Dry fire Ruger MKIII?

[Guy B. Meredith]

While reading up on reassembling the Ruger MKIII 22/45 I saw a note that seems to indicate dry fire will not harm the pistol. True? In my distant past experience with rimfires I followed the rule of never dry firing a rimfire firearms without something in the chamber--snap cap, etc.

 

[kcofohio]

Ruger says you can dry fire all their rim-fire guns. At least all the ones I have purchased.

 

[45_auto]

While reading up on reassembling the Ruger MKIII 22/45 I saw a note that seems to indicate dry fire will not harm the pistol. True?

I guess you'll have to decide whether you want to believe the manufacturer or some random internet poster who you know nothing about.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Not gonna hurt it. You gotta dry fire it to disassemble. Heck, before the the old MKI's without the last shot lock back proabably got dry fired after every mag.

 

[Drail]

There is a cross pin in the bolt that limits firing pin travel. It will stop the firing pin just a tiny bit before it hits the chamber rim. If this pin is in place then dry firing will do no harm. The problem is that when a lot of guns are taken apart that pin will fall out unnoticed and not be replaced. Then the firing pin will hit the chamber rim. Make sure that pin is in place. It is visible through the ejection port.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Thanks all.

45 Auto, I don't see anything that explicitly says dry fire is okay. They just say that if the cross pin is not in the bolt the results are disastrous, sort of indirectly indicating that with the pin dry fire might be okay.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

With the Mk II, you must dryfire the gun to disassemble it. I don't have one, but suspect the MK III is the same. There is a firing pin stop/limiter; as long as that's intact, you're OK.

 

[kcofohio]

http://www.ruger.com/service/FAQs.html#Q114

Read FAQ: Can I dry fire my Mark III?

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

So the answer is "Yes, but..." Dry fire okay, but probably not best to use it for practice. Cross pin and firing pin may wear enough over use to permit contact with the back of the barrel.

 

[340PD]

I use my MKIII's for instruction. Both of mine have been dry fired a few thousand times each. I have never had an issue with either gun.

 

[tuj]

The Ruger MK-series guns have a firing pin stop. This pin crosses through the firing pin and prevents it from hitting the breech face when fired. This gun is designed for LIMITED dry firing. Eventually the pin can bent from excessive dry-firing and will allow contact with the breech face, which will peen it and damage the gun. Therefore for dry-fire sessions, use a #5 dry-wall anchor to cushion the FP.