[timmerk]

I just got a new P220ST today, my frist gun ever.

Being a newbie, I'm not sure if I hurt my gun:

The gun was not cocked, but i kept pushing down the decocker lever down, which made the decocked hammer move slightly, as well as the trigger. Did I damage anything?

Also, is it ok to dryfire?


Thanks!

[10-Ring]

Yeah, sounds like you're ok ;) Those stainless 220's are pretty tough beasts.
Also, you're okay dry firing, but use a snap cap anyway...it's cheap insurance ;) $4 on a snap cap vs. the cost of broken parts :D

[timmerk]

Opps - I already dry fired without any of these caps - is that bad?

Also, what are these snap caps? Do they make noise? Does walmart carry them?

Thanks

[clubsoda22]

dry firing most centerfire pistols is fine. Next time you want to decock, keep your finger off the trigger, next time you want ti fire, keep your thumb off the decocker. No, you didn't hurt anything.

[45+]

Congrats on acquiring a great gun.

Snap caps are available at most gun stores, many ranges, and many mail order gun supply houses.

A quick search on google showed this one:
http://www.cliffsgunsmithing.com/Catalog_Pach_Snapcaps.htm

Safe packin'

[GigaBuist]

Snap caps are non-firing rounds. What would usually make up the bullet head and case is just plastic, but the backing is brass and has a "primer" loaded on a spring to absorb the shock of the firing pin. Your firing pin is as safe hitting that as it is a normal round.

They don't make any noise -- just a "snap" when the hammer drops and the firing pin moves forward.

[clubsoda22]

get ones made from metal. the orange plastic ones are worthless

[timmerk]

Why are they worthless?

Also, I did push down pretty hard. :-(

It still decocks when the hammer is pull back though.

[KarlG]

The plastic ones get a hole pounded in where the firing pin hit in a very short time. The A-zoom ones have a more resiliant material where the primer would be and they last a lot longer, which makes them worth the extra money.

[45+]

ClubSoda22 is right about the ORANGE plastic ones. They are not good as snapcaps. They are designed for practicing reloading a revolver with a speed loader.

The ones from the link I posted are plastic and metal and I have been using a set of those since the 80's and they still work fine. The ones he mentions may be better quality. I have never tried them.

Safe packin'...