dry firing single action rimfires

[CraigC]

I've owned 18 Ruger revolvers, I know what the manual says. Doesn't change the fact that recessed chambers have nothing to do with preventing the firing pin from peening them.

Further, I don't care if Ruger says you can do it a million times a day, if the firing pin protrusion is sufficient, it WILL make contact. Like I said, I had to send one back for THAT VERY PROBLEM. Yes, Ruger says it's okay. No, that does not mean that NO Ruger revolver will ever peen the chambers. I don't dryfire rimfires at all and if I did, I would use drywall anchors to cushion the blow. Because I'd rather err on the side of caution, than have to send my sixgun back to Ruger. Besides, parts wear and the firing pin that didn't start out hitting the edge of the chamber, may very well start to after 1000, 5000 or 10,000 snaps.

As CAS shooters have found out, dryfire a New Model Ruger enough and you'll see transfer bar breakage. Apparently the Ruger manual doesn't prevent that either. :banghead:

 

[Tallball]

It might be irrational, but dry firing 22's always makes me nervous. My grandpa probably told me not to.

 

[wproct]

The chamber is not the only thing affected by dry-firing. The firing pin and firing pin return spring can be impacted as well. When live firing, the soft rimfire cartridge absorbs the force of the firing pin, and in dry-firing the firing pin slams either against the steel frame, bushing, or against a steel firing pin stop, depending on the design of the particular firearm being used, and in some designs the firing pin return spring is compressed further than in live firing as well. If any of these components do break in a Ruger single action revolver, replacement is not a simple task. For most of us, a trip to the gunsmith or return to Ruger for repair is the remedy. So, the point of all my comments are that some measure of protection for the firing pin and components is not a bad idea, IMHO.

 

[Doogle]

Indeed, many people focus only on the chamber peeing issue...>

...but there is also the issue of repeated uncushioned strikes causing changes in the metallurgic structure of a firing pin or transfer bar, leading to fractures. This can affect both rimfire and centerfire guns.

(Oops - meant "peening" !)

 

[CraigC]

I try to avoid peeing in my chambers every chance I get.

 

[oneounceload]

For 22 caliber snap caps go buy a box of plastic dry wall screw anchors. That one box will last for years. I can't remember the size I use, but take a 22 cartridge with you to compare the rim diameter.

It's the yellow #4 from Lowes or HD; runs about $4 for a box of 100. I rotate them around every few shots until they need replacing. This is in a S&W 17-3