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Seeking FReeper Opinion: Is It Safe To 'Dry Fire' Firearms?
FR ^ | 05.10.2011 | KoRn

Posted on 05/10/2011 8:26:46 PM PDT by KoRn

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Just looking for opinions from my FReeper friends here at FR. - One of the better collection of firearms owners on the Internet, IMO.
1 posted on 05/10/2011 8:26:49 PM PDT by KoRn
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To: KoRn

Yes.


2 posted on 05/10/2011 8:27:16 PM PDT by fwdude (Prosser wins, Goonions lose.)
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To: KoRn

Snap caps are your friend.


3 posted on 05/10/2011 8:28:23 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono (My greatest fear is that when I'm gone my wife will sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them)
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To: KoRn

Dry firing is okay for center fire firearms.

Avoid dry firing rim fire firearms.


4 posted on 05/10/2011 8:30:14 PM PDT by stylin_geek (Never underestimate the power of government to distort markets)
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To: KoRn

It’s safe to dry-fire with one exception: when you’re in a gunfight.


5 posted on 05/10/2011 8:31:23 PM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great... ...until it happens to YOU.)
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To: KoRn

My NRA instructor said to “dry fire” all you can. Practice, practice, practice.


6 posted on 05/10/2011 8:31:39 PM PDT by Drango (NO-vember is payback for April 15th)
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To: KoRn

This is very dependent on what type of gun it is. When in doubt, see post #3.


7 posted on 05/10/2011 8:33:59 PM PDT by CrazyIvan (What's "My Struggle" in Kenyan?)
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To: KoRn

Yes and use snap caps.


8 posted on 05/10/2011 8:33:59 PM PDT by DarthVader (That which supports Barack Hussein Obama must be sterilized and there are NO exceptions!)
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To: stylin_geek

THIS is the correct answer


9 posted on 05/10/2011 8:34:13 PM PDT by Optimist
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To: KoRn

I’m pretty sure I have to dry fire my .22 after re-assembly, or it would be stored with a spring compressed. Its rimfire....I have no idea if this hurts it, so I don’t do it often...but I don’t see a way around it.


10 posted on 05/10/2011 8:34:28 PM PDT by lacrew (Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
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To: KoRn
FR has to be one of the better places I know to ask a question regarding firearms. I was just looking for a definitive answer - Is it safe to 'dry fire' a firearm without doing any harm to the gun?

The answer is that it depends largely on the age and style of the gun.

You don't want to be dry-snapping rim-fire guns (mostly 22's) for obvious reasons.

In the case of normal center-fire weapons, you have to consider advances in metallurgy over the last century.

Military surplus weapons like Mausers made prior to WW-II can be hurt by dry-snapping, particularly the firing pins can be hurt. I don't know exactly where the dividing line is but anything modern, say, made after 1980 or thereabouts, is not going to be hurt by dry snapping.

11 posted on 05/10/2011 8:35:53 PM PDT by wendy1946
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To: KoRn
Is it safe to 'dry fire' a firearm without doing any harm to the gun?

Sure it is, but what fun is that?

12 posted on 05/10/2011 8:36:11 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: lacrew

Even a 22 isn’t going to be hurt by dry snapping it after cleaning to decock the hammer...


13 posted on 05/10/2011 8:37:28 PM PDT by wendy1946
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To: wendy1946

If it’s a centerfire with hammer, generally won’t hurt the firearm. If it uses a firing pin (.380 semi, etc), don’t do it. You can damage the firing pin.


14 posted on 05/10/2011 8:37:59 PM PDT by rstrahan
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To: KoRn

If Ruger says it is Ok for the LCR then it is OK for the LCR.

I would not make a habit of it because many older guns can have brittle firing pins that will break from dry firing.


15 posted on 05/10/2011 8:38:22 PM PDT by mylife
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To: KoRn

In general, you can dry-fire center-fire firearms without harm, but you should not dry-fire rim-fire arms without a snap cap or spent piece of brass under the firing pin. If you dry fire a rimfire gun enough, you will either peen out the face of the pin, or possibly break the firing pin.

That said, using snap caps in all firearms to dry fire is ultimately preferred.


16 posted on 05/10/2011 8:38:45 PM PDT by NVDave
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To: KoRn

PROBABLY won’t hurt, but... (and it’s a big but) why take a chance? Use a snap cap - that’s what they’re for.


17 posted on 05/10/2011 8:39:43 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (e)
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To: KoRn

You know, you can go to your friendly gun store and buy plastic .38/.357 rounds to put in your gun.


18 posted on 05/10/2011 8:40:17 PM PDT by OldPossum
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To: mylife

That is the better answer, best not get in the habit of dry firing arms.

People that I have known a long time that do it, eventually will do it to one they shouldn’t have. As it happens, it tends to be a new weapon or a friends that they damage.

It is kind of like the difference between a mfg rule and the shooters bible.

For example:
Mfg: Never point a loaded fire arm at another person
Shooters Bible: Always treat a fire arm as loaded

Technically or what is good practice.....that is what you need to know.


19 posted on 05/10/2011 8:43:58 PM PDT by dila813
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To: rstrahan

What used to happen with older weapons was that the firing pin would eventually elongate and could end up going through primers. Again it won’t happen with decent modern weapons.


20 posted on 05/10/2011 8:44:04 PM PDT by wendy1946
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