Thread: Dry fire-rimfire

Is it ok to dry fire rimfires?
Ive got a new Ruger target and the trigger is a little heavier than im use to even when on its lowest adjustment so would like to do a bit of practice to get use to it.

My understanding was no, it deforms the firing pin. Should be ok to fire with empty brass in the chamber though

I will say no as I have a 22 that from previous wrong assembly has allowed the firing pin to have too much travel and as such has chipped out the top of the chamber allowing case blow outs.
It has a small guide for the firing pin and has a slot for it much like an extractor. This means the chamber is thinner there and this is what has let it happen.
Obviously not the same for most though and I am a bugger for dry firing mine when it is empty before storage.

Yeh that was my next plan.
Can you get .22lr snap caps?

Cheers guys

Depends on the gun. Dry firing is fine in my CZ452. I think it is even recommended in the manual. I always dry fire when I've finished using it as part of my final safety check.

Originally Posted by wsm junkie

Yeh that was my next plan.
Can you get .22lr snap caps?

Yes you can
Cheap plastic packs at GC etc
Good for test magazine function also

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Yes you can
Cheap plastic packs at GC etc
Good for test magazine function also

Thanks

Originally Posted by wsm junkie

Yeh that was my next plan.
Can you get .22lr snap caps?

I use the same as a lot of the Yanks, wall anchors. Bought them dirt cheap off Amazon. They also feed out of a mag, only 1 though. Just keep turning them around then throw away. Will easily take 2 hits in one spot.

Some argue that you can dry fire rimfire as long as the firing pin doesn't protrude so far that it hits the top of the chamber. You can check this by decocking the bolt and checking protrusion across the bolt face with a straight edge. Recessed bolt faces only.

However, even if the firing pin doesn't protrude enough to peen the top of the chamber I still don't recommend dry firing. The firing pin most likely has a shoulder on it and the fwd travel of the pin is stopped by another shoulder inside the bolt. (Some brands may differ.) I just don't feel it's good to have that slamming go on over extended dry fires.

Thanks for the info guys, ive ordered some snap caps

Yep 10/22 is fine to dry fire says in the manual

Surely a fired case would prevent peening? But the wall anchor is a good idea too.