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Dry firing your 15-22?
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Page 13 of the owners manual:
“Caution: Never dry-fire the rifle as damage to the firearm could result.”
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P_1522_Rifle_Manual.pdf
“Caution: Never dry-fire the rifle as damage to the firearm could result.”
http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/other/S&W_M&P_1522_Rifle_Manual.pdf
Or be like me and ignore those warnings as sometimes dry firing just happens, But be prepared to pay for broken firing pins, springs and possible damage to the chamber.
Some rimefire's you can tho, My Ruger MKIII 22/45 has a firing pin stop that allows you to dry fire it. But damage can still occur as anything that moves and impacts something will eventually break or get damaged.
You can get cheap dummy ammo or snap caps, Even empty fired cases can be used somewhat safely if you feel the need to dry fire.
I do it since im a stickler for lite triggers in my rimfires and that requires dry firing.
Some rimefire's you can tho, My Ruger MKIII 22/45 has a firing pin stop that allows you to dry fire it. But damage can still occur as anything that moves and impacts something will eventually break or get damaged.
You can get cheap dummy ammo or snap caps, Even empty fired cases can be used somewhat safely if you feel the need to dry fire.
I do it since im a stickler for lite triggers in my rimfires and that requires dry firing.
You can either lower the hammer while cleaning with your fingers or pull back on the charging handle then pull the trigger the the hammer will follow the bolt back down... or just leave it cocked and don't worry bout it.. but don't dry fire a rimfire
eztarget
US Veteran
this is something i always wondered about. why is this the case? is it that the firing pin is "expecting" an impact point and if that doesn't occur it can extend past the designed travel point? just curious, i have always known this but never have understood it. i guess one dry fire is too many?
chuck s
Member
There's a firing pin stop in the M&P15-22 bolt/firing pin and the occasional dry fire is not going to do any damage. Any more than dropping the slide of an empty pistol chamber. Next time you have the bolt out of the rifle note you can't push it very far forward past the face of the bolt.
The real damage potential is the firing pin striking the edge of the chamber and peening a dimple there. The dimple will close the chamber diameter and prevent feeding. Any thing that prevents full chambering with the M&P15-22 will lead to an out of battery discharge and probable loss of the extractor.
The M16 should be cleared and then cocked and locked before disassembly/reassemble of the upper and lower receivers. This is to make sure all the parts are out of the way of the two receivers. I see no specifics regarding the M&P15 but your M16 practices should be carried over to it for consistency. Likewise the rifle should be stored with the chamber empty and hammer down -- a safety practice, the springs don't care. Just slightly retract the bolt and pull the trigger.
-- Chuck
The real damage potential is the firing pin striking the edge of the chamber and peening a dimple there. The dimple will close the chamber diameter and prevent feeding. Any thing that prevents full chambering with the M&P15-22 will lead to an out of battery discharge and probable loss of the extractor.
The M16 should be cleared and then cocked and locked before disassembly/reassemble of the upper and lower receivers. This is to make sure all the parts are out of the way of the two receivers. I see no specifics regarding the M&P15 but your M16 practices should be carried over to it for consistency. Likewise the rifle should be stored with the chamber empty and hammer down -- a safety practice, the springs don't care. Just slightly retract the bolt and pull the trigger.
-- Chuck
eztarget
US Veteran
thanks Chuck.
i see the point on a rimfire since it strikes the edge or not direct center of the cartridge. in general, what is the issue for centerfire dry firing?
i see the point on a rimfire since it strikes the edge or not direct center of the cartridge. in general, what is the issue for centerfire dry firing?
chuck s
Member
Properly designed centerfire firearms should have no dry fire issues. Certainly not any US military arms and their semi-automatic copies like the M16/AR15 pair.
Dry firing is an essential part of training with centerfire firearms, both in military and good civilian courses.
-- Chuck
Dry firing is an essential part of training with centerfire firearms, both in military and good civilian courses.
-- Chuck
JRD
Member
The occasional dry fire in the 15-22 will do it no harm. Doing it repeatedly will eventually lead to damage of the FP. When the firing pin hits the rim of the case (live fire) the brass rim is actually a cushion.
When dry firing the pin slams into the hard stop that is meant to keep the tip from hitting the chamber edge. Doing this a lot will eventually lead to damage.
If you do want to dry fire, get a chamber flag that holds your bolt open. You can dry fire to your hearts content then and the hammer will hit the back of the bolt instead of the firing pin. You don't risk damaging the firing pin that way. The little orange flag that S&W supplies with the M41 or 22A pistols works great for this.
When dry firing the pin slams into the hard stop that is meant to keep the tip from hitting the chamber edge. Doing this a lot will eventually lead to damage.
If you do want to dry fire, get a chamber flag that holds your bolt open. You can dry fire to your hearts content then and the hammer will hit the back of the bolt instead of the firing pin. You don't risk damaging the firing pin that way. The little orange flag that S&W supplies with the M41 or 22A pistols works great for this.
Brett248Vista
Member
chuck s
Member
Trigger lock? Someone actually uses a trigger lock. 
Did we get one with the M&P22-15? I need one for the spare tire on my boat trailer.
-- Chuck
Did we get one with the M&P22-15? I need one for the spare tire on my boat trailer.
-- Chuck
Trigger lock? Someone actually uses a trigger lock.
Did we get one with the M&P22-15? I need one for the spare tire on my boat trailer.
-- Chuck
i thought those were for the gun store owners to chain them to the rack so no one can still them not for us too use
lonejacklarry
US Veteran
I usually give my trigger locks to the neighborhood kids (what few there are) to use as bicycle locks.
I'm not ragging anyone for the use of a lock by any means. Things have changed around here as the grandchildren came along. Now that the kiddies are mobile, the 4 guns that are not in the safe are rounded up and placed there when the boys bring their little soap-dodgers around.
It's a ritual that has become easy to do--the daughters-in-law call it the easter egg hunt for the old fat guy.
JRD
Member
S&W supplies those flags with 22 pistols, but not in the rifles. You could try calling customer service and ask if they will sell the "plastic orange chamber flag used in 22A's and M41's." I don't know a part number but it should be darn cheap if they do sell them.
Np, i just like using my 7.00 trigger lock instead if going and buying a 300 dollar gun safe. Gives me more cash for the goodies like stocks and scopes and all.
i wish my safes only cost me 300 dollars..
the bad thing about it is if you do own more than a couple of guns .. your insurance will only cover 2000 dollars on guns unless you have a separate policy.. around here the going rate is 20 bucks per 1000 in coverage per year.. at that cost big fire proof safes are a bargan...
Chamber Flag???
Can someone post a photo of one of these? I'm shure if I had a look at one I could cobble something up! My JP trigger spring kit will arive soon and I will need to dry fire several times prior to Range Day.
Thanks
Bob
Can someone post a photo of one of these? I'm shure if I had a look at one I could cobble something up! My JP trigger spring kit will arive soon and I will need to dry fire several times prior to Range Day.
Thanks
Bob
Brett248Vista
Member
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