Does Dry Firing a 1911 Cause Damage?

[KneeDeep]

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions on this—some people say dry firing a 1911 is totally fine, while others insist it can cause damage over time. I know most modern 1911s are built tough, but I've also heard older models or lightweight firing pins might be more at risk.

What's your experience? Have you dry fired your 1911 regularly, and if so, have you ever had any issues? Do you use snap caps, or do you just dry fire as-is?

I've personally never had a problem, but I know some people swear by using snap caps just to be safe. Have you ever seen a firing pin break from dry firing? Or do you think this is one of those myths that gets passed around too much?

Curious to hear what you all think!

 

[Mike A]

Dry firing a 1911 is safe for the 1911 just as it is for the M14.




Dropping the slide without a round to slow the slide down will damage your pistol.

 

[CECannonJr]

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions on this—some people say dry firing a 1911 is totally fine, while others insist it can cause damage over time. I know most modern 1911s are built tough, but I've also heard older models or lightweight firing pins might be more at risk.

What's your experience? Have you dry fired your 1911 regularly, and if so, have you ever had any issues? Do you use snap caps, or do you just dry fire as-is?

I've personally never had a problem, but I know some people swear by using snap caps just to be safe. Have you ever seen a firing pin break from dry firing? Or do you think this is one of those myths that gets passed around too much?

Curious to hear what you all think!

Just a myth. Any inertial firing pin is safe to dry fire. There are some rimfire guns that dry firing can cause damage to the breech face. This has been addressed with most modern rimfire rifles, but it's still not recommended to dry fire them. It won't damage a 1911 in any way if you dry fire all you want to. Glocks are OK to dry fire too, if you happen to own one or more of the abominations. I confess to owning a few.

 

[Bob Lee]

Just a myth. Any inertial firing pin is safe to dry fire. There are some rimfire guns that dry firing can cause damage to the breech face. This has been addressed with most modern rimfire rifles, but it's still not recommended to dry fire them. It won't damage a 1911 in any way if you dry fire all you want to. Glocks are OK to dry fire too, if you happen to own one or more of the abominations. I confess to owning a few.

Yeah....me too

 

[dennishoddy]

Definitely safe to dry fire just about any modern firearms.
A huge exception Is the S&W rimfire revolvers like the Masterpiece models which had the firing pin as part of the hammer. It will dimple the cylinder if dry fired. I ended up with one that had been repeatedly dry fired. It cycled fine until the cylinder was loaded with ammo. Then one had to manually rotate to shoot it as the ammo was set back far enough from the dimples that had raised edges like craters to cause drag. If I were home, I'd post pictures.

 

[joepistol]

I may own a few glocks, but I don't normally talk about it..

 

[Mike D]

I always found that dry firing was a good way to check the pin. A #2 wooden pencil in the bbl. pointed at a safe open space, and fired. That pencil should really launch. Not something you would do a lot of, but I don't think it ever harmed one of my 1911's. Someone showed me that about a hundred years ago, it seems, can't remember who, but it really works.

 

[CECannonJr]

I always found that dry firing was a good way to check the pin. A #2 wooden pencil in the bbl. pointed at a safe open space, and fired. That pencil should really launch. Not something you would do a lot of, but I don't think it ever harmed one of my 1911's. Someone showed me that about a hundred years ago, it seems, can't remember who, but it really works.

I use that same test to ensure that the pin delivers a good strike. It does really work well.

 

[joepistol]

yeah, I remember reading about that test..a long time ago..
Showing your age, Mike & C.E.

 

[Bob Lee]

yeah, I remember reading about that test..a long time ago..
Showing your age, Mike & C.E.

Add me to the list too lol. Was that Mas Ayoob or was that someone else?

 

[Turkey]

I've never had an issue dry firing, but doesn't seem like I have as much experience as some here!

 

[Mike D]

.

I've never had an issue dry firing, but doesn't seem like I have as much experience as some here!

There comes a time in your life when "experience" corresponds to one's age, when you reach that, it looses most of it's importance, and becomes history.
I liked it better when it didn't relate to age!

 

[ninefingers]

I heard about the pencil trick from a Military armorer in West Germany in the mid 1970's, it does indeed work.

 

[barnetmill]

Just a myth. Any inertial firing pin is safe to dry fire. There are some rimfire guns that dry firing can cause damage to the breech face. This has been addressed with most modern rimfire rifles, but it's still not recommended to dry fire them. It won't damage a 1911 in any way if you dry fire all you want to. Glocks are OK to dry fire too, if you happen to own one or more of the abominations. I confess to owning a few.

I have read of claims with damage to glocks.
Typical internet lore
''I know a few competition shooters who have cracked the rear part of the breech face from sustained high volume dry fire (high five digit into six digit, i.e 100,000+ reps).''

 

[barnetmill]

I heard about the pencil trick from a Military armorer in West Germany in the mid 1970's, it does indeed work.

I saw it in an NRA issued pamphlet for use with a dot drawn on paper.

 

[mm1911]

I have heard not good on a 1911 to drop slide on empty chamber, don't remember exactly the risk, my gunsmith buddy showed me the pencil firing pin check

 

[barnetmill]

I always found that dry firing was a good way to check the pin. A #2 wooden pencil in the bbl. pointed at a safe open space, and fired. That pencil should really launch. Not something you would do a lot of, but I don't think it ever harmed one of my 1911's. Someone showed me that about a hundred years ago, it seems, can't remember who, but it really works.

I use a plastic bic type ball point on just about any pistol of 9mm or greater size. A wooden pencil will break it sharpened point when it shoots out the barrel and hits something.

 

[CECannonJr]

I use a plastic bic type ball point on just about any pistol of 9mm or greater size. A wooden pencil will break it sharpened point when it shoots out the barrel and hits something.

That works too, and you get to see the print of the pin on the plastic.

 

[CECannonJr]

I have heard not good on a 1911 to drop slide on empty chamber, don't remember exactly the risk, my gunsmith buddy showed me the pencil firing pin check

That is true about dropping a 1911 slide on an empty chamber....not good for a 1911 at all. Also, never drop a round into a 1911 and drop the slide on it. That's a great way to break an extractor.

 

[shorikid]

No harm in dry firing center fire firearms for the most part. Cheapest way to improve your skills and conserve ammo.