Is there a part modification or entire trigger group that I can put in the gun in order to not have to cycle the bolt during dry fire practice? I'd like to practice in my living room, but moving my position to cycle the bolt is not what I have to do during an actual course of fire. I have to lean way over to reach the bolt handle when I'm using the loop sling.
There would be if your rifle was a centerfire AR-15: https://mantisx.com/pages/blackbeard-ar-trigger-resetting-system. I use it and do recommend it if you have a compatible rifle.
That said:
(a) I can't think of a circumstance where reaching the charging handle should require leaning way over. The hand that should do so is always the trigger hand. Right-handed it is very simple; left-handed, just reach under the rifle with your left hand. And,
(b) even so, I'd embrace it. Manual action that breaks the NPOA in dryfire gives you free extra practice on how to replant your trigger elbow and cheek in the same spot each time. It's a skill you'll need (https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=46069.msg322378#msg322378) anyway if you ever intend to shoot manual-actions using NPoA.
Great answer, mmirate.
The ability to reacquire NPOA quickly is a rifleman skill. It needs just as many sets and reps as the six steps and position drills. The amount of movement needed to cycle the bolt on a 10/22 is relatively small and good practice.
That trigger reset device for AR platforms looks like a great gadget though. Might need to get me one of those. Resetting the trigger with an AR certainly DOES require a great deal of movement.
I have a Mantis reset system for my AR I love it but it is expensive if you want all the bells and whistles.
Unfortunately, there is no forced reset for dry firing with the 10/22 that I'm aware of. If you have an AR platform and want an option, as others have already mentioned, Mantis makes some great devices. However, if you don't and If you're not already aware of it, which you very well might be, the trigger control training drill is the best option. I regularly sit down on the couch after my son is in bed and dry fire.
Here are the steps that I follow when doing trigger control drills at home.
- For me, the first step is always to inform (ask) the wife.
- Verify there are no magazines or ammo around you.
- Make your rifle safe.
- Sit down, either on the ground, couch, bed, or in a chair.
- Place the rifle across your lap, with the trigger facing away from you.
- Grip the rifle in your trigger hand, making sure to have that exaggerated 'C' shape for the trigger finger.
- Take the chamber flag out and release the slide.
LOOP:
- Squeeeeeeeze the trigger, during your respiratory pause.
- Follow through, hold that trigger back.
- Cycle the bolt.
- A controlled release until you hear the reset.
- Rinse and repeat.
This is not just a trigger control drill. While you're doing this, make sure you practice your follow-through (hold that trigger back), exaggerate that 'C'-shaped trigger finger, squeeze straight back, and remember the respiratory pause.
For the lefties out there, either you have a left-handed rifle, in which case the above is the same. But if you don't, you either need to face the trigger towards you, with your hand under the rifle so that the extractor is facing up. The other option is extractor down, with the trigger facing away, and you need to flip the rifle over when you want to cycle the bolt. For me, I would grip under the rifle.
I'm a big fan of this drill at home.