Wish you well, Tom.
Mike, sounds like he knows what he's talking about so I'd follow his advise. (at least over mine)
I don't know this "freehand shooting" Mike is taking about, but the way he describes it sounds like how cops are (or were) trained to shoot with chest forward and both arms parallel to each other. I never understood this way of shooting.
The way I was taught in the military was to use what we called the "weaver stance." Since I'm right handed my right arm would be fully extended and the left arm very much bent and under the right arm (best way I can explain it). We would fire and move in the "groucho walk" like this. We fired standing, kneeling, and from the prone position. I think we fired prone at something like the 50 yard line.
Anyways... only advice I can give is to concur with Mike on the dry firing. Pressing the trigger is so important in pistol craft, you start jerking the trigger and as you know your rounds go all over the place. I was always told, you squeeze the trigger on a rifle and you press the trigger on the pistol. I believe the difference is probably subtle.
One problem I always had with the pistol is my tendency to lean my head downwards toward the side (to look through the sights) as I raised my firearm.