dry-firing my Anschutz Fortner 1727 and bolt-action 1761 rifles

[jimb.]

Hoping for an accurate & knowledgeable answer: I want to practice smallbore silhouette at home. Is it mechanically safe for my firing pins and chamber faces to repeatably dry-fire these 2 rifles? Thanks much. Jim

[No1_49er]

Advice taken directly from the Anschutz web site is that "For dry firing rimfire rifles, always place a buffer cartridge or an empty and fired cartridge case in the chamber."

An empty fired case (ideally out of the same rifle, i.e., fire formed) will soon be hammered to the extent that it becomes unusable.
There are relatively cheap "snap-caps" available that do not endure repeated use too much.
Other "snap-caps", made with very robust polymers will withstand several hundreds of impacts.

[jimb.]

Thanks, No1_49er. Would you please tell me the specific name of those snap caps made with "very robust polymers"?

[375Short]

65250521452__6535CD17-AABB-4B57-9289-DA1D70754858.jpeg

Hopefully the attached picture makes it.

I had a 1712 firing pin break. I dry fired a lot, for many years using empty cases. I purchased a new pin and a spare. Never happened again. Anschutz North America said, “never seen that before “. I can’t say if it was dry fire or just a weak place in the pin that eventually gave in to stress. Never a hint of damage to the breech face. If it was dry fire it’s likely a rare result. Personally I find dry fire worth the risk. Take the manufacturer’s guidelines, maybe buy a spare just in case and fire away.

[c4p6t7r188]

I've always used plastic anchors... #4-6 x 7/8 in. Yellow Ribbed Plastic Anchor. Very cheap, a single one can take a lot of dry firing before the outer rim of it wants to fall off.

[No1_49er]

Thanks, No1_49er. Would you please tell me the specific name of those snap caps made with "very robust polymers"?

Sure.
Search 'MEC Dry Fire Bumper'.
After a price search, I bought mine from https://www.shootingstuff.co.nz/mec-dry ... per-22-lr/
A bulk pack seemed like a good deal.

Although it's only anecdotal evidence (I've only heard about it but never witnessed it) both rimfire AND centrefire firing pins have broken by repeated dry-firing, even though the pin never strikes the breach face or other object.

Apparently, the failure occurs because of the rapid deceleration of the pin whereby some part of the pin is trying to continue its forward momentum. The image of the broken pin tends to suggest that; the part on the LHS stops, while the "pin" tries to maintain its forward momentum and eventually fails at what might be a stress-fracture point where the material has been reshaped. Are they stress-relieved after being cut? They appear to be stamped rather than CNC machined.

By using a "snap-cap", the pin is arrested by a relatively soft medium (cushioned), whether that be by the soft brass of a spent case, wall anchor, or some other medium. I can't say that I've had much success with wall-anchors - too soft for any longevity, although they are cheap and dispensable..

YMMV, as the saying goes.

[thauglor]

65250521452__6535CD17-AABB-4B57-9289-DA1D70754858.jpeg

Hopefully the attached picture makes it.

I had a 1712 firing pin break. I dry fired a lot, for many years using empty cases. I purchased a new pin and a spare. Never happened again. Anschutz North America said, “never seen that before “. I can’t say if it was dry fire or just a weak place in the pin that eventually gave in to stress. Never a hint of damage to the breech face. If it was dry fire it’s likely a rare result. Personally I find dry fire worth the risk. Take the manufacturer’s guidelines, maybe buy a spare just in case and fire away.

Anschutz is lying to you, mine broke in the same exact spot, on my older 1807 action. I used the left part for dry firing until I lost it and had to get a dry firing pin instead. I figured firing pins and springs are wear items over time. Worth the cost to dry fire

[375Short]

The 1761 is built like a tank. It also has a much shorter firing pin than the 1712 so maybe it won’t suffer the same breakage we experienced. I would also guess an enthusiastic silhouette shooter dry fires way more than Anschutz may imagine. Enjoy your great rifles, may they slay many a Silhouette.

[jimb.]

Thanks again, everyone. No1_49er, I got on shootingstuff.co.nz.,& will attempt to order the MEC Dry Fire Bumpers. Hopefully, their New Zealand location will not be an obstacle.

[No1_49er]

Thanks again, everyone. No1_49er, I got on shootingstuff.co.nz.,& will attempt to order the MEC Dry Fire Bumpers. Hopefully, their New Zealand location will not be an obstacle.

They seem to be a pretty friendly bunch, and the $ exchange rate isn't too bad either.

[jimb.]

I just got replies from shootingstuff.co.nz and from nordicmarksman.com: Neither outfit ships to USA! Doggone it!

[thauglor]

You dont need specific 22lr dry fire adapters , as c4p6t mention. Get some yellow dry wall anchors at home depot, they come in boxes of 150 I think for $5ish and dry fire till the heads break then get some more. I bought the home depot ones 2 years ago last and they still had the rim on them. The Hillman ones I bought at ace hardware didn't have a good enough rim. The home depot ones evem eject out of my and and cz

But its your money

[jimb.]

Hmmmm, I've tried drywall anchors from our local hardware store, but too soft. I'll have to try the Home Depot ones. Thanks for the headsup.