Dry fire

[Dev]

I don't know if someone has asked this question, so please pardon me if I do.
How long do you gents dry fire (amateur level, guys who also work for a living :-) ). I do some sixty figure of eights on a target and then do some 30/40 dry fires, sometimes with a ten second hold during the shot.

The longest that I have the patience to practice is an hour and a half or so.
Does half an hour every day help?


Regards,

Dev

[Heba]

What do u mean by sixty figures of eight?

[Dev]

Oops pardon me for not explaining that. I hold the pistol and then move it over the target slowly in two interconnected loops or the figure of eight. Basically , one attempts to create imaginary figure of eights over the target. :-)


Dev

[David Levene]

Basically , one attempts to create imaginary figure of eights over the target.

Why?

[deadeyedick]

Why?

Thanks David....Im also interested.

[keithwwalker]

I heard that figure 8's help with your human 'rythym' of movement. You are never really still, unless you can stop your heart beating, and even then...

That is where those laser based systems like SCATT can help visualize immensely. Too bad its so damned expensive
http://www.scatt.com/software.htm
http://www.centershot.com/scattinfo.htm

[jipe]

One question about dry fire in the AP60 qualification.

I always thought and still think that dry fire is allowed during qualifications and not during finals:

The competition is considered as having started from the moment
the command “START” is given by the Chief Range Officer. Every
shot fired after the competitor completes his sighting shots must be
counted in the competition. However, dry firing is allowed.

Any release of the propelling charge, after the first competition
target is in place, without a hit on the target will be scored as a
miss. Dry firing without release of the propelling charge is permitted
except during Finals

But a friend of mine got a remark from the range officer of not doing dry fire while he was doing it during the qualifications but it was not counted as a miss ? Any explanation ??

[David Levene]

I heard that figure 8's help with your human 'rythym' of movement. You are never really still, unless you can stop your heart beating.

You would need to stop your heart beating for several minutes (die) before you became really still. Most movement in pistol shooting is due to the muscles involved in supporting the pistol.

I have been using Scatt with shooters for about 15 years and cannot remember seeing a natural "figure 8" trace.

[David Levene]

But a friend of mine got a remark from the range officer of not doing dry fire while he was doing it during the qualifications but it was not counted as a miss ? Any explanation ??

I can only think of 2 explanations (although there may be more).

1) For some reason shooting during the qualification stage shooting had been stopped (maybe range staff were going forward)

2) The range officer was wrong.

The following rules apply to the qualification stages of 10m & 50m Rifle & Pistol events.

6.11.2.1.2 Then they will be given the command "PREPARATION TIME BEGINS NOW". Before and during the Preparation Time shooters may handle their guns, dry fire, carry out holding and aiming exercises on the firing line providing there are no personnel forward of the firing points.

6.11.2.2.2 The competition is considered to have started when the Chief Range Officer has given the command "START". Every shot fired after the competitor completes his sighting shots must be recorded for the Competition. However, dry firing is allowed.

[Dev]

Basically , one attempts to create imaginary figure of eights over the target.

Why?

Hi David,

I was told to do it by a shooter/mentor like a holding exercise. I assumed that it helped to strengthen the muscles required for air pistol shooting. I am sorry as I don't know more than that.

Regards,

Dev

[bijupaul]

Basically , one attempts to create imaginary figure of eights over the target.

Why?

I've seen similar exercise advised to the pistol shooters for making their hold more study and light it uses a dumbbell for Tracing a figure of '8' both vertically and horizontally, I found this under Special Exercises over here.
http://www.potfire.com.au/info/airtrain.htm

Probably, Dev using a version of it with pistol over target.

Regards,

Biju

[keithwwalker]

Figure 8's may also be covered in this book:

[Gwhite]

I also shoot rifle, and a figure-8 is a fairly typical wobble pattern. However, I don't think it has much to do with pistol. I know my wobble is much more random. If anything, it's more vertical than horizontal.