Dry Firing
- Thread starter drcotlar
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There is a FAQ about dry firing on S&W's website, or at least there used to be. I haven't looked at the FAQ page in quite a while.
I went to that site and the information you mentioned still there. However, there is no comment as far as dry firing on a laser cartridge. Thank you for your response.
I’ve probably fired a thousand or so laser “shots” through my BG-2. Fifty—-100 shots a day. And many more through other guns and I’ve never seen harm from them. Well other than dead batteries for the lasers. 
Damage from dry firing with most firearms comes with dry firing those chambered for rim fire cartridges. The firing pin in a rim fire will frequently have enough travel that, without a cartridge, snap cap, or drywall anchor in the chamber, the firing pin will hit the edge of the chamber, which can damage the pin and/or the edge of the chamber. Firearms chambered for center fire cartridges do not have this issue.
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LittleAugieMo
Member
What stansdds said.
gwpercle
Member
I don't know about laser cartridges ...
But if you use good quality Snap Caps to cushion the blow , dry firing should not , in theory , damage the gun .
Whatever you do ... cushion the hammer blow in some form or fashion .
Gary
But if you use good quality Snap Caps to cushion the blow , dry firing should not , in theory , damage the gun .
Whatever you do ... cushion the hammer blow in some form or fashion .
Gary
With modern firearm tech and metallurgy it is not a big deal to dryfire with or without a dummy cartridge.
Decades ago, firing pins were made of less solid material, so it didn't take much for them to fail in an older pistol or rifle. That's why it was commonly held that no round in the chamber means you may damage the weapon when you pull the trigger.
With today's innovations in firearm technology and breakthroughs in metallurgy, the common wisdom has changed
Millions of centerfire dryfiring's happen every year without any damage to the firearm or firing pin when used without any snap caps or laser cartridges.
Dryfiring either way is fine.
That being said a laser cartridge is a great dryfiring tool. Add in a target detection system like the mantis or something, and it's a valuable tool.
Even better then that if one can afford it are the Coolfire training system is the bees knees. Use mine quite a bit, but a few times a day I just pull out my main pistol and just dryfire it 25-50 times.
Add this in with about 2000 live rds a month, and I still have yet to break anything.
Once in a great while you hear about a FP breaking, but that's 99.999% of the time due to a pre-existing defect in the metallurgy of the FP or striker.
met·al·lur·gy
the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.
"the constituents of bronze can be scientifically analysed to gain information on ancient metallurgy"
Decades ago, firing pins were made of less solid material, so it didn't take much for them to fail in an older pistol or rifle. That's why it was commonly held that no round in the chamber means you may damage the weapon when you pull the trigger.
With today's innovations in firearm technology and breakthroughs in metallurgy, the common wisdom has changed
Millions of centerfire dryfiring's happen every year without any damage to the firearm or firing pin when used without any snap caps or laser cartridges.
Dryfiring either way is fine.
That being said a laser cartridge is a great dryfiring tool. Add in a target detection system like the mantis or something, and it's a valuable tool.
Even better then that if one can afford it are the Coolfire training system is the bees knees. Use mine quite a bit, but a few times a day I just pull out my main pistol and just dryfire it 25-50 times.
Add this in with about 2000 live rds a month, and I still have yet to break anything.
Once in a great while you hear about a FP breaking, but that's 99.999% of the time due to a pre-existing defect in the metallurgy of the FP or striker.
met·al·lur·gy
the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification.
"the constituents of bronze can be scientifically analysed to gain information on ancient metallurgy"
minconrevo
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It's easy to damage most rimfire guns with even a little dry fire. Always place fired cases or the appropriate size plastic drywall anchor in the chamber/cylinder before commencing. Remove or rotate these frequently. I've used action function dummies for this, however they aren't especially suitable for dry fire.
For center fire, I do recommend snap caps for extensive dry fire. Yes, one will wear out said snap caps. I have broken a revolver hammer mounted firing pin or two when not using snap caps.
For center fire, I do recommend snap caps for extensive dry fire. Yes, one will wear out said snap caps. I have broken a revolver hammer mounted firing pin or two when not using snap caps.
