Dry firing a firearm WILL NOT harm a firearm. I'm a police shooting instructor, at the police academy I tell the recruits, and the officers to dry fire there firearm to get use to the trigger pull. In my 8 yrs i never saw a firearm have a problem due to dry firing
Eight whole years, huh? Come back at twenty and let me know. There ARE firearms that will be damaged by dry firing. Again, IT DEPENDS ON THE FIREARM. I have seen collectable handguns with broken and peened parts from dry firing. As pointed out above, the Czech CZ52 pistols are suseptable to dry firing damage. The Webley and Enfield breaktops will not tolerate dry firing. In fact, there was an issue dry firing pad specificly for these weapons that would cushion the impact of the hammer on the frame. Trapdoor Springfields will peen the firing pin where the hammer strikes it. I have seen 1911s that were heavily dry fired. Firing pin and firing pin stop were peened and distorted. Sure, these parts are easily replaced, so no real damage is done to the weapon, but it could cause a problem to someone that is unfamiliar with the weapon.
Yes, all modern designs will not be harmed by dry firing, as far as I am aware, but that is a far cry from ALL firearms.