Tom1989 Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Hi everyone, I'm knew to the scene of clay pigeon shooting. Just bought my first gun (Browning 325). I've read that you can damage the firing pin through Dry firing. The other day, I was cleaning my gun and accidentally pressed the trigger twice! (obviously, gun was unloaded as it was broken down). Now does this mean that I may have damaged the firing pin or would this have to be repeatedly to cause any problems. BTW I haven't been shooting since. Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 You will be ok we all have done once or twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Once or twice is fine, some older guns the pins can break or can fly out of the end, springs etc can also be damaged.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy198712 Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 If they can break its best it happens while dry firing and not in the field... I've spent the last 3 days dry firing an SA80 in drills all day!!! If it harmed it, they wouldn't let you do it... Just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 I've spent the last 3 days dry firing an SA80 in drills all day!!! If it harmed it, they wouldn't let you do it... Just my opinion Not a shotgun and totally different trigger systems... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 If they can break its best it happens while dry firing and not in the field... I've spent the last 3 days dry firing an SA80 in drills all day!!! If it harmed it, they wouldn't let you do it... Just my opinion The L85 is built to be grunt proof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Queue another argument on the merits of snap caps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Dry Firing, should be with SNAP CAPS. Fullstop: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Dry Firing, should be with SNAP CAPS. Fullstop:Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) If they can break its best it happens while dry firing and not in the field... I've spent the last 3 days dry firing an SA80 in drills all day!!! If it harmed it, they wouldn't let you do it... Just my opinion plug cap lol Private joke Edited May 15, 2013 by team tractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) Hi everyone, I'm knew to the scene of clay pigeon shooting. Just bought my first gun (Browning 325). I've read that you can damage the firing pin through Dry firing. The other day, I was cleaning my gun and accidentally pressed the trigger twice! (obviously, gun was unloaded as it was broken down). Now does this mean that I may have damaged the firing pin or would this have to be repeatedly to cause any problems. BTW I haven't been shooting since. Thanks, Tom Edited May 15, 2013 by chrispti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Why? Because the Shock of the Pin being driven forward, it does not have a STOP so to speak, so the spring compress`s, and hits the pin dia, which in turn will Break the firing pin, simple engineeering really, and yes I do make a few for friends ,till they learn.lol. SNAP CAPS Always: on Dry firing: use the old cases (ONCE) only: BUT ensure they have been Fired: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Dry Firing, should be with SNAP CAPS. Fullstop: Agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1989 Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Because the Shock of the Pin being driven forward, it does not have a STOP so to speak, so the spring compress`s, and hits the pin dia, which in turn will Break the firing pin, simple engineeering really, and yes I do make a few for friends ,till they learn.lol. SNAP CAPS Always: on Dry firing: use the old cases (ONCE) only: BUT ensure they have been Fired: Just out of curiosity, why is it not a good idea to use the old cases more than once (as a substitute to a snap cap)? But in my case, a snap cap would have been useless since I accidentally discharged the shotgun during cleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Just out of curiosity, why is it not a good idea to use the old cases more than once (as a substitute to a snap cap)? But in my case, a snap cap would have been useless since I accidentally discharged the shotgun during cleaning. Probably not the best way to put it. Makes it sound (to those who come in to the bottom of the thread) like the gun was fired while being cleaned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1989 Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Probably not the best way to put it. Makes it sound (to those who come in to the bottom of the thread) like the gun was fired while being cleaned True. Didn't really know how to put it as I'm not familiar with gun terminology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) Hard to believe that the modern gun makers have not solved this old problem, or have they and told nobody Could be like those idiots who drive in fog on sidelights as they think headlights will drain their battery like on the pre 70's cars and faulty regulators Edited May 16, 2013 by ChrisAsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Mother Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 It won't do any harm. The only time I've ever damaged a firing pin is when it's his a primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Snap caps may well have a use in some older guns, but if the metalwork and springs on NEW shotguns requires Snap Caps you have got a problem. Also note that snap caps ALWAYS leave "some" pressure on the spring, therefore making it weaker in action when left stored for any time, if we are to believe all these tales of metal fatigue and damage! How often do you need to dry fire anyway, perhaps whilst assembly/disassembly/cleaning, if your pin and spring can't deal with that it is a very sorry state! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I know very little about shotguns so I'm not commenting on likely outcomes, but it is surprising to me that machines that deal with substantially larger pressures and stresses can't cope with the relatively small forces in firing pin springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Not getting into the debate about snap caps but just to put your mind at rest I went down to shoot the Beretta worlds and the importers resident gunsmith had a stand to work on the guns, he replaced my top locking bar and re-timed the ejectors. He dry fired my gun loads of times while working on it, not a snap cap in sight, he also did the same to all the other guns he was working on whilst I was there. I am not recommending you dry fire but obviously the Beretta gunsmith doesn't feel it's an issue on modern Beretta's otherwise he would have been using snap caps and if you send your gun back to the Beretta importers for any work it is going to be dry fired if my experience is anything to go by. So don't worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Not getting into the debate about snap caps but just to put your mind at rest I went down to shoot the Beretta worlds and the importers resident gunsmith had a stand to work on the guns, he replaced my top locking bar and re-timed the ejectors. He dry fired my gun loads of times while working on it, not a snap cap in sight, he also did the same to all the other guns he was working on whilst I was there. I am not recommending you dry fire but obviously the Beretta gunsmith doesn't feel it's an issue on modern Beretta's otherwise he would have been using snap caps and if you send your gun back to the Beretta importers for any work it is going to be dry fired if my experience is anything to go by. So don't worry about it. I have just had (a well known local gunsmith who had some input to the design of one of the 68? series Beretta shotguns and works at Bisley) an intermittent bottom barrel misfiring problem sorted out, he dry fired it quite a few times...... he also said there's no need for snap caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I have always been advised that the age of the gun should be the determining factor in repeated dry firing. I have an old H&H and would never dry fire it. My beretta 687 is a very different matter. To add to the complexity however, if your gun is an ejector, once fired the ejector is cocked so using snap caps means the ejectors remain under pressure? so which is the more important if you want to release the springs ? I find firing them and cleaning them seems to work for me so I never use snap caps to deliberately relax the hammer springs. I'd be interested to know if this is what others do though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I've been to the Perazzi factory many times and the guns are dry fired there without snap caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 iv dry fired many a time, and its been ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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