Are You using snap caps?

No I'm not. The guy at the range said I don't need them.

I would get them if you are going to be dry firing ALOT thats just me though.

Knowing the gun in question would be pertinent. The general rule of thumb is it's ok to dry-fire centerfire, not ok to dry-fire rimfire.

I personally prefer snap caps for all extended dry-fire practice.

you can dry fire some pistols but others it will hurt them. If I didn't have a manual to look up and see if it was OK I'd get the snap caps. It's a lot easier to install those then a new firing pin

What kind of gun?
Rarely do you really need snap caps, but if you do, you don't need expensive gold-plated titanium ones. Get the cheapo orange plastic ones. I got mine from Dillon, for something like $5 for a set of 6.

U will have some guys in following posts claiming that all center fire pistols can be dry fired. Actually - Beretta 92s can break a firing pin with a lot of dry firing. HK recently redesigned the USP firing pin in 2003 because they broke easily during dry firing. Other guns can have this issue too...

It's worth getting the snap caps. Realize that many of them will only last around 100 shots. After the depression gets too deep - the firing pin will no longer hit the snap cap, and it won't be any good anymore.

I have to use the polymer snapcaps on my P99. For some reason - the metal topped ones get jammed up in the chamber.

Make your own- de-prime a spent round and stick an eraser from a pencil in it. Better than nothing.

Snap caps are good to have to practice reloading techniques in case of stove pipe jamming, among other things.

But it'll have to depend what type of semi-auto handgun you have.

I've dry fired my G35 more than firing it with actual bullets. And the gun is as reliable from the day I bought it.

+1 on the snap caps. The investment is miniscule, probably the cheapest insurance you can ever buy. As a general rule, it's OK to dry fire centerfire, and not OK to dry fire rimfire or shotguns. But in all cases, the firing pin is slamming up against steel when you dry fire, so why not give it a nice cushion to lay its head on. Personally, that's one of my favorite things.

My sigma's firing pin broke today dry firing... They say it's ok to dry fire any of their, just not on their 22s

Originally Posted by Jaketips42

My sigma's firing pin broke today dry firing... They say it's ok to dry fire any of their, just not on their 22s

Yes - this happens on occasion from dry firing w/o a snap caps. But there are still knuckleheads that get all upset when you mention "snap caps," and they insist U don't need them...

I'll be using snap caps now. Cheap and gun healthy insurance.

Kel-Tec Manual says "As with all pistols you should not dry fire." Obviously that means do not dry fire your Kel-Tec, but I have heard others are OK. Never had snap caps, but will invest in some now for the Kel-Tecs and just safe/realistic practice around the house for other guns as well.

Thanks for the tip guys.

Maybe a stupid question.....but what about dry firing a revolver?

I wouldn't dry fire anything but my Glocks. Anything with a spring loaded striker would probably be okay (check owner's manual or website to make sure) or ask the manufacturer--trust no-one else. Anything with a hammer/firing pin mechanism has the potential to break the firing pin. Simple laws of physics in that respect.

There are also different types of snap caps. For a little more than the pure plastic ones you can get snap caps that are spring loaded to absorb the impact. The area where the pin strikes will not wear out for a very long time.

I ALWAYS use them, semi-auto or revolver.

Saw you are in VCDL, me as well. Just outside Roanoke in Fincastle, where are you in VA?