Does live fire smooth out a trigger more than dry fire?

[Armed012002]

In getting familiar with my Smith & Wesson 442, I dry fired it around 500 times.

I noticed little change in the feel of the trigger after dry firing.

Interestingly, after 300 rounds of live fire, I do notice a difference in feel.

Is this psychological or is there something about live fire that breaks in a new revolver better than dry fire?

 

[rcmodel]

Nope.

Other then powder fouling is carbon.

And carbon is a very mild abrasive.

As is powdered graphite lock lube, which also happens to be carbon.

rc

 

[Haywood]

I dry fire my carry Revolvers at least 2000 times before I shoot them. My Two Taurus Snubs, Two Smiths, and One Ruger all showed a noticeable difference. So much so I let customers at the Shop compare the new Guns against mine and they can feel how smooth mine are compared to new. They also have been shot a lot but, either way will smooth them out.

 

[BCRider]

The trigger firings are all just a case of the surfaces burnishing to a smoother condition from use. Dry or live ammo doesn't make any difference.

The "free trigger job" can though. While dry firing a new gun if you press with a few extra lbs of pressure on the hammer it'll speed up the burnishing process thanks to the extra pressure. Something like a couple of dozen extra pressure dry fires will smoothen up the trigger as much as roughly ten times that many regular dry fires.

Just don't go crazy and push on the hammer with 20 lbs or more. It only needs about 5 to 8 lbs of added pressure to make a huge difference in a hurry. That much can be easily given with just your other hand's thumb and still not leave the thumb sore or dimpled.

 

[bigfatdave]

In getting familiar with my Smith & Wesson 442, I dry fired it around 500 times.
I noticed little change in the feel of the trigger after dry firing.
Interestingly, after 300 rounds of live fire, I do notice a difference in feel.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that 800 is more than 500

And you're getting used to the trigger/feel in hand/etc

 

[357 Terms]

And you're getting used to the trigger/feel in hand/etc

yep, that trigger finger is getting pretty strong by now!

 

[wheelyfun66]

Either way...
Live fire will improve your shooting skills more...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When you fired the revolver 300X that was a total of 800 total trigger pulls. Like said above, 800 is more than 500...

 

[Remllez]

If unsure.....have an action job done by a trustworthy gunsmith....

 

[OldCavSoldier]

My two cents: Just go shoot it!! You will work the trigger assembly and you will improve your shooting at the same time. A win-win if you ask me. Any pistolero of a "respectable age" will tell you that an old gun fired many times is far smoother and better-performing than a new gun out of the box. Smoother because it has been fired many times and burnished/polished internal parts against each other and better-performing because the shooter has had lots of practice with it.

OK. That's my two cents. Now, I'm broke! ;-)

 

[Drail]

Dry firing a handgun is exactly the same thing as using one of those spring loaded hand strengthening devices. Yes the action parts are being polished a very small amount but your hand muscles are getting much stronger and you're learning to apply the necessary pressure against the springs without moving the gun off the target. As far as live fire versus dry fire I doubt if the gun can tell the difference until the cartridge fires. Dry fire is the best thing you can do to improve your skills. You can pay a smith to polish the internals or you can do it over time dry firing. Having a smith polish the internals will not help you as much as polishing your parts and your skills at the same time by dry firing every day.

 

[MrBorland]

Yes the action parts are being polished a very small amount

You can pay a smith to polish the internals or you can do it over time dry firing. Having a smith polish the internals will not help you as much as polishing your parts and your skills at the same time by dry firing every day.

eh...I'm not following: Simultaneous claims that the action's only polished a tiny amount by dry fire, and that it's the same thing gunsmiths do seems like a non sequitur, unless you feel the polishing done by a gunsmith is negligible as well.

FWIW, I'm in the camp that believes dry fire is a very good thing, but it's no substitute for a bona fide action job by a good gunsmith: You can rub 2 pieces of rough walnut together 'til doomsday, but they'll never have close to the smooth surface quality of a piece that's been sanded and finished by a cabinetmaker.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

While dry firing a new gun if you press with a few extra lbs of pressure on the hammer it'll speed up the burnishing process thanks to the extra pressure.

I don't disagree, but on the revolver in question, it is not possible.

 

[marcclarke]

Nope. Think about it. All the trigger, sear, and hammer movement happens before the hammer falls on the firing pin, so from the viewpoint of wearing in the trigger and hammer surfaces there is no difference between dry-firing and live-firing.

 

[BCRider]

I don't disagree, but on the revolver in question, it is not possible

Oh! It's one of THOSE types is it? My bad then.

 

[marcclarke]

I don't disagree, but on the revolver in question, it is not possible.

Take the side plate off, silly.