Dry Firing

Rjeezie · June 26, 2013, 01:47 PM

So I've heard some people give advise about dry firing to get use to the trigger, help on technique, etc....

But then I've also heard that dry firing your weapon isn't good for the gun.

So which is the better advice here?

HK_Flo · June 26, 2013, 01:49 PM

Snap caps.

I don't think dry firing a modern gun every once in awhile is a major concern, but if you are going to do 100s of trigger pulls I would get a snap cap to practice.

MTSCMike · June 26, 2013, 01:50 PM

Dry fire. If the gun won't hold up to regular dry firing, get a different gun.

Tactical Jackalope · June 26, 2013, 01:52 PM

I don't risk it. With any gun. Just get some snap caps.

JWT · June 26, 2013, 02:17 PM

Snap caps are inexpensive. Buy some, use them. Don't worry.

BuckRub · June 26, 2013, 03:24 PM

Most better made guns state on manual they are safe for dry fire. If they're not I wouldn't bet my life with it. Agree on get a better made gun if yours says its unsafe to dry fire. And yes I do plenty of dry firing. I own a Glock.

southjk · June 26, 2013, 03:59 PM

Agree with the above posters that it won't hurt a modern gun as long as it's a centerfire. Don't dry fire rimfire guns such as a .22.

Koda94 · June 26, 2013, 04:29 PM

I was told its ok to dry fire guns with round cylindrical firing pins but not ok for any other type like rectangular pins such as rim fire caliber... 22lr.

Rjeezie · June 26, 2013, 09:03 PM

Thanks for the feedback...

Rjeezie · June 26, 2013, 09:04 PM

Never heard of snap caps before.... interesting...

Mike19 · June 26, 2013, 10:23 PM

Not all snap caps are equal. IMHO, A-Zoom brand are the best.

jmr40 · June 27, 2013, 08:14 AM

Depends on the gun. Very few modern guns will be hurt, even safe with a lot of 22's today. I wouldn't do it with a SXS or OU shotgun because of their design. The only gun I own that the owners manual advises not to do it is a Kel-Tec P 3-AT. I have been dry firing every thing else I own or have ever owned for close to 50 years with no problems. I've never owned a snap cap.

I own a 40 year old Remington 700 that has probably been dry fired 100,000 times or more over the years. That is over $100,000 in ammo, you cannot afford to live fire a gun enough to become a really good shot. Every good shot I know dry fires at least 100 times for practice for each round of live fire. Dry fire away. If something breaks, it would have broken at exactly the same round count if you had only been live firing.

deepcreek · June 27, 2013, 09:30 AM

I am not really sure if it is bad/how bad? but I like to take care of my guns so I always use snap caps and don't worry about it.

When things strike nothing it is usually harder on them. If you strike the air with a hammer it will do more damage to your arm them striking wood. The wood absorbs the force without it the force stays in your arm.

Slopemeno · June 27, 2013, 12:34 PM

OP- exactly *which* gun?

Rjeezie · June 27, 2013, 01:04 PM

XDS or a SP101... But this is also good to know on future guns as well... Want to start doing some draw practices at home from the waist, as well as just shooting technique in general

TailGator · June 27, 2013, 02:51 PM

Not to pile on, but my view of snap caps is that, although some people say they should be used and others say they are not necessary, no one says they are harmful; therefore, I use them. A-Zooms are the best I have found by a considerable margin.

June 26, 2013, 01:47 PM	#1
Rjeezie Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 232	Dry Firing So I've heard some people give advise about dry firing to get use to the trigger, help on technique, etc.... But then I've also heard that dry firing your weapon isn't good for the gun. So which is the better advice here?

June 26, 2013, 01:50 PM	#3
MTSCMike Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Middle TN Posts: 164	Dry fire. If the gun won't hold up to regular dry firing, get a different gun. __________________ IDPA Member A00640 Founding Charter Member - Middle Tennessee Shooter's Club

June 26, 2013, 04:29 PM	#8
Koda94 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Cascadia Posts: 1,294	I was told its ok to dry fire guns with round cylindrical firing pins but not ok for any other type like rectangular pins such as rim fire caliber... 22lr. __________________ lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

June 26, 2013, 10:23 PM	#11
Mike19 Member Join Date: April 26, 2013 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 42	Not all snap caps are equal. IMHO, A-Zoom brand are the best. __________________ "Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand" (Billy Roberts, 1962)

June 26, 2013, 01:49 PM	#2
HK_Flo Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2011 Posts: 122	Snap caps. I don't think dry firing a modern gun every once in awhile is a major concern, but if you are going to do 100s of trigger pulls I would get a snap cap to practice.

June 26, 2013, 01:52 PM	#4
Tactical Jackalope Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 6,429	I don't risk it. With any gun. Just get some snap caps.

June 26, 2013, 02:17 PM	#5
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	Snap caps are inexpensive. Buy some, use them. Don't worry.

June 26, 2013, 03:24 PM	#6
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	Most better made guns state on manual they are safe for dry fire. If they're not I wouldn't bet my life with it. Agree on get a better made gun if yours says its unsafe to dry fire. And yes I do plenty of dry firing. I own a Glock.

June 26, 2013, 03:59 PM	#7
southjk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 468	Agree with the above posters that it won't hurt a modern gun as long as it's a centerfire. Don't dry fire rimfire guns such as a .22.

June 26, 2013, 09:03 PM	#9
Rjeezie Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 232	Thanks for the feedback...

June 26, 2013, 09:04 PM	#10
Rjeezie Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 232	Never heard of snap caps before.... interesting...

June 27, 2013, 08:14 AM	#12
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Depends on the gun. Very few modern guns will be hurt, even safe with a lot of 22's today. I wouldn't do it with a SXS or OU shotgun because of their design. The only gun I own that the owners manual advises not to do it is a Kel-Tec P 3-AT. I have been dry firing every thing else I own or have ever owned for close to 50 years with no problems. I've never owned a snap cap. I own a 40 year old Remington 700 that has probably been dry fired 100,000 times or more over the years. That is over $100,000 in ammo, you cannot afford to live fire a gun enough to become a really good shot. Every good shot I know dry fires at least 100 times for practice for each round of live fire. Dry fire away. If something breaks, it would have broken at exactly the same round count if you had only been live firing.

June 27, 2013, 09:30 AM	#13
deepcreek Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 320	I am not really sure if it is bad/how bad? but I like to take care of my guns so I always use snap caps and don't worry about it. When things strike nothing it is usually harder on them. If you strike the air with a hammer it will do more damage to your arm them striking wood. The wood absorbs the force without it the force stays in your arm.

June 27, 2013, 12:34 PM	#14
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	OP- exactly which gun?

June 27, 2013, 01:04 PM	#15
Rjeezie Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 232	XDS or a SP101... But this is also good to know on future guns as well... Want to start doing some draw practices at home from the waist, as well as just shooting technique in general

June 27, 2013, 02:51 PM	#16
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	Not to pile on, but my view of snap caps is that, although some people say they should be used and others say they are not necessary, no one says they are harmful; therefore, I use them. A-Zooms are the best I have found by a considerable margin.