dry firing rimfire weapons

[Im283]

I did not want to hijack a thread elswhere on here so I figured I would start a new one.

I know it is bad to dry fire a .22.

I have four rifles and one handgun in this caliber.

The handgun is a Ruger SAS and they say it is fine to do so. I say BS. I have a peen mark right next to one of the chambers. I very much try to avoid dry firing this gun.

As for the .22 rifles I understand I should not dry fire those either.

One is a Model 60 I have had forever. I am very sure it has been dry fired dozens of time. I have two bolt actions and one lever action as well. If I lose count of rounds in the magazine I end up dry firing.

How much actual damage can I be doing?

Any tips to avoid the empty magazine dryfire?

 

[Conqueror]

You can do significant damage to the chamber face by repeated dry firing of rimfires weapons. However, many modern rimfires have firing pin stops which prevent the damage. I'm not sure about the ruger revolvers, but the .22 autos and the 10/22 have such stops.

 

[cracked butt]

Just leave spent casings in the chambers for dryfiring- the bras will cusion the firing pin. Just make sure to use your head and make sure that all of the cases are fired and empty, or get snap caps.

 

[WayneConrad]

Pachmayr Snap Cap 22 Long Rifle

These feed in most rimfires. They are soft plastic, and the rims get chewed up. You can file them down as they get chewed up, and get more use out of them, but they do wear out. All .22 snap caps have that problem. Some are more expensive, some aren't in long-rifle size, some are for "action proving" only and can't actually be fired or will shatter. These are the best deal of them all.

 

[xjchief]

I use old casings. Aside from recycling what other use could they have?

 

[Packman]

According the manual, it's perfectly ok to dryfire a Ruger Bearcat.

Even still, I don't do it much. I use empty casings a fair amount, if I'm going to be practicing triggerpull.

 

[Im283]

I don't intentionally dry fire any of them. Like I said the mag being empty and not realizing it is the main cause of dry fires.

I have a couple of snap caps that I bought for my grandson to be able to practice loading and firing the single shot.

I dunno how the peen mark ended up on the Ruger cylinder. The manual plainly states it is ok. And the chamber itself is recessed.

 

[Chipperman]

...the bras will cusion...

I know I'm being juvenile, but that struck me as funny.

 

[jackmead]

Yes, I remember the cushions in Susie's bra.