Dry firing semi autos

[battleship]

What kind of damage if any, can occure to the firing mechanisem or fireing pin when you dry fire a semi auto with no snap cap in the chamber.
How can mechanical wear be any greater on a firing pin slamming into the primmer than a firing pin being stop by its own length of travel through the apperture that houses it.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

I've always felt the same way, however I guess its better to be safe than sorry.

From what I've read, its really relative to the firearm, as an example some older pistols like the CZ-52 have brittle firing pins that will literally brake. The most common thing I've heard is usually about the over extension of the pin damaging itself or the fp hole.

[battleship]

I asked because i dry fired my P7M8 tonight about 20 times after i cleaned her, I probably should not of but i was making sure the fireing pin mechanisem which i had taken out to clean was correctly placed back into its rear houseing, the decocker worked but the trigger would not activate at first telling me the fireing mechanisem was loosley placed back in the rear so i had to make adjustment for it. once adjusted i then dry fired it.

Given that the pin upon being released when fired slams its head into the primer making a significant indent before its distance of travel is stopped by its design, i dont see that dry fireing affects the pin, it still slams to a hault only difference being it slams to a hault into nothing with the same exact force. that said i could just be realy ignorant to fireing pin mechanics.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Like I said earlier, I feel exactly the same way. I think with most current pistols it isn't a problem and the occasional dry firing, during cleaning and function checking, is factored in by the designers.

I dry fire my pistols a whole lot, so I stick with the snap caps, just to keep my conscience clear.

Maybe you should ask this in the California Handguns section, I'm sure someone knowledgeable will chime in.

[Xerxes]

For modern weapons dry firing is bad because it is bad for safety practice.

Remember always treat you gun as if it was loaded.

Did you dry fire at a range today?

If in your house you are a grade A certified IDIOT!

You are ignoring rule number two that says all weapons are loaded at all times no matter what.

Rule one is when finger is on the trigger plan on destroying what the firearm is aimed at.

When you dry fired did you point at the wall that is shared with your childs bedroom?

Dry firing is an idiotic thing to do.

Remember the rules, else you give the gun grabbers another reason to trample on our rights!

[Mr. Meeseeks]

whoa...

[steven_m64]

rule number one is great and should be followed but not to the the point of pointless paranoia, just common sense is needed.

drying firing is good practice for training and to work on flinching, if dry firing for practice was not a good idea or was not common there would no market for Snap caps.

witch you can see for sale at every range and gun shop, when was the last time you have seen someone use a snap cap at the range hmm?

dry firing can also be a cheaper way to test out a new pistol and smooth it out a bit without having to break it in with live ammo.

[Wilhelm]

For modern weapons dry firing is bad because it is bad for safety practice.

Remember always treat you gun as if it was loaded.

Did you dry fire at a range today?

If in your house you are a grade A certified IDIOT!

You are ignoring rule number two that says all weapons are loaded at all times no matter what.

Rule one is when finger is on the trigger plan on destroying what the firearm is aimed at.

When you dry fired did you point at the wall that is shared with your childs bedroom?

Dry firing is an idiotic thing to do.

Remember the rules, else you give the gun grabbers another reason to trample on our rights!

I understand your philosophy behind that but to fully understand your weapon you have to dry fire practice. Do you go to the range often? If not how do you work your manipulations? If you dont work your manipulations you dont understand your weapon witch I think is even worse.

[masameet]

During my recent firearms lesson, my instructor had me dry fire my 1911. Must've done it at least 20 times to understand proper trigger pull, front site, and follow-through. Didn't have a snap cap with me so used spent cartridges. An excellent exercise.

In my recent 1911 disassembly thread some other Calgunners said dry firing a 1911 was hard on the firing mechanism. My firearms instructor is also a highly regarded armorer. I trust his opinion. Plus if anything does fail on my 1911, I know who to go to!

[Beelzy]

One should refrain from dry firing .22 rimfire firearms due to their firing
pin being an edge hitter.

Other than that, most modern firearms will not be adversly affected by the
practice.

[tankerman]

Well me and about half of the membership are certified idiots then. Make sure you remind me of that fact if we ever meet.

I'm sure you have plenty more hysterical comments in reserve, go ahead lets hear them (as if we had a choice).

For modern weapons dry firing is bad because it is bad for safety practice.

Remember always treat you gun as if it was loaded.

Did you dry fire at a range today?

If in your house you are a grade A certified IDIOT!

You are ignoring rule number two that says all weapons are loaded at all times no matter what.

Rule one is when finger is on the trigger plan on destroying what the firearm is aimed at.

When you dry fired did you point at the wall that is shared with your childs bedroom?

Dry firing is an idiotic thing to do.

Remember the rules, else you give the gun grabbers another reason to trample on our rights!

To the OP; Dry firing your gun is good practice and is part of getting to know your gun. Ignore the Alarmist Blowhards that don't understand how to properly check their firearms before doing a dry fire exercise (or buy snap caps if you prefer). They act like rounds are going to magically apprear in your weapon between trigger pulls, because of that delusional notion I suggest you stay far away from these types of people.

[p7m8jg]

I asked because i dry fired my P7M8 tonight about 20 times after i cleaned her, I probably should not <snip>

I've regularly dry fired my P7M8 ever since I got it in 1982.

Firing pin is still great....

[dribbler]

For modern weapons dry firing is bad because it is bad for safety practice.

Remember always treat you gun as if it was loaded.

Did you dry fire at a range today?

If in your house you are a grade A certified IDIOT!

You are ignoring rule number two that says all weapons are loaded at all times no matter what.

Rule one is when finger is on the trigger plan on destroying what the firearm is aimed at.

When you dry fired did you point at the wall that is shared with your childs bedroom?

Dry firing is an idiotic thing to do.

Remember the rules, else you give the gun grabbers another reason to trample on our rights!

Im a certified idiot too. Really, the idiot part depends on whos holding the firearm...

[redcliff]

How can mechanical wear be any greater on a firing pin slamming into the primmer than a firing pin being stop by its own length of travel through the apperture that houses it.

Because both a primer and snap cap have a cushioning effect slowing the firing pin more gradually reducing the stress the firing pin receives and also limits the length of travel of the firing pin in some models. It also keeps the de-aceleration forces on the tip of the firing pin versus on the shoulder of the firing pin or the firing pin channel in the bolt/slide and is easier on the firing pin spring on some models.

You'll probably not have a problem while dry-firing without a snap cap, but you are being easier on your firearm if you do use them.

Last I heard gunsmiths do still get firearms in with broken firing pins caused by dry firing. And has been said do not dry fire .22rimfire without them.

[Joe_13]

I found this interesting.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=117771