Racking your weapon's bolt/slide over and over and over and over constantly...

[toby]

Never picked up that habit.

[Steve_In_29]

Not going to hurt anything and simply wears the parts in together for a noticeably smoother action, just like shooting would, but without the expense of actual rounds.

My grandson racked his Stevens 350 (Ithaca 37 clone) thousands of times until the action went from rough to nearly as smooth as silk. Of course he did it while he had the house to himself, as it would definitely drive another person crazy to sit there and listen to it hour after hour.

[paratroop]

I think it has more to do with how annoying it must be listening to someone work an action over and over, and less to do with it wearing out the firearm in question. I would make up all kinds of nonsense too if it got you to stop racking the slide. Or I would step outside and drink some beer and whistle at the old ladies walking their shih tzus.

[11HE9]

I once had a 1911 with a new parkerizing job on it. At first, I could pull the slide back and it wouldn't return forward. After applying plenty of lube, and racking the slide a few dozen times, it finally loosened up.

[anthem]

I think it has more to do with how annoying it must be listening to someone work an action over and over

I think it has more to do with the creepy factor....

[Victor Cachat]

I keep setting the safety on my PX4 off and on, in hopes of it loosening up.

[Gryff]

The sound... It's better than SEX!

Then you are doing it wrong.

[Leethe4th]

"*Will* break the gun", according to my not-so-gun-savvy brother, though he owns several guns.

I think he's just annoyed with the sound I keep making

That aside, does he have a point that I could break my gun by cycling the bolt/slide on an empty chamber constantly hundreds of times a day?

Don't ask me why I rack them so often every single day, I just love my guns that much!

You mean the bolt/slide goes back and forth just like when you pull the trigger on a live round? Except a lot faster.... It has nothing to do with an empty chamber. Have your bother you in law explain that. Now dry firing is a different issue.