Author Topic: Don't dry-fire.... How come? (re Helping Trigger pull ...) (Read 1170 times)

tallyho · « **on:** November 17, 2004, 07:51:47 AM »

Yay and Ooops!

Yay. I got good and noticable results when I tried the hammer/trigger process on my 30/30 after reading about it here http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=46539

Oops.. but I read about it and did it before reading the "don't dry fire" bit...

What is the reason dry firing is not recommended for the Handi/NEF? I can understand it for a rimfire (I haven't tried the same process on my Sportsters yet), but not clear how it is negative on a centerfire?

Info please?

Cheers
Kerry

marv · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2004, 08:27:59 AM »

Tallyho The reason for not dry firing a center fire rifle or shotgun is the end of thefiring pin can brake off and go out the end of the barrel then have to be replaced. My Winchester Model 88 was snapped one in 40 years, had to replace firing pin about $ 15.00 back then. I don't know if you can get them now. Marv.

Wlscott · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:07:54 AM »

I did mine probably around thirty or fourty times before I knew you were't supposed to dry fire these guns. Didn't hurt it at all.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Major · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:13:02 AM »

Quote from: Wlscott

I did mine probably around thirty or fourty times before I knew you were't supposed to dry fire these guns. Didn't hurt it at all.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

You were very lucky and you may have cracked it and it will break later. I broke a Winchester Model 70 firing pin dry firing it and I would think it was made better than these NEF/H&R's are.

But the best reason is that the manufacturer tells you not to do it. That's good enough for me.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2004, 11:46:35 AM »

The NEF people say don't, unlike some others that say you can with their rifles: Ruger, Remington (?), etc. So, having seen how heavy the hammer and the hammer spring are on the Handi's -- I pay attention to their warning.

Years ago Bill Ruger set up single-action handgun of his on a machine at a well-attended show and just kept it being cocked and dry-fired. It never broke !!! :shock: After several days of that....... :eek: But NEF's aren't over-built like a Ruger, so it pays to be careful.

SS'

henry1 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2004, 02:24:26 PM »

I thought that they say its ok to do it in there directions. They say (I think and I am prob wrong but o well) that since it has the transfer bar safety system that its ok. I also could have swore that it said for the shooter to be at the highest level of comfortability with thier NEF/H&R that the shooter should dry fire it untill they were comfy. I dont know maybe that was on my ruger SA, but I thought that NEF Said it too.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2004, 02:45:53 PM »

i just looked in my manual and it says not to. it says it may damage the pin and the barrel. how in the heck could it hurt the BARREL??

henry1 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2004, 03:31:11 PM »

Oh, Ok. Then it must be the ruger that im thinkin about. Guess i better not do that anymore then :eek: :eek: :eek: Hope I didnt screw anything up! :shock:

:eek:

:shock: :eek:

Wlscott · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2004, 03:43:25 PM »

Quote

You were very lucky and you may have cracked it and it will break later. I broke a Winchester Model 70 firing pin dry firing it and I would think it was made better than these NEF/H&R's are.

But the best reason is that the manufacturer tells you not to do it. That's good enough for me.

I've probably put five hundred rounds down range since then, and haven't had a problem one. I'm not saying that everyone should start dry firing their handi rifles every night. Just saying that if you've dry fired it once or twice, it's probably going to be ok.

JPH45 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2004, 03:47:38 PM »

Idiot here was returning my 357 Max to the closet back in the spring, and while walking down the hall I was fiddling with the hammer and feeling the trigger let off when the hammer slipped from under my thumb. The sound the hammer made was sickening. I tried to open the barrel....not a chance. Broken firing pin. I have dry fired rifles, revolvers and pistols all my life. In fact a major part of my bullseye practice was dry firing my 1911 at least 100 times every other evening. This one time with the Handi is the only time I have ever broken a firing pin, and yes the manual plainly says, Do Not Dry Fire.

Edit: The best way to practice or dry fire with the Handi is to either use snap caps (cheap enough) or keep spent cases and snap against them a few times. The primer will get deformed enough to not protect the firing pin, so keep it to 3 or 4 snaps a case, change it out and go at again.

henry1 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2004, 04:18:31 PM »

JPH45, thanks for the tips on dry firing. Did you have to send the rifle back in to have it repaired?

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2004, 07:52:56 PM »

Easy snap cap is just to decap a fired case and replace the primer with a pencil eraser. Takes a bit of whittling to get it to fit. You might check an office supply store. I once lucked into and eraser pen core that was exactly the right diameter to be forced into a large primer pocket.

The firing pin is about the last part you can get at in a Handi. No problem for an experienced tinkerer, but it ain't no place to start.

hellacatcher · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2004, 01:02:24 AM »

A few weeks ago I would have probley said dry firing wouldn't hurt one but I now sat here with a broken firing pin on my 44 mag, waiting for one from the factory. Don't really know how it happened but wont dry fire again.

JPH45 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2004, 12:34:17 PM »

Quote from: henry1

JPH45, thanks for the tips on dry firing. Did you have to send the rifle back in to have it repaired?

Actually I've yet to repair that. I have 4 Handi's and have just been shooting the Max barrel on my 30-30 frame. It is not a difficult thing to do, just a bit of time and an $8.00-10.00 part. Having another frame available brought out my lazy side. :roll:

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2004, 02:06:04 PM »

Another easy snap cap is to decap a case and fill it with silicon bathtub caulk. I have this for all my rifles, as I dry fire quite a bit.

Marv, I did the same about 10 years ago on my 1956 vintage model 88. I had the dickens of a time finding a new firing pin. finally did, some guy had bought up all the old 88 parts. He said that Winchester redesigned the firing pin several times, but that the newest one took care of all the past problems. I use a snap cap though, just to be safe.

-Winter Hawk-

raynor · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2004, 10:09:50 AM »

Simple way to dry fire these thing without damaging anything is this:

Cock the hammer. Then pack a piece of paper towel, snot rag, or toilet paper down between the hammer and transfer bar. Dry fire away, it won't let the hammer fall that far and really give the same feel.

I've worked on a bunch of these things and have dry fired thousands of times with no problems at all. Just make sure to have a tight wad of whatever packed between the hammer and frame.