Dry firing....
- Thread starter aspen1964
- Start date
CarbineCaleb
New member
Most centerfire guns ok to dryfire empty, but check with your manufacturer. So called "snap caps" are probably best to fill chambers, but spent casings can also be used... the latter are a potential safety hazard though of course... not real obvious if gun is loaded anymore. Snap caps normally have a bold color to distinguish them from live rounds.
Dry Firing
I would take a look at the insides, shooters forget than revolvers can and should be detail stripped from time to time. Just spraying solvent will not remove accumulated debris. And I second the comments about snap caps.
As far as excessive dry firing goes, I think live firing causes more wear and tear. You generate explosive force, high temperatures, erosion of the forcing
cone barrel. I recall the problems Ruger had a few years ago with top strap
cutting on their .357 Maximum.
I would take a look at the insides, shooters forget than revolvers can and should be detail stripped from time to time. Just spraying solvent will not remove accumulated debris. And I second the comments about snap caps.
As far as excessive dry firing goes, I think live firing causes more wear and tear. You generate explosive force, high temperatures, erosion of the forcing
cone barrel. I recall the problems Ruger had a few years ago with top strap
cutting on their .357 Maximum.
Dfariswheel
New member
Most revolvers will take MANY thousands of dry fires with no damage or excessive wear.
One exception are the Colt Trooper Mark III, King Cobra, Anaconda series guns.
On these guns an occasional firing pin "might" break, and this requires a trip back to the factory for replacement, due to the need for special tools to remove and reinstall the pin without damaging the frame.
Using fired cartridges is OK, with the provision of safety concerns, the fact that dirt is sprayed into the bore and chambers from the case, and that the primer quickly deforms to the point where it is no longer effective as a pad for the firing pin.
To be safe and effective, invest in some snap caps.
Their cheap, and it's money well spent.
One exception are the Colt Trooper Mark III, King Cobra, Anaconda series guns.
On these guns an occasional firing pin "might" break, and this requires a trip back to the factory for replacement, due to the need for special tools to remove and reinstall the pin without damaging the frame.
Using fired cartridges is OK, with the provision of safety concerns, the fact that dirt is sprayed into the bore and chambers from the case, and that the primer quickly deforms to the point where it is no longer effective as a pad for the firing pin.
To be safe and effective, invest in some snap caps.
Their cheap, and it's money well spent.
No such thing as impossible to harm
You need to look at how a revolver works.
The hammer hits the firing pin, this drives the pin forward and it makes contact with the primmer . This striking the primer slows the firing pin and stops its forward movement.
When dryfiring the body of the firing pin slames into the frame of the gun and the shock load is on the pin its self is oppisit to what it designed to take.
That is, instead or striking somthing, its seeing a negative load, which means that they end of the firing pin is streching or being pulled forward on the main body of the firing pin.
If the gun has a hammer with the firing pin in or attached to the hammer its the same thing. Instead of striking somthing like the primer is seeing a streching load since there is nothing to take up the force of the hammer other than the frame.
A little dryfiring is nothing to a gun.
But I am tired of hearing that you can dry fire a gun into etertity and it will neveg hurt a gun.
Spent shells after a time will become so dented that they wont make contact any more.
If you have to dryfire, get snap caps, there not that expensive and once purchased they have a long life.
The best way to dryfire a gun, is to NOT dryfire, but go to the range and wetfire, or what ever the oppisit would be.
A firing pin is made from very hard,,,VERY hard steel. They do this so that it can take being driven into a primer thousands of times and not deform.
BUt very hard steel is brittle.
Saying that dryfiring will not hurt a gun is like saying instead of appling breaks in the car I am just going to attach a 50 foot steel cable to the rear bumper and stop it that way.
You get the same thing done, you have stoped the car.
But is it really a good idea?
You come into my house and if I show you a gun and the first thing you do is slam fire my 25 smith through a full cylinder, I can guarentee you one thing, its the last time you will handle one of mine.
WIll a little dryfiring hurt a gun,,,No never.
But I have heard people here in other threads say that "when I buy a new gun the first thing I do is set down watching TV and dryfire my gun 500 times to break it in."
I hope I never get that gun in my collection,,, even if its free.
You need to look at how a revolver works.
The hammer hits the firing pin, this drives the pin forward and it makes contact with the primmer . This striking the primer slows the firing pin and stops its forward movement.
When dryfiring the body of the firing pin slames into the frame of the gun and the shock load is on the pin its self is oppisit to what it designed to take.
That is, instead or striking somthing, its seeing a negative load, which means that they end of the firing pin is streching or being pulled forward on the main body of the firing pin.
If the gun has a hammer with the firing pin in or attached to the hammer its the same thing. Instead of striking somthing like the primer is seeing a streching load since there is nothing to take up the force of the hammer other than the frame.
A little dryfiring is nothing to a gun.
But I am tired of hearing that you can dry fire a gun into etertity and it will neveg hurt a gun.
Spent shells after a time will become so dented that they wont make contact any more.
If you have to dryfire, get snap caps, there not that expensive and once purchased they have a long life.
The best way to dryfire a gun, is to NOT dryfire, but go to the range and wetfire, or what ever the oppisit would be.
A firing pin is made from very hard,,,VERY hard steel. They do this so that it can take being driven into a primer thousands of times and not deform.
BUt very hard steel is brittle.
Saying that dryfiring will not hurt a gun is like saying instead of appling breaks in the car I am just going to attach a 50 foot steel cable to the rear bumper and stop it that way.
You get the same thing done, you have stoped the car.
But is it really a good idea?
You come into my house and if I show you a gun and the first thing you do is slam fire my 25 smith through a full cylinder, I can guarentee you one thing, its the last time you will handle one of mine.
WIll a little dryfiring hurt a gun,,,No never.
But I have heard people here in other threads say that "when I buy a new gun the first thing I do is set down watching TV and dryfire my gun 500 times to break it in."
I hope I never get that gun in my collection,,, even if its free.
Not trying to pick or start any flames here but where does this info come from? As a competive shooter, dry fire is very much a part of practice. Repeatibilty is a must if you are going to do well. This time of year I dry fire my WOP AR. Doing so has allowed me to shoot master scores and I have the card to prove it. I'm slowing working up to High Master scores.
I will not dry fire my .22's for practice on a empty chamber but I do use dry fire plugs. Winter League is now fast approching and it's about time to make the switch from High Power to Bullseye.
Over the years as a competive shooter I have dry fired:
match tuned M-14's, match tuned 1911's, non match tuned 1911's, match tuned M-1's, match tuned AR-15's and using dry fire plugs a 5.5 target Buckmark and Smith 41. I have also dry fired about all of my brace, including pre 64 winneys and several Mdl's of Smith wheel guns. We can't forget my duty Glock...All have been without ill effect.
aspen1964 as per you question........Use snap caps instead of empty cases. This is best.
Ozzieman said: But I am tired of hearing that you can dry fire a gun into etertity and it will neveg hurt a gun.
Well I don't think you could go on forever without harming something. That's why I said: 'bout impossible.
My first new sixgun was a Ruger Super Single Six, a 1973 NM. As per Major George C. Nonte' book, Pistol & Revolver Guide, I taped a penny on my frig. and dry fired 50 to 100 times each day. This was done off and on for several years. Now I'm not one to buy sixguns. I'm one to use what I have, so I've owned very few. This little thing has been dry fired countless times. It's fired brick after brick of ammo. The same for my K-22, M-29, and Liberty Model 45 Colt. I'm sure somthing will break down the road somewhere. Wet firing as you call it (BTW, nice term, Like it) did my M-29 in and it was sold. The others have held up to constant use over the last 30-35 years. The only thing I've done is relpaced the barrel and a few parts on my Single Six but the firing pin isn't one of them. The K-22 has seen the most use and so far, so good. The 45 is the new guy and hasn't reach quite 10,000 rounds as the M-29 side tracked me for 8 years.
So should we dry fire? All I know is what's happened here in the hollow. Other's mileage may differ. As for your firearms or anyothers, I wouldn't drop the hammer on any of them. They are yours and full repect would be shown. They're more than a few people around who feel the same way about firing their sixguns double action. I won't do it unless I ask.
With that said Ozzieman, you are in very good company with your opinion. I took a friend once to meet Mr. Keith. He was showing us a M-29 someone sent for trials. It was set up like a PPC revolver. My friend let the hammer fall, pruely my mistake, and Mr. Keith made his dissatisfaction known. HEE HEE. I went back from time to time but guess my friend never did.
Ozzieman said: But I am tired of hearing that you can dry fire a gun into etertity and it will neveg hurt a gun.
Well I don't think you could go on forever without harming something. That's why I said: 'bout impossible.
My first new sixgun was a Ruger Super Single Six, a 1973 NM. As per Major George C. Nonte' book, Pistol & Revolver Guide, I taped a penny on my frig. and dry fired 50 to 100 times each day. This was done off and on for several years. Now I'm not one to buy sixguns. I'm one to use what I have, so I've owned very few. This little thing has been dry fired countless times. It's fired brick after brick of ammo. The same for my K-22, M-29, and Liberty Model 45 Colt. I'm sure somthing will break down the road somewhere. Wet firing as you call it (BTW, nice term, Like it) did my M-29 in and it was sold. The others have held up to constant use over the last 30-35 years. The only thing I've done is relpaced the barrel and a few parts on my Single Six but the firing pin isn't one of them. The K-22 has seen the most use and so far, so good. The 45 is the new guy and hasn't reach quite 10,000 rounds as the M-29 side tracked me for 8 years.
So should we dry fire? All I know is what's happened here in the hollow. Other's mileage may differ. As for your firearms or anyothers, I wouldn't drop the hammer on any of them. They are yours and full repect would be shown. They're more than a few people around who feel the same way about firing their sixguns double action. I won't do it unless I ask.
With that said Ozzieman, you are in very good company with your opinion. I took a friend once to meet Mr. Keith. He was showing us a M-29 someone sent for trials. It was set up like a PPC revolver. My friend let the hammer fall, pruely my mistake, and Mr. Keith made his dissatisfaction known. HEE HEE. I went back from time to time but guess my friend never did.
Just use snap caps. Then you don't have to worry about mechanical failure, accidental discharge, etc. They also are good for practicing loading and unloading, such as for concealed carry or self defense situations. Additionally they are great for teaching a new shooter... with brightly colored snap caps, neither you or the newbie holding the gun have to worry about a live ammo mixup.
Most any caliber snap cap you want can be found here.
http://www.cowboyneeds.com/Snap_Caps.html
Most any caliber snap cap you want can be found here.
http://www.cowboyneeds.com/Snap_Caps.html