How to Dry-Fire Practice Safely

Build real skill at home for free — with a safety routine you never skip.

1. 1
   Separate live ammo

   Unload, remove the magazine, check the chamber twice, and move all live ammunition to a different room. This is the rule that prevents accidents.

2. 2
   Pick a safe backstop

   Aim at something that would safely stop a round — a concrete wall or loaded bookshelf — never a TV or an interior wall to an occupied room.

3. 3
   Drill the fundamentals

   Work your draw, grip, sight/dot presentation, and a smooth trigger press without disturbing the sights. Slow and perfect beats fast and sloppy.

4. 4
   Use snap caps for reloads

   Snap caps let you safely practice reloads and malfunction clearances, and protect rimfire firing pins.

5. 5
   End deliberately

   When you're done, announce out loud that practice is over before you bring ammo back into the room — it breaks the autopilot that causes negligent discharges.