How to avoid dry firing my MP22 compact

[speedracer12]

I was dodging bullets in 1967+68.

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[leeanders]

I got some snap caps, and keep some in an extra mag. Last thing done after range / cleaning is to inspect & load the snap cap magazine, and pull the trigger. Thus a safe dry fire.

I've used snap caps in all my guns for occasional use. Yesterday I purchased (for the wife) a new M&P 22 Compact and have not yet fired it. I did field strip it and put it back together, then thought about pulling the trigger to close the hammer. To my surprise, the trigger will not release the hammer. I racked the slide several times and still the trigger does nothing. IS THIS NORMAL OPERATION ON THIS GUN? Will appreciate any comments on tis matter - thanks.

 

[Bkreutz]

I've used snap caps in all my guns for occasional use. Yesterday I purchased (for the wife) a new M&P 22 Compact and have not yet fired it. I did field strip it and put it back together, then thought about pulling the trigger to close the hammer. To my surprise, the trigger will not release the hammer. I racked the slide several times and still the trigger does nothing. IS THIS NORMAL OPERATION ON THIS GUN? Will appreciate any comments on tis matter - thanks.

Put an empty magazine into the pistol and try it again, if the hammer falls you have a magazine safety that prevents the hammer from dropping without a magazine. Don't know about the 22's but this is an option with the other M&P's

 

[leeanders]

Hi all, I'm a happy new owner of an M&P 22 compact, and she shoots like a dream. My question though, is how to safe decock her after the last shot open (slide) for storage so as not to leave the springs coiled for long. I know never to dry fire a .22, but how do others get around this?

After reading this and reviewing the owner manual's caution about dry firing the 22, I decided to find out the main concern on this matter - as this is the first 22 I've owned. With center fire, usually it's not recommended, but with the 22 apparently it can be extremely harmful. The NRA provided the information below. It was helpful for me, perhaps for you too.

"Myth 5: Dry-Firing A Gun Is Harmful"
To be fair, this is sometimes true. Dry-firing most center fire rifles and handguns is perfectly safe once you have made certain they are unloaded and pointed in a safe direction. However, excessively dry-firing a rim fire gun is a bad idea. The firing pin of a center fire gun is designed to strike a primer located in the center of a cartridge's base. When no cartridge is present, the firing pin strikes nothing. With a rim fire, though, the firing pin is positioned to strike the soft brass rim of the cartridge. When no cartridge is present, the firing pin strikes the hard steel of the breech face. Repeated dry-firing of a rim fire can eventually peen the firing pin, dulling it and causing misfires. Dry-firing offers convenient, easy practice, but if you are going to dry-fire a rim fire gun, invest in some snap caps first. These dummy rounds will cushion the firing pin's fall.

 

[Pisgah]

I can agree with this as well, but one of the guys at the range is always harping on it, so I do it to avoid the sermon.

I'd tell him to take his uninformed opinion elsewhere.