Dry firing a shotgun?

Super-Dave · February 4, 2008, 02:36 PM

Is it safe to dry fire shotguns?

Pump?
sbs?
ou?

cxg231 · February 4, 2008, 03:06 PM

I don't have a specific all-encompassing answer to your question, but my Mossberg 930 owners manual specifically tells you to dry-fire it a few times after field stripping and reassembling to ensure that the safety and trigger are functioning properly.

DPris · February 4, 2008, 03:40 PM

Most pumps can handle at least limited amounts of dryfiring.
Side by sides and over-unders are a different matter. Without going into a model by model & action type by action type breakdown, I'd make the broad statement that the firing pins are totally different in general and you risk very real damage to the pins & potentially other small parts by dryfiring them.
How much and how soon varies, but if you keep it up it'll catch up with you sooner or later.

Snap caps can reduce the danger, and I'd recommend them in closing the actions after cleaning or shooting the guns when they're set aside for a while between shooting sessions. Leaving the pins/strikers/hammers compressed/cocked is not recommended for long term storage, and if you pull the triggers on empty chambers you risk damage.
Denis

Gbro · February 4, 2008, 04:05 PM

There can be problems dry firing the old model 12 winchester's. I was told that by more than 2 dealers at a gun show.

On hinge action guns like the OU there have been instances where, upon loading, the gun isn't hinged far enough to reset the firing pins and upon closing the action it can discharge. This can happen at any loading, but if the gun is stored in the fired condition, the next one to use it may have the problem. I am referring mostly to youngsters, that aren't expecting the resistance in opening, and don't need the action hinged completely open to insert the load.

BigJimP · February 4, 2008, 04:45 PM

Yes, you can dry fire it but I would recommend using a snap-cap.

I don't store any of my shotguns with the firing pins cocked.

okiewita40 · February 5, 2008, 11:40 AM

The dept. I work for we use Rem 870's. These get dry fired a lot. As we load them in cursier safe mode. In all the years that the dept. has done this I don't think we have ever broken a firing pin due to dry fire.

J F Cooper · February 6, 2008, 07:48 AM

I can only speak for SxSs, and they shouldn't be dry fired. There really is no need to dry fire.. I think the story on springs "takng a set" is pure horse hockey, Some of mine have been stored 50 years with the hammers back and work fine.. Sort of like the old wives tale, that sun light fades Case Colors.. JFC

castnblast · February 7, 2008, 11:14 PM

Just about any MODERN day firearm can be safely dry fired. The pins are free floating and it's not going to hurt a darn thing.

DPris · February 8, 2008, 01:43 AM

Wrong!
The firing pin setups on side by side shotguns are quite a bit different from those in bolt & auto shotguns, for example.
In a double you can easily damage pins, pin bushings, and pin holes in the breechface, depending on design, heat treatment, steel quality, and so on.
Your statement about "free floating" firing pins is also overly broad.
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE IN A DOUBLE any more than absolutely necessary.
Denis

JWT · February 8, 2008, 08:39 AM

Since there is conflicting advice on whether or not dry firing will damage the firing pin on various guns why not just buy, and use, snap caps. They're not expensive and are well worth the price if the prevent damage to your guns.

I use them with all my shotguns and handguns - 'just to make sure....'

patrol · February 8, 2008, 09:26 AM

No problems exist with firing "centerfire" weapons that are of "quality". If you have some ancient safe queen that you don't plan on taking in the woods it might be better not to do so as much. Usually though dry firing has more purpose with handguns than shotguns.

Tbag · February 8, 2008, 01:42 PM

When in doubt, contact the manufacture and simply ask the question to one of their gunsmiths. But still the use of quailty snap caps is always a good idea.

rocinante · February 8, 2008, 02:19 PM

Crud. I just got a SxS and I have been playing with the hammers and dry firing like nuts. Hope I didn't screw anything up.

All in all it was mostly my understanding that most centerfires are okay to dry fire where as most rimfires it is a no no.

DPris · February 8, 2008, 02:40 PM

You may have peened your firing pins and you may have damaged the bushings (if your shotgun has them).
If you have a Chinese hammergun, the risks may be greater.
Continual dry-firing may end up in stuck firing pins, or broken pins.
These things are totally different from pumps & semiautos, the side by side uses smaller & less robust pins, and they also vary with FPs either being spring-loaded strikers, mounted on internal "hammers" themselves, or struck by external hammers.
That's a simplistic view, just don't dry-fire a side by side with an empty chamber any more than you have to.
I use snap caps to release the FP spring tension on my doubles after cleaning them & putting them away till next time.
Some makes will endure more dry-firing than others, but it's best just to not do it.

Denis

Rustynuts · February 8, 2008, 03:14 PM

Get some Pachmayr snap caps.

gunfixer76 · February 8, 2008, 03:37 PM

I have been a gunsmith for over 20 years. dry fire on a center fire is not going to harm a firearm, rimfire is a totally different animal, think about it.The worst thing people do is put a round in the chamber and slam the slide or bolt closed. think about how a firearm loads a cartridge from the magazine.the cartridge is desinged to slide into the knotch in the extractor. more harm is done to a firearm this way than by dryfireing

J F Cooper · February 8, 2008, 05:17 PM

I disagree where SxSs are concerned and I;m not i a camp by myself,, Try going to one of the better gunshows, pick up a nice double and dry fire it, you won;t do very many before someone climbs your frame...JFC

DPris · February 8, 2008, 09:29 PM

GF,
We're not talking about magazines & cartridges, or any other reciprocating or repeating action types. You are the first gunsmith I've ever heard in 35+ years of shooting who says it's OK to dryfire a side by side shotgun. With all due respect, it doesn't sound like you know much about the double-barreled guns.
I've had to have the internal hammers replaced on one shotgun that destroyed the attached firing pins by dryfiring.

JF,
Exactly!!!
Denis

J F Cooper · February 9, 2008, 06:51 AM

The term "Gunsmith" is a very broad and often misused word.. I have seen many that have only the ability to switch parts in an 870 or throw a barrel into a salt blue..And know nothing of the SxS shotgun.. GF may well be a gunsmith, but I wouldn't trust him with one of my SxSs, as from his statement, he knows little about them.. JFC

February 4, 2008, 02:36 PM	#1
Super-Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 795	Dry firing a shotgun? Is it safe to dry fire shotguns? Pump? sbs? ou?

February 4, 2008, 04:05 PM	#4
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	There can be problems dry firing the old model 12 winchester's. I was told that by more than 2 dealers at a gun show. On hinge action guns like the OU there have been instances where, upon loading, the gun isn't hinged far enough to reset the firing pins and upon closing the action it can discharge. This can happen at any loading, but if the gun is stored in the fired condition, the next one to use it may have the problem. I am referring mostly to youngsters, that aren't expecting the resistance in opening, and don't need the action hinged completely open to insert the load. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

February 5, 2008, 11:40 AM	#6
okiewita40 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 409	The dept. I work for we use Rem 870's. These get dry fired a lot. As we load them in cursier safe mode. In all the years that the dept. has done this I don't think we have ever broken a firing pin due to dry fire. __________________ What on god's green earth do you think your doing?

February 6, 2008, 07:48 AM	#7
J F Cooper Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 125	Dry firing I can only speak for SxSs, and they shouldn't be dry fired. There really is no need to dry fire.. I think the story on springs "takng a set" is pure horse hockey, Some of mine have been stored 50 years with the hammers back and work fine.. Sort of like the old wives tale, that sun light fades Case Colors.. JFC

February 7, 2008, 11:14 PM	#8
castnblast Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2006 Location: Corpus Christi TX Posts: 1,148	Just about any MODERN day firearm can be safely dry fired. The pins are free floating and it's not going to hurt a darn thing. __________________ VEGETARIAN...old indian word for bad hunter

February 4, 2008, 03:06 PM	#2
cxg231 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2008 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 203	I don't have a specific all-encompassing answer to your question, but my Mossberg 930 owners manual specifically tells you to dry-fire it a few times after field stripping and reassembling to ensure that the safety and trigger are functioning properly.

February 4, 2008, 03:40 PM	#3
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Most pumps can handle at least limited amounts of dryfiring. Side by sides and over-unders are a different matter. Without going into a model by model & action type by action type breakdown, I'd make the broad statement that the firing pins are totally different in general and you risk very real damage to the pins & potentially other small parts by dryfiring them. How much and how soon varies, but if you keep it up it'll catch up with you sooner or later. Snap caps can reduce the danger, and I'd recommend them in closing the actions after cleaning or shooting the guns when they're set aside for a while between shooting sessions. Leaving the pins/strikers/hammers compressed/cocked is not recommended for long term storage, and if you pull the triggers on empty chambers you risk damage. Denis

February 4, 2008, 04:45 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, you can dry fire it but I would recommend using a snap-cap. I don't store any of my shotguns with the firing pins cocked.

February 8, 2008, 01:43 AM	#9
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Wrong! The firing pin setups on side by side shotguns are quite a bit different from those in bolt & auto shotguns, for example. In a double you can easily damage pins, pin bushings, and pin holes in the breechface, depending on design, heat treatment, steel quality, and so on. Your statement about "free floating" firing pins is also overly broad. IT IS NOT ADVISABLE IN A DOUBLE any more than absolutely necessary. Denis

February 8, 2008, 08:39 AM	#10
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	Since there is conflicting advice on whether or not dry firing will damage the firing pin on various guns why not just buy, and use, snap caps. They're not expensive and are well worth the price if the prevent damage to your guns. I use them with all my shotguns and handguns - 'just to make sure....'

February 8, 2008, 09:26 AM	#11
patrol Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Location: south Posts: 79	No problems exist with firing "centerfire" weapons that are of "quality". If you have some ancient safe queen that you don't plan on taking in the woods it might be better not to do so as much. Usually though dry firing has more purpose with handguns than shotguns. __________________ FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

February 8, 2008, 01:42 PM	#12
Tbag Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2007 Location: FL Posts: 238	When in doubt, contact the manufacture and simply ask the question to one of their gunsmiths. But still the use of quailty snap caps is always a good idea.

February 8, 2008, 02:19 PM	#13
rocinante Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2007 Posts: 158	Crud. I just got a SxS and I have been playing with the hammers and dry firing like nuts. Hope I didn't screw anything up. All in all it was mostly my understanding that most centerfires are okay to dry fire where as most rimfires it is a no no.

February 8, 2008, 02:40 PM	#14
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	You may have peened your firing pins and you may have damaged the bushings (if your shotgun has them). If you have a Chinese hammergun, the risks may be greater. Continual dry-firing may end up in stuck firing pins, or broken pins. These things are totally different from pumps & semiautos, the side by side uses smaller & less robust pins, and they also vary with FPs either being spring-loaded strikers, mounted on internal "hammers" themselves, or struck by external hammers. That's a simplistic view, just don't dry-fire a side by side with an empty chamber any more than you have to. I use snap caps to release the FP spring tension on my doubles after cleaning them & putting them away till next time. Some makes will endure more dry-firing than others, but it's best just to not do it. Denis

February 8, 2008, 03:14 PM	#15
Rustynuts Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 94	Get some Pachmayr snap caps.

February 8, 2008, 03:37 PM	#16
gunfixer76 Junior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Posts: 9	dry fire I have been a gunsmith for over 20 years. dry fire on a center fire is not going to harm a firearm, rimfire is a totally different animal, think about it.The worst thing people do is put a round in the chamber and slam the slide or bolt closed. think about how a firearm loads a cartridge from the magazine.the cartridge is desinged to slide into the knotch in the extractor. more harm is done to a firearm this way than by dryfireing Last edited by gunfixer76; February 8, 2008 at 03:40 PM. Reason: not done

February 8, 2008, 05:17 PM	#17
J F Cooper Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 125	Dry Firing I disagree where SxSs are concerned and I;m not i a camp by myself,, Try going to one of the better gunshows, pick up a nice double and dry fire it, you won;t do very many before someone climbs your frame...JFC

February 8, 2008, 09:29 PM	#18
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	GF, We're not talking about magazines & cartridges, or any other reciprocating or repeating action types. You are the first gunsmith I've ever heard in 35+ years of shooting who says it's OK to dryfire a side by side shotgun. With all due respect, it doesn't sound like you know much about the double-barreled guns. I've had to have the internal hammers replaced on one shotgun that destroyed the attached firing pins by dryfiring. JF, Exactly!!! Denis

February 9, 2008, 06:51 AM	#19
J F Cooper Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 125	Gunsmith??? The term "Gunsmith" is a very broad and often misused word.. I have seen many that have only the ability to switch parts in an 870 or throw a barrel into a salt blue..And know nothing of the SxS shotgun.. GF may well be a gunsmith, but I wouldn't trust him with one of my SxSs, as from his statement, he knows little about them.. JFC