Dry Firing S&W Model 41 with Clark Barrel

mikemyers · April 27, 2018, 04:19 PM

I bought a Clark Barrel for my S&W Model 41 two years ago, as I wanted to add a red dot sight, but didn't want to drill holes in the original 1980's barrel. This resulted in a lot of discussions with the people at Clark, and when I asked about dry firing, I was told they do it all the time, as training before a match. They suggested that I field strip my gun, then press in the firing pin in as far as it goes (before it's stopped by the pin that goes over it), and see if the firing pin protrudes too much into the breach area.

This got me to thinking - can I remove the barrel, and "paint" the back of the barrel with Dykem, and start to dry fire, constantly checking the Dykem. If the Dykem never gets "marked", presumably I can assume that my gun can be dry-fired as much as they do at Clark.

As a follow-up question, if I were to load up magazines with once fired 22 rounds, would those cycle through the gun manually, for the purpose of dry firing?

turtlehead · April 27, 2018, 10:46 PM

I don't know about the Clark barrel but I do know that my firing pin will strike the breach face on my S&W barrel.

For the few times that I needed to dry fire mine I used 4-6-8 X 7/8-Inch plastic drywall anchors as snap caps. Cheap and I have leftovers should they be needed later. They work well.

**4V50 Gary** · April 27, 2018, 11:19 PM

How about buying some snap caps?

mikemyers · April 28, 2018, 09:38 AM

A few years back, I couldn't find real "snap caps" for 22LR. There were only "dummy rounds". They were intended to check the your gun is cycling properly, not for dry fire. I'll check again, and see if things have changed.

burrhead · April 28, 2018, 09:50 AM

Get some yellow plastic drywall anchors. They'll work just fine and are cheap.

https://www.idealtruevalue.com/store...xoCEWoQAvD_BwE

turtlehead · April 28, 2018, 11:29 AM

The yellow anchors really do work.

mikemyers · April 28, 2018, 12:56 PM

How many times can you fire one of those, before it is so chewed up you no longer want to use it?

turtlehead · April 28, 2018, 01:54 PM

Probably about 10. They're dirt cheap.

Why would you want to dry fire your gun after it's finished being set up? Go shooting.

mikemyers · April 28, 2018, 05:03 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfARgCqWCvQ

turtlehead · April 28, 2018, 05:46 PM

In my mind, with such a heavy gun, light trigger and low recoil, dry firing doesn't really apply. I'm using a 2 moa red dot on my gun and that is giving me input on poa and poi. And I don't have to round up snap caps on the floor.

But that's just me. Happy shooting. Hope you enjoy your 41 as much as I do mine.

RC20 · April 29, 2018, 04:21 PM

Yea, its what I need to do, don't want to drill my OEM circa 1977 barrel.

Short story7 was the gun counter guys would pull them, buy them and sell them for big bucks.

I was curisng a Pay N Pak (yep) and there one was, $168 as I recall.

I told the counter kid I would buy it. Want to look at it? Nope, buy it, hmm ok.

Then the old counter guy comes out from back by which time its in my hand.

Oh, sorry sir, that is a mistake, its not for sale.

You are right, its mine, and I don't intend to sell it.

No sir, you don't understand, it was not supposed to be put out.

Me: Yea, I know the drill, its mine, you want to come and try to pry it out of my hands? You screwed up and you don't get this one!

Ahh, loved the dirty look. Easily going for 3 to 5 bills (used of course!)

T. O'Heir · April 30, 2018, 12:42 PM

Makes no difference who made the barrel. It's regular dry firing of a rim fire that can cause chambers to get peened and the occasional broken firing pin.
Never had any issue with my 41 though. Only dropped the fp for storage though.

April 27, 2018, 04:19 PM	#1
mikemyers Junior Member Join Date: June 27, 2010 Posts: 13	Dry Firing S&W Model 41 with Clark Barrel I bought a Clark Barrel for my S&W Model 41 two years ago, as I wanted to add a red dot sight, but didn't want to drill holes in the original 1980's barrel. This resulted in a lot of discussions with the people at Clark, and when I asked about dry firing, I was told they do it all the time, as training before a match. They suggested that I field strip my gun, then press in the firing pin in as far as it goes (before it's stopped by the pin that goes over it), and see if the firing pin protrudes too much into the breach area. This got me to thinking - can I remove the barrel, and "paint" the back of the barrel with Dykem, and start to dry fire, constantly checking the Dykem. If the Dykem never gets "marked", presumably I can assume that my gun can be dry-fired as much as they do at Clark. As a follow-up question, if I were to load up magazines with once fired 22 rounds, would those cycle through the gun manually, for the purpose of dry firing?

April 27, 2018, 11:19 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	How about buying some snap caps? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 28, 2018, 09:38 AM	#4
mikemyers Junior Member Join Date: June 27, 2010 Posts: 13	A few years back, I couldn't find real "snap caps" for 22LR. There were only "dummy rounds". They were intended to check the your gun is cycling properly, not for dry fire. I'll check again, and see if things have changed. Last edited by mikemyers; April 28, 2018 at 09:45 AM.

April 28, 2018, 09:50 AM	#5
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Get some yellow plastic drywall anchors. They'll work just fine and are cheap. https://www.idealtruevalue.com/store...xoCEWoQAvD_BwE __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

April 29, 2018, 04:21 PM	#11
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Yea, its what I need to do, don't want to drill my OEM circa 1977 barrel. Short story7 was the gun counter guys would pull them, buy them and sell them for big bucks. I was curisng a Pay N Pak (yep) and there one was, $168 as I recall. I told the counter kid I would buy it. Want to look at it? Nope, buy it, hmm ok. Then the old counter guy comes out from back by which time its in my hand. Oh, sorry sir, that is a mistake, its not for sale. You are right, its mine, and I don't intend to sell it. No sir, you don't understand, it was not supposed to be put out. Me: Yea, I know the drill, its mine, you want to come and try to pry it out of my hands? You screwed up and you don't get this one! Ahh, loved the dirty look. Easily going for 3 to 5 bills (used of course!) __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

April 27, 2018, 10:46 PM	#2
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	I don't know about the Clark barrel but I do know that my firing pin will strike the breach face on my S&W barrel. For the few times that I needed to dry fire mine I used 4-6-8 X 7/8-Inch plastic drywall anchors as snap caps. Cheap and I have leftovers should they be needed later. They work well.

April 28, 2018, 11:29 AM	#6
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	The yellow anchors really do work.

April 28, 2018, 12:56 PM	#7
mikemyers Junior Member Join Date: June 27, 2010 Posts: 13	How many times can you fire one of those, before it is so chewed up you no longer want to use it?

April 28, 2018, 01:54 PM	#8
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	Probably about 10. They're dirt cheap. Why would you want to dry fire your gun after it's finished being set up? Go shooting.

April 28, 2018, 05:03 PM	#9
mikemyers Junior Member Join Date: June 27, 2010 Posts: 13	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfARgCqWCvQ

April 28, 2018, 05:46 PM	#10
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	In my mind, with such a heavy gun, light trigger and low recoil, dry firing doesn't really apply. I'm using a 2 moa red dot on my gun and that is giving me input on poa and poi. And I don't have to round up snap caps on the floor. But that's just me. Happy shooting. Hope you enjoy your 41 as much as I do mine.

April 30, 2018, 12:42 PM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Makes no difference who made the barrel. It's regular dry firing of a rim fire that can cause chambers to get peened and the occasional broken firing pin. Never had any issue with my 41 though. Only dropped the fp for storage though. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!