Dry firing? When is it BAD--when is it Okay?
Nearly every time I visit one of the local gunshops and ask to "hold" a gun, the guy behind the counter opens the action to check that it's not loaded. Then he hands it to me. When I hand it back, almost predictably, the guy DRY FIRES the gun at an imaginary target. I realize, in the case of semi-autos, this serves to "decock" the action, but does it hurt the gun?
There's no reason to do it on a revolver, but he often does it, just the same.
If all this DRY FIRING is harmless--as his acts would suggest--then why buy "snap caps" for at-home DRY FIRE practice?
Am I missing something?
There's no reason to do it on a revolver, but he often does it, just the same.
If all this DRY FIRING is harmless--as his acts would suggest--then why buy "snap caps" for at-home DRY FIRE practice?
Am I missing something?
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What an awsome question, Ram! I await to see what the experts say. However, I think it goes like this. How many times do you think that gun is shown/then dry-fired at the store? Obviously, that can very a great deal, but with a new gun, it's DEFINATELY less than you do it at home/practicing after purchase. As I understand things, well-built guns can handle quite a few dry-fires. You just don't want to make a habit out of it![xx(]I doubt the type of gun actually matters much I wouldn't dry-fire a wheel gun all day w/out caps either. Like drinking, it's best in moderation. One thing I know for sure, NEVER FOR ANY REASON, dry-fire a bow!! Crossbows may be different(I have no idea), but as fas as long or compound, don't do it. You may die(from debris), or at the very least(and if really lucky), you'll destroy the bow.[:0][B)] 
To the rich, everything is a neccessity. To the poor, everything is a luxury0 -
Please refer to the post: "Is this bad for a handgun..." by MEGAWATT.
Frog.
RiBBButt...You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you've a mind to.0 -
The only reason it's not permitted in stores is to maintain the integrety of the new firearm. What you do to it when you get it home is a different story and entirly up tp you. I dry fire most but not all of mine. On auto's I don't even think before doing it, on my expensive revolvers I don't want to leave a turn ring on the cylinder. BUT ALWAYS MAKE SURE IT'S EMPTY BEFORE DOING IT Remember all guns are always loaded until you personally make sure they are not.
PJ
If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA PATRON-LIFE Member, AF&AM, Shriner Life Member, A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois "Chicago Chapter" Founding Member & Board Member0 -
I have come to understand that alot of the older guns with outdated metal compounds for the firing pin and without rebounding hammers, would crack without something to absorb the energy of a dryfire. however the newer guns of today with newer metals and rebounding hammers, will not only withstand dryfires, but encourage it. IE ruger red labels. The manual states that dry firing will not harm the pin and infact it is good practice to dryfire while swinging the gun on a fake target to practice your timing. If you notice when you dry fire an old lc smith the firing pin remains sticking out until it cocks again. but a rebounding hammer strikes its primer the spring rebounds back inside of the frame or bolt. this spring, I am told, is what spares the firing pin from stress. hence, if you dont have rebounding firing pins the snap caps with their internal spring will absorb the stress. does that make sense. And there are reasons to dry fire a gun, not all good reasons but practicing timing at the skeet range is an appropriate and cost effective way to learn. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Ramtinxxl
Nearly every time I visit one of the local gunshops and ask to "hold" a gun, the guy behind the counter opens the action to check that it's not loaded. Then he hands it to me. When I hand it back, almost predictably, the guy DRY FIRES the gun at an imaginary target. I realize, in the case of semi-autos, this serves to "decock" the action, but does it hurt the gun?
There's no reason to do it on a revolver, but he often does it, just the same.
If all this DRY FIRING is harmless--as his acts would suggest--then why buy "snap caps" for at-home DRY FIRE practice?
Am I missing something?
For almost all rimfire guns dry firing is definitely NOT harmless. The tip of the firing pins smacks into the breech end of the barrel, damaging both the firing pin, and ultimately denting the breech (possibly causing rounds not to seat properly). So you need snap caps, or the poor man's version. . .fired .22 rounds. . . to dry fire against.
For centerfire guns, the occasional dry-firing is probably fine. But you don't want to let the slide drop on an empty chamber (see other thread on this).
Depending on the make and model of the gun, repeated dry firing might damage the firing pin.
Again, snap caps are so easily available and relatively inexpensive, why not use them? I always try and keep them in my guns when not in use.
By the way, in my opinion its bad practice to dry fire at an "imaginary" target [edit IN PUBLIC, its fine at home or at a "real" target AT A RANGE]; Other people around you don't "know" the gun isnt loaded, and this can be disturbing to them. (Plus you could always have made a mistake and be "wet" firing by accident. . .see the thread on the General discussion board about someone getting shot this way at a gunshow). Try pointing at the ground when dry firing.0 -
I have lived thinking dry firing is really bad for rimfires as the pin strikes on the metal surrunding the chamber entrance. On centerfire guns it is a bad practice with no real damage in short time, nobody spend the entire day dry firing, and in the practice it doesn't matter......Anyway I get mad whe somebody starts pulling the trigger as much as he can, just having one of my pistols on his hands.....Let's the experts says the last word. Thank you.
Breech0 -
bottom line, its not good to dryfire.
picture it like this....youre driving a truck full of big sewer pipes on a flatbed. the flatbed hits a wall hard, and stops dead but the pipes keep going forward thru the cab and out the window onto the other side of the wall but some hit the cab and stop. ok, you survive, but there are all those pipes on the ground and you make 6 oclock news.
same with a firing pin when the bolt goes into battery. you lock up the action and when you pull the trigger the pin catches up but wants to keep going. the only thing stopping it is the conture of the firing pin hole and the primer. keep pounding it enough without a primer and the hole will get bigger and the pin wont fit inside it properly because its trying to get out the hole and nothings stopping it like the cab did. follow me?
expensive guns where dry firing is important for training have built in dry fire mechanisms where the pin hits against a surface on the breech face side of the bolt, (dummy rounds & snap caps,) or catches the hammer as it falls off the sear inside the trigger mechanism. when not needed , it clicks out of the way. (i/e: browning medalist.)
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.0 -
I must say, that's a very creative analogy there, Bobski. It's always good to get another perspective on things. Two heads are better than one, right? So it's settled, for me anyway, the next time I'm in the right store, I'll start my collection of snapcaps![;)] To the rich, everything is a neccessity. To the poor, everything is a luxury0 -
finally, someone listened to me![:p] 0 -
Well, you have a lot going for you...former SEAL, five stars, in good with the pope, three times my age or more...oh oops, sorry...should have stoped with location, location, location![:D] To the rich, everything is a neccessity. To the poor, everything is a luxury0 -
I've just taken the stance that dry-firing any gun is bad.Maybe not "BAD" in every instance,but certainly not "GOOD" in any.I do understand that some guns have been designed to be safely dry-fired,but unless you know which ones those are,why take a chance[?]
Some others are a BIG NO NO.EG;CZ52.
I just don't do it.
Ever.
BW
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
You are NOT going to be able to shoot in certain kinds of competition,
unless you are willing to dry fire all of the weapons that you use there.
IPSC
IDPA
3-gun
etc.
All the people that shoot these disciplines are wrong?
The gene pool needs chlorine.0
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