linkoln wrote:Dry firing won't hurt it.
It's not like you have a $100,000 custom one of a kind Fabbri, it's an Adler.
Smartarse comments always work so well in inviting a new shooter into our fold...
Unless it's an old centrefire that's already very worn, and likely impossible to source parts for, dry-firing won't damage it, but I do understand your concern. I see no reason to shock the components for no reason, just as I wouldn't dry-fire a bow. But so much modern training insists on dry-fire as a part of clearing firearms (it is to appease everybody else that can't visually inspect your firearm, there is no need to dry-fire a firearm for yourself after visual inspection) that you are probably going to get into the habit, however distasteful. When shooting IPSC I don't recall anybody ever chambering a snap cap or spent case before dropping the hammer, and I suspect most RO's nowadays wouldn't even allow it. Shooting Clay's might be different as they tend to have a different mindset.
Rimfires are slightly different as some designs, usually older ones, do allow the striker or firing pin to hit the face of the chamber, particularly if they're worn. This causes significant damage that can be expensive to repair, and is entirely preventable by simply not firing on an empty chamber. Virtually all modern rimfire designs prevent the striker from making contact, but without the buffer of a case rim to soak up the impact, the firing pin can still be damaged by shock - I broke a 10-22 firing pin, it separated at the shoulder that stops its forward travel.
Few rimfires, particularly rifles, have a last round bolt hold open, so unless you meticulously count your shots, it is extremely common to drop the hammer on an empty chamber at the end of every magazine (using 5rd mags means this occurs three-times more often than using 15rd mags). Less of an issue in target competition where you shoot the same 5rd group many, many thousands of times.
It is always good to have a spare firing pin or striker and a spare extractor and magazine on hand for every rifle. A back-up rifle is also a good thing to have handy if you don't want to lose a day's shooting to a broken $5 part.