Dry fire - magazine in or out?

[GoBoilers!]

Does it make a difference when you dry fire a pistol whether you have an empty mag in or not? It seems to me that there was at least one model of pistol that you should not dry fire without a mag in, but I cannot recall which model. I used to own an SA XD and maybe that was it?

Anyway, I do not want to damage my pistols by doing it incorrectly. So let me know if it matters about the mag in or out when I dry fire.

Thanks!

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

The guns that have a mag safety...need the mag inserted.

The others - choice is yours.

However, in addition to just dry-fire practice, take the opportunity to practice mag changes + using dummy ammo.

 

[phylodog]

Mag out if the pistol allows for it. I prefer not to have a magazine in the same room as the pistol if I'm doing dry fire work. If the mag isn't needed there is no need in risking a loaded mag getting grabbed by mistake.

If I'm using dummy rounds and magazine during dry fire I make sure there is no live ammo in the room I am working for the same reasons.

 

[cedartop]

Mag out if the pistol allows for it. I prefer not to have a magazine in the same room as the pistol if I'm doing dry fire work. If the mag isn't needed there is no need in risking a loaded mag getting grabbed by mistake.

If I'm using dummy rounds and magazine during dry fire I make sure there is no live ammo in the room I am working for the same reasons.

I heard an interesting take on that this weekend. Unfortunately I don't remember which instructor said it. Anyway his take on that he likes to keep his carry ammo within view when he is doing dry practice, that way he knows exactly where his ammo is and that it is not in his gun. He had more explanation to it than that, but That is all I remember word for word.

I am not advocating that practice, just mentioning it because I hadn't heard anyone put it that way before. Though I suspect their are many who do it that way. I use mag in the gun mostly because I practice mag changes. A lot of my dry practice is done with a SIRT gun.

 

[palerider0485]

make sure mag and chamber are empty and dry fire away.

 

[worddoer]

Something to keep in mind, on some pistols you could damage the firing pin if you dry fire them. Check with the manufacture and see if they require using "snap caps" to dry fire. If they do, then you would need your mag. If they don't require snap caps (my experience is limited to the older Glock pistols in this catagory), then no magazine needed. But it is best to check before you break something on your pistol.

 

[chezuki]

Something to keep in mind, on some pistols you could damage the firing pin if you dry fire them. Check with the manufacture and see if they require using "snap caps" to dry fire. If they do, then you would need your mag. If they don't require snap caps (my experience is limited to the older Glock pistols in this catagory), then no magazine needed. But it is best to check before you break something on your pistol.

This is not an issue with any quality, modern, center-fire pistol (anything someone's likely to dry-fire practice with).

IMO, Snap-Caps are for range use only.

 

[04FXSTS]

I have two "P" series Rugers, the P95 has no disconnect and is fine to dry fire. The P345 has a disconnect and must either have snap caps or the magazine inserted. According to the owners manual dry firing without the magazine inserted will damage the firing pin. The S&W's I own; 645, 4506 and 4513tsw the magazine disconnect disables the trigger so it must be inserted. Jim.

 

[KG1]

I have two "P" series Rugers, the P95 has no disconnect and is fine to dry fire. The P345 has a disconnect and must either have snap caps or the magazine inserted. According to the owners manual dry firing without the magazine inserted will damage the firing pin. The S&W's I own; 645, 4506 and 4513tsw the magazine disconnect disables the trigger so it must be inserted. Jim.

If I remember correctly this is the same for the Ruger SR45 I had. I also believe it stated in the manual that the magazine had to be inserted to dry fire with the magazine disconnect in order to avoid any possible damage.

 

[Excalibur]

Mag out if the pistol allows for it. I prefer not to have a magazine in the same room as the pistol if I'm doing dry fire work. If the mag isn't needed there is no need in risking a loaded mag getting grabbed by mistake.

I think that's both a conscious decision and muscle memory at the same time. I believe you need to be aware of what you are putting in your gun before making the decision on what to do with it. It's the same idea where people don't want to have ammo around them when they clean the gun. I don't get that mentality.

 

[phylodog]

I don't get what's not to get. I see no problem going overboard on safety when I'm working with my pistol in my home. I didn't suggest it was mandatory. If I'm doing dry fire work I don't need a mag, it's just going to cause the slide to lock open when I go to reset the trigger. If I'm practicing reloads I usually have a couple of dummy rounds in each mag to prevent snagging the feed lips on the mag well.

 

[Rob377]

Dry fire will get you killed on the streetz.

Live fire only, because you don't want to build muscle memory of firing without recoil. That will make your double-taps super slow.

 

[phylodog]

Wow

 

[Roadie]

Dry fire will get you killed on the streetz.

Live fire only, because you don't want to build muscle memory of firing without recoil. That will make your double-taps super slow.

 

[Rob377]

It's a safety issue as well. ALL guns are ALWAYS loaded. Dry fire implies they aren't. Not safe.

 

[phylodog]

If all guns were always loaded every Glock on the planet that has been cleaned would have been negligently discharged. I currently have four which haven't. Dry fire doesn't kill anyone if done properly.

 

[ModernGunner]

Wow

Uh... yeah. Agreed, phylo.

Just to clarify, dry firing will not slow down double-taps. Nor will it negatively affect muscle memory in any manner whatsoever.

I always use Snap Caps, 'cause I have 'em and there's no harm in using them. For a Glock, one needs only to pull the slide back, like 1/4" to reset the trigger, so there's no issue with locking the slide back or ejecting the Snap Cap.

I also use them for mag change practice (mags full w/ Snap Caps) 'cause they add back some 'missing weight', and I have that many available.

 

[chezuki]

Dry fire will get you killed on the streetz.

Live fire only, because you don't want to build muscle memory of firing without recoil. That will make your double-taps super slow.

Lol, I see what you did there.

 

[Dim Mak]

I've never seen a "fight" between a safety Nazi and a non-safety Nazi... My money is on the safety Nazi!

 

[451_Detonics]

Just remember the rule, never point your gun at anything you aren't willing to destroy. This applies to dry fire as well because defecation occurs and when the defecation hits the rotary atmosphere oscillator you want to be sure the bullet hits something that is not near and dear to you. Buy or make a practice magazine that cannot be loaded with ammo.