Excuse #71

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03-14-2013, 11:56 AM
NETim

Excuse #71

I am a huge proponent of dry firing. However, I noticed during today's range session (live fire has been sporadic this past winter) that I failed to establish and maintain a consistent "firm firing grip." I attribute this to off season dry fire, where I'm concentrating on perfecting the trigger pull.

I find it easy to lapse into a lack of "firm firing grip" mode 'cause I know nothing's going to go BANG! Or am I adding yet another excuse to my already pathetically long list of excuses for poor performance?

I know I need to mentally kick my ass and work on a consistently crushing, death grip (or my version thereof.) Any tips other than "Just Do It"?
03-14-2013, 11:57 AM
JV_

Quote:

Originally Posted by NETim

I find it easy to lapse into a lack of "firm firing grip" mode 'cause I know nothing's going to go BANG!

I have the same issue.
03-14-2013, 12:41 PM
joshs

Do slower reps in dryfire to ensure you are correctly gripping the gun. You need to build an appropriately firm grip into your subconscious.
03-14-2013, 01:04 PM
gringop

Do enough dry fire reps where you aren't pulling the trigger, but simply drawing, aiming and building your index. I would say that 90% of my dry fire practice is without a trigger press. When you don't have to concentrate on perfect trigger press , you can concentrate better on proper grip.

Gringop
03-14-2013, 01:27 PM
CCT125US

For myself, I will pause and confirm a strong firing grip after a set number of dry fires. I figure I'm only lying to myself if dry fire is not perfect. Same thing with establishing a sight picture vs breaking a shot in dry fire.
03-14-2013, 05:38 PM
pax

For me, it's a mindset game. As long as I keep my mind focused on what I'm doing, my dry fire practice can be quite valuable. But as soon as I let my brain decide that it's "just" dry fire, all sorts of stupid errors creep in.

Solution?

1. Short sessions. I'm talking less than 5 minutes of trigger control drills, worked once or twice a day.

2. No distractions in the environment. No TV. No radio. No other people. Just me and the gun, and a safe backstop.

3. Full focus. This goes along with no outside distractions. As soon as I feel my mind start to wander, I'm done dry firing. Sloppy repetitions done with less than full focus aren't just useless -- they actually reduce your current skills. Not worth it!

The mindset issue for me is a simple one. Once I've moved through the safety ritual, as far as my mind is concerned, I am firing the gun. I'm not "dry firing," as if it were a separate and specific thing. I want my mind to always believe I'm shooting the gun when I pull the trigger, even when there's no ammunition in the room.

pax
03-15-2013, 06:33 AM
nycnoob

> I am a huge proponent of dry firing. However, I noticed during today's range session (live fire has been sporadic this past winter)
> that I failed to establish and maintain a consistent "firm firing grip." I attribute this to off season dry fire, where I'm concentrating on perfecting the trigger pull.

I would alternate, some reps concentrate on a "perfect trigger pull" some reps concentrate on "a perfect grip".
03-15-2013, 08:21 AM
Corlissimo

Quote:

Originally Posted by pax

For me, it's a mindset game. As long as I keep my mind focused on what I'm doing, my dry fire practice can be quite valuable. But as soon as I let my brain decide that it's "just" dry fire, all sorts of stupid errors creep in.

Solution?

1. Short sessions. I'm talking less than 5 minutes of trigger control drills, worked once or twice a day.

2. No distractions in the environment. No TV. No radio. No other people. Just me and the gun, and a safe backstop.

3. Full focus. This goes along with no outside distractions. As soon as I feel my mind start to wander, I'm done dry firing. Sloppy repetitions done with less than full focus aren't just useless -- they actually reduce your current skills. Not worth it!

The mindset issue for me is a simple one. Once I've moved through the safety ritual, as far as my mind is concerned, I am firing the gun. I'm not "dry firing," as if it were a separate and specific thing. I want my mind to always believe I'm shooting the gun when I pull the trigger, even when there's no ammunition in the room.

pax

This is a really great approach. I particularly like the concept in the last paragraph as it should not only keep dry fire from being a vector for less than perfect technique, but rather, serve as a major reinforcement of proper technique AND safety. No need for using little "mind tricks" when the whole exercise is a mind training in addition to "body" training.

Thanks for sharing this Kathy, I'll be integrating itinto my regimen ASAP.

~ Typos brought to you by my laziness & in attention to detail.