Asking to pull the trigger in the gun shop

[old lady new shooter]

I always ask. I don’t dry fire normally unless I am actually thinking on buying the gun.

I was in a gun shop I rarely darken the door of a few years back and I was wanting to buy a Ruger 10/22 as they had them on sale. The owner there was assisting me. He refused to allow me to dry fire to check the trigger. I told him I for sure wanted to buy one and I just wanted to make sure it was atleast decent. He refused. I bought it anyways and the trigger sucked. I should have left it, but... Traded it off promptly. Those folks are jerks a lot of times unless they see intent to purchase something.

They asked me what I was looking for once and I wanted something kinda obscure. I told them and the guy looks up on the computer to see if they had one. No, As soon as he seen no sale, he went back to his phone while I was still talking.

The other gun store, heck they tell ya to check the trigger when handing you one if they think you’ll like it. They know I’m a revolver guy so they often prompt me to check a trigger.

I have always asked but my experiences have varied. All with revolvers. I guess the extremes were one store that didn't want me to but when I said how do I know how shooting it will be, then remembered they had snap caps. Another store I brought my own snap caps and the clerk told me I didn't need to use them. (I used them anyway.)

 

[old lady new shooter]

I can understand that.
A LGS that I used to go to in Alabama had a case where someone wanted to try a trigger.
When the customer picked up the gun, he slipped in a round and fired it.
Then he tried to sue the store... .

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I have always asked first if I can try the trigger. Same as asking a table holder at a gun show if I can pick up and look over a gun on their table. If they say "no" (this rarely happens), then I just move on to the next table.

Lol people will ask us the same thing when dad and I are at gun shows... Im just glad they don't walk up and pick it up and try to steal it lol. I have had people ask if we charge sales tax though... As if our prominently displayed FFL paperwork didn't already tip them off somehow?? I even had one kinda sketchy looking individual ask if he could pay cash for a 10/22 with no paperwork and we were like, "Heck No!", lol... This could be a thread all on its own lol.

 

[tactikel]

I always ask permission, and am sure to always point in a safe direction.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

If a gun shop don’t let you try the trigger on a factory production gun, they must really not want to sell it.

I dress like come off a work site, shops give me boo eyes until i pull out the bank roll full of $50’s.

Lol that's funny! Maybe I should stop wearing my Carhartt and Realtree camo stuff and change into to my 3 piece suit next time I go to a LGS... But with dad having an FFL I usually will get stuff through him anyway.

 

[lsudave]

From the point of view of the buyer, it's unnecessary. If a bad trigger pull is a matter of the design, a buyer should be aware of that by reading gun reviews (something that should always be done before buying a gun). If it's a sample defect, it can be remedied.

I will disagree with this concept, because my idea of a good trigger pull is, may vary from what reviews state.

For a pistol, I am a metal-framed, hammer-fired type of guy. After getting the ok to pull the trigger, I control the hammer (as though I am decocking it manually, which I in fact am doing). I then rack the slide and check reset, in the same manner.

I have two pistols that should not be dry fired and can be damaged: Cz52 and Phoenix .22lr.
I'm sure there are others

I own several Star BMs and Modelo Supers, nice triggers- and fragile firing pins. I treat anything I can physically block the hammer with, as such.

It can be a pain to check DA when you do this, but I always go slowly and block the hammer when I do so.

 

[DustyGmt]

I wouldn't ask to dry fire a rimfire, although I can't imagine how many hundreds, possibly thousands of dry fires my 10/22 has endured over the years. I count off my rounds a portion of the time, other tines I do not and it gets dry fired. I don't lose much sleep over it.

The shop I go to I don't even have to ask but I still do. Other shops that have their guns cable tied and otherwise individually locked up I don't really bother with. It takes the enjoyment out of browsing and handling. I like the kind of place where the guy asks if there's anything he can help you with when you come in and if you want to see anything just ask and no pressure. Also the kind of place where they will pull something out and hand it to you and walk away and leave you alone to check it over.

Those are the places I tend to prefer and buy from....

 

[savagelover]

Please elaborate if you would.

Do you check to see if it's loaded as well. One guy came in a shop and loaded a hand gun then shot himself.. it happens. Scares me to see people checking out guns now. You never know. Something to think about..

 

[Hokkmike]

I asked the clerk for permission and she said, "Yes". Just as I dry fired the owner stepped through a door from the back and chewed me out. (He knows me well)
Ultimately, either with a snap cap, thumb, or holding the hammer I WILL NOT seriously consider purchasing a firearm without knowing how the trigger feels.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Do you check to see if it's loaded as well. One guy came in a shop and loaded a hand gun then shot himself.. it happens. Scares me to see people checking out guns now. You never know. Something to think about..

Any operable cartridge firearm that I handle is checked for a load as soon as it comes into my hands and every time that it changes hands thereafter.
No exceptions.

 

[jmorris]

Please elaborate if you would.

On rimfires where the pin can contact the chamber it causes damage just like you took a punch and hammer to it….because that’s exactly what you did.



#1 drill rod will get you back going but I generally just avoid the practice on firearms than can be damaged this way.

For the OP, I guess I don’t ask if someone has handed me a firearm to play with but I don’t really go to gun stores because the good deal on the firearm was before they got it. I also don’t ask them if it’s loaded as that’s the first thing I check when the firearm is handed to me. If you don’t want the firearm inspected for function, I’d say enact a policy like Academy’s or just let them look at it through glass.

I certainly have not dryfired every firearm I own before purchase, some didn’t even exist until months or more after I gave the manufacturer a down payment. So it’s not a deal breaker for me if I can’t.

 

[drobs]

I always ask to dry fire after double checking it's unloaded. I then hand the gun back to them with action open.

A small point from working at a gun shop. When handling a handgun, point it at the floor in front of the case so the guy working the counter can see it.
Don't turn your back on the gun counter and fondle the gun. The guy working the counter needs to see what you are doing with the gun. Be mindful of where you are pointing a shouldered long gun. Don't point it at the door way, other customer, etc.

 

[drobs]

A trick for Smith & Wesson DA/SA revolvers is to leave the cylinder open, pull back on the cylinder latch, and dry fire the trigger.
This results in no turn line.

 

[dekibg]

RK ( Rural King) doesn’t allow dry firing of any firearms in their store. Quoted some weird policy. Which is pretty annoying bc they have some really good deals here in Ohio. Had to inspect revolver AFTER the purchase in my car at their parking lot .

 

[dekibg]

Tactical tupperware striker-fired? No, I don't ask.
Hammer fired, al la 1911? Yes, I ask.
Used revolver? I ask.
New revolver? Don't ask, don't do it, and don't you dare turn the cylinder.

Why not new revolver? It is not a Faberge egg…
What if cylinder locks or doesn’t open ? What if trigger is too heavy for your liking ? Are you supposed to buy it anyways ?
p.s. sorry if I misunderstood your point

 

[dogtown tom]

My favorite is the guy who dry fires, stares down the barrel, checks the safety, the magazine, whether the sights line up, then after he decides to buy he doesn't want the one in the display case he molested for ten minutes.
He wants an untouched one from the back.

 

[Jim Watson]

The old store in Auburn provided white gloves if you just must handle a new gun.
Trying to keep a leash on the college students no doubt.
Dealers in Atlanta were easier to get along with for this Tech student.

 

[Mark_Mark]

RK ( Rural King) doesn’t allow dry firing of any firearms in their store. Quoted some weird policy. Which is pretty annoying bc they have some really good deals here in Ohio. Had to inspect revolver AFTER the purchase in my car at their parking lot .

that’s not good!

but capitalism is capitalism

 

[Legionnaire]

I ask. I have even taken off my wedding ring when handling a particularly fine firearm.

 

[ballman6711]

My favorite is the guy who dry fires, stares down the barrel, checks the safety, the magazine, whether the sights line up, then after he decides to buy he doesn't want the one in the display case he molested for ten minutes.
He wants an untouched one from the back.

This reminds me of buying a gun at Cabela's a few years back. I had seen a Kimber 1911 45acp that I really liked. Went home and talked to the GF and the next day we both went back for a good look.

The counter guy was pretty nice, and I basically did everything you said, including dry firing (after asking of course). When I said I would take it, the guy put it back in the display case and said he would go grab me one from the back. I asked why I couldn't have the one I'd just looked at, and he said they couldn't sell the display unless it was the last one they had.

As a side note, my BIL bought the exact same gun on the same day, from the same store, about a half hour after I bought mine. The serial numbers are even sequential. Neither of us knew the other one had bought a gun until a few days later when I took it to show him, and he said "That looks just like mine!"



chris

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Dry firing depends a lot on design and construction costs.

I am told that my Ruger Security Six is designed for dry firing.

I am told that my CZ-52 as issued firing pins are cast steel, will eventually break if dry fired.

Not every gun can be dry fired. I am not sure every store clerk knows which can and which can't.




(If you use the decocker feature on the CZ-52 to drop the hammer, the firing pin and the safety plunger will get peened til you can get enough firing pin protrusion to fire a cartridge in the chamber.
I use the decocker to lower the hammer by thumb with my finger off the trigger.
I have developed the habit of using the decocker on my H&K USP the same even tho it's not necessary with it.)

 

[theotherwaldo]

When I dry-fire my own guns I press a stiff latigo-leather tab into the hammer slot of my hammer-fired guns.
This allows almost full hammer travel without slamming the firing pin.
Oddly, the local shops won't let me do this on their guns.

 

[Jim Watson]

The decocker/safety on a Walther P38 can fail, too; it locks the firing pin but lets the hammer hit the head of the firing pin and the lug that the safety engages can break or bend. It's predecessor, the HP, withdrew the firing pin into the slide so the decocked hammer would not hit it.

 

[deadeye dick]

This reminds me of buying a gun at Cabela's a few years back. I had seen a Kimber 1911 45acp that I really liked. Went home and talked to the GF and the next day we both went back for a good look.

The counter guy was pretty nice, and I basically did everything you said, including dry firing (after asking of course). When I said I would take it, the guy put it back in the display case and said he would go grab me one from the back. I asked why I couldn't have the one I'd just looked at, and he said they couldn't sell the display unless it was the last one they had.

As a side note, my BIL bought the exact same gun on the same day, from the same store, about a half hour after I bought mine. The serial numbers are even sequential. Neither of us knew the other one had bought a gun until a few days later when I took it to show him, and he said "That looks just like mine!"

View attachment 1124331 View attachment 1124332

chris

Sounds sorta like me. Cattlemen II, Bought it, kid said he would get me a fresh one from the back, returned and said that was the last one. I said ok i'll take the display one BUT i would like a discount as it was handled by (probably 40 people} No dice. I really wanted it so i paid full price. That's my very big problem, instant gratification.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I ask. I have even taken off my wedding ring when handling a particularly fine firearm.

Sounds sorta like me. Cattlemen II, Bought it, kid said he would get me a fresh one from the back, returned and said that was the last one. I said ok i'll take the display one BUT i would like a discount as it was handled by (probably 40 people} No dice. I really wanted it so i paid full price. That's my very big problem, instant gratification.

Same thing happened to me with a Cattlemen 10mm! was there for over a year, but I really wanted BAD… no discount ether! lol