Dry Firing...Yes or No

[fdegree]

I have heard some say that dry firing is bad for the gun. I can see the problem for a rim fire. But, I don't see the problem with dry firing a center fire gun.

Am I overlooking something?

[netentity]

There isn't. It isn't a bad practice to use snap caps though.

[lukem]

I've been told center fire is ok but rimfire isn't. When I first attended Front Sight that is one of the first questions I asked. I've been dry firing ever since.

[Red Hat]

Never dry fire any rimfire firearm. Some center fire manufactures don't recommend dry firing. I know Kel-Tec doesn't. The best thing to do is read the manual and see if it's recommended or not. I dry fire about 98% of my firearms a little. I prefer live fire...

[lukem]

I do have snapcaps but I never use them.

[Boomboy007]

+ 1 on the snap caps. Then you don't have to worry. Every time I have bought a new caliber weapon, a pack of matching snap caps is on top of the inevitable 200 rounds of ammunition on the counter. Dry fire is great practice for home defense scenario training.

[Bagger Jim]

Now that's a good thing to know. I guess that I always thought it was that way ,but I was never really sure.

[Big Gay Al]

Depends a lot on the firearm. Older ones (i.e., those made before 1960 something) I would recommend against, unless you have snap caps. Also, it is usually recommended against dry-firing a CZ-52. Unless you have extra firing pins, or unless you have snap caps.

[Scarecrow]

I dry fire about everyday. it's a good way to see if you are pulling or pushing the trigger left or right as you fire. ccw instructors I had highly recommend dry firing.

[Jay]

I don't dry fire without snap caps ..... centerfire, or rimfire. This is simply how I look at it.......

A firing pin has a functional distance of travel. If the firing pin is an intregal part of the hammer, and does not impact a cartridge case, another part of the hammer, or firing pin block receives the impact. If the firing pin floats, and does not strike a cartridge case, a shoulder on the firing pin, or another stop device must prevent firing pin from extended travel. If the shoulder or stop device is designed to allow dry firing, hooray, and the manual should say so. I tend to protect my firing pins from hammering against their respective stops.

Dry firing is an excellent parctice tool, but I just prefer to use snap caps, as I think it's easier on the firing pins. I"m not saying that anyone else should. Y'all suit yerselves....