Dry Fire Tips

Check that the pistol is unloaded.
Check again that the pistol is unloaded.
Did that?
Now, check again that the pistol is unloaded.

Now get the snap caps you bought. Load it (use the magazine, don't drop one in the chute and let the slide go forward. Feed from the magazine.)

Sit in your favorite chair.
Remember the four steps of
Sight alignment,
Breath control,
Squeeze the trigger,
And follow-through

(a good aiming point is the light switch across the room)

Cock the hammer and fire.

You did make sure the real ammunition is stored away from where you are doing this, right?

 

Snap caps? What are them? Talking like blanks?

 

These are plastic dummie rounds that you can use for "dry firing" aka "snapping in."

They prevent injury to your firing pin, and also allow you to become familiar with the mechanism of the weapon.

Since you are unlikely every to be shooting from a chair, I would suggest practicing while standing in front of a mirror. Aim for the guy's chest in the mirror. See if the handgun (pistol or revolver) moves when you squeeze the trigger. It should not.

 

This......

 

mandala0915: suggest you become familiar with the "tap-rack-access" drill. The drill is an emergency drill used if your pistol misfires.
1st: Tap or hit the mag sternly, this ensures the mag is seated correctly
2nd: Rack the slide manually, this ejects the improperly seated, stove piped, double feed or non-functional round. (several racks are sometimes needed)
3rd: access threat and fire if applicable

After becoming familiar with the drill... have a friend load the mag with both dummy and live rounds without you knowing the order. (always keep your firearm facing downrange)

This is a great way to discover anticipation in your shot as it will become very apparent when you chamber a dummy round, pull the trigger in anticipation of a live round.

 

I am by no means an expert on shooting i am self taught. I shoot a lot and watch training videos and do the dry fire thing using snap caps. I did pick up one thing from a Marine Corps video yesterday. I have always used the pad of my trigger finger. I noticed in the video they were using the joint on their trigger finger so i tried it what a difference it made. Trigger control was much easier and it lightened the trigger pull a lot. In fact i tried it on my CZ 52 which has the worst trigger of any gun i own and i found it made the trigger very manageable. I don't know if you already do this or not but it helped me a lot.
51

 

+1 but i think you shouldnt sit... it's hard to learn good STANCE from sitting. but other wise good

 

Trigger control is an essential skill. A good trigger helps but the shooter still has to do his part by squeezing the trigger w/o disturbing the weapon platform. This is easiest w the tip of the finger - no more than a fingernail's portion of the pad.

If you use too much or too little finger you will push/pull or move the platform L/R from line of sight. We've all seen the trigger charts. These are just guidelines - not set in stone.

Dry firing will help you achieve a clean release or straight backward trigger pull. Lasers are also excellent for training as well.

There's a phrase I learned in my youth which is "within the performance limits of the ammunition." (for accuracy) Only a few of my guns are even capable of this type of performance but at least when the groups open up, I know what the culprit is - Me...