Dry-firing my new H&R Handi .243

[BarboursvilleBill]

The owner's manual proscribes dry firing, stating that if this is done, damage may occur to the barrel and/or firing pin.

I only have a few boxes of cartridges through this rifle and would like to put some wear and tear on the trigger to smooth it out some, without spending a small fortune on live firing.

Any suggestions?

Bill

 

[Reloadron]

Snap Caps? That and maybe some trigger work?

Ron

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

Snap caps; forgot about those; would a fired cartridge with expended primer work? I don't have any snap caps for .243?

 

[Reloadron]

The problem with using a spent case with a spent primer is the spent primer will not offer any resistance to the firing pin which is what we want. That is why we can't just use a spent case.

A Google of "handi rifle trigger work" will get you some info on how to improve the trigger. This is where I tell people that a file is not your friend. A dremmel tool is not either. My best results on gritty new triggers has always come with gently polishing. Anyway, beyond snap caps some basic trigger work may help.

Ron

 

[BarboursvilleBill]

Thanks for the info on needing the snap caps. BTW, I've already looked up trigger work for the Handi, and have found info on shootersforum and graybeard outdoors, and they recommend against user fixes on this. i downloaded a pdf about how to do this (perkloafm.com) and it seems like a lot more than just a Dremel job. I guess I'll just take it in to a gunsmith. Thanks,

Bill

 

[Reloadron]

Thanks for the info on needing the snap caps. BTW, I've already looked up trigger work for the Handi, and have found info on shootersforum and graybeard outdoors, and they recommend against user fixes on this. i downloaded a pdf about how to do this (perkloafm.com) and it seems like a lot more than just a Dremel job. I guess I'll just take it in to a gunsmith. Thanks,

Bill

OK, my suggestion is never ever take a dremel tool to a trigger. Hopefully the trigger will come around for you.

Ron

 

[entropy]

Snap Caps? That and maybe some trigger work?

Ron

You ever tried to do trigger work on one of these? Major PITA.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I would recommend a snap cap.

You don't want to screw up that pin, which is easily done.

 

[Candyman87]

If you have Amazon prime, you can get A-Zoom snap caps in a day or two. Bought some .243's the other day for my girlfriend's new Savage.

 

[Hillbillyz]

I once read that if you pop out the spent primer and replace it with a piece of pencil eraser it works well. That way the firing pin hits the eraser.

 

[Curator]

Dry-firing a NEF/H&R Handi-rifle (or shotgun) will most certainly break the firing pin. If you use a snap cap, it must cushion the firing pin to avoid breakage. Previously fired cases may do this for one or two hits but not much longer. Replacing the firing pin is not difficult but does require the use of a couple of "slave-pins" and some correct size punches. Not exactly amateur gunsmithing but do-able for a "handi" guy. When you have the innards out to replace the firing pin, its time to do a trigger job before re-assembling the gun. Several good tutorials on you-tube.

 

[DPris]

I had my gunsmith do triggers on two H&Rs, I thought it was worth the money.
He didn't much enjoy it, said he had to do some minor re-engineering on the .22.
Denis

 

[Sunray]

"...some wear and tear on the trigger to smooth it out some..." Does just that. Puts wear on the sear and trigger. Is not a trigger job.
Never ever take a Dremel/rotary tool to a trigger using a grinding tool. Needed to be enhanced. A trigger job does not involved grinding, files or anything but polishing wheels and jeweller's rouge.
"...don't have any snap caps for .243?..." Make a DP round with a bit of pencil eraser or silicon etc in the primer pocket.