Can you post a photo of the hammer face/firing pin and the frame where the hammer contacts it?
I suppose if there is not significant metal to metal contact without the cylinder in place it would be OK, but to me dry firing without it would not be helpful for practice due to the change in balance and weight.
That's true. I would simply try the trigger weight on the double action and lightly lower the hammer with my thumb. This is because my Korth in 22lr and I do not have any spare casings.