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Dry Fire?

Michibay
I have been told by a gun smith that on occasion it does not hurt to dry fire any center-fire gun. He suggested however this does not apply to rim-fire guns. Would be interested in other opinions. Just got my first NEW 1911 .45 and I am practicing pulling back the action on empty(It's not an easy pull)...is it ok to pull the trigger? Thanks!!!
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    Don't dry fire a rimfire gun, either buy a little plastic snap cap or just use a spent shell case. Most centerfire guns can be dry fired with no damage so don't worry about pulling the trigger on an empty chamber. If you plan to do extensive dry firing then a snap cap can't hurt.
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  • robert smith
    it will not hurt most centerfire guns to dry fire them. remember that most were not designed to be dry fired. i avoid it in most cases.
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  • ShootingAgain
    Check the owner's manual. Some specifically recommend against it (certain Taurus models, for example).
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  • rufe-snow
    Don't push your luck, use a snap cap. Even some of the best engineered, high quality pistols can have their firing pins broken by to much dry firing. I broke the firing pin on my Sig Sauer 220 that way.
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  • tsr1965
    It is your choice not to, but I would sugges not to...either centerfire or rimfire. Use empty brass or a snap cap. Like I said...it all depends on if you want it to go bang or click when you most need it.

    Best
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  • 11b6r
    Not really "dry firing", but in a similar vein- if you have an AR style rifle, and have the upper "shotgunned" or removed, do not drop the hammer. With many, it whacks the frame when there is no firing pin/bolt for it to strike. Bad for the frame and the hammer.
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  • dcs shooters
    Go ahead and dryfire your 1911. The firing pin is spring loaded. You won't hurt a thing [;)]
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  • beantownshootah
    Agree with your gunsmith.

    -DO NOT dry fire rimfire guns. There are a few rare exceptions where the gun is designed to make this OK (eg Ruger 10/22), but with the vast majority of them, dry firing causes the firing pin tip to strike the chamber breech, damaging the pin, outside of the chamber, or both.

    -Whether or not it hurts your CENTERFIRE gun depends on the design of the gun in question. Some guns are basically entirely immune to damage this way, and others can be damaged with a relatively small number of dryfires (eg the CZ-52 pistol, which is known for a brittle pin).

    I would agree that with a 1911, certainly a few dry fires won't hurt anything. Whether or not THOUSANDS of dry fires will hurt your gun is debatable, but if you plan on dry-firing a lot, snap caps are pretty cheap, and I'd suggesting using them in that case.
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