To dry-fire or not dry-fire, this is the real question
- Thread starter Torque
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Pretty much all modern center-fire guns may be dry fired without damaging the firing pin. snap caps are also available for the wary.
I find it to be very valuable practice re: trigger control, esp when combined with a laser sight (if the dot moves when the trigger breaks, keep practicing.)
I find it to be very valuable practice re: trigger control, esp when combined with a laser sight (if the dot moves when the trigger breaks, keep practicing.)
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AStone
Member
I understand that modern mechanics can allow for it but I wanna know how many people do it on a regular basis. If they do it on new guns and old ones. Rim-fire vs. center-fire. This is what I am really after.
3 generations of ignorance really counts on this. (hahahhahaha. fool.)
3 generations of ignorance really counts on this. (hahahhahaha. fool.)
AStone
Member
I practice dry fire with my revolvers,
and sometimes with long guns,
but never with rim fire.
And how old are you? Did you ever learn not to? I am 33 and I was always taught not to do it. Even from friends. Including my friends that are Marines. They do it on their issued guns, but not their personal ones. I guess it can be profitable to run around pointing and pulling triggers at every chance, but if there is one thing I know about mechanical items ... they do wear... and they do malfuction after extended use. I guess it really comes down to the question of: worn and battered? Or new and reliable?
With my AK-47 sure I would live with dry-fire but I would never do it with my AR-15. They are already unreliable as they are, in certian forms. Pistols are a different question. If you ever have to use a pistol and it misfires due to extended use, you might be too close to your target to change your targets mind!
AStone
Member
50-something, going on 30-something.
Right.
After 3K, they're just about right.
After 30K, they begin deterioration.
Beyond 300K, well, just chalk it up.
(Need minor adjustment by a competent smith.)
3000K? Take two aspirin, and call us in the morning.
Chris Rhines
Member
I dry fire over a thousand times a week, mostly split between my two competition pistols. I've been doing this for three years, and have yet to notice any wear on my guns that could be attributed to dry practice.
Serious shooters dry fire regularly to refine their sight picture and trigger control, and to practice their gun handling.
No modern centerfire firearm that I know of will be damaged by even extensive dry firing. That includes the AR15 and other guns wrongly perceived as unreliable.
- Chris
Serious shooters dry fire regularly to refine their sight picture and trigger control, and to practice their gun handling.
No modern centerfire firearm that I know of will be damaged by even extensive dry firing. That includes the AR15 and other guns wrongly perceived as unreliable.
- Chris
Elza
Member
I use snap caps just to be on the safe side but I'm old school. That, and I broke a firing pin once.
AStone
Member
Snap caps in revolvers are great.
They go round 'n round n' round ...
But in long guns
they're useless.
They go round 'n round n' round ...
But in long guns
they're useless.
Cannonball888
Member
Obviously you were never in the military. Dry-firing is part of the protocol function test after reassembling the M16.
lee n. field
Member
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Frequently Asked Question.
Unless the manual specifically says you shouldn't, go ahead. If you're concerned about it, get snap caps.
GhostlyKarliion
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(Caps for added emphasis)
Dry Fire on any modern (and most older) CENTERFIRE guns is fine...
NEVER Dry Fire a RIMFIRE gun.
The hammer on a rimfire gun is designed to strike the rim of the cartridge (that was shocking, huh). Problem is when there is no cartridge in the chamber, the rim that is supposed to be between the hammer and the breech isn't there, so you have hardened steel (firing pin) impacting hardened steel (breech face). You can damage your firing pin VERY easily.
Repeat, it is SAFE to Dry Fire a CENTERFIRE firearm.
it is NOT SAFE to Dry Fire a RIMFIRE firearm.
Dry Fire on any modern (and most older) CENTERFIRE guns is fine...
NEVER Dry Fire a RIMFIRE gun.
The hammer on a rimfire gun is designed to strike the rim of the cartridge (that was shocking, huh). Problem is when there is no cartridge in the chamber, the rim that is supposed to be between the hammer and the breech isn't there, so you have hardened steel (firing pin) impacting hardened steel (breech face). You can damage your firing pin VERY easily.
Repeat, it is SAFE to Dry Fire a CENTERFIRE firearm.
it is NOT SAFE to Dry Fire a RIMFIRE firearm.
M2 Carbine
member
I've got a thing about banging together two pieces of precision metal.
Doesn't matter if it does damage or not, I won't do it.
But besides that I don't dry-fire because I find it as boring as watching paint dry.
Doesn't matter if it does damage or not, I won't do it.
But besides that I don't dry-fire because I find it as boring as watching paint dry.
geekWithA.45
Moderator Emeritus
Except for some older guns and .22lr, which would be damaged by dry firing, yes, most definately.
After appropriately ceremonial unloading, dry firing in a safe direction is an important part of learning trigger control.
Also, most out of the box triggers simply need to be actuated about 1,000 times so as to get all the parts aquainted with each other.
It was said that Wild Bill Hickock wouldn't carry a gun until the trigger and sear "had become friends".
After appropriately ceremonial unloading, dry firing in a safe direction is an important part of learning trigger control.
Also, most out of the box triggers simply need to be actuated about 1,000 times so as to get all the parts aquainted with each other.
It was said that Wild Bill Hickock wouldn't carry a gun until the trigger and sear "had become friends".
wally
Member
RTFM. Rugers are dry-fire safe. Rim fire guns can be especially problematic so in general I'd agree not to dry-fire any gun until you've read the manual. If in doubt use snap caps, they are usually cheaper than firing pins or other repairs.
Any center fire pistol has to stand up to some amount of dry fire as its going to happen eventually -- when you don't fully insert a magazine or you get a mag that fails to lock back.
Dry fire practice with a cheap laser pointer attached the pistol is a great way to improve your shooting.
--wally.
fletcher
Member
I know all of mine are good to dry fire as-is. If you worry it might damage the gun, throw a snap cap in there.
shadowalker
Member
I mainly dry-fire my handguns and have seen a very respectable improvement after around 8,000 dry-fire cycles.
I practice at 7 yards and do both SA and DA dry-firing in a 3-1 ratio, I practice strong handed, weak handed and while moving. I also holster and draw every 7 pulls, and practice emergency reloads.
There is a dry fire training pistol at http://www.dry-fire.com/ that looks fairly interesting, it will stay in SA after the first pull unless de-cocked. I might give it a try, manually cocking for SA pulls takes some time.
It is a very valuable technique, saves a ton of time (no commuting to the range) and money.
I practice at 7 yards and do both SA and DA dry-firing in a 3-1 ratio, I practice strong handed, weak handed and while moving. I also holster and draw every 7 pulls, and practice emergency reloads.
There is a dry fire training pistol at http://www.dry-fire.com/ that looks fairly interesting, it will stay in SA after the first pull unless de-cocked. I might give it a try, manually cocking for SA pulls takes some time.
It is a very valuable technique, saves a ton of time (no commuting to the range) and money.
lanternlad1
Member
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Never without a snap cap. Why take chances, and snap caps are cheap.
Sav .250
Member
Those that wish to (dry fire) can certainly do so.
Have done it but as a matter of practice, I don`t.
If I had a snap-cap I`d be more likely too.
Have done it but as a matter of practice, I don`t.
If I had a snap-cap I`d be more likely too.
CountGlockula
Member
I dry fire my Glock more than I fire it live. It helps me with trigger control and prevent flinching after the "bang".
heypete
Member
I dryfire all my firearms on a regular basis as part of a functions check, and as practice. Much cheaper to dry fire than spend money on ammo most of the time.
My Springfield XD's trigger has smoothed out a bit after repeated dry firing.
I regularly dry-fire my Ruger 10/22 and Ruger MkIII, without any ill effect. Both have a means of stopping the firing pin (or so it's advertised) from striking the chamber, and I've noticed no peening of the firing pin or damage to the chamber after a few thousand dry fires. In the event that I do somehow damage the firing pin, it costs about $3 for a 10/22 pin and $2 for a Mark III pin, both made by Ruger, from Midway. I'm still saving money compared to shooting live ammo. If it becomes an issue, I'll put a spent case in the chamber to take the impact.
Now, I won't dryfire non-Ruger rimfires unless I know they have a firing pin stop.
Modern centerfire guns? I'll dry fire all day long without worry.
My Springfield XD's trigger has smoothed out a bit after repeated dry firing.
I regularly dry-fire my Ruger 10/22 and Ruger MkIII, without any ill effect. Both have a means of stopping the firing pin (or so it's advertised) from striking the chamber, and I've noticed no peening of the firing pin or damage to the chamber after a few thousand dry fires. In the event that I do somehow damage the firing pin, it costs about $3 for a 10/22 pin and $2 for a Mark III pin, both made by Ruger, from Midway. I'm still saving money compared to shooting live ammo. If it becomes an issue, I'll put a spent case in the chamber to take the impact.
Now, I won't dryfire non-Ruger rimfires unless I know they have a firing pin stop.
Modern centerfire guns? I'll dry fire all day long without worry.
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