Dry Firing Ruger .22 Autos?

[Michael Jon Littman]

Am I correct in my understanding that it is safe to dry-fire any of the .22 Ruger autos?

 

[Snake45]

Theoretically, it can be safely done, or so says the owner's manual. :?

 

[9x19]

Bill Ruger's designs use a firing pin that is too short to touch the breech-face, so you won't damage the chamber mouth by dry-firing. However, dry-firing is still going to cause wear to the hammer, bolt and firing pins... although it would take a really excessive amount to actually cause problems.

I don't know if the SR-22P also has that design detail... I didn't keep mine very long.

 

[jjas]

The only time I dry fire mine is after cleaning it. I put a mag in, release the bolt, pull the trigger, pull the mag back out and put it (the pistol) in the safe.

 

[contender]

When in doubt, or you want to make sure you protect your gun,, use snap caps.

 

[wwb]

I was raised to understand that dry-firing any firearm would earn you an eternity in the fires of Hell.

That said, the design of the Ruger autos is such that occasional dry-firing shouldn't hurt them, and the manual says it's okay..... even so, I always save a spent case to relieve the mainspring tension after cleaning.

 

[Snake45]

I always save a spent case to relieve the mainspring tension after cleaning.

If you just want to lower the hammer so the gun isn't stored for long periods with it cocked (or the mainspring compressed), here's a little trick I learned a while back:

With MOST .22 automatics, you can hold the bolt open just a tiny little bit and pull the trigger and the hammer will fall but the firing pin won't hit the chamber. The only gun I've ever tried that this won't work on is a JC Higgins/Hi Standard .22 auto rifle. On that one, ANY movement of the bolt, no matter how slight, kicks in the disconnector and the hammer won't fall.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

I was raised to understand that dry-firing any firearm would earn you an eternity in the fires of Hell.

That said, the design of the Ruger autos is such that occasional dry-firing shouldn't hurt them, and the manual says it's okay.....

I was raised the same way. A lot of old(er) guys were. I have gotten past it, but many haven't. I dry fire my Ruger rimfires all the time with no issues.

Also, does Ruger actually say "ocasional" dry-firing is okay? Or do they say, "dry-firing is okay"?

 

[shootershack]

If you want a cheap "snap cap" use the little yellow dry wall inserts for screws. It is the perfect size of a .22 shell and they are cheap. We throw one in most of our .22's just to keep customers from damaging a chamber. Some of the aluminum uppers with sleeved barrels (ie: Tactical Solutions) can be damaged from dry firing.

Alan

 

[wwb]

.......Also, does Ruger actually say "ocasional" dry-firing is okay? Or do they say, "dry-firing is okay"?

The transverse pin that holds the firing pin in the bolt also functions as a firing pin stop, limiting the travel so the firing pin can't reach the chamber. Given enough dry firing, it's concievable that this pin could be peened or bent enough to allow too much travel. I'm guessing it would take a whole bunch of hits for this to happen, but it's a possibility. Ruger doesn't say so, but that's my reasoning for the "occasional" qualifier.

Edited for a fat-finger typo.

 

[Twoboxer]

Also, does Ruger actually say "ocasional" dry-firing is okay? Or do they say, "dry-firing is okay"?

EG: Page 18 of the SR22P manual

DRY FIRING
Going through the actions of cocking, aiming and pulling the trigger on an unloaded
gun is known as “dry firing.” Dry firing can be useful to learn the “feel” of your
pistol. Be certain that the pistol is fully unloaded (both the chamber and magazine
are empty) and that the pistol is pointing in a safe direction at all times, even when
you are practicing dry firing. The RUGER® SR22TM PISTOLS can be dryfired
without damage to the firing pin or other components as long as the magazine
is inserted.
CAUTION: The RUGER® SR22TM PISTOLS cannot fire with the magazine
removed.