Dry fire

Dry firing is the act of activating the shooting mechanism of a bow, crossbow, firearm, airgun or other ranged weapons without actually launching out any projectiles. The expression is also used to refer to any weapons training and tactical engagement simulation that does not involve live firing of ammunitions.

Dry firing is most commonly done with firearms, and can be performed by simply cocking an unloaded gun and then actuate the trigger to release the sear. It is however recommended to dry-fire using something to cushion the firing pin strike, such as a dummy round, a fake ammunition (commercially known as a "snap cap"), or simply the empty casing of a spent cartridge. There are also methods of interactive dry firing, usually with a laser pointer/infrared light gun training platform such as an iMarksman or SIRT (Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger) training pistol, and may also include the use of a target feedback system, such as the iDryfire or LASR software.

The primary purpose of dry firing is weapons training, particularly to practise form and kinematics of trigger pull for better precisions (such as in shooting sports) as well as troubleshooting of firearm malfunctions during rifle, shotgun and handgun shooting. Dry firing is also performed in gunsmithing to test the working conditions of the action in an accurized or customized gun.

There are some benefits from the dry firing of contemporary fireams. Learning is safer with dry fire, and it's easier to condition muscle memories of trigger control without developing a flinch, which is a pre-emptive reflex some beginners tend to have due to anticipation to a recoil or being unaccustomed to the trigger weight. Dry firing also allows shooters to practice trigger control in locations where they can't use live ammo legally or practically, such as at home or in outdoor sites that are not up to the safery standards of shooting ranges. Grip, drawing, sight alignment, trigger control, reloads, troubleshooting malfunctions, and more can be trained during dry fire practice, which allow people to conduct a safe, convenient and cheap (as live ammo are consumables that cost money to replace after used) form of training to improve shooting skills.^{[better source needed]}

In recent years, a number of companies have developed methods of enhancing dry fire practice to improve skills. Products that illuminate a laser beam, as opposed to a solid projectile, have become increasingly popular. These include chamber inserts available for various caliber firearms, as well as dedicated training pistols or replacement AR-15 bolt carrier groups. There are also a number of target systems for these laser dry fire training aides, that are becoming more affordable and popular. These products help people get more from dry fire practice by providing feedback on shot placement and times, and make dry fire a more enjoyable experience. In addition, there are training aids such as training cards that provide shooters a variety of drills to do that will help them develop skills that will carry over to live fire.

In the context of archery, dry firing or "dry loosing" refers to the releasing of a drawn bow or crossbow without a nocked or loaded arrow or bolt. This can be exceptionally hazardous to the weapon, as the force which would otherwise be used to drive the projectile (arrow or bolt) is instead absorbed by the weapon's frame. This practice is often heavily discouraged as without the mass of the projectile to absorb the elastic energy released, the energy is instead dissipated through vibration of the bowstring and the bow limbs, and can do significant structural damage to the bow itself. Compound bows are particularly susceptible to damage due to high tension and numerous moving parts. Dry firing a modern high-energy compound bow even once may cause a combination of cracked limbs, bent axles, string derailment, cam warpage, string/cable failure, cable slide failure, and can even cause the bow to shatter. While some bows can survive a dry fire with no apparent damage, typically manufacturers do not warrant their bows for dry firing, and any bow that has been dry fired needs to be thoroughly inspected for damage before shooting again. In particular, the limbs need to be inspected for cracking around cam axles and the opening of the slot where the cams or pulleys fit in (since they tend to tilt sideways during a dry fire).

Crossbows, with even higher draw weights, are even more likely to be damaged by dry firing.

Concern is commonly expressed by firearms manufacturers and gunsmiths that dry firing might damage certain firearms.