Question on dry firing

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I am sure this has been asked before, but...

Dry Firing, which Smiths should you and should you not?


I was raised not to dry fire as it "will hurt the gun" but my Dad who was on Iwo Jima spent hours dry firing his 03 Springfields and I know Ruger (who are they?) says you can dry fire the Vaquero's.

On Smiths is there a way to tell when a handgun is ok to dry fire? It sounds like it is ok to dry fire my Sigma SW9VE,
But what about my pre 17 22?

If it has a hammer nose, then I would assume no dry firing, if it doesn't (my pre 17 has some kind of square block on the hammer) is it ok?

 

[29aholic]

IIRC the factory paperwork that came with each gun stated that dry firing would not harm the gun. That was back when the firing pin was still mounted to the hammer. My original 29-3 has dry fired a zillion times with no ill effects. I have no qualms about dry firing any centerfire gun with a hammer mounted pin.
Personally, I wouldnt get too carried away dry firing guns with frame mounted pins without the use of snap caps.

 

[paladin42]

The search function is your friend.

I am sure this has been asked before, but...

 

[Rule3]

If all the search functions for any and all forums were used to their full extent, no questions would need to be asked. Probably 99.9 % of all questions have been asked/answered at some time or place. Then we would have nowhere to post questions.

As to dry firing. SW says it's OK but their are those that still say no. Some say rim fires are not to be dry fired. Some say use snap caps. I have dry fired J frames 500 times to "break them in"

So all in moderation. I dry fire my striker fired guns every time I pull the slide back to check if loaded.

Can i use +P ammo in that?

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

If all the search functions for any and all forums were used to their full extent, no questions would need to be asked. QUOTE]


As long as we don't get people angry to ask questions again, sometimes it is easier to ask again.
I keep asking the same question and my wife keeps saying no

At least she has never said no to more guns!

So you think dry firing the K-22 Masterpiece Pre 17 shouldn't be a problem, or my M-18/3 ?

 

[paladin42]

From personal experience I wouldn't dry-fire rimfire revolvers. The firing pin can peen the rim of the recessed cylinders. The cylinder face may also flatten and/or chip the tip of the firing pin.

If you Google the topic you'l get more advice than stars in the sky.

 

[Rule3]

So you think dry firing the K-22 Masterpiece Pre 17 shouldn't be a problem, or my M-18/3 ?

No, I did not say that. Why the need to dry fire it? Most folks will say no to dry firing a 22. IMO, I do not think a few times will do any great damage. You can use some empty brass as long as you turn them so the FP does not hit them same indent every time.

 

[Damn Yankee]

As long as we don't get people angry to ask questions again, sometimes it is easier to ask again.
I keep asking the same question and my wife keeps saying no

I just say to the wife,

"Don't say NO just say maybe"

 

[paladin42]

Yes, it may be easier for the questioner to ask the question again instead of looking for the answer. But it annoys the people who keep answering the same questions and fairly soon they stop doing so.

Therefore, we do not want to annoy the folks with the answers, do we?

As long as we don't get people angry to ask questions again, sometimes it is easier to ask again.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

That is very true.

I "usually" do a search first before asking. A site where they have no patience with redundant questions is "Northeast Shooters", they usually get a rope and a bucket of tar for the person asking.

 

[bobelk99]

I am here to

1. Learn
2. Have fun

If someone asks a question, give them an answer if you have it. It seems a big portion of the repeat questions come from pretty new members. Help them out and they will tell a friend (?), tell them to go search, and their balloon may burst.

 

[guitar1580]

I don't worry about firing newer center fire S&W's, but I don't get excessive with it.

Regarding the search & question issue, it would make sense to do the search, and then re-ask also. There could be new / updated / corrected info on the subject, or a new member who is an expert on the subject but has never posted on it.

Questions, dialogue, making friends ... isn't that what forums are for? If I do see a thread that's been beat to death, or something that I no longer care to hear about, it's very easy to not open the thread and move on to the next one.

Now, excuse me, I'm going to go dry fire at something! Happy day, all.

Josh P

 

[Faulkner]

As a general rule that applies most of the time, I never dry fire rimfires of any type.

Most centerfire revolvers and pistols are okay to dry fire. Specifically, striker fired semi's (like Glocks) and 1911's are okay. Modern S&W, Tauras, Ruger, and Colt center fire revolvers are okay.

Off the top of my head, the CZ52 is one that shouldn't be dry fired unless it has the upgraded firing pin.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes, do not Dry fire rimfires unless you have an empty case in the chamber. "Someday" I will take some fired rimfire cases, fill them with glue or grout or something like, see if that works as a snap cap.
One Wise Old Shooter showed me a useful trick for firearms with frame mounted firing pins-you take a piece of rubber-say from an old bicycle tube-fold it over, put it between the hammer and firing pin. Saves wear and tear.

 

[Blkcat]

I am sure this has been asked before, but...

Dry Firing, which Smiths should you and should you not?


I was raised not to dry fire as it "will hurt the gun" but my Dad who was on Iwo Jima spent hours dry firing his 03 Springfields and I know Ruger (who are they?) says you can dry fire the Vaquero's.

On Smiths is there a way to tell when a handgun is ok to dry fire? It sounds like it is ok to dry fire my Sigma SW9VE,
But what about my pre 17 22?

If it has a hammer nose, then I would assume no dry firing, if it doesn't (my pre 17 has some kind of square block on the hammer) is it ok?

Well - Here's what S&W has to say about it --- See their FAQ answer at FAQs - Smith & Wesson

In case that link doesn't come through OK - Here's basically what it says:

Q: Can I dry fire my Smith & Wesson?

A: Yes, except for the .22 caliber pistols which includes models 22A, 22S, 422, 2206, 2214, 2213 and 41.

.22 caliber revolvers such as models 17, 43, 63, 317 and 617 also should not be dry fired.

Q: Why can't I dry fire my .22 pistol or revolver?

A: Dry firing a S&W .22 pistol or revolver will cause damage to the firing pin.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

Blkcat, that is exactly what I was looking for, especially on the M17

Thanks

 

[The Highlander]

I dry-fire the crap out of everything. Well, not the .22 revolvers. But my Ruger MkII has been dry-fired literally in the hundreds of thousands of times, and shot an estimated hundred thousand rounds (I shot a Federal 550-round box per week, six months a year, for years, plus various other odds and ends rounds). The only thing ever replace has been the recoil spring, probably one every couple of years.

On the other hand, the Ruger SR9 should not be dry-fired without the mag in place or damage could ensue.

When in doubt, read the manual, then dry-fire at will. There is no cheaper method to develop muscle memory, trigger skills, sight alignment, and to smooth up your trigger. And if you aim at the tv you get stress relief benefits too!

 

[7shooter]

Two sources have told me not to dry fire my M&P 9 as the striker is prone to breakage. A friend who is a retired S&W employee and a S&W armorer first alerted me to this and I confirmed it by calling S&W who told me the same thing. I recently bought the new striker from S&W which is supposed to be stronger. I don't understand why the S&W FAQ section online continues to say it is OK. I generally dry fire all my other striker fired guns including Glocks. I don't dry fire rimfired guns although my Ruger 22/45 manual says it is OK. I have broken a number of Taurus revolvers and semi autos by dry firing.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I wouldn't dry fire a .22 because I did it on a .22 rifle a few times and it got so that the ejector couldn't pull the spent shell out. I had to use a small round file to remove the small peened area of the chamber that was restricting the shell. It is a very old bolt action rifle.

gordon

 

[therevjay]

It certainly doesent seem to have harmed any military weapons. And we did it over & over & over & well you get it.

I don't think it's a good idea to 'dry fire' rimfire revolvers, cause the fireing pin could batter itself aginst the cyl.

I guess, if you have 'snap caps' use them. If you don't? Well, don't lose any sleep over not useing them.