When You Can't Go to the Range

Since moving to a new area, I find I am in a place that seems much less friendly to firearms and shooting than was Alaska, and I have found that it is much more difficult here than in Alaska to find a place to shoot. 

The indirect benefit of that to me is that I concentrate more on dry-firing with my carbine and long-range rifle than ever.

Here is the drill I've been doing.  I do this as often as time allows, up to daily.

I originally found this drill here, by the author of this book.

It works for me.  It helps with weapons handling and weapon-related functional strength, without a doubt.


-  Load two magazines with a few snap caps.

-  Execute 20 reps of bringing the weapon up, acquiring a target (I like to use a dot on a piece of paper, or a door hinge across the room, for example) and firing.

-  Execute 20 more reps left handed.

-  Complete 20 reps of firing, execute a magazine change, and chamber a new snap cap.

-  Do the last step again, left handed.

-  Next, I take a 2.5 pound weight, and secure it to my weapon.  I do 10 reps of acquiring the target, then firing.

-   Hold the weapon on target for 30 seconds, with the 2.5 pound weight still attached.  Complete 10 “sets” of this hold.

-  With the 2.5 pound weight on the rifle, hold the weapon on target, as much as possible, for 10-20 seconds.  Do this 5-10 times.  Your call.

Adjust as necessary to fit your level of fitness and firearm weight.

Obviously, I’ll do this easier with my AR “pistol” or my AR than would a person wielding an M-1 or M-14.  No matter.  Get as good as you can with what you have.  It’s also much easier with my AR than it is with my 14 pound long-range rifle.

So, easy, right?

Give it a go and see.

I bet after a few weeks of doing this, you’ll notice your speed has improved, your weapon control is tighter, and your weapon feels lighter.

PT and weapons, all at the same time?  Score.  Soon, maybe we'll go after some good old fashioned rifle PT.

All you grunts out there, quit complaining.  You know what I'm talking about, don't you...

Resist.