Dry Firing Questions
05-07-2004 | 11:19 AM
#13
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,220
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RE: Dry Firing Questions
I'm not convinced that dry firing really does any damage to any modern firearm unless you do it hundreds or thousands of times. Still, I use Snap-Caps for my dry fire practices. I want to still be using my guns when I'm an old man, so between my dry firing and live firing, it all adds up to fatigue the metal and mechanisms.
05-07-2004 | 01:35 PM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,901
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From: Warren County NJ USA
RE: Dry Firing Questions
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
05-07-2004 | 02:23 PM
#15
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Dry Firing Questions
Dry fire a weapon only if you are very familiar with it. Some military surplus, like my CZ-52, does not due well with dry firing. The firing pin of the CZ-52 is a weak steel, which makes them relatively brittle. Dry firing the pistol, that is firing without a cartridge or "snap cap," is not recommended.
05-08-2004 | 01:56 PM
#16
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,270
Likes: 0
From: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
RE: Dry Firing Questions
Does anyone here do it for practice? YES I DO
Is it hard on a gun's firing pin or other mechanisms? NO PROBLEM on bolt action HP rifles, the Ruger No.1, or M1911A pistol1!!
In terms of safety, would loading in a spent cartridge be advisable? NO PROBLEM as long as it is EMPTY!! Put a pencil eraser in the primer pocket hole to cushion the firing pin, if this is a concern to you!!
Could the use of a spent cartridge protect the firing pin, etc., from potential damage? Yes, see last answer.
How about loading a spent primer on my inline muzzleloader? NO, once it has been struck a time or two, it no longer provides a cushioning effect. You need something spring-loaded, or the equivalent, that pops back to absoprb the next striker blow-like the pencil eraser rubber!! _
Is it hard on a gun's firing pin or other mechanisms? NO PROBLEM on bolt action HP rifles, the Ruger No.1, or M1911A pistol1!!
In terms of safety, would loading in a spent cartridge be advisable? NO PROBLEM as long as it is EMPTY!! Put a pencil eraser in the primer pocket hole to cushion the firing pin, if this is a concern to you!!
Could the use of a spent cartridge protect the firing pin, etc., from potential damage? Yes, see last answer.
How about loading a spent primer on my inline muzzleloader? NO, once it has been struck a time or two, it no longer provides a cushioning effect. You need something spring-loaded, or the equivalent, that pops back to absoprb the next striker blow-like the pencil eraser rubber!! _
05-08-2004 | 02:00 PM
#17
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,270
Likes: 0
From: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
RE: Dry Firing Questions
ORIGINAL: UncleNorby
From what I've been told, dry firing will not harm relativley "new" guns. I don't know how old a gun has to be for it to be a concern.
From what I've been told, dry firing will not harm relativley "new" guns. I don't know how old a gun has to be for it to be a concern.
05-08-2004 | 03:31 PM
#18
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: S Texas
RE: Dry Firing Questions
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.
