OK To Dry Fire an 870?

[jambie]

Did a search but couldn't find any posts regarding this subject. I have a couple A-Zoom 12 ga snap caps, but it's a pain to constantly chase them across the floor. So, bottom line, is it safe for my new 870 to dry fire it with a completely empty chamber?

Thanks,
Tom

[Carlo1137]

I'm just going off what I know with rim fire pistols and rifles, which is never to dry fire them. I would just keep using that snap cap you have there just to be on the safe side.

[badboybeeson]

dry fire away you will not damage the gun, ive dry fired 1000,s of time in hundreds of different guns, no problems in the last 20yrs.
If you take the barrle and bolt out, do not drop the hammer as the hammer has nothing to hit and will come down and hit the inside of the trigger guard.
bbb

[Banshee]

no harm to a 870 by dry firing.

[RichNZ]

Was always taught that sidelock shotties and rimfires shouldn't be dry fired. (sidelock should be stored uncocked with snap caps due to firing pin spring orientation, and rimfire pin extends too much without a case for it to hit).

My centrefire rifles i do for trigger practice. Same with 870 - look at the pin and mechanism.... built like a tank.

My o/u competition beretta and my antique/collectables i don't, simply because they get treated that little bit better

[Blackrock]

I have heard well reasoned pros and cons in reference to snap caps. My "personal" belief is why take a chance?

Jambie has a good point chasing snap caps is a pain. In order to remedy that dilemma. I use brass dummy 209 primers. The brass primers are loaded in dummy rounds charged with oat meal. They are cheap and easy to make.

Just my Dos Centavos.

Blackrock

[Kentactic]

The question you should be asking is, is it good to slam the firing pin into a much harder surface like the one on a snap caps primer surface. Id guess snaps caps do more damage then an empty chamber would.

[vmax]

You will have no issues with the dry fire on your 870's but homemade dummy rounds with i pencil eraser in place of the primer make great practice loading tools, with no harm to the firing pin.