Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

[reximus]

So I was up in my 2nd story bedroom tonight doing some dry fire training. I have a set of French doors that open out to my porch. I drew up the blinds about a foot so I had a good view out into the neighborhood. With the lights out, as to not upset any unsuspecting neighbors who might happen to look down my barrel, I went to it.

I set up and was practicing reloading, bolt manipulation, target acquisition, bipod pressure, trigger control, and follow through. I found a street light a couple of blocks away - breathe in, breathe out, increasing trigger pressure, trigger breaks - nothing happens - duh, I'm dry firing. I cycle the bolt and start over - breathe in, breathe out, hold, squeeze pressure on the trigger, breaks - nothing again, just some good practice.

I line up for a third go-around. I'm holding on the street light, do some tactical breathing, hold, squeeze, "fire", and what do ya know?!?! Boom! The street light GOES OUT!!! That was the coolest coincidence I've experienced in a long time!

I must have pulled the first two 'shots' to the right!

Anybody else ever shoot out a street light with 'mind bullets'??? I can't be the first...

Thought that was pretty cool! Worth sharing IMO.

Cheers!

p.s. If there is a better section for this post, please move it. Thanks.

 

[aur0ra145]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

Teach me the ways of your brain bullets.

 

[Mo_Zam_Beek]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

Ban brain bullets.....


Good luck

 

[OneShotJim]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

reximus, the "Force" is with you.

 

[jmtgsx]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

Cold bore shots 2 mils high and 1 mil left. Finally got 'er dialed in.

 

[athhud]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

Not to be a debbie downer, but the whole "don't point a firearm at anything you don't want to shoot" idea should be kept in mind when dry-firing. I know you always triple check to make sure it isn't loaded, but stupid shit can happen! Just ask the glass in my back door.... Shooting a street light wouldn't be the end of the world, but what is behind those street lights?

 

[reximus]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

athhud,

You're probably right. I am pretty darn safe about things - don't even have ammunition on the same floor let alone the same room as my rifle when I'm working on it and/or practicing. Still, as your back door proves, you can never be "too" safe.

That being said, I live in the middle of the city. There is nothing in my house - no wall, door, window, etc - nor anything within 15 miles in any direction that I would "want to shoot". I just don't think it feasible to pack up and drive 30-45 minutes just for dry-fire practice. Although I guess if I had to pick a 'target' that I'd be more "willing" to shoot, the streetlight 300 yards out my porch window probably isn't the best option...

Thanks for bringing up a good issue here. That is something I tell every 'new to shooting' person I take out and introduce to firearms. I tell them "don't point a firearm at anything you don't want to shoot" and that it is "the #1 rule in shooting". Yet here I am "fake" (a.k.a. dry-firing) shooting at a streetlight in my neighborhood.

Thanks. I'll be more careful. Maybe a basement wall would be better...

 

[treymchattie]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

when i was younger i had my friends all convinced that i had the ability to turn off street lights with my mind while driving. in reality, the lights will shut off pretty often, i was just the only one crazy enough to point it out.

 

[athhud]

Re: Dry Fire Training - Shooting the Lights Out!

No worries man! I wouldn't say a word if I hadn't learned the hard way.