dry firing my shotgun

[Lanber fan]

i recently bought a lanber over and under shotgun and i take it apart to store it. i was wondering if i should store it cocked? will this harm the springs on the firing pins? or should i simply dry fire it before i store it or will dry firing it be harmful to the firing pins? i am unsure what i should i do?

 

[cloudcroft]

No, avoid dry-firing. Do it SPARINGLY at best, but I do not do it AT ALL.

Use Snap Caps or something similar. They look like this:

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/product.asp?manufacturer=ARMSPORT&model=SNAP+CAPS&cat=40904

...or this:

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/pr...ACHMAYR&model=A+ZOOM+AMMO+SNAP+CAPS&cat=40904

For now, just use a fired case and get Snap Caps later (or make your own).

Yes, take the pressure off the springs...don't leave it cocked.

-- John D.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Dry firing won't hurt the gun unless it's a really old gun or a .22 caliber. We dry fire guns all day long at school and nothing becomes of them. We don't do it intentionally or to try to hurt the gun but as part of our safety checks we have to dry fire them. A snap cap is a great idea though. I have snap caps for most of my guns if not just for practice.

 

[gezzer]

Springs wear from use not from being kept static as in cocked or uncocked makes no difference.

Dry firing with or without snap caps puts wear on the springs but big deal a new set will be about 12 bucks get a set if you are worried about it.

 

[PJR]

Dry firing an o/u or sxs can be harmful to the firing pins. I lower the firing pins on mine with a snap cap or with a plastic block if the barrels are off the receiver.

Decocking the gun is also recommended if your gun uses leaf springs.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I don't dry fire o/u's or sxs's. I do 'rest springs' using snap caps, because those guns spend a lot of time in the safe between uses. I wouldn't recommend dry firing your o/u but it's yours and you can treat it however you want.

lpl/nc

 

[brentn]

Yea over and unders I think are different. My dad had one that was dry fired all the time, one day I was checking the firing pin and it was bent good.

I have a winchester pump and I have never had a problem dry firing it. Like the other gentleman said, springs wear from movement not from a stationary position. Whether they are compressed or sprung, leaving them like that does no harm.
I leave my shotgun cocked at all times in storage just becuase it locks up the action that way.

 

[SASS#23149]

Taurua 617

this may be a bit off topic,but is safety ever off topic.?
IMHO,dry firing a weapon as a 'safety' check' is just ASKING for an ND.
I've read many many stories..and seen it in real life... of 'empty' guns going off when dry fired.
I NEVER dry fire a gun.Use snap caps,they are better for the gun and safer for all concerned.
imho,as I said.

 

[cloudcroft]

brentn,

Sure, leaving a spring compressed causes no problems...right.

People parrot this all the time (I wonder if they are South American parrots or of the Central American variety...or maybe the "Froot Loops" Toucans do it, too.). Springs CAN take a set...plus there are other gun problems associated with metal hitting metal with no resistance.

You certainly can do what you want with YOUR guns...I just wouldn't want to buy any used guns from people who dry fire.

That is, IF they were honest enough to admit to doing it at the time of sale...which I doubt. Yeah...that's a great selling point, "I regularly dry-fire my guns." Red Flag and I walk.

But I won't argue this any further -- say/do whatever you want -- but we fall into two simple groups here: Those who fry-fire and those who do not.

To each his/her own.

-- John D.