[BamaBob]

Just picked up a new to me S&W .38 chiefs special in stainless. Will dry firing be detrimental to the hammer, should I not do this whatsoever? Thanks for the help.

[porschedog]

Should be fine.

[Racinbob]

You'll find on their website that all centerfire are fine to dry fire. They warn against rimfire.

[Racinbob]

P.S. I still use snap caps though. I'm old school.

[Old Fuff]

Dry firing is good for both the gun and the gun's owner. Snap-caps may or may not be necessary (I say they are) but in any case they represent good insurance. It does little good to send the gun in for a new firing pin, if the old one broke at the wrong time. :uhoh:

[BamaBob]

Thanks guys I dry fire for practice and boredom. Would fired shells i picked up at the range work for snap caps?

[Old Fuff]

Would fired shells i picked up at the range work for snap caps?

Yes, but not for long. Snap-caps - at least the better ones - have a spring loaded plunger where the primer would normally be, and it absorbs part of the shock of the hammer/firing pin's impact.

[rcmodel]

Yes, fired primers are only good for 2-3 snaps before they beat out and no longer do anything at all.

You can tell from the sound of the gun that the hammer is back to hitting the frame with full force after only a "snap" or three.

rc

[Ben86]

I don't care what people say, I avoid dry firing any of my guns. I even hate having to dry fire my glocks to disassemble them. It just sounds painful. I have used spent cases before. Watch out though, some chambers are too tight to reinsert a spent case, don't force it! Umm...don't ask how I know. I highly recommend A-Zoom snap caps. They are very durable and don't leave brass flakes behind because their "primer" is made of durable polymer.

[nalioth]

Generations of cops "who know" have sat at home at night, dry firing their S&W while watching TV . .

It won't hurt a thing (aside from the rimfire calibers)

[rcmodel]

This is true of the old guns.

I'm not so sure about the new MIM hammers & frame mounted firing pins though!

rc

[stchman]

Dry firing a center fire gun in no way damages it.

Snap caps are a waste of time to prevent damage to your firing pin. Snap caps are only good for training purposes as to dealing with a dud round.

Even my 10/22 rimfire Ruger says that dry firing will not damage the rifle at all.

[Colton White]

I dry fire the crap out of my 637 chief and it has improved my trigger pull.