Dry Firing is a hot topic amongst firearm enthusiasts, seasoned shooters, and new gun owners. There are many opinions, a lot of confusion, and persistent myths surrounding the topic. You have probably asked the question, “Does dry firing damage your firearm?” This question can’t really be answered with a simple yes or no because it truly depends on the firearm.
In this article, we’ll break down the myths, explore the mechanics behind dry firing, and help you understand which firearms are safe to dry fire—and which aren’t. Let’s set the record straight.
What is Dry Firing and Why do People Worry About it
In simple terms, dry firing is the act of pulling the trigger and firing a firearm without live ammunition in the chamber. Its commonly used purposes include:
- Training and Practice for trigger control, sight alignment, and reaction time.
- Simulated Drills, without noise, recoil, and the risk of live ammunition.
- Testing Mechanics, ensuring that the firearm is in good working order.
Dry firing is both cost-effective and low maintenance, and great for practicing your shooting skills on a budget.
What’s the Worry
Damage to the firearm is the worry. This comes from the way certain firearms’ firing mechanisms have been designed. Dry firing can cause wear or component breakdown in some cases. The point to keep in mind is that not all firearms are created equally. Whether dry fire is harmful or not depends largely on the type of firearm that you are using.
Although through research, understanding, and knowing your firearm, you can ease your worry. Adding the proper tools for dry fire, such as snap caps or dry fire laser cartridges (caliber specific), such as the Strikeman Dry Fire Laser Cartridge, can make dry fire practice safe and effective.
The 5 Myths Debunked
You are not alone in the thought that dry firing might ruin your firearm. There is a lot of bad advice out there on the interweb. Here is where the 5 most common myths about dry fire training will be broken down. This is where we learn about the damages to the firing pin, the truth about snap caps, and how to avoid common mistakes that really can lead to costly damage of the firearm. Debunking these myths will provide the knowledge and confidence to train safer and smarter.
Myth 1: Dry Firing Always Damages a Firearm
This is the most common myth out there, and it is just not true at all.
The Truth:
1Most modern Centerfire Firearms are safe to dry fire. Modern centerfire pistols, rifles, and shotguns are typically safe to dry fire. Many manufacturers, such as Glock, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Beretta, etc., have designed their centerfire guns to withstand dry firing for thousands of cycles. If you are still uneasy, you can purchase a dry fire training cartridge.
Dry firing a modern centerfire firearm is safe because of the design where the firing pin hits a solid surface, and there is generally a buffer in place to absorb the shock.
However, it is recommended to always check your manufacturer-issued owner’s manual.
Myth 2: Dry Firing Rimfire Firearms is Completely Harmless
This is probably the most dangerous myth circling the Firearm world.
The Truth:
2Rimfire firearms, like the 22LR, are the most susceptible to damage. This is because, unlike centerfire firearms, a rimfire firearm has a firing pin that strikes the rim of the cartridge rather than the center of the cartridge. With no cartridge in the chamber, the firing pin can strike the chamber wall, and that can lead to peening, cracked or broken firing parts, or even deformed chamber mouths.
This is why it has been recommended to use snap caps, dummy rounds, or dry fire laser cartridges by some manufacturers, such as Henry, Ruger, and Marlin. Using a snap cap or dummy round specifically designed for rimfire firearms is essential.
Myth 3: Snap Caps and Dry Fire Training Cartridges are a Waste of Money
Old school shooters often dismiss snap caps and dry fire training cartridges as unnecessary because they likely grew up dry firing without them.
The Truth:
Snap caps and dry fire cartridges are designed to imitate real ammunition without the risks. They are designed to absorb shock, prevent wear and tear, and allow for realistic cycling.
They aren’t necessary for modern centerfire firearms, but they are still worth the investment for those who dry fire train frequently. For rimfire firearms, some shotguns, and older rifles, snap caps or dry fire cartridges are vital.
Myth 4: Dry Fire Practice isn’t Effective Training
This couldn’t be further from the truth, and whoever said that “If you aren’t firing live rounds, you aren’t really training” must be made of money.
The Truth:
3Shooters of all experience levels can and do benefit from Dry Fire Practice. They improve on important skills such as:
- Trigger control, reducing flinching, and creating a smooth, consistent trigger pull.
- Sight picture alignment, training their eyes to track quickly and accurately.
- Malfunction clearing, by practicing clearing jams and misfires without the dangers of live ammunition.
When dry firing is performed correctly with the correct tools, it is one of the best ways to build muscle memory without the cost of live ammunition. Dry Fire Practice is often used by top competitive shooters and military personnel. 4Dry Fire is in fact an essential training tool.
Myth 5: If you Damage Your Firearm from Dry Firing, it is Irreparable
Another piece of bad interweb advice. It has been said that damage from dry-firing your firearm is permanent. The question is, is this truly the case? While dry firing a rimfire firearm without a snap cap or dry fire cartridge can cause damage, it is generally not catastrophic.
The Truth:
Dry firing a rimfire firearm or an antique firearm not designed for dry fire can cause damage, but it is not necessarily catastrophic. Firing pins and internal components can typically be replaced, repaired, or upgraded.
While it’s better to avoid the situation altogether by using snap caps, dummy rounds, or dry fire cartridges, during dry fire practice, you will also create smart dry fire habits. Should anything go wrong, a gunsmith can be a great source of help.
Precautions and Dry Fire Safety Tips
There are always precautions to take when pulling the trigger on a firearm, whether it is live fire or dry fire. While dry fire is safe for most firearms, there are a few that it’s best not to dry fire, such as older antique firearms, rimfire firearms without snap caps, shotguns with floating firing pins, and some bolt-action rifles with sensitive firing pins. Oftentimes, manufacturers will provide advice on dry fire practice in the owner’s manual for your firearm, this should be the first stop you make before dry fire practicing.
Safe Dry Fire Practices
Get the most out of your dry fire practice sessions without causing damage to your firearm by following these 5 tips.
- Always clear your firearm, double and triple check that your firearm is unloaded, and that there is no live ammunition nearby.
- Use Snap Caps when appropriate, especially for rimfire and older firearms.
- Choose a safe direction, always point the firearm in a safe direction, even when using dry fire training systems like the Interactive Gun Range.
- Set up a routine, practice regularly in short sessions to avoid fatigue and sloppy habits.
- Monitor your firearm, if anything feels off, or the trigger or slide feels sticky or difficult, consult a gunsmith.
You can never be too safe when handling a firearm, and safe practices are always best.
Conclusion: The Truth About Dry Fire and Your Firearm
So, does dry firing damage your firearm? The honest answer is: it depends on the gun, but the risks are often misunderstood. Today’s modern centerfire pistols and rifles are safe for dry fire, making it one of the more effective ways to refine your skills without going to a costly and noisy range. However, there is a little more caution that should be used with rimfire firearms to avoid damage and unnecessary wear.
Debunking these most commonly shared and misunderstood myths, hopefully, adds comfort and confidence in understanding when and how to dry fire safely. A beginner shooter or an experienced shooter can boost their performance and extend the life of the firearm.
- https://uwk.com/blogs/blog/is-dry-firing-bad?srsltid=AfmBOoowBhJh4uTjQ6v87bO6pcrhjTUWnJm4acjFT0n-gdju5CWVSiYz&utm ↩︎
- https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/firearms-myths ↩︎
- https://www.strikeman.io/blogs/news/what-is-dry-firing-is-it-bad?srsltid=AfmBOoquAh1dIxeFLV56vn5QGHiUXNqpKA3ox8mmK9_-WD4z7QUaRAcZ&u ↩︎
- https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/firearms-myths/ ↩︎
