The Power of Dry Firing: How 5 Minutes a Day Changed My Shooting

When I first started training seriously, I struggled with something a lot of shooters deal with—anticipating the recoil. It’s that subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) flinch right before the shot breaks. I knew my fundamentals, but I still found myself dipping the muzzle or jerking the trigger just enough to throw off my accuracy.

It was frustrating, and I struggled with this for a long time.

That’s when I committed to one simple habit that changed everything: dry firing daily. And I’m here to tell you—it works.

What Is Dry Firing?

Dry firing is the practice of safely “firing” your unloaded firearm without any live ammunition. It’s a way to reinforce proper mechanics like trigger control, sight alignment, and grip—without the distraction (or cost) of live rounds.

For me, the goal was clear: stop anticipating recoil. And the only way to do that was to train my brain and body to stay calm and consistent through the trigger press.

My Routine: 5 Minutes a Day

I didn’t start with long sessions. Honestly, I barely had the time. But I committed to just five minutes a day of focused dry fire practice at home.

Here’s what I focused on:

Perfect trigger press without disturbing the sights by placing a coin or empty bullet casing on the front sight
Follow-through, keeping my sights aligned after the “shot”
Practicing from ready positions or drawing from the holster (when safe and applicable)

The results? Night and day.

After just a couple of weeks, I noticed a massive difference in live fire. My shots were more consistent. The flinch started disappearing. And most importantly—I had more confidence in every pull of the trigger and raised my qualification score.

🔒 Safety First: The 4 Basic Rules of Firearm Safety

Before you ever dry fire—or handle any firearm—make sure you know and live by these four fundamental safety rules:

Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.
Even during dry fire practice, your mindset should never change.
Never point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
Choose a safe backstop, such as a heavy bookshelf or designated dry fire target area.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
That means only touching the trigger during your dry fire rep—not while resetting or adjusting your grip.
Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
Even during dry fire, know what’s behind your target in case of an accidental discharge.

🔁 Triple-check your firearm is unloaded and remove all ammunition from the room before you begin dry fire training. Safety is always the top priority.

Why Dry Firing Matters

Whether you’re new to shooting or experienced and fine-tuning your skills, dry fire is one of the most underused and underrated tools you have.

Here’s why it works:
✅ Builds muscle memory
✅ Reinforces proper technique
✅ Costs nothing (no ammo, no range fees)
✅ Can be done anywhere it’s safe to do so

Start Small, Stay Consistent

You don’t need an hour a day or a full setup. Just your unloaded firearm, a safe backstop, and a few uninterrupted minutes of focus.

Set a timer. Get in your reps. You’ll be amazed at what just 5 minutes a day can do for your shooting performance.

Want to Improve Faster?

If you’re looking to build solid fundamentals or need help creating a personalized dry fire routine, we’d love to help. At Precision Carry LTC, our training goes beyond the range. We teach the habits and techniques that make a real difference.

Whether you’re in The Colony, Lewisville, or anywhere in the DFW Metroplex, we offer: