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Dry Fire Training — Misconceptions vs. Reality

I just skimmed over quickly. I think that is should have included systems like the Mantis or other laser systems. Those systems combine aiming, sight picture, trigger pull, and "relative" accuracy to the equation. I think that the freemium app, free printable targets, and a $30-$50 laser cartridge can help the dry fire results quite a bit. It does have its limits as the laser cartridge point of aim can vary a lot depending in its orientation in the chamber and between different weapons.

I probably went way off the rails, but so is life.
 
IMO drawing, presenting, reholstering, and mag changes can all be mastered in the home with dry type repetitive practice. Accuracy on the other hand can only truly be improved by live fire. A trigger press should be able to be mastered in a dozen or so repetitions but doing it with recoil and noise takes mental discipline and repeated exposure to live fire. I don’t waste my time or the wear and tear on my guns messing with dry fire.
 
IamSalty said:
I just skimmed over quickly. I think that is should have included systems like the Mantis or other laser systems. Those systems combine aiming, sight picture, trigger pull, and "relative" accuracy to the equation. I think that the freemium app, free printable targets, and a $30-$50 laser cartridge can help the dry fire results quite a bit. It does have its limits as the laser cartridge point of aim can vary a lot depending in its orientation in the chamber and between different weapons.

I probably went way off the rails, but so is life.
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I griped about this on this page before, some years ago. I bought a 9mm laser bore sighter "cartridge". When chambered it would move the laser point around about 9-12" circle when I would spin the cartridge in the chamber....in my Canik Rival from about 7-9 yards (in my living room/kitchen). Yes, a laser bore sight tool can "get you on paper"....but if you're training for accuracy, I'm skeptical of the concept. Maybe the Mantis "cartridge" is better than the tool I bought. Maybe not.

I'd hate to spend hours training my eyes and sight-hold just to later find out I was 6" off-target.
 
I have 2 9mm laser cartridges. They each have a different POA. In my case, I was able to "zero-ish" each cartridge to a specific weapon by rotating and shimming with painters tape until it lined up with irons. I then marked it so I can place them in the same orientation each time. This may not be possible for everyone. I do check "zero" each time I use them.
 
IamSalty said:
I have 2 9mm laser cartridges. They each have a different POA. In my case, I was able to "zero-ish" each cartridge to a specific weapon by rotating and shimming with painters tape until it lined up with irons. I then marked it so I can place them in the same orientation each time. This may not be possible for everyone. I do check "zero" each time I use them.
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You have way more patience and drive than I (to fix something just purchased!).

And those 2 you have...try spinning them and see how the POA changes in a circle around your target. If you shim them, you to re-insert them exactly the same with each chambering....
 
Sounds like the same issue with every single consumer grade bore sighter on the market. Total waste of time usually. I usually bore sight the old fashioned way unless I can't get the barrel/upper off. In which case I do it the really old fashioned way. With a box and a half of 30-06.

As for dry firing, I just shoot a whole lot. I can see where some people can't do that, but I can, so I do.
 
Bassbob said:
Sounds like the same issue with every single consumer grade bore sighter on the market. Total waste of time usually. I usually bore sight the old fashioned way unless I can't get the barrel/upper off. In which case I do it the really old fashioned way. With a box and a half of 30-06.

As for dry firing, I just shoot a whole lot. I can see where some people can't do that, but I can, so I do.
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I've been reading more and more about dry-firing and the damage it may cause on strikers whose manufacturers say it's ok...
 
Jfal said:
I've been reading more and more about dry-firing and the damage it may cause on strikers whose manufacturers say it's ok...
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I don't know brother. I do know my dad always said not to dry fire them and mostly I just see no need to. Other than the ones you have to to break down or if I'm measuring trigger weight. Which as an aside, my Hiperfire EDT DM has two springs. One supposedly gives you 5.5 lbs and one gives you 4.5 lbs. I used the 4.5 lb spring. The original one I put in my WC averages 3.75 and after about 100 rounds this morning the new one averages 3.5 lbs.
 
Bassbob said:
I don't know brother. I do know my dad always said not to dry fire them and mostly I just see no need to. Other than the ones you have to to break down or if I'm measuring trigger weight. Which as an aside, my Hiperfire EDT DM has two springs. One supposedly gives you 5.5 lbs and one gives you 4.5 lbs. I used the 4.5 lb spring. The original one I put in my WC averages 3.75 and after about 100 rounds this morning the new one averages 3.5 lbs.
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I know enough to know that I don't know, therefore I don't do it. Even though I couldn't care less about having to replace a part...I just don't want that part to need replacing when it's "inconvenient."
 
Sorry I think this article misses by a mile. Its 2025 and it’s time to look beyond balancing a dime on your front sight. The article paints a sad picture of dry fire that is not effective, but maybe that’s because the Old School drills are boring AF. I’ve spent a lot of time with the Mantis system practically from the day I started shooting - which was not that long ago - and in my opinion, there is not a better system to dry fire with. And I’m not talking about their laser system, I’m talking about the sensor that attaches to your gun and provides you with masses of data and metrics to analyze everything you are doing to a fault. And I never once experienced a dry trigger pull and a range pull. Everything I worked on, and continue to work on, directly correlates to what I see at the range. Working on your draw is particularly rewarding because Mantis breaks your draw down into spilt times on how long it takes you to grip your gun, to pull your gun, get it horizontal, get it on target and pull the trigger. All in one draw. You can see precisely where you are losing time or making time up, or how much extra time you buy with a fast initial draw. You can work on timed reload drills. You name it Mantis has a drill. It is the best training money you can spend.
 
SimonRL said:
Well, I will admit I’ve never been to the dump and shot the snot out of a TV or washing machine. I tried, but it was just a bit too downmarket for me. And smelly.
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I only do that with shotguns and only because as much as I run them I actually run out of things to do with shotguns. Besides, you ain’t lived until you’ve unloaded 16 rounds of buck and slugs on defunct major appliances in about 8 seconds.
 
I'll chime in with @SimonRL - I've used the Mantis X10 for a long time and can absolutely see a downturn in my live fire performance when I don't put in the Mantis reps. As (I hope) most will agree, shooting is a perishable skill and whether it's live or dry fire, if you don't do something, your accuracy will suffer. I have the Mantis Laser Academy as well but haven't worked with it as much. The X10 works for both dry and live fire. One of my favorite features are the built-in courses you get with the X10 app; I've finished five of them so far. With increasing levels of difficulty (and gradually shorter time windows) they incorporate drawing from the holster, mag changes, malfunction clearing and, of course, clean trigger pulls - all under time constraints. They include both strong- and off-hand-only drills, shoot/no shoot scenarios, and more.

I've done some private training (1-on-1 with a trainer at the local range) and the mechanical improvements I made with Mantis translate to better performance in live fire training/drills as well.

As with anything, if I get lazy during live fire, no amount of dry fire training will help. No matter how good I think I am, I have to remember (and employ) solid fundamentals. But again, that's another area the Mantis X10 excels - the feedback it provides through the sensor and app do a decent job of telling me where I'm failing when my mechanics start to break down.

Everyone's mileage may vary as with all things. My personal experience with the Mantis solutions has been very positive.

On an unrelated note, I feel like I'm cheating - just picked up a Walther PDP F-Series and they gifted me a free direct-mount optic. I've only shot it once so far (without the optic - which I just got yesterday), but the hype around Walther doesn't seem to be misplaced. Is it possible to love both Springfield and Walther? :love:

Walther PDP F-Series - optic mounted.png
 
When I was actively trying to get better, I got an airsoft version of my competition pistol and set up targets with proper backers on the walls. This allowed me to practice draw and shoot, reloads, and shooting on the move and from behind barricades. It did improve my shooting and it's a lot cheaper to buy 1000 plastic pellets and CO2 cartridges than to buy live ammo.
 
Mr. Untactical said:
I'll chime in with @SimonRL - I've used the Mantis X10 for a long time and can absolutely see a downturn in my live fire performance when I don't put in the Mantis reps. As (I hope) most will agree, shooting is a perishable skill and whether it's live or dry fire, if you don't do something, your accuracy will suffer. I have the Mantis Laser Academy as well but haven't worked with it as much. The X10 works for both dry and live fire. One of my favorite features are the built-in courses you get with the X10 app; I've finished five of them so far. With increasing levels of difficulty (and gradually shorter time windows) they incorporate drawing from the holster, mag changes, malfunction clearing and, of course, clean trigger pulls - all under time constraints. They include both strong- and off-hand-only drills, shoot/no shoot scenarios, and more.

I've done some private training (1-on-1 with a trainer at the local range) and the mechanical improvements I made with Mantis translate to better performance in live fire training/drills as well.

As with anything, if I get lazy during live fire, no amount of dry fire training will help. No matter how good I think I am, I have to remember (and employ) solid fundamentals. But again, that's another area the Mantis X10 excels - the feedback it provides through the sensor and app do a decent job of telling me where I'm failing when my mechanics start to break down.

Everyone's mileage may vary as with all things. My personal experience with the Mantis solutions has been very positive.

On an unrelated note, I feel like I'm cheating - just picked up a Walther PDP F-Series and they gifted me a free direct-mount optic. I've only shot it once so far (without the optic - which I just got yesterday), but the hype around Walther doesn't seem to be misplaced. Is it possible to love both Springfield and Walther? :love:

View attachment 71095
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Nice PDP. I have a couple myself.

Walther love is a real thing! Somehow I ended up with a decent collection of them without even trying!
 
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