Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Rimfire bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action and self loading rifles. Air rifles.

Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by jays » 26 Nov 2013, 10:54 am

Hi guys,

Hoping someone can explain this too me.

Was in my LGS today looking at a lever action Browning BLR and pulled the trigger on it.

The guy was a bit snippy with me for doing so :|

Is there a firm reason behind this or is it just "best practice" not to do it?
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by on_one_wheel » 26 Nov 2013, 11:02 am

Modern centure fire rifles are fine to dry fire but rimfire fireing pins smack into the back face of the chamber ( steel on steel ) At least now you know he is funny about it, next time ask him for a snap cap so you can test the trigger, you cant buy a gun without testing that.
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by Swarm » 26 Nov 2013, 3:24 pm

Yep, depends on your rifle.

Ruger I know for example state that you can dry fire their centre fire Hawkeye model rifles. They do it in their tech videos etc.

More an issue with rimfire rifles from the ones I've seen.

I did have a specific example but can't think of the brand, grrr. Anyway, the point is that for the rimfire rifle I'm thinking of it's designed to meet the resistance of hitting the brass and expects it to be there.

If the brass is missing, the hammer over extends and there is some potential for damage.
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by Aster » 26 Nov 2013, 5:22 pm

jays wrote:Was in my LGS today looking at a lever action Browning BLR and pulled the trigger on it.

The guy was a bit snippy with me for doing so :|


Probably fair enough for the BLR, and any rifle with a hammer really.
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by John445 » 27 Nov 2013, 10:21 am

For many it's perfectly fine.

People will tell you that you should never do it, but they're just parroting the same crap someone who didn't know what they were talking about parroted to them.
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by headspace » 06 Dec 2013, 2:09 pm

I wouldn't advise it on a rimfire, centre fire OK
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by Zilla » 07 Dec 2013, 8:46 am

headspace wrote:I wouldn't advise it on a rimfire, centre fire OK


Yep, not for rimfire.

Fine for most centre fire rifles. As usual, lots of people saying you shouldn't do it for anything because they "read it on the internet".
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by buster » 08 Dec 2013, 12:46 pm

John445 wrote:For many it's perfectly fine.

People will tell you that you should never do it, but they're just parroting the same crap someone who didn't know what they were talking about parroted to them.


Yup.

Check on the makers website or manual or wherever and fire as appropriate.
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Re: Why dry firing a rifle is bad

Post by jays » 17 Jan 2014, 9:31 am

So OK for centrefire. Another topic came up here where it was said to put a spent case in a 22 to dry fire it, so that makes sense.

Understood guys, thanks.
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