steve1 5 #1 August 27, 2009 I've always been told, since way back when, that if you dry fire a gun you will damage the firing pin. Then I heard rumors this may not be true. Then I read a story the other day, that said that dry firing most modern rifles will not hurt them a bit. Some rimfires can be damaged by dry firing. I think it was the chamber that could be damaged. So, what's the straight story on this? I know they sell snap caps, but are they even needed for center fire rifles and pistols? And how about most pistols? Someone once told me that it is good to dry fire a revolver...that it will make everything work more smoothly. Is that another tall tale? Dry firing may not be as good as actual shooting, but I think it really helps make you a better shot..... I read once, that Carlos Hathcock would spend hours practicing getting into position, using the right breathing, and squeezing the trigger till it broke..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #2 August 27, 2009 QuoteI read once, that Carlos Hathcock would spend hours practicing getting into position, using the right breathing, and squeezing the trigger till it broke..... As far as I know, modern firearms aren't harmed by dry-firing. Maybe some older guns and antiques, depending upon the design. I know some folks who dry-fire an entire shooting match for practice, at home, the night before a real shooting match. One guy even attaches a rope to his Garand op-rod, and when the trigger clicks, his wife yanks the rope to cycle the action and simulate a rapid fire stage. This kind of craziness can actually help eliminate flinch and wiggle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #3 August 27, 2009 I've done a lot of dry firing on modern semi-auto handguns (Sigs, mostly) and it has helped smooth the factory trigger out a bit, and hasn't seemed to damage the guns in any way.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 August 27, 2009 PM me the model of that weapon I will tell you right away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bullin82 0 #5 August 27, 2009 The storybehind dry firing as i always new of it is. In older firearms the parts were with price in mind and things were over looked like the strength of the fireing pin. So the theory was that you shouldnt dry fire weapons, as far as modern weapons people want reliability and durability so all parts are made of a higher advanced hardened metal. military weapons have always had harnedned pinds so we are traied in dry fire. I have dry fired my weapon in training lterally thousands of time with no damage. Asfar as my suggestion on getting over flinching you will need an assistant and a range. have your assistant load your weapon for you. now the trick is everytime you take a good position and move through all your steps, but instruct your assistant that they should randomly either load or not load the weapon. so now you THINK that the weapon is loaded everytime so eventually your body gets used to the sudden suprise of the fireing. This worked for me atleast Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #6 August 27, 2009 Quote Asfar as my suggestion on getting over flinching you will need an assistant and a range. have your assistant load your weapon for you. now the trick is everytime you take a good position and move through all your steps, but instruct your assistant that they should randomly either load or not load the weapon. so now you THINK that the weapon is loaded everytime so eventually your body gets used to the sudden suprise of the fireing. This worked for me atleast You don't even need an assistant... just a couple of snap caps and a few extra mags. Load the mags and put the snap caps in randomly with the live rounds, and then mix up the mags so you don't know which is which. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #7 August 27, 2009 Yes, your guns will catch on fire and melt if you dry fire them. To prevent this I'll get my FFL in touch with your FFL to take care of the transfer and shipping of those guns to me. That will prevent any damage to your guns. You'll be fine with a modern quality weapon. A cheapo or an older gun may not do so well. Its great practice, like the going to the tunnel for skydivers, it helps reinforce muscle memory for the basics (sight alignment, trigger press, grip, draw, etc). --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #8 August 27, 2009 What is dry firing? /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,520 #9 August 27, 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_fireNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #10 August 27, 2009 Quote What is dry firing? /Marg Pulling the trigger on a cocked action (safety, if any, off) with an empty chamber, i.e. no ammo. "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingOsh 0 #11 August 28, 2009 Quote What is dry firing? /Marg -------------------------------------------------- Stay positive and love your life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davjohns 1 #12 August 28, 2009 Modern firearms may generally be dry fired with immpunity. Some older firing pins were not of a high quality and purity of metal and sufffered pemature metal fatigue when dry fired too often. Some rim fires had firing pins that were long enough that they could reach the edge of the chamber and become deformed if the soft brass of a case did not intervene. These things are now designed out of the weapons. If you have an older weapon, you might want to avoid the practice of dry fire. Most of the good shooters I know spend sessions dedicated to dry firing at a spot on the wall or a target on the wall.I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet.. But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #13 August 28, 2009 QuoteThese things are now designed out of the weapons. Still applies to rimfires, but I agree that dry-firing will not hurt most other modern weapons.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuna-Salad 0 #14 August 28, 2009 I've heard that it's not good for the weapon, but that was about the extent of it..Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #15 August 28, 2009 QuoteI've heard that it's not good for the weapon, but that was about the extent of it.. As long as it's not a rimfire, go for it. With that said - you don't want to drop the slide on an automatic pistol over and over without a magazine in place - that *can* hurt things. Hand-cycle it, instead - or just recock the hammer.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuna-Salad 0 #16 August 28, 2009 nice, thanks for the info... the only gun I have that is rimfire I think would be my .22Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #17 August 28, 2009 what do you call dry-firing ?scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #18 August 28, 2009 Doesn't apply to all rim fire firearms. Ruger Mark II and III manuals specifically say that dry firing is okay when assembled properly. Ruger Single Six rim fire revolver manual specifically says that it can be dry fired. The manual for a Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifle specifically says it can be dry fired. Read the manual to find out if your firearm can be dry fired or not. Unfortunately some manuals don't address it either way. Marlin and Browning don't seem to address it at all.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #19 August 28, 2009 Thanks for all the replies on this. I'm wondering what would be considered an older firearm. I have some old, bolt-action, rifles that are over 40 years old, that I still hunt with. A couple are model 700 Remingtons..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #20 August 28, 2009 Quotewhat do you call dry-firing ? See messages #9 & 10. I recommend reading all messages in a thread first, before responding, so that you don't end up saying something that has already been covered. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #21 August 28, 2009 QuoteI'm wondering what would be considered an older firearm. I have some old, bolt-action, rifles that are over 40 years old, that I still hunt with. A couple are model 700 Remingtons..... I'm sure you're okay with modern centerfire rifles. And 40 years old is "modern". They learned how to eliminate soft steel back around 1905 or so. With a centerfire firing pin, there's nothing for the tip of the pin to hit when dry firing, therefore it can't be deformed. The shoulder will stop the pin, and that's much beefier and can handle it. That's my understanding of things. I dry fire rifles all the time, and it has never caused a problem. During "preparation period" for shooting matches, everyone dry fires before loading live ammo to get in their groove with trigger pull and sight alignment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #22 August 28, 2009 Quote Quote What is dry firing? ... Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #23 August 28, 2009 QuoteDoesn't apply to all rim fire firearms. Ruger Mark II and III manuals specifically say that dry firing is okay when assembled properly. Ruger Single Six rim fire revolver manual specifically says that it can be dry fired. The manual for a Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifle specifically says it can be dry fired. Read the manual to find out if your firearm can be dry fired or not. Unfortunately some manuals don't address it either way. Marlin and Browning don't seem to address it at all. Seeing as how I broke the tip on the firing pin of a Mk II by dry-firing after being told that, I'll pass, thanks - you do as you wish.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick 67 #24 August 28, 2009 From the Taurus P22 manual 22. Dry firing is bad for this firearm,wether the hammer block is engaged or otherwise, The manual for my .380 does not address this issue.You can't be drunk all day if you don't start early! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #25 August 28, 2009 QuoteFrom the Taurus P22 manual 22. Dry firing is bad for this firearm,wether the hammer block is engaged or otherwise, The manual for my .380 does not address this issue. 380 is a centerfire cartridge, so I wouldn't expect anything less.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
