Is dry firing a .22 rimfire a problem? I had read somewhere that it would damage the chamber. figure someone here will know the real deal.
thanks
chuck

Some are made so it's not an issue, but I always use a spent case when dry firing my rifles.

Chuck,
Rifles like the Kimber HS and Anchutz 1700 series can be dry fire with no damage to the chamber, others like the Rem. 40X or any that have been rebarreled with a tight head space, should not be dry fire on an empty chamber, the firing pin will dent the face of the chamber, making it real hard to close the bolt and extract fired rounds. If you want to practice by dry firing, I highly recomend that you use a snap cap.
Evelio.

Evelio, is there any problem using a spent case instead of a snap cap?

I do a fair amount of dry fire practice and have always used spent .22 rounds to protect the chamber. After several "firings" I'll rotate the spent case a little bit so the firing pin strikes at a different spot.

The only problem I've noticed is one of my rifles has a noticably tighter chamber than than the other rifles. It will not accept spent cases which have been fired in anything else. Therefore, I save empties from the match rifle and use them for dry fire practice in all the rifles.

Bob
No problem using spend cases, but you need to change them about every 8 or 10 snaps, or they will be hard to extract. If you dry fire a lot with the 1712, they make a firing pin just for that.
Evelio.

Evelio Mc Donald wrote:Bob
No problem using spend cases, but you need to change them about every 8 or 10 snaps, or they will be hard to extract. If you dry fire a lot with the 1712, they make a firing pin just for that.
Evelio.

I have one of those dry fire firing pins Evelio mentioned for the 1700 style actions in like new condition and since I sold the rifle a couple of years back I do not need it any more. Its a complete dry fire firing pin assembly that includes a spring. If somebody is interested in buying it for $45 plus shipping charges send me a PM. Tony Tello

Tony, I will take it, tell me where you want the funds send to.
Evelio.

Check your Email Evelio. The dry fire firing pin is yours. Tony

Even in guns that are supposed to be alright to dry-fire I use snap caps, repeated pounding of metal on metal will eventually lead to crystalized or reshaped metal parts depending on the hardness. Dry firing on empty cases dislodges burnt priming material into the barrel, I'm one of those clean barrel fanatics so this drives me crazy! Pachmayr makes .22 long rifle snap caps in a 24 pack for about 6.00, each one can be fired on 10-15 times, will fit in any chamber, don't get stuck in the chamber, and will feed from the magazine.

On my Weatherby Mark XXII, is it ok to just remove the firing pin and spring for dry firing or are there issues with firing with the firing pin removed?? Would it be better to just use snap caps or a spent case ??

I'm not that familiar with that trigger but a few points to ponder, trigger springs are relatively weak so I'm guessing that there wouldn't be much metal peening happening inside the trigger. But does it change the sensation or feel of the firing experience by not having the firing pin and spring in the gun thereby negating one of the points of dry firing? Also , seems like alot of trouble for a little dry firing. Lastly, I would be concerned that one might not remember to put the spring and firing pin back in on match day, that could be embarrassing at the range!!!

Dry firing with my Izhmash is such a pleasure. Just remove the mag and squeeze as often as I wish. The inserted mag depresses a firing pin stop allowing the pin to move just a touch more forward and strike the case. Remove the mag and the stop does its job and keeps the pin from impacting the breech.

Removing the firing pin on the Weatherby is about a 15 second job, pull the bolt, twist it apart and drop out the firing pin and spring, twist it back together and put the bolt back in. There is no change at all in the feel with the firing pin out. The spring I am talking about is the spring that pushes the firing pin back into the bolt. The issue of forgetting to put the pin back in before a match is an entirely different issue !!

Some are made so it's not an issue,

So they say. I broke my 10/22's firing pin and hurt the chamber dry-firing too much, even though Ruger certifies it's safe.

No problem using spend cases

There is the danger of it training your brain to shoot even when there is a cartridge in the chamber, so be careful.