Dry Fire on Revolver or Auto Pistol?

[TheProf]

Okay... I have done "dry fires" in a revolver using snap caps...

But is there an equivalent method for auto pistols? In a revolver dry fire exercise, I get the full feel of the trigger pull...and more importantly, repeated trigger pulls.

In an auto pistol, (DA/SA)...the slide would not cycle in a dry fire exercise. Is there another option?

I have not bought snap caps for my M9, but if I were to use snap caps, I'm thinking that I would be able to at least do repeated DA shots... is this correct? (albeit, the slide would not cycle). I would like to know...before I invest in 9mm snap caps.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

If double action, yes you can do repeated DA trigger pulls on all guns in my knowledge base, the Beretta included.

For single action, you'd have to either cycle the slide or thumb cock. Personally, I don't like getting into the habit of thumb cocking any handgun.

That being said, when you get into striker fired pistols (Glock, XD, etc) things can get kind of hairy because some are capable of what they call double strike capability and some are not.

 

[GRIZ22]

If double action, yes you can do repeated DA trigger pulls on all guns in my knowledge base, the Beretta included.


DA centerfire revolvers are not problem to my experience but there is a word of caution regarding Berettas. Firing pins in at least the 84 and 92 and Taurus have a shoulder which stops the firing pin. I have see the tip of the firing pin break off here. The manuals for these guns said no dry firing without a snap cap.

Not sure if the design has changed but I would err on the side of caution, moreso if this is a SD gun.

ps You can see the shoulder I'm talking about in the link

http://e-gunparts.com/products_new.asp?CatID=9296

 

[KJS]

^By coincidence I was just looking through a Beretta 92 owners manual and it does indeed say that snap caps must be used in that gun.

 

[Sunray]

"...slide would not cycle..." Doesn't need to cycle. Dry firing is about practicing sight picture, trigger control and breathing.

 

[nalioth]

^By coincidence I was just looking through a Beretta 92 owners manual and it does indeed say that snap caps must be used in that gun.

By coincidence, did you note if that was a "lawyer recommended inclusion" or not?

Modern centerfire weapons are fine to dry fire.

If the OP needs any more info, he's welcome to search this forum for the thousands of these "Can I dry fire?" threads already here. .

 

[NMGonzo]

I could dry fire my SA glock by pulling the slide a little bit.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Dry firing pistols that require the action of the slide to reset the striker or hammer with snap caps does require some extra consideration. Only pull the slide back far enough to reset the mechanism, not so far that you eject your snap cap.

 

[W.E.G.]

The eternal question in search of the eternal answer.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1265473&postcount=5

If it were me, I would buy a spare firing pin, and stick it in my sock drawer for a rainy day.
Then I would dry fire the hell out of that Beretta WITHOUT SNAP CAPS.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

I wouldn't worry too much about the firing pin breaking on the Beretta. I have dry fired mine thousands of times with no discernible wear on the firing pin other than what would be expected with shooting thousands of live rounds which I also did. The FP on the M9 is a rather stout little piece of metal and is very resilient.

If it makes you feel better, by a firing pin and keep it in the sock drawer for a rainy day like an above poster suggested. You shouldn't have any problems though. I work on the Air Forces guns every day (the beretta included) and the only broken firing pins i've seen have been on machine guns.

 

[Clark]

My grandfather immigrated from Sweden and bought an Iver Johnson break top 38sw hammer-less revolver for the Alaskan Gold rush.

60 years later, one of my relatives dry fired that revolver until it wore out the trigger spring.

20 years later, someone fixed that revolver for me, using guitar string as a trigger spring.

10 years later, I bought many break top revolvers for ~$35 each.
I learned how to replace the trigger spring.

It seems to me that more than half the 100 year old revolvers have been used as a hammer at one time, and have nail head marks on the butt of the frame.

 

[GRIZ22]

I wouldn't worry too much about the firing pin breaking on the Beretta.

I've seen 3 broken firing pins on 92s and 1 on an 84. These were all police guns and dry fired regularly. I would worry about it. The pins all broke right at the shoulder that stops forward movement.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

Griz- I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I am simply stating that in my experience which includes 5 years, 4 different bases, and over 1000 M9's I haven't seen it happen. Just over a quarter of those weapons were used in day to day weapon training where a ton of dry firing was accomplished.

Maybe the 92s you got were just a bad batch, where the metallurgy in the FP was off ever so slightly. I just simply can't justify someone worrying about this, when my first hand experience tells me otherwise.

 

[JKimball]

Snap caps are also good for running malfunction drills, i.e. lock the slide back, put one in the chamber, insert mag with snap caps and hit the release. That is a fun one to practice clearing and you can do it at home with snap caps (instead of at the range with ammo.) It also helps get the correct feel when you practice loading a new magazine from empty (slidelock.) I'd say go ahead and get some.