Offered as a sort-of follow-up to the dry-fire thread…
As ammo availability continues to make a comeback, I’ve found myself still wanting to squeeze maximum value out of every round expended at the range but also practice multiple steps / skills along the way.
One thing I’ve done for a while now is to download magazines. This helps me practice magazine changes along with the obvious practice of putting shots accurately downrange.
I’ve tried various approaches to this: loading 3 or 4 magazines with anywhere from 1-3 or so rounds each, scrambling them up on the shooting bench without looking at them, then adding them to magazine pouches and gun and going from there. If you have a buddy with you to load your magazines, that would certainly help and add to the “surprise” factor of when you will run dry - and maybe they’ll even toss in a dummy round or snap-cap to keep you on your toes? haha…
The range I belong to allows shooters to draw from holsters while on the line (there are conditions for allowing that). Lately I’ve been loading a gun with a magazine containing two rounds and loading my magazine pouch with a mag containing 3. I will draw, fire the 2, reload, and fire the 3 as a “failure drill” (2 to the body and 1 to the head, or a “Mozambique Drill”). In one iteration of that five-shot string, I’m able to practice the draw, engaging the target, reloading, and re-engaging.
It will definitely “stretch” a 50-round box of ammo a bit.
The variations on this are limitless. I’d enjoy hearing if y’all are doing anything similar and / or better.
Stay safe!
As ammo availability continues to make a comeback, I’ve found myself still wanting to squeeze maximum value out of every round expended at the range but also practice multiple steps / skills along the way.
One thing I’ve done for a while now is to download magazines. This helps me practice magazine changes along with the obvious practice of putting shots accurately downrange.
I’ve tried various approaches to this: loading 3 or 4 magazines with anywhere from 1-3 or so rounds each, scrambling them up on the shooting bench without looking at them, then adding them to magazine pouches and gun and going from there. If you have a buddy with you to load your magazines, that would certainly help and add to the “surprise” factor of when you will run dry - and maybe they’ll even toss in a dummy round or snap-cap to keep you on your toes? haha…
The range I belong to allows shooters to draw from holsters while on the line (there are conditions for allowing that). Lately I’ve been loading a gun with a magazine containing two rounds and loading my magazine pouch with a mag containing 3. I will draw, fire the 2, reload, and fire the 3 as a “failure drill” (2 to the body and 1 to the head, or a “Mozambique Drill”). In one iteration of that five-shot string, I’m able to practice the draw, engaging the target, reloading, and re-engaging.
It will definitely “stretch” a 50-round box of ammo a bit.
The variations on this are limitless. I’d enjoy hearing if y’all are doing anything similar and / or better.
Stay safe!
