M&P 22 dry fire?

[Reader850]

Got my new M&P 22, have not shot it yet. I noticed the manual warns Do Not Dry-Fire. So what do you do after the last shot? Three options: (1) Dry fire it anyway. (2) Leave it cocked for weeks/months until you take it out again. (Would that weaken the spring?) (3) Find a snap cap for it.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Where would I find .22 LR snap caps?
Thanks!

 

[jaykellogg]

I suppose if you insist on releasing the hammer, you could use an empty brass. I have had .22 pistols I have left cocked for years. I had a Colt Woodsman (I gave to my son). I bought that pistol 47 years ago (used). I never released the springs.

If you dry fire without a snap cap, you could peen in the edge if the chamber.

 

[Pete 45]

All sounds good in theory but how many times has your slide failed to stay open (back) and you pull the trigger on an empty chamber? For me it happens with some of my pistols quite often depending on the ammo used... haven't had any damage to the hammer, firing pin, chamber as yet.

I agree 100% with the theory... but "Things" Happen.

 

[OldFencer]

Agreed. Maybe it should read, "never purposefully dry fire a 22" cause like you said, "things" happen.

 

[Dragon88]

Even that's not true. The Ruger SR22 pistol and some other .22s can be dry fired no problem.

 

[OldFencer]

The refinement continues...

 

[Pete 45]

Even that's not true. The Ruger SR22 pistol and some other .22s can be dry fired no problem.

I think Reader850 was referring specifically to Smith & Wesson .22 caliber rim fires... could be wrong.

 

[Titegroups]

I usually dry fire my rimfires after a shooting session, have done it for years with no sign of a firing pin mark on the back of the chambers. Probably not something you want to do a lot and I would keep an eye on it if I did. They have to allow for people who would do it a thousand times a day because they are out there. Firing pins are cheap anyways.

 

[stainless1911]

It won't hurt the springs to leave them compressed.

 

[AndrewS]

I dry fired mine well over 100 times before I read from someone here mentioned that the manual said not to. Once every now and then shouldn't to hurt. Neither will leaving the hammer back though. Springs do not lose their power by staying compressed. It is the cycle of compressing and releasing that does that so dropping the hammer after a year of being compressed should result in the same wear as dropping it after a minute of being compressed.

 

[samurai]

I keep a couple of boxes of #4-6x7/8" yellow plastic wall anchors fromm HD-about $4/100- on my bench and a few in each 22 gun case for cheap snap caps. They don't last as long, but are a lot cheaper and easy to find on the range. I also carry a couple with me when I'm looking to buy another 22- so I can try out the trigger pull - most "good" LGS won't let you try the trigger on a 22.

 

[Titegroups]

First hand experience, springs can lose their tension if compressed over time. Happens to magazine springs and valve springs in engines. If you haven't had one fail in that mode you haven't tried it enough. Firearms springs are cheap and easy to change so its not a big deal unless that last round wont feed from your mag in your bedside gun thats been loaded for the last several years. No doubt the fail from number of cycles also.

 

[ronbigdog]

Snap caps for .22 LR

Hi, my name is Ronnie and i just bought a S&W - M&P 22. Where can i purchase snap caps for a . 22 LR. Would appreciate any help i can get.

 

[jonesy814]

Even that's not true. The Ruger SR22 pistol and some other .22s can be dry fired no problem.

Ruger also specifically states that it safe to dry fire the SR22 pistol only if an empty magazine is in the gun.

 

[agksimon]

The reason all Ruger 22's can be dry fired is they have a cross pin that goes through the bolt and an elongated slot in the firing pin and it keeps the firing pin from going too far forward and hitting the breech face. They even tell you not to dry fire it without this pin in there, or it will damage the gun.
Haven't disassembled the slide on my M&P22 to see what they use, but I follow the books instructions and dont' dry fire it. I also use wall anchors to drop the hammer on.

 

[97hmcs]

Ruger also specifically states that it safe to dry fire the SR22 pistol only if an empty magazine is in the gun.

That's because without the magazine it's not possible to fire because of the "magazine disconnect".

 

[George9]

The M&P .22 uses a firing pin that looks like a old fashioned door key with the top round part sticking out just a tad longer then the long blade that hit the rim to fire the round. This round part that sticks out a tad more contacts the breach face before the long flat striker reaches the barrels edge that is flush with the breach face when no round is in the chamber..George

I don't dry fire my .22's for practice. It does get dry fired on occasion after a low powered round failed to strip a round from the mag but extracts the spent case.. I don't think that will hurt the gun as it only happens on occasion.. Valve springs in a car are subject to a lot of constant heat and sometimes much more then intended by the auto maker " over heated motor" This Is what kills them. As far as a weak mag spring yes I have seen a few but never had one myself and I have had autos fully loaded for 20 plus years and one still loaded extra mag loaded too, that my dad gave me fully loaded from the end of WWII yes I shoot it on occasion but it's always fully loaded and has been .. No spring issues feeding issues or malfunctions at all... Hope this helps.. G

 

[Tinn-Can]

If you leave the hammer down you will just be compressing the firing pin spring which is a hell of a lot harder to replace... I just leave mine cocked... The yellow drywall anchor suggestion is also great... Except I keep finding them in random spots around my house...