firing pin damage vs. spring tension

[jf]

i recently overheard a guy talking about how he always dry fires his gun before putting it away so the spring isn't always under tension, but my training has always been to dry fire as little as possible, anyone have any thoughts? what do you do?

this guy owns a sporting goods shop but has been known to be an idiot. tried to tell me and a buddy that SKSes have built in suppressors.

[tuathal]

Back in my army days, dry-firing was always used - either as a way to practice getting a feel for the weapon or just making sure it wasnt loaded.

As for the SKS, they normally have a 'Flash' supressor...but a sound supressor would have to be made up by a machinist.

[jf]

hey i know, they have kind of a fake compensator/flash hider, i dunno if the dude was lying cause we're young, or doesnt know wtf he's talking about.

interesting comment about the army though, how well does one treat his weapon in the army? would they never tell you to do something damaging?

[skyNet]

Weapons get damaged due to either misuse, or use. You are going to wear out a weapon if you train hard enough with it. I had my SAW built up from the reciever all the way to the carrying handle due to breakage from use, wore out M4 barrels, and generally just put my stuff through hell. It was all to help accomplish the mission.


Dry firing a weapon is only bad with a rimfire weapon. You SHOULD dryfire and practice with your weapon system if you want to be proficient.

But, that's just me.

[tuathal]

Yeah, i'd agree with that. Dryfiring a weapon is a very good way of improving your aim/technique. Its good for safety aswell.

As for treating a weapon in the army. You look after it like it was your own (hehehe, unless you want an NCO cracking your head open). But if something breaks (which it will) they've their own workshops and spare parts stores for that.

[jf]

ah, perhaps it was just .22s that i was advised not to dry fire. i kinda thought the army <3ed it's rifles and took good care of.

thanks for the info guys!

any thoughts on long term spring tension damage?

[skyNet]

. You look after it like it was your own (hehehe, unless you want an NCO cracking your head open).


*puts on his squad leader hat and grins* Oh, so you just want to kick your rifle around eh?!

[tuathal]

*puts on his squad leader hat and grins* Oh, so you just want to kick your rifle around eh?!
hehehe, yeah.
Funniest thing i ever saw with that was a recruit out on patrol across some fields. He went over an old stone wall, but must have bumped his Steyr on the way, as his loaded Mag popped out. He never noticed, but the CS did and picked it up, but said nothing.

About 2 miles later, the newb notices his Mag is missing. CS acts as if he knows nothing, takes the Steyr off him and sends him back to look - telling him not to return to base until he'd found it.

About 10 hours later as its getting dark, the newb arrived back, no Mag of course, CS throws him a torch and tells him to get back out there. Young fella was out there all night (even though the torch gave out). Come morning the CS went out, found him, threw the Mag (unloaded) at him and gave him another 3 hours on the Parade ground before allowing him to collapse.
Lesson learned though, take care of the rifle.

[jasefm]

It's fine to dry fire non rim fire arms. Any tool that you use will ware out. I carry on the job and replace mine every year (one gun a year tax write off). I have a sig p226 that I've had for 7 years and dry fire it every week (A LOT). It's a good idea to replace all gun springs at least every year if you use it every day. I would worry about magazine springs the most. Mine stay loaded and are replaced every month.
Wolfe and Wilson Combat are good spring companies.

[drktitan56]

Mag springs shouldn't wear out that fast. Replacing every month is a waist of money. Also your spring on your slide should only be replaced if you are having feed problems to eliminate errors. I have only had to replace one after using my firearm almost everyday in 2 yrs of use.