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Old March 13, 2011, 09:05 PM   #1
Tip12095
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Dry Firing

Have you ever had any problems with your gun due to dry firing? If so what gun?
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Old March 13, 2011, 09:13 PM   #2
KennyFSU
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Please make it a habit to search before posting a question.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...light=dry+fire
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Old March 13, 2011, 09:27 PM   #3
Tip12095
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Im completely aware of that post. And it asks a completely different question. It asks How often do you dry fire? Where as I am asking if anyone has ever had problems due to dry firing. So please make it a habit to get your facts straight.
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Old March 14, 2011, 02:44 PM   #4
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Nope, never a problem with a gun from dry-firing. I have managed to degrade some snap-caps to being worthless from repeated use, but never a problem with any of my guns themselves.
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Old March 14, 2011, 02:52 PM   #5
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Only problem I ever had with dry firing is with the plastic snap caps, I now only use A-Zoom aluminum ones.
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Old March 14, 2011, 08:03 PM   #6
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10-4 on the A-Zoom
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Old March 24, 2011, 08:05 AM   #7
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Snap Caps

I too have reduced snap caps to junk. I made my own out of spent casings. I de-capped them and filled the primer cavity with hot glue. When dry it offers just enough resistance to give the firing pin something to work against. Does anyone know if there is a potential problem with this method? Thanks
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Old March 24, 2011, 01:44 PM   #8
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Been dry firing for 40 years. Never owned a snap cap. Never had a problem. I have guns that must have been dry fired 100,000 times.
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Old March 28, 2011, 08:48 PM   #9
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Once upon a time I broke the firing pin in a Marlin 29A (22 rf). However I have never had a problem dry firing center fires.

The manuals for a couple of the pistols I own specifically forbid dry firing and for those I use snap caps. A couple of the other pistols I own specify "dry fire" all you want.
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Old March 29, 2011, 06:31 PM   #10
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I have broken the firing pin in an old over under shotgun once.
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Old April 1, 2011, 03:40 PM   #11
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Never had a problem "dry firing" a center fire rifle or handgun. I would never "dry fire" a rim fire, or shotgun without snap caps.
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Old April 1, 2011, 06:17 PM   #12
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Had to replace the first barrel on my S&W M41 22 pistol because of excessive dry firing. At the time I didn't know about snap caps, now I have them for every handgun caliber I have and they all get used regularly.
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Old July 13, 2011, 12:54 PM   #13
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A Zoom rimfire "training rounds" safe for dry firing?

The A Zoom website contrasts its snap caps with "rimfire training rounds" and specifically states that they are not snap caps. Are they still useful for dry firing? Looks like they could be intended strictly for handling practice - loading, clearing the weapon, etc.
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Old July 14, 2011, 03:47 AM   #14
gyvel
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Here is a list of the guns that have given me problems from dry firing:

Browning 1922 pistol: broken striker
Luger P08 pistol: broken striker
Radom VIS 1935 pistol: broken firing pin
Remington Rolling Block rifle: broken firing pin
Remington Model 51 pistol: broken firing pin

In each case the breakage was not from repeated dry firing. Apparently, the pins/strikers were either ready to break, improperly heat treated, or some other defect.

As a result, I avoid dry firing any gun if at all possible, with the exception of 1911s. In certain cases, I will use a the eraser end of a pencil to cushion the blow in pistols that have internal strikers or concealed hammers.
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Old July 17, 2011, 12:42 AM   #15
jimmythegeek
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A-zoom rimfire training rounds are *not* for dry firing

i did find a thread suggesting empty brass - but these deform, you want to move them around so you don't hit the same spot over and over.

Finally, someone suggested #4 drywall anchor!

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/16...snap-caps.html

I think I'll try that.
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Old July 17, 2011, 01:37 AM   #16
elano
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Broke the trigger return spring on a Bersa Thunder 380 while dry firing it. I have a feeling it would have broken from normal firing at the same round count too though. Regardless it broke while dry firing.
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Old July 20, 2011, 02:26 PM   #17
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^ were you using SnapCaps?
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Old July 31, 2011, 08:37 AM   #18
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KMC - The only problem I can see with what you are doing is if the glue is too soft. If so, residue from the glue might be getting on the firing pin and gunking up the works. If not, I don't see how what you are doing would cause a problem.

Tip12095 - As others have stated, the only problems I have personally had while dry firing is with old snap caps (either the rim would break and the dummy round would not eject or they would get nicked/spurs which would get caught in the chamber, jamming the round). Also, dry firing center fire pistols should be ok, but if you dry fire a rim fire, you will eventually damage the firing pin.
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Old August 8, 2011, 03:39 AM   #19
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I use snap caps and have never had a problem.
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Old August 8, 2011, 12:42 PM   #20
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Problem with A-Zooms

The case head is starting to peel back on my A-Zooms. I have a picture here of the used A-Zoom on the left and a brand new A-Zoom on the right. You can see the white line of bare metal on the A-Zoom on the left - if you look closely you can also see that the circumferance of the case is wider where that metal band around the case is.

The case is starting to peel back and mushroom out and if I load the A-Zoom on the left it gets stuck in the chamber / can't cycle the slide.

This obviously doesn't happen with the Tiptons.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg azoom1.JPG (43.3 KB, 2324 views)
File Type: jpg azoom2.JPG (26.9 KB, 2302 views)

Last edited by C0untZer0; August 8, 2011 at 12:58 PM.
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Old August 8, 2011, 10:52 PM   #21
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I've had the same problems with the Azooms, particularly in guns that require racking the slide to reset the striker/trigger between shots.
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Old August 8, 2011, 11:08 PM   #22
egor20
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C0untZer0

Quote:
Problem with A-Zooms

How many have you cycled with them?

I've used mine about 200+ with .45 and 9mm???
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Old August 9, 2011, 06:40 AM   #23
C0untZer0
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I probably do 100 to 150 dry firing exercises a day with my Glock 34.

I try to move the slide the minimum distance to reset the trigger and I've also lubed the A-Zoom to try to minimize this but the case still peels back and exposes bare metal as it mushrooms out and becomes unusable.
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Old August 9, 2011, 09:48 AM   #24
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Have never had a problem with guns that are safe to dry fire. I don't dry fire guns that aren't recommended to do so.
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Old September 30, 2011, 08:53 AM   #25
kflo01
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Dry Firing

Dry Firing def helped me with things like drawing from the holster and getting a shot off, trigger control and such. I actually need to get back to dry firing cause I dont do it much at all anymore. Its a good way to keep your skills sharp if you cant hit the range also. You them both. Dry fire & the range.
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