Is it safe to dry fire a 642 with out snapcaps

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flip180
March 16, 2004, 07:21 PM
Well after this last trip to the range, I've decided I need some dry fire practice to get better aquanted with the relativley stiff trigger pull of my 642. Dont get me wrong, I was able to put 95% of my rapid fire shots on the paper plate at 7 yrds, but I want to get better. I have 400 rds. through the gun but the trigger still feels a little stiffer than I like. Can I dry fire the pistol, or do I need to have snap caps in the gun to do this?

Thanks, Robert.
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JoeHatley
March 16, 2004, 07:26 PM
Snap caps are nice, but not required. Dry fire away...

Joe
flip180
March 16, 2004, 08:13 PM
How about spent shell casings, and I mean that there are double/triple checked that they are empty :what: .

Robert.
Preacherman
March 17, 2004, 04:16 AM
I think that for limited amounts of dry-firing (very limited!), there's no problem. However, for any extended dry-firing session or for ongoing practice, I strongly suggest snap-caps. Sure, the gun manufacturers may claim that their product may be dry-fired safely, but I've still seen an awful lot of broken firing pins and/or peened metal parts resulting from this practice.

You can make your own very cheaply - see here (http://www.reloadbench.com/snapcap.html) for details.
DMK
March 17, 2004, 07:37 AM
I was dry firing my new 642 the other day while watching TV. I had the lights out and noticed sparks coming from the firing pin area!
:uhoh:

I think I'll use snap caps.
popeye
March 17, 2004, 10:13 AM
"I was dry firing my new 642 the other day while watching TV. I had the lights out and noticed sparks coming from the firing pin area!"


I think I'll use snap caps.


__________________
DMK

This is not the first time I've heard of sparks from dry firing Centennial style revolvers. I always use snap caps. One of my first guns was a new model 60 bought in '70 or so. 8 trigger pulls (dry fires,no snap caps) and the hammer broke off (the entire head). This was probably a mfg. flaw, but snap caps for me since then.

I also do a little work on my series '80 Colts. The "clunk" you hear when you use a snap cap in one of them and dry firing, assures me the series "80 safety stuff is working.
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