dryfiring

[swampratt]

I bought a used Ruger 22 revolver from a member here that got it from another member here with the stipulation that it was picky on what ammo went into it.

Yea that was because some guy dry fired it.
What happened is it dinked and puched in the area where the rim of the 22 ammo would rest and would not allow you to stick the ammo into the hole because of the protrusion blocking the hole at the top.
Just so happened I had my chain saw with me when I went to shoot the Ruger and I had my round files.
I took a round file and filed the problem spot.

So for me it is a HUGE NO.
It is not good practice to dry fire a rim fire.

I am not mad about the buy and in fact I am educated from that purchase.

 

[enuf]

This is good, my thinking was the firing pin, but the rim face - that all makes sense. Good feedback. I am not a fan of dryfiring anything, have I done it, yes, but don't like it. I have a handful of those spring loaded clear/red snap-caps; I like those. Honestly, I figured even with a center fire that the firing pin hitting the opening of the firing pin hole cannot be good on either piece.

 

[red442joe]

The

I bought a used Ruger 22 revolver from a member here that got it from another member here with the stipulation that it was picky on what ammo went into it.

Yea that was because some guy dry fired it.
What happened is it dinked and puched in the area where the rim of the 22 ammo would rest and would not allow you to stick the ammo into the hole because of the protrusion blocking the hole at the top.
Just so happened I had my chain saw with me when I went to shoot the Ruger and I had my round files.
I took a round file and filed the problem spot.

So for me it is a HUGE NO.
It is not good practice to dry fire a rim fire.

I am not mad about the buy and in fact I am educated from that purchase.

The chamber iron linked above is better, and easier on the chamber than the file.

Joe

 

[Aries]

I bought a used Ruger 22 revolver from a member here that got it from another member here with the stipulation that it was picky on what ammo went into it.

Yea that was because some guy dry fired it.
What happened is it dinked and puched in the area where the rim of the 22 ammo would rest and would not allow you to stick the ammo into the hole because of the protrusion blocking the hole at the top.
Just so happened I had my chain saw with me when I went to shoot the Ruger and I had my round files.
I took a round file and filed the problem spot.

So for me it is a HUGE NO.
It is not good practice to dry fire a rim fire.

I am not mad about the buy and in fact I am educated from that purchase.

I swear swampratt I thought you were about to say you fixed a revolver with a chainsaw.

 

[swampratt]

The

The chamber iron linked above is better, and easier on the chamber than the file.

Joe

Yes it might be better if you had one.
The only part my round file touched was the tiny dent that protruded into the chamber.
Yes it would have been nice if I had a swage and in theory the metal should go right back where it was.

I have never heard of that little tool or used one but it looks interesting for sure.

The Ruger I fixed 2 years ago is still in use and is just as reliable and accurate as it was the day I fixed it and a few thousand rounds have been shot through it since then.

That Ruger Wrangler is much more accurate than the Heritage 22 revolver I had and that one was never dry fired. Props to Ruger.

You could not hit a rabbit with the Heritage at 40 feet with any ammo.
Maybe I got a lemon.

 

[enuf]

I swear swampratt I thought you were about to say you fixed a revolver with a chainsaw.

I did too.

 

[trekrok]

I swear swampratt I thought you were about to say you fixed a revolver with a chainsaw.

I know, I was getting ready for a lot better story.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

All of the Rimfires I have owned specifically warned against dry firing. I have had 1 center fire that warned against dry firing (a Taurus.)

 

[mtngunr]

The guy above mentioning a Ruger revolver did not mention type/age....generally Rugers are safe to dryfire and manuals say so, as the firing pin is SUPPOSED to be too short to hit cylinder or edge of chamber, but now and again one sneaks through, so any sign of empty impact means cease and desist, and send it back for repair or install new pin own self or file pin.
Many guns not safe to dry fire, too many to list. Always go with what manufacturer says, then double check. Snap caps are not always a fix except to protect chamber, while many type firearms have a retaining crosspin for firing pin which is damaged by excess firing pin fwd movement, and snap caps do not have the firm stop to firing pin travel which real ammo provides.

 

[Ahall]

Dry firing rimfires is generally not advisable

Many designs allow the firing pin to travel farther than the thickness of the rim and peen the chamber

The impact can damage the chamber, firing pin or both.

Some designs are “safe” to dry fire, but I error on the conservative side and don’t do it. No point developing bad habits.

Fixing the chamber is simple with the ironing tool discussed, if you can get to the chamber with it.
Interference on loading is a common symptom but in severe cases the peening can displace enough material to leave the rim unsupported and prevent reliable ignition

The file technique works, but if it happens a few more times you might find yourself in the severe damage class with no metal to push back in.