Can You Dry Fire a 1911?
It’s an age-old question regardless of what firearm you’re using. Is dry firing bad? There’s no simple answer to this question. Realistically, it depends on several factors, notably what gun you’re using. Since most firearms all use different actions, they’ll all have their own answer to this question. One of the most common questions revolves around whether you can dry fire a 1911. We’ll endeavor to answer that question, and also look at what dry firing is in general, in this post.
What is Dry Firing?
Dry firing has been around forever. The term refers to cocking a gun’s action and pulling the trigger without a round in the chamber. There are plenty of reasons to dry fire. For one, it helps you practice overcoming your natural flinch when you pull the trigger. It also helps you work on your trigger pull in general, making it a smooth, continuous motion.
However, dry firing isn’t appropriate for every gun. It can damage the function of some firearms, making them less reliable when you actually need to shoot a bullet. While there is some truth to this rumor, it’s not exactly as dangerous for your firearm as you might think. It also depends significantly on the type of firearm you’re using.
Is Dry Firing Bad?
Generally, you don’t want to dry fire a rimfire gun. That’s because on a rimfire gun, the firing pin contacts the outside of the cartridge to set it off. If you don’t have a cartridge loaded into your firearm, the firing pin will ram against the breech face. Doing this too many times will eventually wear down your firing pin and make your gun unsafe to shoot.
However, for most centerfire pistols and rifles, dry firing is totally fine. That’s because when you pull the trigger, the firing pin shoots forward into thin air. It doesn’t impact anything, and there’s no damage to the firing pin. So go ahead, dry fire those centerfire guns to your heart’s content.
Can You Dry Fire a 1911?
It’s one of the most common questions among 1911 owners, new and old. Is it safe to dry fire a 1911? After all, the gun’s design is more than 100 years old. That definitely could predate the kinds of systems guns now use that make dry fire safe.
Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about that too much. The 45 ACP is a centerfire cartridge, making it totally safe to dry fire. If you’re really worried, one great way to practice dry firing is with snap caps. These ingenious little devices are the same dimensions and weight of a regular bullet. The only difference is that they’re solid metal, so you don’t need to worry about a negligent discharge with them.
And if you’re going to pick up a few snap caps, why not check out another great accessory for your 1911? Holsters are a great place to start. After all – you can’t carry a gun without a holster. To learn more, discover our entire line of leather holsters here.
