A note (literally) about dry firing pistols.

[Hokkmike]

Only just slightly cryptic here is a response I got from FN America inquiring about dry firing my new FN semi auto....

Hi Mike,

Thank you for contacting FN America.

Generally, dry firing is safe as long as it is not done in excess. With that being said, we do not recommend you dry fire your Five-seveN regularly and use caution when you do.

Best regards,
Customer Service
FN America, LLC

My understanding of dry firing before this was that it would, no matter how much you did it, cause no harm to a modern handgun. I know FN's concern is, from their literature, that a trigger not actually be pulled except while shooting to prevent risk of AD.

Just thought I'd share it to expand our collective knowledge.
By the way, I find the quality of the FN gun to be top notch.

[raxar]

For a fun trick try dry firing a pistol with a pencil stuck down the barrel (don't point it at your eyes)

[Manxdriver]

For a fun trick try dry firing a pistol with a pencil stuck down the barrel (don't point it at your eyes)

Ok, thanks jackass! Want to come over and help me get a #2 Ticonderoga out of my Ruger Single Six? I can't even rotate the cylinder anymore by half cocking it and rolling the gun down my arm. You know how cool I used to look doing that? Now I can't. The damned thing is useless to me now!

[john9001]

you should have used a #3 or #4, a #2 is too soft.

[Manxdriver]

you should have used a #3 or #4, a #2 is too soft.

Well, thank you, Helpy Helperton!

[raxar]

Ok, thanks jackass! Want to come over and help me get a #2 Ticonderoga out of my Ruger Single Six? I can't even rotate the cylinder anymore by half cocking it and rolling the gun down my arm. You know how cool I used to look doing that? Now I can't. The damned thing is useless to me now!

You didn't think to not put the pencil down the barrel until after a revolver was cocked?

[Manxdriver]

That's right, throw salt in the wound.

[Bang]

That sounds like shear trouble.

[Brick]

For a fun trick try dry firing a pistol with a pencil stuck down the barrel (don't point it at your eyes)

PFFFFT! Many bullseye shooters used to do that, but they'd wrap a couple bands of masking tape around the pencil to center it a little better in the barrel and they'd put a small aiming dot on a wall. The sharpened pencil would leave a dot and their group would give them feedback on sight alignment and trigger control

[Manxdriver]

So, now we learn that we are supposed to sharpen the pencil?