[Lone Star]

It is generally accepted that one doesn't dry-fire a .22 rimfire, as the firing pin will impact the rear of the barrel and eventually break the pin.

But I've heard that the Ruger Mk. II pistol can be dry-fired...for some reason. Is this true, or utter rot?

I guess I should consult Ruger, but does anyone here know...for sure?

In the absence of a certain answer, I'll keep using a fired case to cushion the shock to the firing pin, but I want to snap the gun without any brass in the chamber when I put it away after I clean it

Lone Star

[RooK]

Yes you can, so long as the firing pin stop is in place. You can check by looking at the bolt from the outside, it will barely be visible when looking at the top left of the ejection port. This pin prevents the firing pin from over extending and denting the chamber.

[Kalos]

Yup. It actually -tells- you to dry fire it several places in the manual, including (if I recall correctly) the field-strip procedure. Just make sure that pin is in place (and not broken, of course) and you should be fine.