So I'm looking to get a decent M1911 gas blowback for a sidearm, and my dad, who shoots competitively and such, says that he will go half and half on the price with me as long as it is a 1911 (Which I wanted) because it will most likely fit in his holsters and he can practice drawing and shooting in the basement.
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What I want to know is, do I NEED to load it up with gas so he can shoot it? Or can he just dry-fire and not need to waste any green gas?
(I live in MI so I order things from California, and it takes like a week to get here, so I try to limit myself on how many bb's I use, and I would probably do the same thing for gas.)
Just looking for a way I can save a few bucks, if it wouldn't work that's fine, I'm just looking to be informed. Thanks guys!
31 comments
by Peter Burlingame
There is no substitute for trigger time. If you want to become an accomplished shooter, you need to spend hours upon hours of practice. This can cost a lot of money in ammunition and inconvenience in traveling to a shooting range. There is one way that you can add to your trigger time that is not only free, that doesn’t require a range: dry firing.
“Dry firing” is the process of operating your firearm like you are shooting it, but the firearm is empty. If you follow a few simple steps, it is safe, and does no harm to your gun, and is highly effective at improving your shooting skill.
It’s free, you can do it almost anywhere and anytime, you can see how you are doing because there is no noise or recoil to hide your mistakes, and you don’t have to go to the range to practice.
Nothing will improve your shooting faster than spending five to ten minutes several times a week dry firing. It will do more to improve your marksmanship than anything else. Here are the steps to safely and effectively practice dry firing.
Dry Fire Xde
Some people, mostly old timers, will tell you that dry firing is hard on the gun and will result in damage. I’ve been doing it for more than four decades with a wide assortment of firearms and have yet to see any damage on any. However, I would not dry fire rimfire guns, as the firing pin can hit the edge of the chamber, and repeated strikes can cause deformation or damage. Also, I would not dry fire guns that are more than 50 years old. Some people recommend snap caps for dry firing. These are inert replicas of cartridges and provide some cushion for the firing pin or striker. They can serve to help you practice loading, reloading, and unloading.
These are the 10 steps for safe dry fire practice:
1.Find a room where you can be alone and where it is quiet. We don’t want any distractions from our mindful practice or something that may lead us to do something unsafe.
2. This next part is IMPORTANT.Before you go in that room, unload your gun, and make sure that you don’t have any ammo on your person. It helps to have a container, such as bowl to put your gear in, at the entrance to your dry fire area. Now you can enter the dry fire room.
3. Pick a wall at which to aim, that, if you screw up, you can accept putting a bullet into. In other words, there is nothing behind the wall that could get hurt if you managed to screw up the unloading process, nor will a ricochet cause injury or damage.
4. Find something to aim at. Something already on the wall or something that you put on the wall. Your target should be small, about the size of the head of a nail or a dime, depending on how far away it is from you. Your target should appear to be just slightly bigger than the front sight of your firearm when held in your shooting position. “Aim small, miss small”. With a small target, your aiming errors will be easier to see.
5. Double check that there is no magazine in the pistol and check that the chamber is empty. Check both visually, and physically, by sticking your finger in the magazine well and chamber. I’ve found cartridges on the second look, that I missed the first time around. So check again.
6. Standing comfortably with a good two handed grip on the pistol, aim at the small target. Place the middle of the first pad of your finger on the front face of the trigger. Make sure that you are applying pressure straight back and that you are not adding any sideways pressure as you are pulling the trigger back.
7. While you are working on keeping the sights on target, start applying SMOOTH pressure to the trigger. Part of your attention must be on the trigger press and part on the constant micro adjustments that you need to make to keep the sights aligned with the target. When you finally reach the release point and the gun goes click, where were your sights? Still lined up on the target? Or did they move? If they moved, which way did they move? Why? Try it again and work on fixing any problems that show up.
Note: If you are using a Springfield XD, Glock, or similarly operating pistol, you will have to “re-set” the action by pulling the slide back a little bit between trigger presses.
8. When you have done 20 GOOD presses, stop. Always finish your sessions on success. It serves no purpose, and is actually counterproductive if you keep going when you are tired or not paying full attention.
9. Dry fire practice shouldn’t be limited to static bullseye type of work. Add in drawing from concealment, movement, and use of cover to your sessions. Most of the things you do on the range, you can practice, dry, at home.
10. When you leave the room, say out loud“the dry fire practice is over” This is CRUCIAL! It may seem silly to actually say it, but it sets your frame of mind in a way just thinking about it won’t. Most ‘accidents’ associated with dry fire practice, happen just afterwards, when the gun has been reloaded and the person decides to try “just one more”
If you do this every day, or every other day for a week, you will be amazed at the improvement in your shooting the next time you go to the range. Just think of all those bruised and deflated egos when the guys look at your target and all of your shots are in one ragged hole right in the middle of the x ring. And with the current high price and limited availability of ammunition, dry fire goes a long way in maintaining proficiency on a budget.
A quick video of the dry firing process can be seen here
Peter Burlingame is the founder of The Self Defense Initiative, a 25 year old training school based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Peter is a contributing member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. His articles have been published in the FBI’s National Associates’ magazine, “The Firearms Instructor” and “Survival Quarterly.” You may contact him at [email protected] Videos at Youtube.com/vigunfighter.com
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Rustontiger43
LSU Fan Texarkana Arkansas Member since Dec 2006 3304 posts
Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by Rustontiger43 on 10/15/12 at 3:51 pm
yay or nay? Ive heard both sides on this. Explain why i cant or can?
Teyeger
LSU Fan Smoke Grove Member since Sep 2011 2410 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by Teyeger on 10/15/12 at 3:54 pm to Rustontiger43
You can..Cause I have done it and my Kimber works fine. Now I dont run around dry firing my Kimber. Ive only done it maybe 10 times since I have had it.
thedice20
New Orleans Saints Fan Member since May 1926 Member since Aug 2008 7550 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by thedice20 on 10/15/12 at 3:59 pm to Teyeger
Doing it a few times here and there isnt going to affect anything. I wouldnt go around doing it all day though.
Replies (0)
civiltiger07
LSU Fan Baton Rouge Member since Dec 2011 8695 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by civiltiger07 on 10/15/12 at 4:03 pm to Rustontiger43
I don't have a problem with dryfiring any centerfire firearms. I don't like to dryfire rimfire firearms because the firing pin can actually hit the camber wall. Which wouldn't be a good thing.
SCUBABlake
LSU Fan RIP WT6 Member since Jan 2008 40289 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by SCUBABlake on 10/15/12 at 4:09 pm to civiltiger07
hashbrowns
LSU Fan Shitholeastan Member since Nov 2011 2380 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by hashbrowns on 10/15/12 at 4:09 pm to Rustontiger43
If you're wanting to do it alot, get some of them fancy snap cap fake bullet things.
Teyeger
LSU Fan Smoke Grove Member since Sep 2011 2410 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by Teyeger on 10/15/12 at 4:29 pm to hashbrowns
Why would someone want to do it alot? I was trying to think of a good reason and just cant think if why anyone would want to. I can see a few times to feel the trigger and see what kind of work need to be done but thats about the only reason I can think of for doing it at all.
RATeamWannabe
Kansas Fan Baton Rouge Member since Sep 2009 23558 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by RATeamWannabe on 10/15/12 at 5:17 pm to Teyeger
Curious to see some more opinions on this, I too have heard both sides on it
Replies (0)
bapple
LSU Fan Capital City Member since Oct 2010 10845 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by bapple on 10/15/12 at 6:10 pm to Teyeger
quote: Dry firing is the 100% best way to practice your form. You can hone in on that front sight and make sure it doesn't move when the trigger breaks. I strongly suggest anyone practice dry firing with their own handgun many times. I have dry fired my guns tons of times. It does nothing to hurt it unless the owner's manual says otherwise. For example, my Ruger SR9c is bad to dry fire if the magazine disconnect is still in it, but I had removed it when I bought it so it wasn't an issue anymore.
hashbrowns
LSU Fan Shitholeastan Member since Nov 2011 2380 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by hashbrowns on 10/15/12 at 6:26 pm to bapple
I practice drawing from the holster and lining up that first shot. Doesn't hurt to pull the trigger while doing it. I can't remember if the XDm manual said not to dry fire or not, but since I got some of the snap caps for my wife to practice loading a mag with, I use them when I practice drawing.
Replies (0)
TH03
Iowa State Fan Dallas Member since Dec 2008 152068 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by TH03 on 10/15/12 at 6:36 pm to Rustontiger43
Once in a while, it's fine, but if your looking to dry fire to practice, get the snap caps.
bapple
LSU Fan Capital City Member since Oct 2010 10845 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by bapple on 10/15/12 at 6:43 pm to TH03
quote: I've never found this to be 100% true. Some people say it's bad to dry fire rimfire guns, but the firing pin is designed differently in those so it makes sense. I still can't see a reliable source that says it's bad to dry fire. I do it pretty much anytime I pick up my gun to practice. It's good to practice malfunction drills and stuff with snap caps though, no argument there.
DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan Here Member since Jan 2011 52099 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 10/15/12 at 7:18 pm to bapple
It might not be bad, but I dry fire with snap caps just because it makes me feel better
RATeamWannabe
Kansas Fan Baton Rouge Member since Sep 2009 23558 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by RATeamWannabe on 10/15/12 at 7:31 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan Here Member since Jan 2011 52099 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 10/15/12 at 7:33 pm to RATeamWannabe
They're cheap I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know what stops the firing pin if there's no primer for it to hit.
RATeamWannabe
Kansas Fan Baton Rouge Member since Sep 2009 23558 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by RATeamWannabe on 10/15/12 at 7:40 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Oh I'm with you, growing up, I was always told to never dry fire, and never told why not.
DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan Here Member since Jan 2011 52099 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 10/15/12 at 7:41 pm to RATeamWannabe
quote: Same here. Can't get past that.
Replies (0)
dawg23
Baton Rouge, La Member since Jul 2011 4015 posts
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by dawg23 on 10/15/12 at 8:30 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote: This. If you have a Glock, you can dry fire thousands of times per week (top competition shooters dry fire at least this much), with no worries. But some guns, for example a Beretta 92 (M9) may suffer damage --- if you believe what's written in the owner's manuals. I wouldn't let the slide slam shut on an empty chamber while dry firing a 1911. But I don't know which, if any, of the 1911's would be harmed by dry firing. One solution is to buy some snap caps (for the non-Glocks). Another solution (for the non-Glocks) would be to check with the manufacturer before dry firing. Of course the OBVIOUS solution would be to buy the Glock you shudda bought in the first place. And as was said, don't dry fire rimfire weapons.
DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan Here Member since Jan 2011 52099 posts Online
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 10/15/12 at 8:54 pm to dawg23
quote: So there is actually truth to this archaic arse statement?
bbvdd
Alabama Fan Memphis, TN Member since Jun 2009 17001 posts Is It Bad To Dry Fire Pistols
re: Kimber 1911 Dry FirePosted by bbvdd on 10/15/12 at 9:12 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
The reason that it was always said to not dry fire was that it could sear the firing pin. The metals used today is much better and it isn't an issue any longer. Every centerfire pistol I own the manual says to practice by dry firing the gun.
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I got a great question from Richard on Facebook yesterday–“Lots of Dry fire could damage the pistol.? Right” This is one of the most common questions about dry fire. And for good reason. People spend hard-earned money on firearms and don’t want to hurt them.
Keep in mind that ANY time you use something mechanical, you’re causing wear, however small. And enough wear causes damage.
But let me back up a step.
Let’s start from the fact that we know that the more we practice at something, the better we can do it under stress.
So, we know we need to practice…the question is how to do it in the way that maximizes performance in the shortest amount of time spending the least amount of money.
Dry fire is the best answer to that question but again, any time you do something mechanical, there is wear…sometimes a tiny bit and sometimes a lot.
With rimfires, like a .22, you should never dry fire without a snap cap and I’ve yet to find a snap cap that survives for very long.
With 1911s and some other hammer fired pistols, the firing pin will elongate after several thousand rounds if you don’t use a snap-cap, may start puncturing primers, and needs to be replaced. It’s still WAY cheaper than a few thousand rounds of ammo and having to replace a barrel to do the same training with live fire. A very popular solution is to just use a snap cap and your firing pin won’t elongate as quickly (again…ALL mechanical things have wear with high volume use)
On quality striker fired pistols designed for combat, like Glock, S&W M&P, Xd, etc. most manuals explicitly say that you can dry fire them. Using a snap cap is still a good idea.
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Other pistols that come from Eastern Bloc countries or South America may not stand up to ANY kind of high volume, whether dry fire or live fire. Some less expensive US made guns don’t stand up very well to high volume use. If you’re concerned, check your manual. If you don’t have a manual, do a google search for the manual and you can view it online. As an example, if you have a 3rd generation Glock 26,
do the following Google search Imyfone d-port pro cracked mac download.
Glock 26 gen 3 manual pdf
Even on a striker fired pistol, wear will happen on the trigger mechanism with high volume dry fire. Some people call that a trigger job and pay good money to have a gunsmith do it.
I personally do a couple of things…
First, my main dry fire training tool is a laser pistol. > www.DryFirePistol.com It lets me do high volume training without having to worry about a safe backstop or securing the tool when I’m not using it because it’s not capable of firing live rounds.
Second, when I’m training on something other than a Glock platform, whether it’s an AR or another pistol, I use my newly patented (and soon to be released) snap cap that you can put in the chamber without taking the gun apart, will stay in the chamber when you rack the slide, and provides a clear visual indication that the chamber is blocked. (http://dryfirecord.com)
So, if damaging your pistol was keeping you from doing dry fire…or as much dry fire as you know you should be doing, don’t let it stop you anymore.
And, for some of the best dry fire training drills available…that go WAY beyond old-school, boring dry fire drills and will get you covering basic skills, advanced skills, concealed carry skills, low light drills, and more, check out DryFireTrainingCards.com
If you’re one of the 50,000+ shooters who already have Dry Fire Training Cards and want to amp up your training, then add in Dry Fire Fit. They’ll get you executing the fundamentals of marksmanship from awkward positions and build your ability to put fast, accurate rounds on target while moving, after being knocked to the ground, under, around, and over cover, and help you practice integrating using the pistol to shoot and using the pistol as an impact weapon.
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