is it okay to dry fire my pump action shotgun without snapcaps?

Killabee-23 · January 16, 2016, 05:49 PM

hey guys i was just curious as to what you opinion was on dry firing a pump action shotgun without snapcaps. i have talked to several people and some say its okay and some say its not. but i wanted to get some of your opinions so please let me know do you think its okay to dry fire a pump action shotgun without snapcaps or do you think its to bad for the gun to do it? let me know fellas

Sarge · January 16, 2016, 08:19 PM

My best advice is to contact the manufacturer, assuming they are still in business, and go with their recommendation.

jmr40 · January 16, 2016, 08:19 PM

It really depends on the gun. Most modern center fire rifles, handguns and shotguns won't be damaged, but some will. It depends on the individual guns design. Many older guns could be damaged and I think this is where the over cautious advice comes from. Rimfires are sometimes OK, others not. Most people don't recommend it with expensive doubles. I've never seen anything in an owners manual advising against it with any pump.

FWIW, I've dry fired Remington 870's thousands of times with no ill effects. I've owned most of the other pumps and done the same. I just don't have as much experience with the other brands.

Killabee-23 · January 16, 2016, 10:33 PM

its actually a mossberg maverick 88. i was going to get the 500 but just didnt really see how its was worth the extra 150/200$ i mean the only real difference is a cross bolt safety and a pinned for grip and it can receive chokes. and yes the 500 has a little bit better fit and finish but there not much different at all. i have owned mossberg 500's a couple remington 870's and just recently got rid of a couple of em and got the maverick 88 and its been great so far. it has a 8 round cap and can fire 3 inch shells i have no need for chokes or 3 1/2 inch mags i dont think anybody does really lol.

gyvel · January 17, 2016, 12:54 AM

The only ones that really shouldn't be dry fired are a Stevens 520 or 620.

Bill DeShivs · January 17, 2016, 04:21 PM

Why would you want to dry fire your shotgun?

Dry firing any gun causes metal fatigue. On some guns this fatigue is minimal. On others it sets up stresses quickly. A firing pin on a shotgun has limited travel, and is stopped by one of two things- the tip of the pin hitting a soft copper alloy primer, or the shoulders of the pin hitting the end of the fpin channel-with no cushioning. The latter can cause work-hardening of the firing pin-leading to failure.

gyvel · January 17, 2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Why would you want to dry fire your shotgun?
Dry firing any gun causes metal fatigue. On some guns this fatigue is minimal. On others it sets up stresses quickly. A firing pin on a shotgun has limited travel, and is stopped by one of two things- the tip of the pin hitting a soft copper alloy primer, or the shoulders of the pin hitting the end of the fpin channel-with no cushioning. The latter can cause work-hardening of the firing pin-leading to failure.

It depends if the OP is talking about dry firing one time to relieve tension on the hammer spring, or doing repeated dry firings for practice.

In the first case, no, it won't hurt to dry fire that one time; In the second case, what BillDeShivs says is true.

In either case, snap caps can't hurt anything, and may help.

rtpzwms · January 17, 2016, 11:47 PM

check the owners manual it should be in there. if not call the mfg. they should know best.

johnwilliamson062 · January 19, 2016, 09:18 PM

Everything Billdeshivs said is certainly true in the context of "it's possible".
I don't think I have ever dry fired a shotgun for practice and I am big on dryfiring pistols and rifles. I would not begin to worry about damaging a Maverick 88 by dry-firing though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_hardening

I have some experience with inconel and other alloys work hardening. I have heard of black smiths hammers shattering after work hardening. I have not heard any reports of it in anything close to the impact of a light spring propelled firing pin's shoulder against the end of he channel. I'm not an expert and I would be surprised if it occurred, but work hardening can be as odd as chatter, so it is certainly possible.

g.willikers · January 20, 2016, 10:42 AM

When our local action pistol matches had shotgun side matches, I used to dry fire my pump quite a lot for practice.
Never had a problem and it always went bang.
Doesn't mean there couldn't be a problem.
But of all the dry firing my shootin' irons have seen, there's been nary a failure of any kind.
So, from my own experience, don't sweat it.
Find something else to worry over.

Arizona Fusilier · January 20, 2016, 07:04 PM

Because of the nature of shotgun shooting; clays, hunting, or defense..... I don't see any value in dry-firing shotguns for practice.

On the other hand, I like to release all that spring tension etc. before things go back in the safe for 6 months, and will dry-fire my over-and-unders then.

FITASC · January 20, 2016, 07:14 PM

Shotguns with flat springs generally need the springs to be released from tension, (and using snap caps to do so). Coil springs aren't as susceptible to taking a set, but I still use a snap cap to release the tension before putting it back in the safe.

View Poll Results: will it hurt a pump action shotgun to dry fire it without snapcaps?
yes	9	37.50%
no	15	62.50%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

January 16, 2016, 05:49 PM	#1
Killabee-23 Member Join Date: November 9, 2015 Location: Middlebury Vermont Posts: 45	is it okay to dry fire my pump action shotgun without snapcaps? hey guys i was just curious as to what you opinion was on dry firing a pump action shotgun without snapcaps. i have talked to several people and some say its okay and some say its not. but i wanted to get some of your opinions so please let me know do you think its okay to dry fire a pump action shotgun without snapcaps or do you think its to bad for the gun to do it? let me know fellas

January 16, 2016, 08:19 PM	#2
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,256	My best advice is to contact the manufacturer, assuming they are still in business, and go with their recommendation. __________________ The only thing muzzle energy ever killed was time that could have spent shooting meat and learning something about how bullets work.

January 17, 2016, 12:54 AM	#5
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	The only ones that really shouldn't be dry fired are a Stevens 520 or 620. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE

January 17, 2016, 04:21 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,525	Why would you want to dry fire your shotgun? Dry firing any gun causes metal fatigue. On some guns this fatigue is minimal. On others it sets up stresses quickly. A firing pin on a shotgun has limited travel, and is stopped by one of two things- the tip of the pin hitting a soft copper alloy primer, or the shoulders of the pin hitting the end of the fpin channel-with no cushioning. The latter can cause work-hardening of the firing pin-leading to failure. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 16, 2016, 08:19 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,204	It really depends on the gun. Most modern center fire rifles, handguns and shotguns won't be damaged, but some will. It depends on the individual guns design. Many older guns could be damaged and I think this is where the over cautious advice comes from. Rimfires are sometimes OK, others not. Most people don't recommend it with expensive doubles. I've never seen anything in an owners manual advising against it with any pump. FWIW, I've dry fired Remington 870's thousands of times with no ill effects. I've owned most of the other pumps and done the same. I just don't have as much experience with the other brands.

January 16, 2016, 10:33 PM	#4
Killabee-23 Member Join Date: November 9, 2015 Location: Middlebury Vermont Posts: 45	its actually a mossberg maverick 88. i was going to get the 500 but just didnt really see how its was worth the extra 150/200$ i mean the only real difference is a cross bolt safety and a pinned for grip and it can receive chokes. and yes the 500 has a little bit better fit and finish but there not much different at all. i have owned mossberg 500's a couple remington 870's and just recently got rid of a couple of em and got the maverick 88 and its been great so far. it has a 8 round cap and can fire 3 inch shells i have no need for chokes or 3 1/2 inch mags i dont think anybody does really lol.

January 17, 2016, 11:47 PM	#8
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 1,023	check the owners manual it should be in there. if not call the mfg. they should know best. __________________ Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

January 19, 2016, 09:18 PM	#9
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Everything Billdeshivs said is certainly true in the context of "it's possible". I don't think I have ever dry fired a shotgun for practice and I am big on dryfiring pistols and rifles. I would not begin to worry about damaging a Maverick 88 by dry-firing though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_hardening I have some experience with inconel and other alloys work hardening. I have heard of black smiths hammers shattering after work hardening. I have not heard any reports of it in anything close to the impact of a light spring propelled firing pin's shoulder against the end of he channel. I'm not an expert and I would be surprised if it occurred, but work hardening can be as odd as chatter, so it is certainly possible.

January 20, 2016, 10:42 AM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	When our local action pistol matches had shotgun side matches, I used to dry fire my pump quite a lot for practice. Never had a problem and it always went bang. Doesn't mean there couldn't be a problem. But of all the dry firing my shootin' irons have seen, there's been nary a failure of any kind. So, from my own experience, don't sweat it. Find something else to worry over. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 20, 2016, 07:04 PM	#11
Arizona Fusilier Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2000 Posts: 1,082	Because of the nature of shotgun shooting; clays, hunting, or defense..... I don't see any value in dry-firing shotguns for practice. On the other hand, I like to release all that spring tension etc. before things go back in the safe for 6 months, and will dry-fire my over-and-unders then.

January 20, 2016, 07:14 PM	#12
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 5,703	Shotguns with flat springs generally need the springs to be released from tension, (and using snap caps to do so). Coil springs aren't as susceptible to taking a set, but I still use a snap cap to release the tension before putting it back in the safe. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

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