I was shopping for some "Dummie rounds" found some Tipton snap caps for my M&P 9 every review I read claimed that dry firing your center fire pistol would cause damage to the firing pin. I was always told dry firing was not harmful as a matter of fact it is essential for practacing trigger control. I dry fire my pistol at least once a day. Are these people full of it?

Thanks,
Matt

The firing pin is hardened steel and could break eventually. Does not matter much, firing pins are cheap.
But if there's nothing to "buffer" the hit the firing pin will eventually wear whatever part stops it in the bolt/slide. Pins are cheap, bolts/slides are not.
So use snap caps when dry firing a lot.

(This applies to centerfires... rimfires should not be dryfired, often (not always) the pin hits the chamber face and creates a pit).

I have a PF9 Kel Tec that the factory states, "do not dry fire with out snap caps", it is SUPPOSEDLY OK on a Sigma, depending on who you are listening to, it does NO harm to use a 'snap cap', so I do on everything.

If you listen to Smith and Wesson, then it's ok to dry fire as stated in the manual. Very one else like the knowitalls behind the gun counter opinion doesn't count.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

The striker on my 9VE broke around 900 round count with countless dry fire count. S&W said dry fire would not be the cause and they replaced it, but I use snap caps now as a precaution.

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US Army 1965-1971

Yeah, I 'm a snap cap guy myself, Just don't want to take the chance.

When I got my Sigma 9ish years ago, I dry fired it 200 times a night for 2 weeks. It's been dry fired I don't know how many times since then. As least 20 times per range visit. ( average once a week, 47 weeks out of the year x 9 years.). Plus the almost 19,000 rounds I have put through the gun.

Just saying.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

It was because you removed the pigtail spring.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

That'll do it every time!

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US Army 1965-1971

+1 for snap caps.. can we make this a sticky? tons of "is it ok to dry fire" threads here. or link it in the note worthy thread? altho, every time a thread like this pops up the explanation on why its ok gets more indepth..

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sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

No snap caps in town. I dabbed some glue into the primer pit of a spent shell and use that to dry fire.

Sigmas benefit from dry fire. My hands benefit from dry fire. Dry fire is good. IMHO

I've had my 40VE for about 3 weeks. I've only been able to run 4 mags through it. I didnt find the trigger pull that bad. However it is quite stiff. I have been dry firing it, trying to get a feel for the trigger. Tonight I was "fondling" my 40 as my wife calls it. I took the slide off and was watching the opperation of the trigger. My question, is there any benefit to "breaking in" the trigger assembly by pulling the trigger without the slide on. It eliminates the dry fire, and the trigger is worked and I am getting a feel for it. I'm guessing its the trigger assembly that needs to be broken in to lighten up the trigger pull? Any thoughts?

Ya know, I was wondeering about the same thing last week when I was cleaning mine...

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82nd Airborne Div 1980-1986

I don't think that's a bad idea at all; why not give it a try.

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SD9VE, American perfection!

Not a gunsmith, but I do think it's all about relieving some of the tension on the trigger spring. With use, slide on or off, exercising the trigger spring will lighten it up...I think

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82nd Airborne Div 1980-1986

Dry firing the sigma really requires the slide to be attached.. the tension from the stiker spring, which work in unison with the trigger springs to give the "pull" weight. with no tension on the trigger all you would do by "exercising" the trigger would be to smooth out the sear a little bit and get rid of that gritty feeling kinda like polishing it. wouldnt do anything to lessen the trigger pull

Kinda of a "fan " of the trigger pull, I need the discipline, since I tend to rush my shots early, in my qualification practice sessions with the M9.

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82nd Airborne Div 1980-1986

I know we've had this discussion earlier, but I'm getting the message that I'm GTG in dry firing my 40ve WITHOUT snap caps? If so ...cool!

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82nd Airborne Div 1980-1986

I had fired approximately 100 rounds and lots of dry firing when my striker on 9VE broke. S&W sent a shipping label and fixed it quickly but I wonder if the dry firing caused it to break.

Listen people! If dry firing was bad then why did Smith&Wesson put it in the Manuel saying its ok? If dry firing in so bad on the gun, why to you have to dry fire it to clean it?

Dry firing put way less strain on the gun than shooting a 35,000 PSI exploding projectile out of it.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

OK can someone enlighten a NOOB as to what a Snap cap is, and can I use those at home with out getting the cops called on me? Cleaning my SD9 for the first time tonight and hopefully hitting the rangs this weekend for the first time as well.

A snap cap is a Dummy round with a spring connected to a rubber primer. It makes no noise. It's used to lighten the impact of the firing pin.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

So I can load a clip full and fira away and they will eject?

Dummy round = No fire
But, as long as you cycle the slide, they'll eject.

Snap caps are cheap. Why wouldn't you buy a few to be on the safe side?

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Doug

Because there not needed. The only thing I could see them good for training on FTF(fire),double feeding, or FTF(feed). For all of the reasons above, you can use spent casings.

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

What is the trick to using spent caseings then if you do not mind me asking?