Author Topic: Dry firing  (Read 687 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline U S Male

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 54
Dry firing
« on: May 13, 2009, 04:51:45 PM »
Just bought a new Kel tec P 11...anyone know if you can dry fire? Thanks

Offline Savage

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4397
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2009, 01:58:58 AM »
Check the owner's manual. I believe KT advises against dry fire with all of it's pistols.
Savage
An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last,

Offline U S Male

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 54
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2009, 07:55:41 AM »
The book didn't mention dry firing so you are probaly right.

Offline S.S.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2840
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2009, 09:45:07 AM »
Get some snap caps..
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SNAP807-5.html

I dry-fire none of my weapons. why risk damaging an expensive
firearm.
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
"A wise man does not pee against the wind".

Offline GH1

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 939
  • Gender: Male
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2009, 12:26:47 PM »
When I dry fire my Taurus .357 I put empty shells it the cylinder.  Can anybody tell me if this will damage the gun?
GH1 :)
I owe my life to an organ donor

Offline 44 Man

  • Trade Count: (28)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2419
  • Gender: Male
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2009, 05:05:47 AM »
GH1, probably not.  I have dry fired thousands of times with emptys in the cylinder.  Of course that was before snap caps were readily available.  I'd use them now for dry fire.  And U.S. Male, you can dry fire all you want with snap caps.  That cushions the firing pin so there is no damage.  When I used to buy a new gun, I would sit in front of the tv cycling the action hundreds of times to smooth it out.  Now I take them to a gunsmith and pay for an action job, or take them apart myself and smooth things up.  44 Man
You are never too old to have a happy childhood!

Offline Robert357

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 410
Re: Making your own snap caps
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2009, 06:59:11 AM »
You don't need to buy a snap cap.  Since there is discussion on using spent shells, I thought I would go a step further.

On simplified way of making your own snap caps is to take a spent round, use a nail (or decapping die if you have one) to remove the primer.  Take an electric drill to enlarge the primer hole.  Cut up an old "pink pearl" eraser and stuff a piece of the eraser into the enlarged hole (if you have extra time glue it in)  If you don't have some suitable scrap rubber material, some of the poly-plastics will work, although some will permently deform after a while and then need to be replaced. 

Then you have your own home made snap cap. 

If you want you can also put a bullet into the spent case so that it will feed from the magazine.   (if you don't have a reloading die & press, you can use a regular bench vise on a short semi-auto cartridge).  You might want to paint the snap cap for easy recognition.

Offline 44 Man

  • Trade Count: (28)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2419
  • Gender: Male
Re: Dry firing
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2009, 01:11:54 AM »
Yep, I remember the days before snap caps.  Used to punch out the primers then squirt some silicone bath tub sealer into the holes.  When dry, cut it off flush and there you are, instant (almost) snap caps!  44 Man
You are never too old to have a happy childhood!