Dry fire area needs (good vs. ultimate)

[IlikeSA]

With ammo prices being so high and hard to find, I just wanted to pick your brains on the making of a good dry fire area. Then I want to hear about the ultimate dry fire area. Go all out. What would you have in it, where would it be, etc? There's what is affordable and realistic, and then the ultimate go all out. I've laid out mine below, but would like more ideas, as I'd like to add a dry fire area to my finished basement.

Affordable and realistic: targets hung on the wall, an area in the corner to leave mags/ammo, a shot timer, laser pistol or insert of some sort. Carpeted floor so mags aren't bouncing off concrete or wood. What else? How about various drills?

Ultimate, no price to high: A moveable target hanging from a programmable drone. A remote control programmable target on wheels (Roomba with target on top?) A simulator that projects on the wall, like a TI machine that forces you to act/don't act. Other ideas?

 

[JohnKSa]

For someone who is really serious about dryfire as training, the MantisX, IMO, can provide some benefit. I've only had the chance to test one, and it was an older version, but I was impressed.

 

[murf]

no ammo. the number one priority.

murf

 

[IlikeSA]

MantisX looks pretty cool! The top of the line version costs what some people are charging for 1000 primers on Gunbroker, or for 500 rounds of 9mm.

 

[film495]

the area matters less than what drills or skills you practice. stance, natural point of aim, no flinch, all good stuff.

 

[Rexster]

Safe backstop.

 

[alfsauve]

I have a target on the basement wall in the deepest part of the basement. So if I do shoot off a live round it's not going anywhere.
10yds wasn't doable, at least not comfortably, so I settled for marking the floor at 7yds which is right in front of my work bench. Guess what?t The local range has 3/4 size IDPA targets. Just perfect for 7-1/2yds. I also have a stash of 1/2 size NRA D1s, so I can use those for as well depending on what I'm preparing for. I guess I could print my own 1/2 sized USPSA if I wanted.

I, in short order, wore out two different laser thingy's. One was a 9mm cartridge size and the other a universal muzzle device. Both quit well under 5,000 cycles. That was 5 years or more ago, and things, I suspect have improved. Especially with the "app" enabled ones that give you a good indication of bullet placement. However, I'll probably not invest in those.

I did invest in a MantisX. Love it. There are more expensive ones if you're really into Bullseye or Olympic shooting. I even use it while firing the Glock indoor league. Then I go home and compare it's history with my actual targets.

I don't have any ammo out when dry firing. All put away, which it usually anyway as I don't leave ammo laying about. I used dummy rounds and snap caps but one time when I was very tired even that didn't help and I put a live round in the gun. So my mantra is no ammo, not even dummy ammo for dry firing. For the revolvers I pull the Miculek trick of sticking a cleaning swab in the firing pin channel.

 

[IlikeSA]

Thanks! Definitely some good ideas here with the targets, distance markings, and the laser recommendation.

I have a target on the basement wall in the deepest part of the basement. So if I do shoot off a live round it's not going anywhere.
10yds wasn't doable, at least not comfortably, so I settled for marking the floor at 7yds which is right in front of my work bench. Guess what?t The local range has 3/4 size IDPA targets. Just perfect for 7-1/2yds. I also have a stash of 1/2 size NRA D1s, so I can use those for as well depending on what I'm preparing for. I guess I could print my own 1/2 sized USPSA if I wanted.

I, in short order, wore out two different laser thingy's. One was a 9mm cartridge size and the other a universal muzzle device. Both quit well under 5,000 cycles. That was 5 years or more ago, and things, I suspect have improved. Especially with the "app" enabled ones that give you a good indication of bullet placement. However, I'll probably not invest in those.

I did invest in a MantisX. Love it. There are more expensive ones if you're really into Bullseye or Olympic shooting. I even use it while firing the Glock indoor league. Then I go home and compare it's history with my actual targets.

I don't have any ammo out when dry firing. All put away, which it usually anyway as I don't leave ammo laying about. I used dummy rounds and snap caps but one time when I was very tired even that didn't help and I put a live round in the gun. So my mantra is no ammo, not even dummy ammo for dry firing. For the revolvers I pull the Miculek trick of sticking a cleaning swab in the firing pin channel.

 

[ms6852]

I am truly old and never knew about the Mantis X. I just did what I learned in the military decades ago. I drew a circle the size of a quarter on a blank piece of paper and taped paper shoulder high on the wall and than stuck a pencil with the eraser in the barrel as far as it would go, stood arms length away and squeezed the trigger. Pencil would hit the paper and leave pencil mark on paper. The marks would be all over the paper and I would practice until all marks were inside the circle. Important note the pencil should be close enough to hit paper and still remain inside the barrel.

 

[TYLER M RUSSELL]

I currently do most of my dry fire either sitting in the living room working exclusively on presentation and trigger press, or I have my wife set up post it notes in the basement and I use those as targets moving through the basement, including mag changes etc..

I am in the process of setting up an Indoor range in my basement with an airsoft replica of carry firearm. I will pair this with three or four uhaul wardrobe boxes with targets taped to them, and furniture pads hanging from the bar to act as a back stop. In addition gamo makes an airsoft shooting rack that I want to pick up as well. I will also include the mantisx. I think that between those things, the airsoft gun, the target traps, the rack, the mantis, and continuing to use the post it notes, which will be even more effective because I can see an impact on them it will bring my dry fire practice to a new level.
Total cost is probably around $600. Mostly in the airsoft gun and mantis. Closer to $800 when I grab an AR replica.