Any harm dry firing?

M1shooter said:
can you dryfire a stevens 311a? One of my neibors does.
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dont remember if they have a spring in there or not. if where the fireing pins protrude starts to bulge out into where the shell is, or gets sticky then yeah its a bad thing to do.
 
Many recent (past20-30 yrs) production RF are safe to dryfire as the pin does not protrude beyond the bolt face. Check your rifle! As there are no RF snapcaps to my knowledge, spent RF cases can be used to drop the pin onto. After a few strikes turn the case to a fresh spot as the pin will cut through the brass.
You may want to clean after extended RF dryfire sessions as grit from the priming compound will dislodge from the case as it is struck and accumulate in the barrel.
 
33hoffman said:
look at army rifles........... my current issue C7 has seen probably 25 000 rounds live since I've had it and been dry fired at least 5x that much. Have yet to break a firing pin. My rem 700 has had 1000+ rounds through it, and cause I have the army mentality, I dry fire a ton at home. Set up in the basement and dry fire to work on trigger control while making sure I've got proper sight picture. Its the best way to practice hands down. While I'm not totally sold on snap caps, if I had a rifle worth alot, may use snap caps just cause I'm a paranoid freak.

my .02

Matt
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You said it the same way I see it. My C8 is dry fired a retarded amount and ive never had a problem and ive never seen anyone with a fireing pin problem. This is with 9 years full time.

To add as well, in a C7 a hammer hits the actual firing pin. thats about as much stress as you can get.
 
sunray said:
"...it will wear out the firing pin..." Nonsense. Dry firing a centre fire rifle or handgun won't do anything to the fp. Dry firing is a very old training technique for, breathing, sight picture and trigger control.
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I'm calling BS on this. I've seen a Ruger M77 (early made 7mm Mag) break a firing pin at an outdoor competition while dry firing. My friends M94 Big Bore, he broke the firing pin when he was proving the mechanism after reassembly.
There's been instances mentioned here on CGN where shotgunners at a skeet range, one fella broke both the firing pins on his O/U shotgun because he pulled the trigger on empty chambers without snap caps.

Dry firing a firearm without something to cushion the strike......do so at your own risk.
Don't take sunray's advice unless you like to needlessly pay for spare gun parts, you may or may not, have at home right now.
This may not happen today, it may not happen 6 months from now, but it could happen a day before you leave on an elk/moose hunt.
 
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hmmm never a clear answer. i think more people grew up with their old man telling them dry firing the gun is bad. i don't see how it would be the end of the world i think "reduction" in firing pin life but what are we talking 10% 20%? All i know for sure is that is definately damages rimfire actions where the firing pin is designed to strike the rim of the case, and would not fly into empty space.
 
dryfire said:
Many recent (past20-30 yrs) production RF are safe to dryfire as the pin does not protrude beyond the bolt face. Check your rifle! As there are no RF snapcaps to my knowledge, spent RF cases can be used to drop the pin onto. After a few strikes turn the case to a fresh spot as the pin will cut through the brass.
You may want to clean after extended RF dryfire sessions as grit from the priming compound will dislodge from the case as it is struck and accumulate in the barrel.
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A-Zoom makes rimfire snapcaps. they are made of plastic designed to dent and absorb shock.
the Remington 597 you cant dryfire, or shouldn't rather, it does it the edge of the chamber and ruins it. the only rimfire i am aware of that says it is safe to dryfire is the ruger 10/22 and they say it right in the manual.
 
Aries
Can you quote the A-Zoom part #. The A-Zoom items I have seen are blue anodized aluminum and are proving rounds only. Not only Rugers are safe to dryfire. Some Anschutz, Walther of recent production also. I'm sure there are others as manufacturers are aware of the implications of dryfiring RF.
 
You'd think a firing pin would "wear out" more from hitting another solid metal object (primer) and being shocked by the force of recoil hundreds of times at the range...as opposed to hitting nothing and having nothing happen because nothing happened in the first place.

But apparently "nothing" is very dangerous to your firing pin, and will end up costing you a new one. Snap caps are a good idea to have if you dry-fire a lot. Better safe than sorry.
 
they used to make them because epps had them on the shelf. packs of 12 little red clear plastic 22lr shaped things. not sure who makes them now.
 
Aries- said:
they used to make them because epps had them on the shelf. packs of 12 little red clear plastic 22lr shaped things. not sure who makes them now.
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A-Zoom does make the blue anodize aluminum rounds meant for practice drills -- loading and unloading only, not for dry-firing. Tipton makes small red plastic caps, about the size of a .22 Short, that can be used in any rimfire .22 LR for dry-fire practice.
 
Whats the point

If its a Bolt action just hold the trigger as you slowly close the bolt . This will allow the spring pressure to relax and the pin to move ahead. The only type of rifle or pistol you need a snap cap for is a semi or fully auto rifle all other you should be able to let the fireing pin of controled >
 
I have had one instance when I broke a firing pin dry firing it. It was on a 20 year old Remington 870 wingmaster. The pin broke right in the middle where it has sort of a ridge that comes out to secure it in the bolt. No rust on the pin, it just looked fissured and worn. Probably due to extensive use rather than dry firing it though.
 
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