Good thread. I've followed previous back-and-forths on these questions as they pertain to the 1911 and don't claim to know the definitive answers, but for my handling have opted to follow the advice of a few of the most knowledgeable, accomplished custom 1911 pistolsmiths in the world; here, from Heirloom Precision's FAQ:
Will dry firing damage my pistol?
No. It has been shown through my experience that dry firing a properly maintained 1911 or Browning Hi-Power will cause no undue wear to the pistol. In the past, and with certain rim-fire firearms, dry firing was frowned upon but with a properly functioning and maintained pistol dry firing should not cause any major issues and instead is a valuable tool that can help improve and maintain trigger control.
Is letting the slide slam home on an empty chamber bad for my pistol?
Basically, yes it is. While an occasional or accidental occurrence may not damage ones pistol the repeated act of the slide slamming closed on an empty chamber can have an adverse effect on the pistol’s hammer and sear geometry as well as cause battering between the frame, slide stop, and barrel feet. Whenever possible ease the slide home when not chambering a round.
Will dry firing damage my pistol?
No. It has been shown through my experience that dry firing a properly maintained 1911 or Browning Hi-Power will cause no undue wear to the pistol. In the past, and with certain rim-fire firearms, dry firing was frowned upon but with a properly functioning and maintained pistol dry firing should not cause any major issues and instead is a valuable tool that can help improve and maintain trigger control.
Is letting the slide slam home on an empty chamber bad for my pistol?
Basically, yes it is. While an occasional or accidental occurrence may not damage ones pistol the repeated act of the slide slamming closed on an empty chamber can have an adverse effect on the pistol’s hammer and sear geometry as well as cause battering between the frame, slide stop, and barrel feet. Whenever possible ease the slide home when not chambering a round.
