Dry firing

[CPTBeaker]

It's funny that you ALWAYS hear don't dry fire but I've spent many many hours stuck in crappy firing positions on the grassy knoll of MCAS Camp Pendleton dry firing the hell out of an M16A2 or on my last trip to the range the A4. Upon asking about the don't dry fire rule I was quickly told to "Shut the hell up and keep snapping in." All you can really say then is Roger that Gunney and keep on keeping on.

Dry-firing a centerfire weapon won't hurt it (there might be some obscure exceptions). The issue is with dry-firing a rimfire weapon.

As an example, dry-firing a 1911 pistol is a widely accepted method of practicing firing fundamentals in the absence of using live rounds and the only method of properly lowering the hammer on an empty chamber-Condition Three (for a single action 1911).

Additionally, dry firing an M-16 is part of U.S. Army PMI (pre-marksmanship instruction) via the dime/washer technique, is completely acceptable and widely practiced, however, the M-16 is a centerfire weapon, the 15-22 is not.

The manual says not to do it, so I don't.

 

[Shooting Padre]

I dry fired a Uberti Stallion .22 revolver before I knew better, and found that the firing pin hit the cylinder and put dents in the chambers, making inserting ammo difficult. This is a different animal, I know, but just thought I'd mention one reason not to dry fire. It seems that this will not happen on the 15-22, is that right? Thanks