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ffemt300 wrote:Good Stuff. I think I'll go through that month long drill. Just curious, what are the snap caps for? I know what they are but what is their purpose?

Most guns can be dry fired without damaging them, although there are exceptions.

I use snap caps two ways.

First, it lets me practice reloads while dry firing. I'll dry fire, drop the mag, insert a new mag with snap cap, rack and fire again.

Second, I use snap caps at the range as well. I'll insert a snap cap at random in a magazine full of live rounds. When I hit the "dud" round, it let's me practice quickly reacting to the need for "Tap, Rack, Bang". Another benefit of as snap cap at the range is serving as a diagnostic tool for trigger control and anticipating recoil. If you pull the trigger on a dead round and your front sight stays steady, then you are shooting correctly. However, if you pull the trigger on a dead round and your front sight nosedives, then you are flinching or anticipating recoil.

I see it is your first post, so WELCOME!

I like to use snap caps when I dry fire.

A few of the things I'll do include:

Both hands
-Draw from holster to target and fire.
-Drop the mag, load a new mag, rack and fire.

Strong hand only
-Draw from holster to target and fire.
-Drop the mag, load a new mag, rack and fire.

Weak hand only
-Draw from holster to target and fire.
-Drop the mag, load a new mag, rack and fire.

Trigger control: Balance an empty case on the front sight and fire without the case falling off.


One point I emphasize -- actually, I would use the term "overemphasize" -- is I unload my carry gun in a different room, leave all ammo in the other room, and then come into wherever I am practicing. I'll load the snap caps and practice in a room that contains no live ammunition. I want to maintain a BRIGHT CLEAR DISTINCT LINE between my normal, everyday carry and a dry fire practice session.

I've known people who had a dry fire session where they were sitting on their couch watching television. Periodically, they would practice their flash sight picture skills by aiming from low ready to a face on their television and dry firing. Then they would reload from the ammo sitting nearby and continue watching TV. Without thinking, they aimed and fired again, shooting their television.

That is why I have turned it into a ritual. Unloading in the other room make an official "start" to the practice session. While I am practicing, I am doing nothing else except practice, maintaining my mental focus. When the practice session is completed, I go in the other room and reload. Mentally, I am no longer in a practice session, I am in everyday firearms safety mode, and the four rules apply.