Why not dry fire a .22

So if dry firing is a "no-no", then what is the best thing to do after ejecting the last round from my 60's vintage Model 80 bolt action .22, or after replacing the bolt after cleaning the rifle? Either action cocks the hammer (is that the right term?), so which is the lesser of two evils, leaving it cocked until the next use, or dry-firing it?

Same question would apply to a semi-auto .22 which doesn't have the LSHO feature (in my case a 70's Marlin 60)?
 
Ruger MK I,II,III; 10-22s, Single-Six, and Bearcats don't seem to have the problem that other rimfire guns do regarding dry-firing. They are well-engineered and constructed to take that abuse.

I use once-fired shells in my bolt-actions when dry firing, rotating the rim after each "shot".
 
"so which is the lesser of two evils, leaving it cocked until the next use, or dry-firing it?"

As Picher stated, already-fired .22 LR cartridges are an option, however there are a couple of issues to consider:

1) Don't become complacent and assume that a "fired" cartridge is in your rifle - a brass case appears like a brass case in the chamber, be it fired or not fired.
Extra caution here.

2) It can be quite difficult to maneuver the spent case into the chamber and under the extractor (depending on the firearm). Lacking a pointed tip, it can be frustrating to chamber the "fired" round.

Snap-Caps are cheap insurance and they do not resemble a real cartridge except in shape.

Drywall anchors, as noted above, might function also.

Monty
 
Good point about "the last shot."

I recall reading about one fellow's solution to this problem for his tube-magazine .22s; he would load a .22 Short as the last round when shooting .22 LRs. The difference in noise would alert him that he had just fired his last round.

Monty
 
On most bolt .22s holding the trigger back as you close the bolt [and then lift and lower the bolt handle with the trigger still back] will leave the gun uncocked without having "fired" the firing pin. With the trigger held back the sear is never engaged and thus the firing pin spring has never compressed. I do the up/down with the bolt as some cock on the "lift" and some on the "down".
[I have some of both and can never seem to remember which is which, hence the habit].

MJ
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top