dry fireing shotguns

[samaftanas]

Just wondering what pepoles opinion on dry fireing shotguns was. I have had sevoral pepole tell me that it is horably bad for the gun but i cant realy see why. so just wonering what peoples opinion is?

 

[trubluscrew]

I dry fire mine. Nada problem yet. You can also buy snap caps also. Try a search on "snap caps"

 

[XXXXX]

I dry fire my rem 870... no problems

 

[beergut]

i dont know if its true. but if it old and has external hammers usually SxS or even OU its a bad idea? i cant remember where i heard this. i think it was at a gunshow.

i dry fire my mossberg all the time with no worries.

 

[Claybuster]

In some older shotguns the firing pins are not spring loaded so they can break if dry-fired.

I dry fire my pump and semi but use snap caps for my o/u and sxs.

 

[heavyBullet]

I was always taught that you can do it on a rifle, except on .22's, but its a no no on shotguns. Something about damaging the firing pin. But to be honest I have heard as many people say its not good, as I have heard people say its not a problem.

 

[Huntsman]

Rimfires NEVER.....bad!! My shotguns(pumps) always, never a problemo.
My Win 88.sometimes, Win 94 w/snapcaps, M305 all the time, my TC Encore never unless accidental.

 

[beergut]

rimfires? i think there is a rimfire you can do it to.

 

[Tyler582]

Ruger 10/22 is fine to dry fire.

 

[PowerStroke]

i dry fire my 10/22 all the time, no problems.

 

[guntech]

Most modern firearms will handle dry firing... I would avoid it in older and in cheaper guns...

 

[damndirtyape]

My Fabarm martial's firing pin broke during dry firing. I use snap caps now.

 

[upnorth]

snap caps only cost twelve bucks.... why wouldn't you use them and save lots of wear and tear??

 

[FlyingHigh]

I use snap caps in my 7mm (remingotn 700), rarely to never dryfire my 10/22, just habit, and often dryfire my mossberg pump shotgun.

 

[TackAttack]

buy some snap caps.Why risk broken pins and spend more money fixing them.

 

[brandon_b]

if you look at the firing pin on a 870, that sucker would be pretty hard to break from dry firing. I know guys at the club that have O/Us use snap caps. i almost always dry fire my 10/22 by accident when im plinkin' away with the 25 round mag. klink klink klink....click haha

 

[drvrage]

Thank god CGN is here to clarify these "old wives tales" about guns. Someone with a legitimate concern tells a friends who passes it along an indefinite line of numpties playing the telephone game to the point where the original concern is no longer represented.

Grr.

 

[manbearpig]

i have a pair of snap caps i use in my older SxSs, but ive dry-fired 870s hundreds of times and never had a problem. plus if something breaks on an 870 its not exactly big bucks or difficult to fix it.

 

[Win/64]

You don't even have to buy Snap Caps. Just take a used Hull pop out the Primer, Then fill the primer hole with Silicone. Instant Snap Caps.

 

[Baribal]

Here's what can happen to a firing pin when dry fired.

You can diagnose a damaged firing pin wich have been dry fired 'cos it will pierce the primer first.

Then, if it's not fixed, when the taper goes too far and it the pin hole, it usually breaks.

We should always use snap caps with SXS and O/U to avoid this situation.