Why You Need To Dry-Fire Practice

by
posted on December 5, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dryfire3.jpg
If you had 10 pro shooters in a room, and asked each of them what the number one tip is to improve shooting skills, we bet at least nine of them will reply "dry-fire practice." And with good reasonmost really great, championship-caliber shooters dry-fire a lot.

SIRT training pistol
The SIRT training pistol was specifically designed for dry-fire practice.

We often receive questions from readers about dry-firing with a firearm. Check out the query below, along with our explanation on why dry-fire-practice is extremely important.

Q. What is dry-firing and how do I do this with my firearm?

A. Many competitive shooters use dry-firing as a training tool both at the range and at home. During some competitions, such as international pistol, competitors dry-fire between live rounds to review the fundamentals. Many competitors even go through a dry-fire routine at competitions prior to stepping to the firing line.

According to the NRA Firearms Sourcebook, dry-firing is the releasing of the firing pin on an unloaded chamber of a firearm. It is an inexpensive, safe and time-efficient way to enhance shooting skills. This is an excellent way to train for both beginners and advanced shooters alike. Fundamentals can be drilled without the interruption of recoil while improving coordination, draw speed from a holster and getting into and out of various shooting positions safely. Remember to always use a snap-cap or dummy cartridge when dry-firing a rimfire to relieve wear caused by the firing pin.

Dummy rounds for dry-fire practice
Dry-firing allows you to save on ammo and practice important skills in the comfort of your home. Using dummy rounds or snap caps such as the ones pictured here will add an extra layer of protection for your gun during dry-fire practice.

Despite the fact that dry-firing does not require live ammunition, it is important to follow these safety rules:

  • The firearm must be unloaded.
  • All dry-firing must be done in a dedicated dry-fire area with a safe backstop in the direction the gun is pointed.
  • No live ammunition is permitted in the designated dry-firing area.
  • Only dummy ammunition is allowed to be used for reloading drills.
  • Always wear eye protection. 


And remember, even though the gun is unloaded, it is always important to practice safe firearm handling in keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction.

If you are interested in adding dry-firing to your pre-competition warm-up, ask a range official where the designated dry-fire area is prior to beginning your warm-up. This is important for the safety of all competitors and match officials.


Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

Latest

NRAARC America250 Leaderboard 3
NRAARC America250 Leaderboard 3

NRA ARC Across America National Challenge Leaderboard Now Live

NRA ARC Across America National Challenge leaderboard is now active at arc.nra.org, letting competitors see where they rank nationally as scores update through an NRA partnership with Armory Sync/Range Pocket.

Winchester USA 250th Anniversary Commemorative Ammunition Now Available Nationwide

Winchester’s USA 250th Anniversary Commemorative Ammunition series is now available nationwide, a 15,000-unit limited run of five collectible packages with theme-matched loads.

Longshot Overhauls Its Target Camera App

Longshot Cameras has overhauled its iOS and Android app, rebuilding the interface and upgrading shot-analysis, measurement and streaming tools across every camera model.

YanXiao Gong Sweeps Every Para Title at USA Shooting Pistol Nationals

Paris 2024 Paralympic medalist YanXiao Gong sweeps all three para pistol titles at 2026 USA Shooting Nationals as Hillsdale College debuts new Nimrod Complex.

More Than a Match: The Legacy of Gary ‘Doc’ Welt Lives On at Wyoming Antelope Club

An inside look at the 14th Annual Gary “Doc” Welt Memorial Match at Wyoming Antelope Club and the legacy behind it.

Krieghoff Shooters Clean Up at 2026 Pennsylvania State Shoot

Team Krieghoff collected championship titles at the 2026 Pennsylvania State Shoot, where Clare Schaffer became just the second woman to win the Krieghoff Challenge.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.