Halo, if you're going to keep your weapon unloaded, then drill this way:
Have someone make you a box (20-50) of dummy rounds (empty brass with a bullet seated, no powder, no primer). Take your dummy rounds, and color them RED with a magic marker, or with machinists layout dye. DO NOT paint them, as the paint will come off in your weapon. Unload your weapon and all three magazines. Remove the live ammunition from the room. Load all three magazines equally with the dummy rounds. Place the empty weapon on the table, with a magazine nearby. Pick up the weapon, pick up the magazine, insert it in the weapon, cycle the slide fully, and raise the weapon to the ready position. STOP. Relax. Release the magazine. Pull the slide back, empty the chamber, release the slide. Place the weapon and a magazine on the table. Repeat. Repeat.
Also, place one dummy round in each magazine. Place the weapon on the table, empty, and a magazine (with one dummy round loaded in it) nearby. Pick up the weapon, pick up the magazine, and make ready. STOP. Now, cycle the slide again. This will eject the dummy round, and the slide will stop in the open position. Now, release the magazine, pick up another, insert it in the weapon, and release the slide. Repeat.
When you are finished, unload all of the dummy rounds from the weapon and magazines. Remove it from the room. Bring the live rounds into the room, and load to the condition you prefer.
This is the proper method fro drilling without live rounds. It will teach your sub -conscious memory and your muscles the correct lessons, and you will not be as prone to screw up under stress.
Not drilling at all is safer than drilling incorrectly. At least you learn no lesson at all rather than learn the wrong lesson.
