Dry firing a gun?

[zbigbadaaron]

Will this end up breaking my gun if I dry fire it? I would like to know this before attempting this.

[frogtog]

My DAD would tear your butt up!!! This was the sin of all sins :-/

[zbigbadaaron]

My DAD would tear your butt up!!!

so it does end up breaking a gun

[Micro]

It's okay in some, and discouraged in others.  What kind of gun is it? And do they make snap caps for whatever caliber it is?

[zbigbadaaron]

Ruger 10/22 .22 long rifle

[Micro]

Generally, don't dry fire rimfires. The firing pin can strike the edge of the chamber where the cartridge's rim seats. Get some snap caps.

[grimlin]

I watched a guy get thrown out of a gun store for dry firing a gun.A week later the owner had a sign up saying "No dry firing my guns,unless you already paid for it".

Somebody told me you can mess you the firing pin.Not sure how true that is.

[cbfishalot]

NO, NO, and NO!!!!

Only if it is a black powder after cleanning it with a primer.

[skunked_again]

Ruger 10/22 .22 long rifle

an EMPTY .22 case is all you need. put it in the chamber when dry firing. i did this a lot installing a Power Customs action in my 10/22.

[fourbizz]

Ruger 10/22 .22 long rifle

an EMPTY .22 case is all you need. put it in the chamber when dry firing. i did this a lot installing a Power Customs action in my 10/22.

Yep, but dont fire it over and over in the same spot. Use other empties or turn the casing a bit.

[fishfordollars]

Some very good replies.

QUESTION:

Why in the heck would you want to dry fire a gun in the first place?

The only time I can think of a reason would be done by a gunsmith after assembling the trigger mechanism. And this would take place on the bench before it was installed.

[Ellesar]

Some very good replies.

QUESTION:

Why in the heck would you want to dry fire a gun in the first place?

The only time I can think of a reason would be done by a gunsmith after assembling the trigger mechanism. And this would take place on the bench before it was installed.

I put a used round in and practive squeezing the trigger on my rifle to "train" my muscles to squeeze the trigger and reduce the chance of flinching when I'm make a shot that counts. I especially do this with a new gun to get used to the trigger pull.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Generally, don't dry fire rimfires. The firing pin can strike the edge of the chamber where the cartridge's rim seats. Get some snap caps.

Yup.  This will cause either the firing pin to bend or indent the barrel which will lead to a ruined barrel.  Do not dry fire a rimfire.

Most modern centerfires can be just dont make a habbit of it.  Bolt actions should never be dry fired because you can slowly let the bold down on an empty chamber while holding the trigger and it will release.

[Micro]

I watched a guy get thrown out of a gun store for dry firing a gun.A week later the owner had a sign up saying "No dry firing my guns,unless you already paid for it".

He shoulda put that sign up sooner.  The owner sounds like a turd hole.  Lots of those in the gun business.

[grimlin]

I watched a guy get thrown out of a gun store for dry firing a gun.A week later the owner had a sign up saying "No dry firing my guns,unless you already paid for it".

He shoulda put that sign up sooner. The owner sounds like a turd hole. Lots of those in the gun business.

He kinda was.He seemed real temperamental when i was there. Haven't been there in a few years now,so i don't know if the place is still there anymore.Never did buy anything from that place.

[skunked_again]

Some very good replies.

QUESTION:

Why in the heck would you want to dry fire a gun in the first place?

The only time I can think of a reason would be done by a gunsmith after assembling the trigger mechanism. And this would take place on the bench before it was installed.

at the time i shot, NRA rules required a 4lbs trigger pull and they checked every gun closely. i spent hours on a 1911 before i sent the gun to be custom fit.

[Koop]

Dry firing must not be an issue with military grade rifles?  We dry fired them ALL the time.  Part of a function check.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Dry firing must not be an issue with military grade rifles? We dry fired them ALL the time. Part of a function check.

Most modern guns dry firing wont hurt mostly just rifires is the problem.  Alot of old guns it will though.  

There are so many myths and bs in the hunting/fishing industry its crazy.  

[Matt Fly]

Some very good replies.

QUESTION:

Why in the heck would you want to dry fire a gun in the first place?

The only time I can think of a reason would be done by a gunsmith after assembling the trigger mechanism. And this would take place on the bench before it was installed.

The answer to the original question applies only to rimfired ammo, that is where the casing is struck on the side of the casing and not on a primer cap.

    To answer Jack's question, in the military, dry firing the weapon is good way to familarize your self with a gun and practice aiming.   Lots of guys who are required to stand a watch on the Quarterdeck that have never held a gun before entering the service.

   We take the .45 caliber pistol and put paper on the wall with circle the size of a dime on it.

    Put a regular sharpened pencil in the barrell all the way in the barrell, placing the end of the pencil about an half inch to 3/4's and practice firing.  The pencil leaves a dot, show how you squeezed off the round.

      We teach the sights and such,   By dry firing pencils, you will notice that  by looking at the dot the pencil makes, if the person is putting too much finger in the trigger and pulling it off on his squeeze.

    Great teaching method before the range.     Lots of things you can correct with this trick before the range.

   Saves ammo and allows the person to become very familar without ever putting anyone in danger while teaching.

   I can tell alot from the pencil method, enough to correct a person bad habits before the range.

     

[1inStripes]

Nice post Matt Fly.  Maybe I need to try that with a pistol because I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with a pistol.

[skunked_again]

Some very good replies.

QUESTION:

Why in the heck would you want to dry fire a gun in the first place?

The only time I can think of a reason would be done by a gunsmith after assembling the trigger mechanism. And this would take place on the bench before it was installed.

The answer to the original question applies only to rimfired ammo, that is where the casing is struck on the side of the casing and not on a primer cap.

To answer Jack's question, in the military, dry firing the weapon is good way to familarize your self with a gun and practice aiming. Lots of guys who are required to stand a watch on the Quarterdeck that have never held a gun before entering the service.

We take the .45 caliber pistol and put paper on the wall with circle the size of a dime on it.

Put a regular sharpened pencil in the barrell all the way in the barrell, placing the end of the pencil about an half inch to 3/4's and practice firing. The pencil leaves a dot, show how you squeezed off the round.

      We teach the sights and such, By dry firing pencils, you will notice that by looking at the dot the pencil makes, if the person is putting too much finger in the trigger and pulling it off on his squeeze.

Great teaching method before the range. Lots of things you can correct with this trick before the range.

Saves ammo and allows the person to become very familar without ever putting anyone in danger while teaching.

I can tell alot from the pencil method, enough to correct a person bad habits before the range.

     

it took me a while to not dip the barrel on a Glock after shooting a custom Kimber. darn trigger pull.

[burleytog]

You're not going to damage a thing.  I've probably dry-fired my rimfires over 10K times each.  They still go bang.