Browning Nomad, safe to dry fire?

[Fox]

I have a Browning Nomad, 1964, the gun does not have a hold open and occasionally the person shooting will dry fire it because they cannot count. I have not been able to find any information on how bad dry firing could be on this gun, I know that dry firing rimfires is normally a no-no but some are made for it.

Thanks

 

[mudgunner49]

I wouldn't recommend doing it regularly without a spent casing or snap cap in the chamber but occasionally won't hurt it. The biggest issue with dry firing rimfires is the location of the firing pin and the fact that over time it can peen the edge of the chamber as well as the nose of the firing pin - depending on the quality of the steel used, this can take awhile...

 

[Fox]

I wouldn't recommend doing it regularly without a spent casing or snap cap in the chamber but occasionally won't hurt it. The biggest issue with dry firing rimfires is the location of the firing pin and the fact that over time it can peen the edge of the chamber as well as the nose of the firing pin - depending on the quality of the steel used, this can take awhile...

Ya, that is the normal feeling but I was curious if anyone knew about this gun specifically, if the gun was designed to allow it to dry fire, like some guns do.

If not then I think the plan would be to get some 22LR snap caps and load one into the mag then 9 rounds on top, then nobody can wreck it.

This was grandpas gun, wanting it to be around for a long time.

 

[Hitzy]

If it has a firing pin stop, then it's fine to dryfire. Most modern rimfires have firing pin stops to prevent the pin from hitting the breech.

 

[fire@will]

Hi Fox. I have the exact same pistol (no hold open on last shot) and it has a full travel, firing pin and not designed to be dry-fired. As was mentioned, the odd time, probably won't hurt. Your idea of putting a dummy round in first is a good one - or you could do like me and have new shooters only load 5 rounds. Easier to keep track of 5 than 10, particularly for new shooters - their excitement level tends to screw up their concentration and ability to multi-task - like sighting and trigger control and counting. I'm always standing right beside them and I count too - if they're still holding on target and getting ready to take their next shot, after they've done 5 - give a light smack on the head and tell them, the gun is empty.

 

[Fox]

Hi Fox. I have the exact same pistol (no hold open on last shot) and it has a full travel, firing pin and not designed to be dry-fired. As was mentioned, the odd time, probably won't hurt. Your idea of putting a dummy round in first is a good one - or you could do like me and have new shooters only load 5 rounds. Easier to keep track of 5 than 10, particularly for new shooters - their excitement level tends to screw up their concentration and ability to multi-task - like sighting and trigger control and counting. I'm always standing right beside them and I count too - if they're still holding on target and getting ready to take their next shot, after they've done 5 - give a light smack on the head and tell them, the gun is empty.

So, use this one myself and buy something that was not grandpas for new shooters, ha ha ha.

Does anyone know of snap caps that will chamber properly?

 

[fire@will]

So, use this one myself and buy something that was not grandpas for new shooters, ha ha ha.

Does anyone know of snap caps that will chamber properly?

You can buy a package of the orange plastic ones - they chamber fine, but will get pretty "chewed up" after a half dozen strikes.

 

[Wendell]

Keep an eye on the chamber face. If the firing pin is striking it, it'll leave a mark in short order. If it's leaving a mark, those precautions (that you've mentioned) are worth taking.

 

[tjhaile]

Yellow #6-8 drywall anchors can be used as snap caps. Some minor trimming may be required to make them fit.

 

[Fox]

Just thinking about it now, maybe a subsonic load as the last load, not powerful enough to cycle the gun, would be a lot cheaper than snap caps, ha ha.

 

[Wendell]

Yellow #6-8 drywall anchors can be used as snap caps. Some minor trimming may be required to make them fit.

But do they feed through a magazine? That is the question. (The OP was concerned about shooters dropping the hammer inadvertantly, after they'd emptied the magazine.)

 

[caramel]

It is a good habit to never dry fire any kind of rimfire.