Dry firing with half of a foam earplug?

S

SGB

New member
I heard somewhere that if you cut a foam earplug in half and stick it in front of your firing pin you can't go wrong. Is there any danger in damaging any other portion of my pistol(HK USP 9 Fullsize)by doing this? I mean, stop to think about it. It does drastically cutdown on the impact on the firing pin. The only downside that I've encountered is not being able to rack the slide while the plug is in place. Any response would be appreciated.

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"He counted on America to be passive....He counted wrong"

President Ronald Reagan
 
Well, I put the foam plug BEHIND the fining pin (between firing pin and hammer).
I cut just the tip of an earplug off and use it with my 92FS. I wanted to avoid damaging my snap caps since they develop a hole in the "primer" after just a few uses and I suspect they are no longer protecting the firing pin. Using an ear plug and a new snap cap, I dry fired hundreds of times only leaving a slight mark on the snap cap. The method works great. The only problem is that since the hammer is resting on the ear plug, it is in effect ~1/10 cocked, altering the initial part of the trigger pull. I cannot see how this could damage anything.
 
Not to state the obvious, but what makes you think the USP isn't 100% safe to dryfire without any protection?
 
I just have to wonder if the wear point on the sear, and trigger mechanism from the hammer being at or starting from 1/10 cock would cause a flat spot or some other wear.

I will occasionally use a snap cap, but for the most part, I dry fire, and dry fire, and dry fire, have done so since the 80's... Guess what, haven't broken anything yet...

In fact, some manaufacturers recommend not riding the hammer down because of the galling on the sear. Letting it work as advertised keeps it nice and polished...

YMMV!
 
I'm not certain that the foam earplug would provide enough resistance to the firing pin to do anything worthwhile. It's very soft.
 
Stuffing the foam earplug in the chamber and having the bolt face compress it further is not a bad idea for dry firing. It will cushion the firing pin some and lessen the chance of damage to pin. However, there are better ways. I do think it will provide some protection or piece of mind to those so inclined. Me, I just snap away, totally dry for the most part, and try not to be too persnickety about the whole thing. An eraser cut from a pencil and shoved into the primer pocket of an empty case works as well.
 
Had a friend say he deprimes the brass case and fills the primer pocket with hot melt glue. Any comments? Boy were shooters sure are frugal!
 
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