Ok to dry fire?

[Road Rat]

Dang, I'm so glad you boys dug up a post from 2010 to get in your 2 cents worth!!!!!!!!!

I was scared that Sparkz wasn't going to stick around long enough to read your input.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I just picked up a really nice 4" nickel plated Model 34-1 .22 revolver and was wondering if it's ok to dry fire it? I've been told by those who "know" that it's ok, and others who supposedly "know", that is isn't. I am waiting to hear from someone who really knows LOL.

Not wanting to take a chance on screwing it up I'm not doing any dry firing until I'm certain that it's ok.

Thanks

I don't know if Smith & Wesson is considered "in the know" or not , but the original instruction sheet for the Model 34, page 4, paragraph 7 under Helpful Hints, states "Practice dry shooting with empty gun."

I have always taken S&W at its word, even with its rimfire revolvers, and have never had a problem. There is a limiter when prevents the firing pin from striking the cylinder face. Now admittedly, I have only been dry firing mine for a little over 40 years, so maybe something will break or some little mark may appear on the cylinder face on the rims of the charge holes which support the cartridge, but I suspect I will be long gone before there is a problem, so I won't care.

If you go to the link below, you can see the Model 34 instruction sheet. If others have actually had a problem, ok, but I never have and will continue the practice of dry firing so long as I live and am able to shoot.

Keep in mind, I do not claim to be "in the know" more than any other person. I simply read the instructions.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/s&w_34-35.pdf

 

[Dave T]

dlidster, what a grate tip to pass on. Thanks a bunch. Those are at the top of my list for the next trip to ACE Hardware. (smile)

Dave

 

[oberon]

Nothin' like zombie to re-new some interest in a popular issue.
I won't dryfire a rimfire. You gottahave something there for the FP to bear against that isn't chamber face or solid steel.
I like the 'empties' technique, and the wall anchor trick. I'm gonna give it a shot.

 

[Delos]

Dry firing with 22 rimfire empties

When I dry fire with 22 empties - I open the cylinder and rotate them about one eigth inch each once around the cylinder. I try to get maybe six or seven hammer strikes on each (been years ago).

 

[xx78]

I have a .22 Outdoorsman (1937) that I wouldn't dream of dry firing without snap caps. I won't take credit for discovering this, but here's the absolute best solution for .22 snap caps I've found.

They're hollow wall anchors for #4-#6 screws. A box of 100 is about $3 or so at Home Depot. If your forget what size you need, just remember yellow. That's the color code for this size from all manufacturers.

These anchors fit the cylinder and cylinder recesses in the K22 exactly. In fact, I can load them into a Ruger Mark III magazine and they feed and eject just like live ammo.

Buy a box and share them with your .22-owning friends. I wouldn't be without them.

Very good idea. Next time I'm at Home Depot I will get a box.

 

[fredg19]

That is not really considered an old revolver, and dryfiring it will not hurt it one bit.

I broke 2 firing pins (hammer nose) on my 1971 Model 19-3, no more dry firing for me!

 

[Fate]

Dang, I'm so glad you boys dug up a post from 2010 to get in your 2 cents worth!!!!!!!!!

I was scared that Sparkz wasn't going to stick around long enough to read your input.

And in 2021 it's still relevant (to me as I look at a 34-1) and keeps people from posting "use the search function you revolver noob!"

 

[Muss Muggins]

And in 2021 it's still relevant (to me as I look at a 34-1) and keeps people from posting "use the search function you revolver noob!"

And yet we still don't have a definitive answer . . .

 

[raisedin99]

I like the 'empties' techniquet.

been using it forever

terry