Damping Dry Fires

[Phoebe]

When making trigger adjustments requiring repeated firing, do you actually fire a pellet to discharge the gun? I press the muzzle against a piece of closed cell urethane foam and while I can't measure the amount, my guess is this actually creates more internal pressure to cushion the seal than does firing a pellet.

Opinions/thoughts?

[Airnut]

Depends on type of gun.
Springer I NEVER dry fire. If I cock it I fire a pellet.
Pcp ,SSp, Co2 generally ok to dry fire.
Some manufacturers claim their Springers are dry fire safe but I wouldn't do it period.

[RBQChicken]

I don't have an answer for you but I think you might be on to something.

[SpringerGuy]

Interesting idea. 

Dry firing damaged a Scottish Milbro Diana 23 I owned as an 9 year old boy.  After that lesson I fire a pellet any time the trigger is pulled, unless the air pistol was designed to allow trigger practice.

Some of the finest quality air pistol are design to be dry fired. One example: Hy-score 800, 802 - 5,   

I was trained as a US Army gunsmith (45B20, MOS).  Why risk that damaging your airgun (AG) by using the foam.  The is a perfect consistent seal the foam testing may not seal for many reason. Too many possibilities to list but some examples:  the amount of force exerted downward on the grip, lead had a uniformed density but foam does not, and if the AG is tilted a few degrees leakage my occur.

[Bayman]

In their included instructions Weihrauch says if you need to fire the gun without a pellet put a piece of cardboard on the floor press the barrel into it and pull the trigger. This puts sufficient back pressure as to not damage the gun.

I personally wouldn't make a habit of it.

[Back_Roads]

 It sounds similar to using crossbow discharge bolts, they are short bolts that give enough resistance to prevent damage to the bow, and can be fired close range into the dirt, I rarely use mine.

[Phoebe]

I understand we're conditioned not to dry fire. But, I can't imagine damping like I do being harmful.... unless the concern is too much pressure build up.

I'm not trying to shoot holes in the proven, safe way of actually firing a pellet. It's a "stop and actually think about it" moment.

[Methuselah]

Firing a pellet "blocks" air "flow" at the back of the barrel near the transfer point. Blocking the muzzle means pressure has to build up in the entire barrel length before backpressure slows the piston momentum.

Translation, I will load a pellet before pulling the trigger, or decock the gun.

That will be $.02 please...   

[mikeyb]

I "think" GAMO advertises that you can repeatedly dry fire their spring-piston air rifles with no damage.

In my experience an occasional accidental dry fire does not cause instant damage.

Repeated dry firing does put extra stress on pistons, piston seals, and coil springs. That can greatly reduce the life of seals and coil springs.

Dry firing with the muzzle stuffed into foam or rubber provides no real back pressure (piston damping) and is basically the same as an open barrel dry fire.
It WILL be quieter of course as the accidental dry-fires I've experienced were VERY LOUD.
 
If a spring-piston air rifle cannot be safely "decocked" I choose to fire a pellet.
When adjusting triggers on my spring-piston air rifles I choose to test the trigger by firing a pellet at a safe target.

Pumpers I WILL occasionally dry fire. Same with PCP and CO2 rifles.

You can choose to treat your air rifles anyway you want. I choose to never intentionally dry fire any of my springers.

[lefteyeshot]

When I adjust a trigger I shoot pellets. If I'm indoors I shoot it into a thick paper back book laying on the floor.

[Back_Roads]

 I once was perturbed at the accuracy of a Crosman NP rifle, I over lubed it, think alot of wd40, dry /wet fired it 100 times, left it sit for some time, then went back to trouble shooting, about 3 shots in the NP deflated, pssssst , I tore it down the piston seal was fine, also found a broken plastic spacer that was my accuracy issue. New NP installed and fixed spacer gun shoots very well now.

[SILENT SQUIRREL]

When I adjust a trigger I shoot pellets. If I'm indoors I shoot it into a thick paper back book laying on the floor.

Do you have favorite authors that you like to assassinate?

[avator]

If it were me, I would shoot a $.02 pellet into the foam.    I assume we all have those pellets that don't shoot worth a hoot in anything. They are perfect fodder to avoid dry fire, testing trigger tunes and break in.

[lefteyeshot]

When I adjust a trigger I shoot pellets. If I'm indoors I shoot it into a thick paper back book laying on the floor.

Do you have favorite authors that you like to assassinate?

Usually use a thick paper back dictionary when the pages start falling out and go buy another dictionary. If outdoors I just lay it across my lap pointed down range.