Let's settle this: Dry firing -- worth breaking the rules?

[Preacherman]

Word has it that he had an ND in a Las Vegas hotel several years ago during the SHOT show. I am not 100% sure of this, but the person who told me this confirmed it with hotel security (or said he did).

444, I heard of this incident. As related to me by one who was there, it occurred in a room where the good Colonel was demonstrating the Steyr Scout rifle and discussing its merits with visitors. The gun was unloaded, but there was a spare magazine in the stock which was loaded. A visitor, for some reason unknown to science, removed the empty magazine from the weapon, took the loaded magazine from the stock, inserted it in the mag well, and operated the action, chambering a round. Next person to pull the trigger - BANG!

Apparently the shot penetrated several walls, but didn't hit anyone. No major injuries except for sudden and near-terminal attacks of diarrhea among those who understood what had just happened (almost certainly including Col. Cooper!).

As for dry-fire practice: I take a different route. I have a revolver and a pistol that I use ONLY for dry-firing. They have bright paint on the frame and barrel to indicate their practice-only status, and have heavier, rougher triggers and poorer sights than my normal carry weapons. By using these for practice, and forcing myself to adjust to their less-than-optimal trigger pulls and sight pictures, I in turn make it much easier to shoot my tuned guns at the range (or in self-defence, if that need should arise). The practice guns are never loaded except with snap-caps.

When I want to dry-fire, I return my carry weapon(s) and all ammo, etc. to the gun safe, and take out the practice guns. After my practice is over, I reverse the procedure, telling myself, out loud, that "dry-fire is over - no more dry-firing - dry-fire is over...", etc. Why do I do this? A .357" hole in the bedroom wall of a former residence could tell tales...

 

[Moparmike]

I always follow the 4 rules...

I keep a Mutant Ninja Zombie Blue-Helmeted Bear chained up in the back yard, with logging chains. When ever I dry-fire, I use it for practice.

I also keep a .300 S&W WinMag Airweight revolver nearby incase he gets off of his chain. I hate picking up the wrong gun, its so hard to capture another Mutant Ninja Zombie Blue-Helmeted Bear alive these days.

 

[Treylis]

Dry fire practice of a center fire handgun is a recognized training method. It does nothing to harm the firearm

Just want to add, that's dry-firing with snap caps. Some guns, dry firing without them doesn't matter, other guns, you're liable to break the firing pin.

 

[Penforhire]

Well... isn't the rule not to point the weapon at anything you are "unwilling to destroy" ? If so, my TV is not sacred. I do not DESIRE it destroyed but I am willing to allow the possibility of its destruction.

Re: driving. Yeah, I'm another who practices driving but I race as a hobby too.

 

[444]

I have no axe to grind here. It doesn't matter to me where or when you dry practice. But, I just wanted to point something out. When this subject is discussed, notice how many people think that this can't happen to me. I am too smart, experienced,................ for this to happen to me. All that stuff may be a good idea but there is no way I could have an ND, let alone shoot my TV.........................................................
Everyone that ever did something like this throught the same thing right up until the time that it happened.

 

[Strings]

Well, take this for what it's worth. But I have to argue the "expect a bang when you pull the trigger" philosophy. I actually expect a "click" whenever I pull the trigger, working under the concept that you should always expect the worst.

As for dry firing: yep, do it whenever I can. Usually at the TV, or an imaginary spot on the wall. My procedure: remove magazine, remove round from chamber, inspect chamber, close slide. The loose round and full magazine are visuals that yes, it IS unloaded...

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Uh, there HAVE been several stories of dead TVs. I use targets meant for normal shooting practice. Well, once or twice the TV, but had bad karmic feel about aiming at people not bent on killling me or mine.

 

[wolf]

if it can happen..it will

for me, living in a one bedroom apt is not the place to "practice" with a gun..though it is in "hot" mode when im home..

i have families on the north & east sides of my unit..i informed my neighbor i have a gun..he seemed ok with it..but i realized he did not understand why i told him..bullets go through people & walls..when i said to him.."if i heard your wife screaming for help..i would call the police before i would go into your place w/a gun..its not the movies..i would have no idea why she is screaming or how many bad guys are in your place, if any.." he said something like " yeah.."

i go to the range to "practice" ... i would love it if they had TV's to shoot at...

wolf

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Wolf,

One time I took a pager my daughter was not supposed to have to the range. You would'a thought I was shooting the Bible or something from the reaction of people. Very satisfying overall, though.

 

[Sven]

I love having a brick fireplace.

 

[Moparmike]

Wouldnt brick's ricochet?

 

[P95Carry]

Wouldnt brick's ricochet?

Nope - just the bullets!!

Bricks might get a tad ''pock marked'' tho