Dry firing is defined the act of discharging a weapon without any ammunition in it. It can also be known when drawing a bow to full draw, and quickly releasing the string without an arrow on it. Dry firing on a gun is when the trigger is pulled, and the firing hammer falls, but because there is no round in the chamber, no explosion happens in the chamber. This is normally a bad thing, because dry firing can damage the inner mechanics of the gun, wearing down the firing pin. The firing pin will go further than normal in the gun and strike the frame, damaging both parts.
For dry firing, we need to take into account that there are two types of gun firing mechanisms: Center fire and Rim fire. A center fire gun uses bullets that have a primer cartridge in the center of the back of the casing. The firing pin of a center fire gun is a thin, centered piece of metal that strikes the casing in the center of it’s back. Rim fire cartridges have the primer all along the bottom of the cartridge. The bullet is discharged when the firing pin hits the bottom edge of the casing, striking the gunpowder and igniting it.
Dry fire training does offer many benefits to new shooters. It allows them to become more familiar with the act of actually pulling the trigger, giving good trigger discipline warmups. If you gave a loaded pistol to someone who knew nothing about gun safety, there would be a lot more gun accidents. Teaching an inexperienced shooter how to use a trigger is easier when there is no threat of an accidental discharge. Along with teaching inexperienced shooters, dry firing can help people identify malfunctions with their guns before shooting them. An out-of-place click from the pistol could be a sign that something else is wrong with your gun, and you should take another look before firing it loaded.
When it isn’t possible to make it to the range for some training, dry firing offers an easy solution for that problem. Training at home with your pistol or rifle is safer and easier than having to go to a range and shoot actual rounds, which is both expensive and time-consuming. You can also use home shooting simulator or virtual shooting range. Before dry firing, however, always make sure your gun is unloaded and clear of any rounds that could be in the chamber. If you are a beginner, make sure you have an experienced shooter with you to help you through the process. They will also be able to offer you tips that can help your overall skill and knowledge of safety with firearms.
While there are negatives to dry firing your weapons, the positive sides are more beneficial to the shooter. Gaining safety training and learning how to be safe with weapons is a crucial part of any type of shooting, whether it be sport, hunting, or just recreational. Guns are popular with lots of people, both men and women. Defensive training or hunting reveals the innate nature to provide and protect one’s family. But to do that, training is required. In conclusion, I would say that dry fire training is an overall good thing to do with new shooters. It is how I was taught, and how my teacher was taught. Using guns is a great power. But with great power also comes great responsibility. And that responsibility is knowing how to be safe with these weapons. And it all starts when the weapon is placed in someone’s hands for the first time.
