How Can Dry-Fire Hone Your Home Defense?

Every responsible gun owner understands the responsibility of protecting who and what you care about most. It is just as important to keep your home defense training as polished as your marksmanship. Many people don’t realize that home defense is more than range practice. It is crucial to incorporate dry-fire home defense drills into your training routine to make sure you have the necessary skills to handle a threat should a worse case scenario arise. In this article the Strikeman team is going to break down the benefits of home defense training, important tactical details to consider,  and what drills you can be doing at home to make sure you're prepared.

Important Things To Consider With Home Defense

Proper home defense boils down to 3 key factors - 

1. Tools & Arms

2. Training

3. Communication / Planning

The proper execution of these home defense components can ensure you are prepared and capable to act should the need ever arise. So let's break these down one by one to really get a full understanding of each.

Tools & Arms

The first step to home defense is making sure you are properly equipped. A variety of firearms will be able to provide you with adequate protection, however many people favor a tactical 9mm handgun for their home defense. Whatever your preference, you will want to make sure your firearm is secure, yet accessible during an emergency.

Additionally you want to make sure your weapon is loaded, and extra ammunition is available. Preparedness is always key in life or death situations. With that in mind, it is also important to have an in place plan of how you will arm yourself and get to your weapon in a variety of scenarios.

Outside of what you will use to defend your home, there are many other fantastic tools that can improve your security. These include items such as cameras, deadbolts, alarms, and more. In today’s tech savvy world, it has never been easier & simpler to install a security system for your home.

Training

Regardless of the number of cameras or alarms, what matters most is your own skills. Consistent training is the most important thing for you to maintain when looking to defend your home and loved ones. This doesn’t just mean range time, it means training for real scenarios, running tactical drills within your own home.

A complete home defense training routine with your firearm should incorporate a combination of live ammunition at the range accompanied by dry-fire drills in your home. This mix ensures that you have the proper fundamentals and situational skills to defend your home with your preferred firearm. This routine should be done frequently, as consistency will make sure your skills are polished and you stay ready.

Communication / Planning

When it comes to dealing with a threat there are many small details that can be easily forgotten due to the intensity of the situation. This is why it is better to have an established reaction plan. This ensures that you and your household are ready and aligned on the immediate actions that follow a threat to your home. When considering your home defense plan, make sure to include the following:

• How can you be alerted to the treat, and are you able to reach your weapon once you are?

• Who will engage the threat if necessary and how?

• Who will alert the authorities, is there a method in place to do so?

• Is there a meet up point should you and your family get separated?

• Is there a planned system to check & sweep the home?

Obviously there is much more to consider when it comes to defending your home and family. However, making sure the above is covered is a great place to start when considering what is needed for your home defense.

Dry-Fire Drills For Training

Now that you know the basics of home defense, it's time to talk about actual drills that can improve your preparedness. These drills will allow you to hone your tactical skills in the exact setting you are looking to defend. It is also important to keep in mind all of these drills offer better insights on your abilities when using a dry-fire laser cartridge such as Strikeman.

Draw From Bed - 

1. Make sure your firearm is unloaded

2. Set up a dry-fire target across your room

3. Lay in bed as if you were sleeping

4. Reach your firearm as quick as possible

5. Take aim & fire at your intended target

6. Repeat multiple times and track the time it takes to complete each rep

Room Sweep - 

1. Map out a route through your house, making sure each room is included

2. Unload your firearm & set up designated dry-fire targets throughout your home

3. Sweep the house, checking each room in a tactical fashion

4. Take aim and fire at placed targets, both from cover & on the move

5. Repeat the process until it becomes muscle memory (it is important to research the proper way to clear a room to make sure this is done safely & effectively)

Reload & Change Position - 

1. Unload weapon and set up designated dry-fire targets

2. Take aim and fire at specific targets

3. Swap mags (unloaded) & repeat

4. Run until you can get back on target following your reload as quick as possible (best if done with a dry-fire mag)

Quick Draw - 

1. Unload weapon and set up designated dry-fire targets

2. Draw your weapon from its holster, take aim, and fire

3. Re-holster your weapon and repeat

4. Run this drill in a variety of rooms & scenarios

Multiple Targets - 

1. Unload weapon and set up designated dry-fire targets

2. Take aim and fire, moving from target to target

3. Repeat, practicing from cover, on the move, stationary, and with reloads

4. Focus on the time it takes to tag each target, and the accuracy of each shot as you do.

Final Thoughts

While there is a lot to consider when it comes to home defense, the one thing that should be top of mind is preparedness. Everything boils down to quickly and effectively you can act when danger strikes. Making sure you have a plan in place and the training to respond can be the difference between life and death.

Stay consistent with your training, communicate with your household, and prioritize safety above all else. If you are still looking for more tips & tricks or more personalized instruction, many firing ranges offer self & home defense courses to join (may vary based on location). And if you’re looking for quality equipment to enhance your dry-fire training, look no further than Strikeman.