To be on the 'safe-side' regarding dry-firing an older floating-pin S&W revolver (ie. 36, 66, etc)... and not to be a 'cheap S**' about spending $15 for Snap-Caps... can you use SPENT cartridges in place of 'snaps' to absorb the strike and avoid problems or will that NOT work for safe dry-firing?
Thanks for the input.

NO, DO NOT, use spent cases in place of Snap-Caps. Spent primers do nothing to soften the blow of the hammer and firing pin and ends up like nothings there at all to take the shock.....................................M*

Yes - I use spent cases all the time with no issues

I agree that spent cartridge cases offer no protection to the firing pin. The exceptiion would be .22 rimfire cases IF you rotate the case so the pin strikes a new area on the rim after each dry fire.

Being cheap myself, I have occasionally removed the primer from spent cases and filled the pocket with silicone like one uses to seal around plumbing fixtures or seams around windows. I did this mostly with shotgun hulls.

For the price of six snap caps, I think it's worth it to avoid possible damage to a $600 firearm.

Ken may have had no issues because most center fire handguns are safe to dry fire. Your owner's manual should tell you.

Thanks guys appreciate all the info... Snap Caps!!

If you are referring to a revolver with a hammer nose mounted in the hammer itself, you can safely dry fire them without snap caps or empty casings.

To be on the safe side, I would use snap caps on the newer models with the frame mounted firing pins....and all rimfire models both new and old.

At their website, in the FAQ section, S&W advises it's safe to dry fire all models...... the only exception is the rimfire guns.

Copied from the S&W FAQ.....

Can I dry fire my S&W handgun?
Q: Can I dry fire my Smith & Wesson?

A: Yes, except for the .22 caliber pistols which includes models 22A, 22S, 422, 2206, 2214, 2213 and 41.

.22 caliber revolvers such as models 17, 43, 63, 317 and 617 also should not be dry fired.

Q: Why can't I dry fire my .22 pistol or revolver?

A: Dry firing a S&W .22 pistol or revolver will cause damage to the firing pin.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I just purchased a 686 no dash. The ffl dealer i picked it up from is a retired police officer, and a certified s&w gunsmith. He said i can dry fire my fire arm all day with no consequences. Being new to the gun, i forgot the reason he explained. Is this valid? But i still use the snap caps, cant hurt imo.

Snap caps aren't that expensive, and except for the ones made for .22LR, they last a long time. I usually buy about 12-18 at a time and load them into speedloaders and speedstrips. When I cycle through the cylinder full of snap caps, I practice reloading with a fresh set of snap caps from the speedloader or speedstrip. I'm still very slow, but building muscle memory and good habits takes time. To me, it's a good way of maximizing your practice time.

Regards,

Dave

When they first changed over to the MIM frame firing pins, I called SW factory and talked to one of their gunsmiths. He said it was completely safe to dry fire. A while later, I recall they changed that position... and now they seem to be saying it's completely safe again for center fires which I believe is probably true for a stock gun.

I have never seen a factory firing pin break, but there have been MANY cases of the after market extended firing pins breaking.

I think the chances of hurting the gun dry firing are astronomically low. But snap caps are good if you want to use them anyway.

De-prime some empty cases and fill the primer pockets with Silicone sealer / rubber type material, let cure and replace when it gets beat down.
Several ways to make your own....not worth damaging a good classic revolver. I say err on the side of caution, keep getting so many conflicting stories hard to know who's right....be safe.
Gary

You can also use the plastic drywall anchors from your favorite big box store.

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