does dry firing damage a gun?

[White_Wolf]

I've been told that dry firing damages the hammer/pin, but at the same time I've read numerous times on the Internet that dry firing is good practice.

So, does dry firing a gun damage it?

 

[RNB65]

Depends on what type of gun it is. Some guns can be dry fired all you want without worry, some will break a firing pin in a heartbeat if you dry fire. When people recommend dry firing to help smooth out a trigger or action, they're usually implying that snap caps should also be used to protect the firing pin.

 

[Eightball]

Deponds on what type of gun it is.

Yep. A CZ 52, if you dry fire it you'll break the firing pin, on my Smith and Wesson 620, the manual states it is perfectly safe to dry-fire it to oblivion. Each gun is different.

 

[MountainBear]

Glocks you can dry fire, and my Ruger auto's never had a problem with it, but hammer mounter firing pins, like on older model revolvers, can break with dry firing.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Dont dry fire rimfire weapons. I dry fire my HK with no problems. Several other weapons also that I have. Rimfire is the major concern.

 

[armedpolak]

what about...

Beretta 90-TWO and H&K P2000 ???
dry fire ok ?

 

[mnrivrat]

The short answer is yes - it is not good for any gun to be dry fired IMO.

Now there are certain guns that will withstand a lot of dry firing without much damage and some that will sustain damage in short order. It depends a lot on the design of the weapon. Rim fire guns for example should never be dry fired as the firing pin has the potential of making contact with the edge of the chamber . This can cause peening in a short time.

In modern center fire revolvers there is much less immediate danger if dry fired, and it will take a lot to do damage. This is mainly because the hammer is dropping onto the frame of the gun and not directly onto the firing pin.

It is always a good idea to use snap caps. OK - OK , I know that there are guns that you will play hell doing much damage to with a lot of dry firing !! The fact of the matter is that you are still dropping a steel hammer onto a frame under pressure - that , over time. will start to peen the frame/hammer.

 

[1911Tuner]

Dry?

Yes. So will live-firing it. The only way to avoid wear and/or damage is to never shoot it...or cycle it.

 

[Wesker]

Rimfire revolvers will become damaged if you dryfire. It flattens their sharp hammers. Most modern semi's won't mind it, and if you're that concerned about it get some snap caps to practice. They're plastic rounds that let your firing pin hit something resembling a primer so it wont over-extend out of the firing pin housing.

Short answer: Nope.

 

[Lucky]

Isn't there something to do with whether the firing pin is free floating or not? Of AR's, shotguns, lever guns, and 1911's, are any damaged by dryfire?

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I broke the firing pin on my HK USP by dry-firing it. Took a month to get it fixed.

Use a snap cap and it shouldn't be a problem.

- NF

 

[Wesker]

I broke the firing pin on my HK USP by dry-firing it. Took a month to get it fixed.

Did you have the slide off?

 

[sicario103]

I never (if possible) dry fire any of my arms. If you really want to then get a snap cap. Why risk it when all you have to do is spend 10 bucks on a snap cap instead of having to replace a firing pin or what not.

 

[CountGlockula]

You won't have any problems dry firing a Glock. Been dry firing different Glocks around a 100+ times, never any issues.

 

[White_Wolf]

Well thank you for the answers. When I get my first gun (which I'm really sure is going to be a Double Action Revolver) I will be sure to get a snap cap to practice my trigger pulling with.

I never knew such a thing as a snap cap existed. You guys are teaching this newbie well

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Did you have the slide off?

Nope. The damage was apparently caused by the firing pin slamming home against the innards of the slide.

- NF

 

[Wesker]

^^^

***? How? Unless the pin itself was bent that's impossible. I mourn your lemon purchase

 

[10-Ring]

New guns are okay to dry fire...older ones, not so much