things up and bring a dynamic element to the exercise.
Another bonus about using a double action revolver is there is not need to rack the slide partially to recock the hammer. Being able to repeat the shots without breaking the sight picture or changing the grip on the gun is nice.
OP What gun are you using?
Lasers work great at really showing the movement but they don't help develop an eye for a good sight picture.
Even the stance of the body and your neck and head position are important things to take into consideration as you develop "muscle memory"
If your taking the time to practice might as well do it right..... I do admit sometimes I dryfire practice from the couch....
Even the stance of the body and your neck and head position are important things to take into consideration as you develop "muscle memory"
If your taking the time to practice might as well do it right..... I do admit sometimes I dryfire practice from the couch....
twoicebergs
Regular
Co-witness with a laser attached to the pistol. You may not see the iron sight change much, but you will see the laser jump across the wall, target, or whatever you are aiming at, especially at distance. The laser doesn't have to be lined up either, just need to see if you are moving the gun. The good thing about a .22 is there is next to no recoil when compared to a larger calibre, so dry fire is even more directly applied for follow-up shots.
