BDU How-To: Getting Started with Dry Fire Training

What is Dry Fire Training?

Dry firing is a form of firearms training using an unloaded firearm. The shooter follows all the usual steps involved in drawing, gripping, and firing their gun, however, no ammunition is loaded into the gun and no round is fired.

Why Dry Fire?

Dry firing provides an opportunity for gun owners to practice the vital steps leading up to the firing of their gun, without wasting valuable ammunition. Shooters who regularly participate in dry fire training are noticeably more comfortable, confident, and deliberate with their motions and movements when shooting their firearms.

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Dry fire training allows more time to be spent on valuable fundamentals at home in order to optimize the time and ammunition used at the range. Shooters with a solid grasp of shooting fundamentals experience fewer effects from recoil and faster target acquisition.

Will Dry Firing Hurt Your Firearm?

No, it is okay to dry fire your gun. With the exception of rimfire guns, some 1911s, and some 2011 models, it is okay to dry fire your weapon. Most striker-fired pistols (GLOCK 19, GLOCK 17, Sig P365, etc.) can be dry fired without causing any damage to the firearm.

How to Get Started?

What you always need to do first is physically and visually inspect that your firearm is empty. Check to make sure that there is no magazine loaded in the weapon and that there is no round in the barrel. Do this early and often whenever you are training.

1. Start with practicing your grip. Place your dominant hand high and tight on the grip of the gun with the webbing between your thumb and index fingers placed firmly against the “beaver tail” of the gun. Keep your trigger finger away from the trigger until you are ready to fire.
2. Place your non-dominant hand on the other side of the gun with the heel of your hand filling the empty space left on your grip. Your thumbs should stack and line up along the frame of the gun.
3. Bring the sights of the gun up to your eyes so that your head does not tuck to see through the sights, keeping your arms bent slightly instead of locking them at the elbows. This will allow you to use your arm strength to reduce recoil.

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