[zeugma]

My pals and I are all about putting a dummy round in whatever handgun we are shooting (you load your buddy’s gun, he loads yours) so as to come upon an opportunity to dry fire without knowing we are dry firing. Now THAT will catch a flinch, and provide for some material to chide each other over to boot!

I do the same. It's extremely helpful. It helps a bit to have someone else load your magazine.

I've also seen rather dramatic results from taking a pellet pistol with me. Fire about 20 rounds through it, and then fire your handgun. Last time I did that, the difference was really dramatic.

[HammerT]

That’s a good idea – I’ve seen the suggestion that you also can use your spent brass as a dummy round.

This is for situations like at a range when you don’t want your expensive dummy rounds to be ejected forward of the firing line.