dry-firing heads up on a Taurus snubby...

[Kaylee]

just snapped a firing pin.

At first I wasn't sure what was going on -- the thing just started jamming up. Turns out it doesn't like dryfiring on empty chambers. Open it up, pull out the firing pin, and lo and behold... snapped clean in two.

Anyhow, just thought I'd pass on that minutae of gunnie information. Taurii need snap caps.

-K

 

[joab]

Same here. I haven't got into it yet cause I'm too busy. But the firing pin flops around in the frame, gun still fires but the pin falls forward so you can't reload with out holding it back with your finger

 

[Josey]

Rugers too! The new 32 H&R Magnum Single 6 single actions are breaking their transfer bars, jamming up/locking actions and misfiring about 50% of the time. Forgot to say, both companies will repair their firearms for free. Ruger will even pay the S/H.

 

[Plinkerton]

Someone please enlighten me to the reason for dry firing a gun.

I have always been told, for as long as I can remember, not to dry fire a gun.

Some people seem to think it's okay, but why take the chance? Just get some snap caps, and then go to town! With a revolver, it's even better. You don't have to keep cocking the hammer back, just sit around pulling the trigger. I do that all day long!

 

[sm]

Dryfiring is for developing trigger control , sight aquistion ....etc. I have never had a problem with OLDER S&Ws with the FP on the hammer.
I did not have snap caps, or use primer fired cases either.

Granted we were taught to not Dry fire rimfire guns...

Since I am not totally familar with this Taurus...is this a design or metallurgy problem? Is there a pic so I can learn by visual?

Did I or did I dream the Old Taurus in blue did not break FP when dry- fired. Or was I lucky on the one I dry-fired that belonged to someone else?

 

[Plinkerton]

Oh, I don't mean why dry fire period. My trigger is MUCH better now, then it was when I first got it, due to dry firing. I just figured, it's so easy to get snap caps, just use 'em.

I was told there was no problem dry firing my gun, but I didn't wanna believe them.

 

[sm]

If the truth be known...I looked at snap caps back then. I also saw the plastic cartridges with reusable bullets - I bought these instead.

Hey a homemade indoor trap and what more could a kid ask for?

 

[joab]

Did I or did I dream the Old Taurus in blue did not break FP when dry- fired. Or was I lucky on the one I dry-fired that belonged to someone else

I have 4 Tauri 3 in model 85 and have only broken the pin on one the CH85
Years ago I had their 6 .357 I think it was model 66 never broka a pin on that and it was dry fired constantly cause we had no nearby ranges and I get bored easily.

I broke the transfer bar on Super Black Hawk before I got the thing home about 15 years ago. I have not on my current model which also is dry fired alot, again with the boredom thing.

 

[Old Fuff]

Taurus revolvers come with a plastic disk that fits on the back of the cylinder to prevent it from being loaded unless it is the user's intention too do so. In a pinch you can use it to buffer the firing pin while dry firing. Snap-caps area better choice of course.

 

[BluesBear]

My Taurus 445 has been dry fired a couple of thousand times. So far so good. I will however, keep a closer eye on it now.

The little plastic disk that came with my taurus started spliting in less than 50 dry fires so I tossed it.

The plastic disks that Ruger uses are much sturdier.

 

[JohnKSa]

Ruger manuals (GP100 and SRH) say that the gun should NOT be dryfired with the plastic disk in place. The disk is only to make it obvious that the gun is unloaded.

 

[Ryder]

Taurus snubby...

Wonder if that's why the one I dry fired in the gunshop turned into paperweight when I pulled the trigger?

 

[BryanP]

I have 4 Tauri 3 in model 85 and have only broken the pin on one the CH85
Years ago I had their 6 .357 I think it was model 66 never broka a pin on that and it was dry fired constantly cause we had no nearby ranges and I get bored easily.

If you mean the older Taurus 66 6" barrel 6-shot revolver in .357 I have that exact one. I've dry-fired it hundreds upon hundreds of times with no problem. The newer 66's are a 7-shot .357 but I haven't played with one of those.

 

[joab]

Yep Bryan that's the one.
I bought it sometime around '83. It was my first brand new,legit ,gunstore bought, 4473 filled out, ID checked purchase.
I paid $150 brand new, sweetest trigger I've ever felt on a revo to this day, which was confirmed by every body that ever handled it.
I sold it for $175 2 years later and could never find on as good, inconsistancy was a common malady of the earlier Tauri

 

[BryanP]

That's what I hear. From what I understand a lot of Taurus' bad reputation stems from the variable quality of the early years. And of course now whenever someone encounters a lemon (gee, none of the other manufacturers ever put out a lemon ...) it gets held up as an example of why all Taurii are "crap."

Mine was made in 1991. I bought it used last year for $205. I don't know enough to judge a good or great trigger from a merely adequate trigger, but it seems to work for me.

 

[joab]

And of course now whenever someone encounters a lemon (gee, none of the other manufacturers ever put out a lemon ...) it gets held up as an example of why all Taurii are "crap

On the other hand, not to disagree with you but I just thought of this. My affection for Taurus started with that gun, perhaps it was just an exceptional gun. We've heard of Monday morning guns and Friday afternoon guns maybe this one was an after-a- nooner gun or maybe the guy just found out he was getting a raise,promo, or baby and decided that this would be his masterpiece.

I still visit the gun occasionally and try to buy it back now and then. It's been fired twice since I sold it and still looks brand new and I am still impressed with the action 20 years later

 

[45crittergitter]

Ruger will even pay the S/H.

Just sent a Vaquero back to Ruger for various repairs. They WOULD NOT pay the S/H going, but did return it on their dime.

 

[Sunray]

"...not to dry fire a gun..." This applies to rimfires. If the revolver is in good repair there is no reason not to dry fire. Dry firing is a recognized practice technique for centre fires. Lets you practice trigger control and sight picture. If a Taurus breaks it's likely because the firing pin was damaged to start with.

 

[Old Fuff]

Sunray:

That's not necessarily true. When the firing pin is mounted in the frame, and the front of it doesn't impact a primer (or a substitute such as a snap-cap) it can go forward far enough to mush the firing pin spring, and in worse cases batter a shoulder on the front of the pin, which will eventually cause the pin to break or destroy the spring. Some pins are more prone to breaking then others.

Older S&W and Colt revolvers that had the firing pin mounted in the hammer could be dry-fired because the shoulder on the hammer would hit the frame and stop further forward movement so that the firing pin itself wouldn't batter something.

Using snap-caps will eliminate the problem in any case.

 

[lee n. field]

Years ago I had their 6 .357 I think it was model 66 never broka a pin on that and it was dry fired constantly cause we had no nearby ranges and I get bored easily.

I have that model as well. Right now it spends most of it's time in the safe, while other guns get to go out and play.

The firing pin springs are liable to breakage too, as I found out. My tale of woe getting replacement springs from Taurus is elsewhere on THR.

 

[rugerfreak]

I guess I'm of the opinion---if you can't dry fire it ---it ain't worth keepin.

Have had many Smiths and Rugers----with no problems.

Colt and Taurus revo's haven't really impressed me---so they're gone.