Dry-Firing Centerfire Rifles

[Snake45]

I know that dry-firing most centerfire handguns (1911 excepted) without a snap cap is a bad idea and will eventually lead to damage. Ditto most .22s, both long and short (there are exceptions, such as most Rugers). But I want to talk about dry-firing CF rifles.

When I was trained on M16, we spent a lot of time dry-firing the things before actually shooting them. And these were dedicated training rifles--they probably got several hundred, maybe several thousand "snaps" a day, five days a week, for years on end (and they were fired live, too). But I don't believe I've ever heard of a broken M16/AR-15 firing pin, at least not from dry-firing.

I imagine that M14s, M1s, M1 carbines, and M1903s were similarly dry-fired A LOT in their days. But I've never heard of any particular problems with firing pin breakage on any of them. Can I assume that these rifles are safe to dry-fire with impunity?

How about Brit Enfields (specifically, No. 4 and No. 5) and German Mausers? Safe to snap them?

While I'm at it, how about Remington 700? I don't think I've ever heard of a broken firing pin on one of those, either?

[Unbridled Liberty]

Don't know about the above mentioned rifles, but I do not recommend dry firing an SKS.  The firing pin won't break, but what can happen is the the firing pin hole in the bolt face can get deformed, taking on a volcano shape.  The next thing you know, your primers will start getting little die-cut holes in them.  Then, hot gases from the primer will shoot inside the bolt through the FP hole, and if you have one of those retrofit FP spring kits, it WILL melt the FP spring.  At best it will no longer fire.  At worst it will slam fire.

It is best to use a snap cap when dry firing an SKS.

UL

[AdamSelene]

I know that dry-firing most centerfire handguns (1911 excepted) without a snap cap is a bad idea and will eventually lead to damage. Ditto most .22s, both long and short (there are exceptions, such as most Rugers). But I want to talk about dry-firing CF rifles.

When I was trained on M16, we spent a lot of time dry-firing the things before actually shooting them. And these were dedicated training rifles--they probably got several hundred, maybe several thousand "snaps" a day, five days a week, for years on end (and they were fired live, too). But I don't believe I've ever heard of a broken M16/AR-15 firing pin, at least not from dry-firing.

I imagine that M14s, M1s, M1 carbines, and M1903s were similarly dry-fired A LOT in their days. But I've never heard of any particular problems with firing pin breakage on any of them. Can I assume that these rifles are safe to dry-fire with impunity?

How about Brit Enfields (specifically, No. 4 and No. 5) and German Mausers? Safe to snap them?

While I'm at it, how about Remington 700? I don't think I've ever heard of a broken firing pin on one of those, either?

To my knowledge, outside of rimfires, few modern firearms have issues with extensive dryfire.  I know you are asking about rifles, but as to pistol dryfire you cited, I have low 5 figure dry fires through striker fired and DA/SA pistols and have taken them through classes that involved some fire at 50 and 100 yards and they seem to have done fine and have had plural trainers tell me you cant hurt modern centerfire pistols with dry fire.  *Caveat* I cant speak to shotguns or the surplus rifle types you spoke of.

[oladcock]

Yep, my pistols/revolvers have THOUSANDS of dry fires on them. If a gun is of such poor quality it can't handle dry fires, I don't want it.....O.L.

[Botbasher]

A friend at work whos son is on the HS shooting team was told to dry fire his skeet shotgun to practice the motions. A few weeks later they were out and the range and the under on his rifle wouldn't fire. A dis assembly later that night showed that the pin simply snapped off and was caught in the workings.

I can't remember the mfg, Remington if I had to pick one, but I'll confirm, told him that there was a known issue and they had better pins available and they'd send one out to him. One... for an over/under... makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, huh?

He showed me the two pins, side by side before he put them in and there was an obvious difference in quaility between the two.

This was a shot gun, but it really makes you wonder what goes into some of these rifles and never gets found before the warranty is up!!

I'll confirm the make on the shotgun, so as not to totally disparage the wrong mfg!

Happy Dry Firing!!

Ken aka Botbasher

[Mr Pete]

Yep, my pistols/revolvers have THOUSANDS of dry fires on them. If a gun is of such poor quality it can't handle dry fires, I don't want it.....O.L.

^^^+1

If a rifle is just a tool, how is it any different than any other machine?

Would you ever hear someone say, "I don't use my car's brakes because they might not work when I REALLY need to use them".

Perspective...

If I get invaluable practice in the comfort of my own home without consuming gas, travel time, range fees or ammo, what is that worth to me?

Is 100 hours of trigger time practice worth say $15?  Funny, that is the cost of another M1 firing pin.  With that equation in mind I'mma go to town like a dry fire monkey!

Machines fail whether it is a car, computer, toaster or even a rifle...swear at it, fix it, then get back into the game.

-Peter