trying to get a definitive answer on dry firing

[Dave19113]

Just received my Hatsan at 44 Tac 22cal. I love the gun.... After reading through the manual and then general inspection I decided to shoot a few pellets being that I had a fully charged air supply.

I fired a few pellets and decided it was a little too loud for the back yard. When I went to unload the rotary magazine I realized I needed to cock the rifle to remove the cylinder. I removed the air supply then removed the loaded cylinder, put in an empty ammo cylinder then dry fired without air supply to release cocking tension.

I went online and did some reading and kept getting mixed answers. Some were saying dry fire with air in gun other say no....

So whats the right answer to release tension after cocking? Because I didnt think to keep it cocked until next shooting session....

Thanks in advance

Dave

[dk1677]

It can cause damage in a springer but it shouldn't be problem in a PCP

[pllagunos]

You can decock it by opening the side leaver pushing the safety and while holding the leaver gently squeezing the trigger and it will release the spring tension. Also to remove the magazine you don't need to remove the air cylinder neither cock the gun, just pull the leaver but don't cock it just push it back a little so the pellet probe gets out of the magazine, then push the brass retaining bolt and the magazine is free to move.

[Dave19113]

You can decock it by opening the side leaver pushing the safety and while holding the leaver gently squeezing the trigger and it will release the spring tension. Also to remove the magazine you don't need to remove the air cylinder neither cock the gun, just pull the leaver but don't cock it just push it back a little so the pellet probe gets out of the magazine, then push the brass retaining bolt and the magazine is free to move.

Much thanks.... I was thinking that but wasn't sure... I figured it was the same theory as a bolt gun rifle....

[Rdsail]

you can dry fire a pcp all day long if you want. you will not hurt anything

[Dave19113]

you can dry fire a pcp all day long if you want. you will not hurt anything

Much thanks....

[pllagunos]

One thing I am not sure about is dry firing it without the air cylinder, Rick Eutsler Aka AirgunWeb said it was ok but the manual says not to do so, if there is no valve and air cylinder I think it may damage the hammer and spring...

[WeeHeavy]

you can dry fire a pcp all day long if you want. you will not hurt anything

Though occasionally a breech sealing o-ring *might* become dislodged from the groove in the barrel (I am thinking Mrods here) while dry firing. Easily fixed, but a bit of a pain none the less. If your gun has an o-ring in the barrel (as opposed to on the the bolt probe), it would be worth inspection after dry firing. Particularly after several back to back.
This is just my opinion based on things I have read here. Otherwise, there is no harm in dry firing a PCP as far as I know.

[Rdsail]

the oring will come of off any gun if you dont close the bolt properly.

[WeeHeavy]

It has never happened to me, but I have heard of a few users who have had this problem. I cannot comment on whether they closed the bolt properly or not... good point!

[sixshootertexan]

If a PCP hammer has no way to stop before it gets to the valve IMO it could damage the valve.

[LDP]

If dry firing a pcp while the bolt was properly closed caused the o-ring to come out then it would happen with a pellet in the barrel also. Nothing changes between a pellet being in the barrel or dry firing that would allow the o-ring to dislodge as long as the bolt is closed properly.

[Rdsail]

Just look at the physics of it. if everything is in place and shoot shoot a pcp. There is actually less stress in all the parts than when there is a pellet in the be barrel. The pressures in every component are lower once the air exits the valve. You have free flow and not something clogging the gun (pellet).

As far as the hammer damaging the valve. The only way is see that happening is if the valve does not have a spring and even then It gets bit up harder by the high pressures.

[oldpro]

I can say from experience Do Not Dry fire it! When there is no air in the cyclinder there is nothing from keeping the hardened steel hammer from smashing into the back of the brass valve. I've seen several valves stuck open from deforming the back of the valve and have seen a few destroyed. Best bet is just don't do it.

[Dave19113]

I think, just to be safe, Im just not going to dry fire it.... My problem occurred when I didnt know how to de-cock the Hatsan.

So, when adjusting the trigger do you guys just adjust-shoot and so on until you get the triggers set?

Thanks for all the info...

[LDP]

I think, just to be safe, Im just not going to dry fire it.... My problem occurred when I didnt know how to de-cock the Hatsan.

So, when adjusting the trigger do you guys just adjust-shoot and so on until you get the triggers set?

Thanks for all the info...

On my Hatsans yes. But I save my pellets for shooting targets or animals

[oldpro]

 There might be some confusion about dry firing also, the term itself. Some will call dry firing any shot without a pellet in it. Some will also call dry firing shooting with no pressure in air tank. I'm not sure what is correct but I am one who considers dry firing no air in air tank and this is harmful in almost any pcp but if your talking pressure in air tank but no pellet than most pcp air rifles will not suffer any ill effect. So I hope that makes since to my previous statement and others statements you might read.

[Dave19113]

There might be some confusion about dry firing also, the term itself. Some will call dry firing any shot without a pellet in it. Some will also call dry firing shooting with no pressure in air tank. I'm not sure what is correct but I am one who considers dry firing no air in air tank and this is harmful in almost any pcp but if your talking pressure in air tank but no pellet than most pcp air rifles will not suffer any ill effect. So I hope that makes since to my previous statement and others statements you might read.

Yes... that clears up my other question....

Thanks 

[WHITEFANG]

JMO?
MANY pcp brands report no harm in a dry fire with HPA in the air source. No air I say do not do it. Even with a spring loaded valve set up.
But the RAW guns Martin says do not dry fire them.
As stated with a non set probe firing can result in a blow barrel seal for the probe and possible damage to the probe.
Guns with the o ring on the probe are a different story. You will kot damage the seal but still not fully seat you still might damage the probe. Even when loaded. In a pullpup Marauder 8f you do not set the probe and bolt in the set position you will have HPA blow across you cheek. Not a good feeling.  Your cheek is just so close to the mag. Not a great experience  and I can see possible cutting of the face on tender skin.
Just my take!!☺

[QVTom]

You can decock it by opening the side leaver pushing the safety and while holding the leaver gently squeezing the trigger and it will release the spring tension. Also to remove the magazine you don't need to remove the air cylinder neither cock the gun, just pull the leaver but don't cock it just push it back a little so the pellet probe gets out of the magazine, then push the brass retaining bolt and the magazine is free to move.

This is the way.

There might be some confusion about dry firing also, the term itself. Some will call dry firing any shot without a pellet in it. Some will also call dry firing shooting with no pressure in air tank. I'm not sure what is correct but I am one who considers dry firing no air in air tank and this is harmful in almost any pcp but if your talking pressure in air tank but no pellet than most pcp air rifles will not suffer any ill effect. So I hope that makes since to my previous statement and others statements you might read.

Travis you are 100 percent correct.  A dry fire with air and no pellet is just fine.  Dry firing with no air pressure in the cylinder to provide resistance to valve is a bad idea.  With out the air, the hammer will either batter the valve spring beyond its normal movement and/or the hammer will batter the valve face or what ever it runs into first with much more energy than when properly charged.

In  the case of a Hatsan without the cylinder attached, the hammer energy has to go somewhere.....  and it's not going into the valve stem.

Tom