Dry firing practice

[eighteenninetytwo]

I got one of those laser dry firing apps (iTarget) and have been using it for the first time over a week. When firing double action my groups are consistently pulled to the right an inch or two. I assume because I have to use extra force to cock and fire with one pull of the trigger.

Likely cause and Remedy??

[Wordupmybrotha]

Strangely, my DA revolver groups are better than SA revolver groups. I pull my trigger straight back instead of creeping it back slowly. Works for me.

[T3Pros]

Start your trigger press from count 3 of your draw. Your hammer should be in constant rearward motion from when you obtain your 2 handed grip, when the barrel is horizontal, to full extension.

https://youtu.be/FsoX26OhDCY

https://youtu.be/GZplH6zreQI

https://youtu.be/nod5qLlSGUM

[IVC]

Cause: grip, particularly your weak hand grip. Possibly your trigger finger is too deep and you might be using your knuckle.

Solution: work on trigger pull by itself. Pick a white wall, observe the sights and see what makes them move. Speed up the pull and tweak your grip and trigger pull to the point where sights don't move.

[Vmastros]

I have laser training cartridges that I use in my Glock 17 and Springfield XD. I have red dots on both. The point of impact with the Glock is about 1 inch to the right and about 3 inches high. With the XD, the POA and POI are much closer. I focus on the grouping and it works out fine. When firing live rounds at the range, everything seems to be fine.

[SnWnMe]

I got one of those laser dry firing apps (iTarget) and have been using it for the first time over a week. When firing double action my groups are consistently pulled to the right an inch or two. I assume because I have to use extra force to cock and fire with one pull of the trigger.

Likely cause and Remedy??

Remedy: Balance a dummy round or something on the slide and dry fire the crap out of that sucker. Weak and strong hand. You have to stop short of hammer fall to keep the object on the slide (which also develops control for "staging" the trigger)

I use a DA revolver and my finger is in past the first knuckle.

[Stumpfenhammer]

Cause: grip, particularly your weak hand grip. Possibly your trigger finger is too deep and you might be using your knuckle.

Solution: work on trigger pull by itself. Pick a white wall, observe the sights and see what makes them move. Speed up the pull and tweak your grip and trigger pull to the point where sights don't move.

This ^

It's grip and maybe a degree of trigger manipulation, and the only tool you need to correct it is a white wall and enough dry fire practice.

https://youtu.be/nKdEp5R2kqM

https://youtu.be/p6QeVSFLSrU

[AFTII]

I use a laser to track my movement during dry fire practice. You can instantaneously see when your gun moves. I bet you'll find that your gun is moving R when the trigger breaks. That is going to be related to your finger's position on the trigger - you are not pulling the trigger straight back, but have added a L to R movement to your trigger pull. You should be able to eliminate the movement by moving your finger placement on the trigger shoe.

As for your grip, you want a firm grip. Squeeze the gun until your hand starts shaking and back off until it stops shaking. That's how firm a grip you want to have.

Work on your hand strength with some putty or one of those spring loaded hand strength exercisers. You can't have too much grip strength when shooting a handgun. You can use too much, i.e., you start shaking, but otherwise you cannot have too much grip. Remember, someone may try to take it away from you someday, so the better your grip, the less likely that is to occur.

[Mute]

You've received some solid advice. In addition, try to find an instructor or at least a friend who is an experienced shooter help you with some hands on diagnosis that will further help you improve your trigger pull.

[aca72]

Start your trigger press from count 3 of your draw. Your hammer should be in constant rearward motion from when you obtain your 2 handed grip, when the barrel is horizontal, to full extension.

https://youtu.be/FsoX26OhDCY

https://youtu.be/GZplH6zreQI

https://youtu.be/nod5qLlSGUM

Learn from the Master!

[divingin]

Once you get your sight picture (sight alignment is more critical than where the sights are on the target, btw), look at the front sight, and picture your trigger finger trying to drag the front sight through the rear sight notch. If you stay focused on the sights, when any misalignment happens will be apparent. Most new(ish) shooters tend to think of the trigger break as the end of the shot - it isn't (or shouldn't be, I should say.) Train yourself to hold the sight alignment and trigger squeeze through the trigger break, and a half second or more after the hammer falls.

[hermosabeach]

Just recall- what you practice makes it permanent!


Some call this a training scar


One of the old Police Tests was dry firing a revolver with the barrel held inside a 3” pipe. The officer had to pull the trigger 6 times and not hit the pipe with the barrel.


It did not make for an accurate shooter

[hermosabeach]

Back to your question

If you are right handed- too much trigger finger pulls the gun right.

If you are left handed- too much trigger finger pulls the gun to the left.



Not all guns will fit you hands.... some revolvers with skinny or fat grips will force you to hold the trigger in a non optimal way


It’s awesome that you are figuring out these issues and diagnosing the what, why and how of your shots and groups occur.



I tried to get better for years... for me, Classes were the answer.

Some can self study a chemistry book
Some can self study football from a book
Some can get awesome at golf from a book


I needed a coach- one 4 day class taught me so much

[smittty]

My laser cartridge insert shifted point of impact at first but after a bunch of “shots” it settled in to hitting point of aim. I’m suspecting the o-rings need time to seat evenly. I decided to leave it in the chamber and it’s holding true to point of aim and point of impact.

I put a Glock plastic cleaning rod in its case and can pop the laser out quickly if needed.

This is a duplicate Glock so I’m ok with keeping it set up for dry fire practice.

I think it’s a good training aide. Happy I bought it!

[Stumpfenhammer]

Lol! That motivates me to start my own youtube channel where I teach that and other fails with a straight face, then show the results by demoing 2 second Bill Drills and the like.