Dryfiring - OK for rimfires?

[rakstr]

Page 20 of the Ruger 10/22 manual says it is AOK to dry fire. In fact, they tell you to practice by dry firing. However, for the M&P22, it says on page 24 of the manual to NOT dry fire as it may damage the weapon. Similarly, on page 15 for the M&P15-22 it also says to NEVER dry fire.

It seems to be dependant on the weapon and the manuals should be consulted.

Someone please settle this ongoing debate: whether it's OK to dry fire a .22 or any other rimfire handgun or rifle. I bought a new Ruger 10/22, which I dryfired a few times in the store before taking it home. The trigger mechanism was FUBARed before I had a chance to fire one round. Took it back to the LGS, who insisted it was because I dryfired it. He then took it apart and blamed a "popped" spring for the malfunction.

I then spoke to a veteran gunsmith who has worked on Ruger 10/22's and others who told me it was perfectly OK to dry-fire them. Told the LGS owner and he disagreed.

I also have a S&W 617 10-shot, which I don't dryfire because I've seen evidence that it can damage the cylinder. Being a revolver maybe apples and oranges with the 10/22.

Anyway, if someone can clear this up I'd appreciate it.

 

[rwsmith]

Am I wrong??

40-50 years ago there were a lot of complaints about broken firing pins (mostly on revolvers) and that firing on an empty chamber would break the pin. I haven't heard this as much and I wonder if design, fit and metallurgy haven't done away with the 'don't fire on an empty chamber' saying. Not that it doesn't happen, but dry snapping a modern revolver isn't a guaranteed broken pin. Does this sound right? Is there a difference between single or double action?

 

[5Wire]

Here's a photo of the recessed cylinder of a 617P. The firing pin on the revolver could peen outside the recessed area if it were out of place or it could peen inside the recessed area if the pin were long enough. I ALWAYS use Snap caps on this revolver, the only .22 revolver I have.

The 10/22 Takedown manual suggests dry firing after assembly.

 

[M3Stuart]

NOOOOOOOOooooooooo!

Do not dry-fire any rimfire gun. The pin hits, or can hit, the edge.

No no no no no no...you get the idea.

 

[feralmerril]

I am not a gunsmith. All I will say is I have been a avid reader on guns for 60 years or more. Many times I have read not to dry fire .22 revolvers.

 

[oldRoger]

NO!

I have two Anschutz Rifles; both say DO-NOT dry fire. In fact it is part of the practice routine to pull the bolt, take the firing pin out and exchange it for the shorter dry-fire practice pin.

Most firing pins float and wear it would be very difficult to guarantee not peening the chamber.

I do not plan to dry fire my 10/22s but since Ruger in their magnificence decided not to include a lock-back on empty chamber, and since I often cannot count to ten, it does happen.

I have been told that Ruger 10/22s do sometimes show firing pin peening.

Since things that can go wrong often do go wrong, I would and do avoid dry firing rimfires.

I have gone through many, many of those damned plastic dry fire caps.

 

[Bib]

FYI...Ruger Single Six manual says it's OK to dry fire. The only guns I actually dry fire are my 1911s

 

[CajunBass]

I don't know about any other, but Rugers are perfectly safe to dry fire. From their FAQ's on their website.

Can I dry fire my Ruger revolver?
Yes. All Ruger revolvers can be dry fired without damage, and dry firing can be useful to familiarize the owner with the firearm. However, be sure any firearm is completely unloaded before dry firing!

Can I dry fire my Ruger P-Series and .22 pistols?
Yes. All Ruger pistols can be dry fired without damage, and dry firing can be useful to familiarize the owner with the firearm. However, be sure any firearm is completely unloaded before dry firing!

Every Ruger manual I've ever seen has clearly stated it is OK to dry fire. The semi-auto 22's have to be dry fired to strip them down for cleaning. 10/22's don't have a last shot bolt hold open so they're designed to be run dry from time to time.

I'm sure that you can find one has been damaged by doing so. You can probably find one that has been damaged by fresh air and sunshine if you want to.

But if the people who designed it, built it, literally wrote the book on it, and who will have to fix it if they're wrong, tell me it's ok to do so, I'm willing to take their word for it.

 

[chief38]

I do not make a habit of dry firing ANY gun, rifle, pistol, shotgun, revolver or auto, but I will drop the hammer on an empty chamber after cleaning and prior to storing the gun in the safe. I have been doing so for 40 years with no ill effects. Some fellas use snap caps and leave it in the gun while being stored, but for some reason I don't use the snap caps for storage.

Why Ruger states in the manual that it is OK is a little strange to me but they know their rifles better than we do I suppose. When I did the trigger job it was the first one on a Ruger 10/22 and it did come out quite nice. Since I personally do not own any Ruger's, I am unaware of what they say about the rest of their line-up.

Regards,
Chief38

 

[Tam 3]

Have dry fired Win. 52, Springfield 1922, 1911, J frames, K frames, N frames, Mod. 12 Win., M1 carbine and rifle, 1903 and 1903A3 rifles. Broke two firing pins, SW 63 in 1982 and Lefever Nitro Special in 1961. Don't do so with anyone else's firearm without permission. A Star PD is guarenteed to break its pin due to its design. Over on the C**t site, the Woodsman is generally said to be OK, which makes sense because the "click" is the first hint that all the bullets are gone. I do not dryfire a S&W HFT because the parts are too difficult to replace.

Your gun, your choice.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[dcxplant]

My GSG 1911-22 is peening nicely....

The breach face has a nice firing pin shaped divot. I use snap caps in it from now on, and instead of racking the slid for dry fire exercise, I just cock the hammer.

My Ruger single action does not show the peening on the breach face, but the firing pin is slightly mushroomed. So I use snap caps on it too.

So, a .22 either has a breach face that is the same hardness, softer, or harder than the firing pin.

I use snap caps now on every 22. I have about 20 snap caps now, so I can load up mags for function checks/practice.

A pack of 5 is about ten bucks. Oh, and the orange plastic ones that are half the cost don't take many dry fires before the rims fail Get the good ones.

 

[35Rem]

The Ruger 10/22 has no last shot bolt hold open feature, essentially guaranteeing dry firing on every magazine.

The Mk series REQUIRES it for takedown.

I've been told #4 size plastic screw anchors are a great, and CHEAP, snap cap for the 22LR.

 

[Straightshooter2]

Since it's easy to lose count with a Henry Golden Boy especially if you are using .22 shorts and then switching to .22 LR, I sometimes end up dry firing my Henry. I looked through the manual and didn't see anything on it so I e-mailed the question to their online technical contact person. I'll post the answer when I get it back.

CW

 

[gm272gs]

If you CLEARED the gun, OK.
I'm sure you meant you checked it first.If not, I would not bet my life, or anyone else's, on that.
It is possible that an extractor can hold a round of ammo against the bolt face hard enough that the pin will fire it even though it is not fully chambered.
I just wanted to clarify that.

ABSOLUTELY. Should have said that, but probably just assumed it was like putting "contents may be hot" on a McDonald's coffee lid.

 

[cobra44]

I would never dry fire a rim fire. I have seen several rifles that had been dry fired, and there was metal broken where the shell goes into the barrel assembly.

 

[Straightshooter2]

For Henry owners, here is the answer I got back from one of their technical consultants.

"While we suggest avoiding dry firing when possible it is ok to dry fire the rifle from time to time."

CW

 

[Joewisc]

For Henry owners, here is the answer I got back from one of their technical consultants.

"While we suggest avoiding dry firing when possible it is ok to dry fire the rifle from time to time."

CW

Pretty lame answer. What does "time to time" mean?

 

[Taj]

Dry firing a rimfire can be a problem, depending on design of the gun. I've had to "iron" out many a chamber mouth due to excess dry firing and even though some guns seem to tolerate it ( 10/22) better than others, it's just easier not to do it and avoid paying the smithy to fix it.

 

[labworm]

For Henry owners, here is the answer I got back from one of their technical consultants.

"While we suggest avoiding dry firing when possible it is ok to dry fire the rifle from time to time."

CW

To me that statement would mean, don't unless you have no other option.

If I want to dry fire, I just grab some brass and in the cylinder it goes, even in my Ruger SP101 .22 8 shot which can be dry fired. I just want that pin to hit something as it was intended to do.

I guess I am just overprotectivewhen it comes to my .22s.