i know that the effects of dry-firing will vary in different guns, but specifically, how bad is it for the ruger sp101? in the owner's manual, it states that dry firing will not damage the gun's internals, but i just wanted a second opinion. also, will dry-firing cause cylinderplay in my gun? thanks all, and i await your response.
how bad is dry firing?
- Thread starter charels
- Start date
jjmorgan64
New member
nope, you're fine, dry fire away
MeekAndMild
New member
I never trusted that dry firing wouldn't mess things up.
So I made some snap caps with spent cartridges: punched out the primers and glued pieces of bicycle inner tube into the holes. They're good for a couple of hundred snaps and are easy to make when they wear out.
They may not really help but make me feel better.
So I made some snap caps with spent cartridges: punched out the primers and glued pieces of bicycle inner tube into the holes. They're good for a couple of hundred snaps and are easy to make when they wear out.
They may not really help but make me feel better.
charels, welcome to TFL!
Some guns of old had "cast steel" firing pins, which means they were hard and brittle. When the hammer hits those FPs without them striking something else like a primer, they would vibrate because of being unsupported on one end. Hard and brittle pieces of metal fracture easily from vibration. Dry firing induces intense mementary vibration in cast steel FPs, which can fracture them.
Over the past several decades, most guns have machined hardened steel FPs. They are hard, but not brittle, and they're virtually immune from damage due to vibration. You can't hurt them by dry firing.
Many manufacturers still say "don't dry fire" even though there's no risk of harm from it. If Ruger says it's okay, believe it!
Besides, many Ruger owners often wonder, "How can a Ruger be harmed -- these things are built like shot puts?"
Some guns of old had "cast steel" firing pins, which means they were hard and brittle. When the hammer hits those FPs without them striking something else like a primer, they would vibrate because of being unsupported on one end. Hard and brittle pieces of metal fracture easily from vibration. Dry firing induces intense mementary vibration in cast steel FPs, which can fracture them.
Over the past several decades, most guns have machined hardened steel FPs. They are hard, but not brittle, and they're virtually immune from damage due to vibration. You can't hurt them by dry firing.
Many manufacturers still say "don't dry fire" even though there's no risk of harm from it. If Ruger says it's okay, believe it!
Besides, many Ruger owners often wonder, "How can a Ruger be harmed -- these things are built like shot puts?"
Ruger says it's OK to dry fire their revolvers (so they told us at Armorer's School). Write them if you want that yellow disc insert. They'll probably send it to you for free.
Wouldn't do it with the Python though. My brother bought a Python the same time I bought a Ruger Security Six (he had $ and a better job back then). We both dry fired our guns and when we finally went out to the range, the Ruger went bang! bang!. The Python went click! click!
Wouldn't do it with the Python though. My brother bought a Python the same time I bought a Ruger Security Six (he had $ and a better job back then). We both dry fired our guns and when we finally went out to the range, the Ruger went bang! bang!. The Python went click! click!
Blue Duck357
New member
Just to note my S/W 640 went click click after not over 100 dry fires as well. Shop told me not to dry fire the hammerless S/W models.
bad_dad_brad
New member
No problem dry firing the SP101.
The only difference between the S&W hammerless models and the equivalent hammer type is the frame and the lack of a thumbpiece on the hammer. There is no problem with the hammerless S&Ws that would not also occur with hammer guns. I have fired both types hundreds and maybe thousands of rounds in dry fire with one problem. A (then) almost new Chiefs Special broke its hammer pin, not the firing pin. S&W fixed it free.
Jim
Jim