At Intuitive Self Protection, we train real people for real-life fights. That means training doesn’t stop when you leave the range. If you want to shoot faster, smoother, and under stress, you need dry fire. But let’s be real: most people start strong, then forget about it a week later. Why? Because they didn’t make it part of their routine. Let’s fix that.
All Access ISP Member, Jeff H, works on his grip, sight picture, sight alignment and trigger control.
What is Dry Fire and Why It Works
Dry fire is practicing with your gun without using live ammo. You can work on your draw, reloads, sight picture, and trigger control; all from the safety of your own home without making a sound. Doing it over and over helps lock those movements into muscle memory. Basically, the more you repeat something, the faster and smoother your body gets at doing it; especially when you're under pressure.
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Start Small
People fail at dry fire because they try to do too much. You don’t need 30-minute sessions. Start with 5 minutes a day. Pick one skill: draw from concealment, reload, or target transitions. Do it with total focus. Don’t rush it. Quality beats quantity. Over time, it becomes second nature and part of your daily rhythm.
Want a trick to make it stick? Stack it with a habit you already have. Right after brushing your teeth, before watching TV, or once you walk in the door from work, build it into something you already do. That’s how new routines actually take hold.
Make It Real
Dry fire only works if you treat it like the real thing. That means:
Clear your gun and remove ALL ammo from the room.
Train in the clothes and holster setup you actually carry.
Use a timer or a dry fire app to add stress.
Mix in low-light training or decision-making drills.
Use dummy rounds or dry fire mags to protect your gear and build good habits.
The more realistic your dry fire, the more useful it’ll be when needed.
ISP Course participants practice dry fire in the classroom portion of the course.
Keep It Interesting
Boredom kills progress. Change up your drills every few days. One day, practice drawing and presenting your firearm. Another day, work on reloads or moving to cover. Use targets with different shapes or distances. Set goals and track them. When you see improvement, you’re more likely to keep going.
Dry fire makes you better, faster, and more confident, and it costs you nothing. But for it to work, you have to actually do it. Start small, stay consistent and come train with the ISP crew.
About The Author
Hank Hayes is a Combat Arts Hall of Famer and inventor of the No Lie Blade. He is the founder and CEO of both Intuitive Self Protection and NLB Tactical and creator of the ISP/NLB viscous fighting system. Since 1998, he has trained well over 30,000 Military and Law Enforcement personnel via Government contract mainly at the elite special teams level and continues to train both civilians and MIL/LE how to come home safe.
