Okay, I will confess a horrible sin in the hopes ...
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dmazur
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I got this from another forum -
There are several different designs that will prevent a pistol from firing unless a magazine is in place. Some companies use a trigger or sear disconnect design where pulling the trigger doesn't allow the hammer or striker to go forward. Ruger chose to use a firing pin / striker interrupt device where the pistol works like normal with or without a magazine and they depend on an interrupt plunger to block the firing pin / striker from moving forward to detonate the primer.
With Ruger's design, the firing pin or striker hits the interrupt plunger with considerable force (enough to detonate a primer). Repeated dry firing deforms both the firing pin and the interrupt plunger until one or both are peened so much they impede striker/firing pin movement. Once movement is restricted, you will get light or no primer hits resulting in misfires.
Ruger's very poor design is the only one I know of that will damage the pistol if dry fired without a magazine.
I wouldn't have guessed this. I find it unfortunate that, in the quest for making a firearm user-proof, a manfacturer can design one that is inferior. I suppose the Marlin cross-bolt safety that happens to be bumped "on" at the time a hunter takes a shot is similar, except that the result is the loss of a shot rather than the loss of one's life.
Whatever happened to KISS? (I know...I know. Attorneys.
)
There are several different designs that will prevent a pistol from firing unless a magazine is in place. Some companies use a trigger or sear disconnect design where pulling the trigger doesn't allow the hammer or striker to go forward. Ruger chose to use a firing pin / striker interrupt device where the pistol works like normal with or without a magazine and they depend on an interrupt plunger to block the firing pin / striker from moving forward to detonate the primer.
With Ruger's design, the firing pin or striker hits the interrupt plunger with considerable force (enough to detonate a primer). Repeated dry firing deforms both the firing pin and the interrupt plunger until one or both are peened so much they impede striker/firing pin movement. Once movement is restricted, you will get light or no primer hits resulting in misfires.
Ruger's very poor design is the only one I know of that will damage the pistol if dry fired without a magazine.
I wouldn't have guessed this. I find it unfortunate that, in the quest for making a firearm user-proof, a manfacturer can design one that is inferior. I suppose the Marlin cross-bolt safety that happens to be bumped "on" at the time a hunter takes a shot is similar, except that the result is the loss of a shot rather than the loss of one's life.
Whatever happened to KISS? (I know...I know. Attorneys.
)DA/SA decockers for me for this very reason. I don't like striker fired guns and I don't like SAO guns because I'm afraid of something like this happening. it's a shame because there are some very nice ones out there
Glad no one was hurt.
That's the p345. I have one, carry it, and love it. I just don't dry fire it without an empty mag in place and once a year or so I check for peening when detail stripping it.
Many people who are concerned about it accidently "lose" the plunger when detail stripping it, so the magazine disconnect becomes ineffective and the pistol can be dry-fired without fear of damage. I haven't 'lost' mine because for fear of potential legal ramifications should my weapon ever be involved in a negligent discharge that causes injury or property damage.
Glad no one was hurt.
That's the p345. I have one, carry it, and love it. I just don't dry fire it without an empty mag in place and once a year or so I check for peening when detail stripping it.
Many people who are concerned about it accidently "lose" the plunger when detail stripping it, so the magazine disconnect becomes ineffective and the pistol can be dry-fired without fear of damage. I haven't 'lost' mine because for fear of potential legal ramifications should my weapon ever be involved in a negligent discharge that causes injury or property damage.
B BRI
Member
+1 on thanks for sharing, we all talk about safety and it's rare that someone admits when things go wrong.
When I was a kid my Grandfather rolled back the rug in the family room of his house and showed me the 2 bullet holes in the floor, where twice, someone had been handling a rifle and "it went off" when they thought it was unloaded. Thankfully, just as in your case, they at least remembered the keep the gun pointed in a safe direction rule. It was a sobering lesson as a kid and I have never forgotten it. I have repeated this story to my kids, as a lesson in what NOT to do.
I have owned at least one 1911 since 1987 and my rule has ALWAYS been -
Unloaded
or
Cocked and Locked
That's how John Browning designed it, and I think he was way smarter than I will ever be.
Thanks again for sharing and glad it turned out okay.
When I was a kid my Grandfather rolled back the rug in the family room of his house and showed me the 2 bullet holes in the floor, where twice, someone had been handling a rifle and "it went off" when they thought it was unloaded. Thankfully, just as in your case, they at least remembered the keep the gun pointed in a safe direction rule. It was a sobering lesson as a kid and I have never forgotten it. I have repeated this story to my kids, as a lesson in what NOT to do.
I have owned at least one 1911 since 1987 and my rule has ALWAYS been -
Unloaded
or
Cocked and Locked
That's how John Browning designed it, and I think he was way smarter than I will ever be.
Thanks again for sharing and glad it turned out okay.
Had a deer rifle that had been in storage for twenty years given to me. One morning in a box blind I took it from pointing out the window to take the chambered round out. I put the butt on the floor of the blind and boom.The slight bump of setting the butt down set it off. No injuries just a hole in the blinds roof. Guess it had been in storage too long and something sprung.Just goes to show that using a gun is keeps it running like a car.
hemiram
Member
My former boss, who made it through 30 years in the Marines and Army (Don't know why he switched) without messing up did it one day. He carried a crappy S&W Model 10 normally, but that day, he brought his old 1911, and somehow, he fired a round off. It put a ding in his desk, bounced off a breaker box, and then went through the wall into the ladies room, where the bullet ran out of gas, and barely touched a woman's foot when it dropped to the ground. He was about to go home, and was doing the same thing you were, as he was going to put it back into the case. He was very embarrassed, to put it mildly. The big boss just shook his head, and muttered. The woman that was in the restroom got a free stay at the hotel we worked at, along with free meals for the weekend.
Glad nobody was hurt!! I had mine 20+ years ago. I put a IMI 158 gr .357 through my parents dining room table legs, chair, wall ect. Heck of a learning experiance.
I hate to say it, but I only know people that have had AD's, and those that are going to. Don't agonize over it, just learn from it.
I hate to say it, but I only know people that have had AD's, and those that are going to. Don't agonize over it, just learn from it.The key word here is "Carry". Once you cock the gun, put it into a holster right away and don't mess with it any further and you will be fine.
If you are still paranoid, get a holster that has one of those fastening tabs that go across the top of the gun between the hammer and the firing mechanism.
If you are still paranoid, get a holster that has one of those fastening tabs that go across the top of the gun between the hammer and the firing mechanism.
MissouriCrowinMass
Member
That was very mature of you to share that story. I know I've done a few things that I was grateful to get away with. They were great lessons.
Uncle Mike
Member
Those 1911's can be tricky.
Take a minute to thank God for you and your family not being hurt.
And you know what they say... There's the 'Haves, and the Have Nots'... you are proubly a 'Have', now.
Take a minute to thank God for you and your family not being hurt.
And you know what they say... There's the 'Haves, and the Have Nots'... you are proubly a 'Have', now.
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