How Often Do You Practice ?

[cyphur]

Dry firing at home helps more than most people can imagine. Handling your firearm on a daily basis, if possible, helps to hardwire basic skills.

Yup, my wife looks at me funny, but I do handgun drills usually once a day, and dry fire my rifle 3x a week. If the a problem arises, I want to be able to grab them and do whatever I need to do, by feel, and not by sight.

It also increases speed while avoiding the "hurried" feeling.

[bigolbigun]

Thanks for all the responses. One common practice idea was the use of dry firing practice. How do you do it? Do you have to use a snap cap, or is it ok to fire without one? What does dry firing do for you?. I'm sure some other new people are as lost on this technique as I am.


Bobby

[seamusTX]

I'm not going to harp on the safety aspect, but when you dry-fire, you must check the weapon and not even have ammunition in the same room. This goes double if you're using snap-caps. Many a TV set has been sent to the junk yard because people were careless.

You need to read the owners manual for your weapon. Some can be dry-fired a million times. With others, you'll damage the firing pin if you dry-fire even a little. In that case, you need snap caps. Spent brass won't work.

I like to aim at the TV set. I pick one character to aim at. I mentally take off points if I press the trigger after the scene has shifted.

Dry-firing mainly reinforces breathing, grip, sight alignment, and smooth trigger action. You can also add drawing from a holster and reholstering, shooting from cover, and shooting from unusual positions that you can't do at most public ranges (kneeling behind the sofa, through doorways, around corners, etc.).

When I first started doing it, I was nervous some nosy neighbor would call the cops. It never happened; and I realized that most people just aren't that observant.

- Jim

[KBCraig]

I would also get someone to show you how to SAFELY make a "retention shot" and practice that close enough to touch the target. If you ever do have to defend yourself, you may very well be doing it with your hands on the BG or his on you.

That's exactly why I practice that more than I practice anything else. I only get to the range for live fire 3-4 times a year (pitiful, I know), but I do dry-fire exercises several nights a week.

After taking all the dry-fire safety precautions, I'll use the wall as my "bad guy". I practice "jamming" an attacker, with my left forearm and right fist, and weight forward on my left foot. Then I rock back onto my right foot while preparing to draw, pull my left hand to my chest, draw, and fire. Step back, fire again. Step back again, and I'm at a comfortable distance for a two-hand hold, so I switch to a proper stance and continue firing as I continue stepping back.

In tactical classes or clinics, I run a little test by having people come to the line and tell them to get "close to your target." Invariably, they will line up about 3 to 5 yds from the target. I'll say, "no, get closer." They may move a yard. I usually have to say "go up and touch it" before they will get that close. Why? Because we don't like it there; we're uncomfortable; we don't want to be that close to something we're going to shoot, much less fight.

Kudos to you for forcing people people to confront their comfort zone. They're projecting "bad guy" onto the target, and they don't want to get that close to the BG. Understandable. But few people understand that they can't determine the BG's intentions at 7-10 yards, and drawing down on someone and holding him at 7 yards or more just because he looks like a BG is frowned on.

Kevin

[nuparadigm]

I usually shoot about 150 to 200 rounds once a week. Distance is 3 to 15 yards. I practice drills I learned a long time ago in the academy and in post-academy training. Usually, the places I shoot are the few who give LEO discounts for range time ... otherwise, I probably couldn't afford to shoot as often as I do.

In my retirement, I have a different kind of job which allows me discretionary time that I can use to stop by a friendly range. The range bag is always in my trunk (during work hours) for this reason.

[nitrogen]

Not enough.

[KinnyLee]

If I'm filthy rich, I would practice everyday, but I practice at least once a week.

[Popshot]

I used to go many months between range sessions. Now that I have a CHL, I make sure that I get range practice at least once per month. I do want to participate in some IDPA matches soon, which will give me the opportunity to practice skills, such as, moving, close-up range, etc. As others mentioned, I do some dry fire practice at least once per week. I make a concerted effort to perform dry fire far away from ammo. I like my TV, so I don't aim in that direction.

[stevie_d_64]

Good morning Sir,

If you make it to the range twice a month, then you're doing better than many.

I am sure you aware, shooting is a "perishable" skill, so it is important to make it to the range from time to time.

Much of what a person needs to practice as concerns CC/Self Defense can be practiced at home (empty weapon). Things such as drawing from concealment, dry firing, sight alignment...etc.

I am more concerned that a person spend his/her time learning to shoot correctly...than I am about them just shooting targets.

As for distances, I normally concentrate on 3 yds. (yes 3), 7 yds. and 10 yds., of course...I shoot at distances longer than this as well, but not as much.

If you have an IDPA club nearby...you might wish to go out and watch a match. This type of "dynamic" shooting is of much more value (IMO) if done even once a month...than is "static" shooting done every weekend.

Just my .02 on it.

Excellent suggestions all!

I would also get someone to show you how to SAFELY make a "retention shot" and practice that close enough to touch the target. If you ever do have to defend yourself, you may very well be doing it with your hands on the BG or his on you.

In tactical classes or clinics, I run a little test by having people come to the line and tell them to get "close to your target." Invariably, they will line up about 3 to 5 yds from the target. I'll say, "no, get closer." They may move a yard. I usually have to say "go up and touch it" before they will get that close. Why? Because we don't like it there; we're uncomfortable; we don't want to be that close to something we're going to shoot, much less fight. Like most things in shooting, we practice what we do well and that we enjoy. We have to force ourselves to do that which we don't do well (especially in front of witnesses), or that we don't like. Practice at contact ranges as well, that’s not something you want to do for the first time with a gun pressed to your nose!

txinvestigator is in your area and unless I'm mistaken, I think he going to be teaching tactical shooting as well as CHL classes. I suggest you give him a call and check on a class or perhaps some one-on-one coaching.

Chas.


Chas.

Once a month, twice if I'm lucky...So I think we're good...

I like Charles' approach...He has a great persona to illustrate, that the reality that most of us, who have shot for years, know we would rather be yards away, and doing our best to negate a threat without the use of deadly force...

But, the "real" reality is that no matter how good we think we are, we do not dictate what or how a threat will dictate things to us...

Our deal is that we bite back really hard...And that is unfortunate for the BG's...

If anyone ever gets a chance to observe and practice this technique Charles is very good at...

I highly recommend you do so...Y'all really need to see this work...

Its something I try to get good at everytime I get the chance...

[kw5kw]

Just wondering how much you other CHL'ers practice. And at what distance, and target types do you use? Maybe some of you more skilled members could offer some advice on what kind of things should be practiced each trip to the range. Or a particular drill you like to use to improve your shooting. Being fairly new to carrying I try to make it out to the range about twice a month. I usually shoot some at 7,10,15,& 25 yards. Most of the time at a silhouette target,sometimes at a regular one.
I usually am a little low & left with my XDSC9. Trying to work on that though. As always thanks for your input, it is much appreciated from a new guy.

I practice about once or twice a month with my XD's.

Here is one of my targets from my last practice session:

[barres]

Not enough.

I usually throw 100-200 rounds downrange once or twice a month as time and finances allow. I'm trying to get involved with an IPSC-style club at my range, but I've so far only been able to shoot one stage of one of their matches.