The dry firing myth

[coloradokevin]

Why is it that the "Don't EVER dry fire your gun" myth still seems to persist, even among so-called experts, and especially with guns where dry-firing is a totally safe practice?

In the past week I've heard people being told not to dry fire AR-15s in two different gun stores, and in one case the employee gave the customer a butt-chewing about how he might have "ruined the firearm" after he tested the trigger (before receiving a warning about the supposed "dangers" of dry-firing).

For those of you who may not have figured this out yet, that's utter nonsense with most of today's guns. I'm not saying that every single gun is safe to dry fire, but an AR-15, a Glock, most bolt guns, and many other common firearms are completely safe to dry fire.

In some of my guns that I've trained extensively with I'm sure I've dry-fired them far more than 10,000 times each, without issues.

I won't dry fire a bow, I won't dry fire an AR-15 with the upper receiver removed (without a hammer block), and I won't dry-fire old collector pieces. But, to suggest that you'll damage a modern combat-platform firearm by dry firing it is simply silly. I've been regularly dry firing one of my Glocks since 1996, and one of my AR-15s since 1997… no problems.



Whew… ::End Rant::

I fear I may have just opened the flood gates on this subject… Flame away if you'd like, but please back it up with actual evidence of damage done, not anecdotal reports from gun shop employees. Every competitive shooter I know routinely dry fires, and very few ever use snap caps.

 

[Tirod]

Oh, gee, a long series of posts by offended traditionalists who will report every anecdotal story they have ever heard second hand will now be documented.

<popcorn icon>

 

[1911Tuner]

It has deep roots, going back to a time when dry firing could and often did damage to guns of the era.

And it even caused some problems in more modern guns. When I was a teenager...despite my father's instructions to never "snap" one...I broke the firing pin in a High Standard Flite King with less than about 20 dry firings.

And old habits die hard. To this day...even though the logical side of my brain says it's okay...I still cringe a little inside whenever somebody dry fires a double-action revolver with the firing pin mounted on the hammer. Personally, I "dub" the hammer by laying my thumb across it to retard its fall whenever I test the action on a Smith & Wesson revolver. I don't actually apply force to the hammer. It still hits the frame. It just softens the blow.

And of course, the no dry firing rule applies to 1873 SAA revolvers and Uberti clones.

There's also some evidence that Ruger transfer bars that operate with transfer bar "pinch" have had the bars break with a lot of dry firing. This condition is a defect that shows up in a few Rugers and is fairly easy to correct.

 

[hso]

Rimfires and centerfire firearms made prior to 19XX (pick a year) have a basis for the prohibition on dry firing, but this no longer applies as a general rule. OTOH, since there are firearms that do not tolerate dry firing still made and still out there the rule isn't myth.

 

[Grumulkin]

The Thompson/Center Encore is a modern firearm you shouldn't dry fire.

 

[OilyPablo]

Many folks learned on rimfire .22's. After the safety rules, first came the no dry fire rule.

My Colt Trooper I avoid it.

AR-15 (and many guns) never pull the trigger with just the lower. Maybe this is what got the guy in the OP all revved up.

 

[jmr40]

There are probably more myths in the shooting sports that people simply refuse to recognize as myth than in any other activity that I can think of. This is just one of many.

Some, such as dry firing, may have been true years ago and people simply haven't kept up. Most however were never true. It is hard to imagine that our grandfathers really didn't know what they were talking about all of the time.

 

[Sav .250]

If it works for you ,and it looks like it has...........dry fire away.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I have a revolver with an extended firing pin that I do not dry fire due to the different geometry. I used to do it prior to that change though. And I no longer do it on my CZ75. I recently found that the roll-pin that retains the firing pin is getting pretty beat up.

I dry fire all of my guns.... at least until they give me a reason not to.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

It's wrong to prattle on about the no-no of dry firing every single gun--but there sure are a few exceptions still out there. I've lectured my kids on the guns that must never be dry fired w/o snap caps chambered. In particular this list includes a family heirloom (very early) Colt Trooper III and a Romanian Tokarev. I also prefer not to snap the double shotguns we have--they're nothing special, but it isn't worth the torment of trying to repair them if the pins break. The kids are used to me saying 'go ahead and snap it' and I make a point of saying that to other folks handling our weapons as well--that clears up any misgiving they might have. Of course it's always a faux pas to snap someone's weapon without their go ahead.

 

[Curator]

I make a point of NOT dry-firing other people's guns. Both my T/C Encore and several of my NEF/H&R Handi-rifles have had broken firing fins from my students dry firing them. Many rim-fire guns should not be dry-fired as well. If the owner's manual days dry firing is OK, then go for it. I bought a Glock specifically because dry firing is approved training technique.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

The no dry fire rule applies to firearms without a floating firing pin design. Most striker fired pistols like Glock and XD's are fine to dry fire. Glock requires it for field strip. The AR-15 also has a floating firing pin. Older revolvers with the firing pin mounted on the hammer are one example of a gun you don't want to dry fire. You also want to avoid dry firing most rimfire guns because of their design. They strike the rim of the cartridge. Without something in the chamber the firing pin will slam into the chamber wall leaving a dent. This will eventually cause the gun to malfunction. Ruger is one exception of a .22 design you can dry fire. Their Mark series pistols require a dry fire to disassemble. The same is true for their SR-22 pistol series. They have firing pin stops built in. But those examples are the exception. Most people don't want to take the time to do the research on which ones are okay to dry fire and which aren't so they use the blanket statement "don't dry fire any gun!" It is true that if you live by that philosophy you won't hurt any of your guns.

 

[taliv]

on an AR, about the closest thing to dry firing you shouldn't do is pull the trigger when the lower is separated from the upper. allowing the hammer to go forward and strike the lower (instead of the firing pin/BCG which normally stops it) will damage the alum lower.

on 22lr, i make sure they have a cut out for the firing pin before i ever dry fire them

one tangent i've always been a little curious about... when i got my wilson supergrade back a little over 10 years ago, wilson insisted that you shouldn't drop the slide on an empty chamber with no mag in the gun because it would damage the link thingy. so i've always been careful about that but i wonder if it's just a myth like dry firing too

 

[243winxb]

Dry Fire From S&W

Q: Can I dry fire my Smith & Wesson?

A: Yes, except for the .22 caliber pistols which includes models 22A, 22S, 422, 2206, 2214, 2213 and 41.

.22 caliber revolvers such as models 17, 43, 63, 317 and 617 also should not be dry fired.

Q: Why can't I dry fire my .22 pistol or revolver?

A: Dry firing a S&W .22 pistol or revolver will cause damage to the firing pin.

From S&W here > http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_757815_-1_757814_757812_image#2 Dry fire all you want, its not my gun.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I don't see a reason why you can't dry fire modern guns. Heck, to break down a Glock you have to dry fire it! I don't dry fire pump shotguns though because of something I saw when I was a kid. When I was around 9 or 10 I watched my cousin dry fire a pump shotgun and a metal piece came flying out of the end of the barrel. It wasn't my gun and I was too young to know what happened but I assumed it was the firing pin? Anyway, the verbal beat down my Uncle gave to my cousin was enough to scare me from dry firing a pump shotgun 25 years later!

 

[Robert]

My Glock get dry fired almost everyday.

 

[guyfromohio]

I always ask and have never been denied. Although, I was traveling in TX and landed in an Academy Sports where signs were posted all over.

 

[1911Tuner]

one tangent i've always been a little curious about... when i got my wilson supergrade back a little over 10 years ago, wilson insisted that you shouldn't drop the slide on an empty chamber with no mag in the gun because it would damage the link thingy. so i've always been careful about that but i wonder if it's just a myth like dry firing too

It won't hurt the link, but it can do some damage to the lower barrel lug if it becomes a habit.

 

[TimSr]

I think this thread would be better served in discussing the etiquette of handling a gun that does not belong to you as opposed to listing all the guns that can and cannot be dry fired.

Whether you know it to be safe or not, I believe a person should always ask permission from the owner to dry fire a weapon before doing so. I would not purchase a weapon that I have not thoroughly tested the trigger, but its up to the gun owner or store to decide if they will accommodate my request, provide snap caps or something to make them feel better, or send me on my way to buy elsewhere. You own it, you get to make the rules. I make S&W owners wear latex gloves before touching my Rugers.

 

[Rule3]

As often heard in the place of business.

"Why can't we change this and do it another better way"

"We can't"

"Why"

"Because we have always done it this way."

 

[buck460XVR]

My feelings are, with your own firearms, if you feel it's okay, go ahead and dry-fire away. With someone else's firearm, just like field stripping it, ask first. In a gun store, one must realize that the majority of customers there are not die hard gun enthusiasts, with vast knowledge of firearms and their operation, who post daily on multiple gun forums. They are folks that know where the cartridges go in and the bullets come out. For these folks the general rule of "never dry fire" is a good thing until they are instructed otherwise.

 

[Stargazer65]

I make S&W owners wear latex gloves before touching my Rugers.

My Rugers often occupy the same safe and bag as my S&Ws. They sometimes even touch each other! So there, TimSr.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If it isn't your gun, you should always ask first. If it becomes your gun, read the manual. If you can't find the info in the manual, contact the manufacturer and ask.

Some guns are perfectly safe to dry fire. Some are not. If you don't know which is which, find out. Snap caps are cheap too, so I see no reason not to use them.

 

[ironworkerwill]

M16A2's are dry fired a lot during military service.

Some Rugers should not be dry fired with the mag removed. P345 for example.

An old Springfield 22lr of my grandpaps, had to have the firing pin fixed from repeated dry firing from my dad and uncles.

Not all weapons should be dry fired yet some it won't hurt. Knowing which ones are the key.

I never dry fire a gun that doesn't belong to me. Unless its with the owners permission.

 

[DHJenkins]

OP calls it a myth, then admits it doesn't apply to every firearm.

Misapplied? Yes. Mythic? Obviously not.