Is dry firing bad for your gun?
For most modern centerfire pistols, no. Glock says it is OK to dry fire its pistols, and Ruger says moderate dry firing of its Security-9 for function checks causes no damage; both recommend a snap cap for long sessions. Rimfire guns are the main exception, because with an empty chamber the firing pin can strike the edge of the chamber, and Smith & Wesson tells owners of its M&P22 Compact never to dry fire it, while Ruger gives its 10/22 and Mark IV rimfires the same moderation notice as its centerfire pistols. The table below shows what 16 manufacturer documents say, each one linked.
By the NES Defense Training Team. Updated ; every manufacturer document checked the same day.
NES Defense sells a 4-month training program. This page is free and does not require it.
Your own owner’s manual has the final word on your gun.
Is it safe to dry fire a centerfire pistol?
Yes, for most modern centerfire pistols, within the maker’s limits. A centerfire primer sits in the middle of the case head, so with an empty chamber the firing pin moves into empty space instead of hitting steel, as American Hunter explained in 2011.
Glock’s official FAQ answers the question directly: dry firing a Glock is OK, with a snap cap or dummy round for long sessions. Ruger’s Security-9 manual (7/2026 edition) allows dry firing in moderation for function checks and asks for a snap cap for extensive practice.
Springfield Armory, CZ and Beretta also allow it, but warn that extensive or long-term dry firing can wear parts, and point you to snap caps. The SIG Sauer P365, HK VP9A1, Taurus G3 and Walther PDP manuals do not address it.
Not every maker addresses it, and “moderation” is not a number, so for daily practice, use a snap cap.
Why can dry firing damage a rimfire gun?
Because a rimfire’s firing pin is aimed at the rim of the case, and with no case there it hits the steel at the edge of the chamber. Over many strikes, the firing pin or the chamber edge can wear.
In American Hunter’s 2011 test of 1,000 dry fires per gun, a Henry pump .22 rifle showed slight marring where the pin strikes, a Browning Buck Mark pistol showed none from the pin (only slight wear at the extractor slot), and neither lost function. The conclusion: occasional dry firing probably will not hurt a rimfire, many repetitions can, and it varies by model.
So rimfire manuals disagree, as the table shows. With a rimfire, read the manual before the first dry press.
What do gun manufacturers say about dry firing?
Quoted from each maker’s own document. Editions change, so check yours.
| Maker and model | Type | Document | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glock, all pistols | Centerfire pistol | GLOCK FAQs page | OK to dry fire. “We recommend using a snap cap or dummy round if you will be dry firing for a long period of time.” |
| Glock G17 to G48 | Centerfire pistol | Instructions for Use, edition 06-26 | Does not address dry fire practice. Its function check has you pull the trigger on the empty pistol several times. |
| Ruger Security-9 | Centerfire pistol | Manual S-9 7/2026 R11, Dry Firing | Moderate dry firing is fine: “can be dry fired in moderation to perform basic function checks without causing damage or premature wear to its internal components.” A snap cap “should be used for extensive dry-fire practice.” |
| Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus and Shield X | Centerfire pistol | Safety & Instruction Manual, p/n 3017716, rev. 071726 | The manual does not address it. |
| SIG Sauer P365 | Centerfire pistol | Operator's Manual, P/N 2700116-01 REV 09 | The manual does not address it. |
| Springfield Armory Hellcat | Centerfire pistol | Operation & Safety Manual, revised 11/12/20 | Snap caps for regular practice: “Extensive dry firing can accelerate component wear/stress. Use snap caps if dry firing on a regular basis.” |
| CZ P-10 | Centerfire pistol | Instruction Manual, 03/2026 edition | Not to excess: “The manufacturer of the firearm does not recommend excessive dry firing (firing without ammunition).” Snap caps are “advisable” for dry training. |
| Beretta APX A1 | Centerfire pistol | User Manual, last issue March 2023 | Snap caps for long-term practice: “Long term dry firing your Beretta APX A1 pistol may result in damage to the striker.” |
| HK VP9A1 | Centerfire pistol | Operator's Manual, VP9A1 Series, Aug 2026 | The manual does not address it. |
| Taurus G3 and G3c | Centerfire pistol | Instruction Manual, 045-0027-00 Rev.3 | The manual does not address it. |
| Walther PDP | Centerfire pistol | Safety & Instruction Manual, PDP Pistols, Rev. a | The manual does not address it. |
| Ruger LCR and LCRx | Revolver, centerfire and rimfire models | Manual LCR/2-2025 R18, Dry Firing | No damage: “The LCR can be dry-fired without damage to the firing pin or internal components.” |
| Smith & Wesson J, K, L and N frame revolvers | Revolver | Safety & Instruction Manual, Modern Style J, K, L and N Frame, 2019 edition | The manual does not address it. |
| Ruger 10/22 | Rimfire rifle | Manual 10/22 6/2026 R1 | Same notice as the Security-9. |
| Ruger Mark IV | Rimfire pistol | Manual MKIV 2/2026 R12, Dry Firing | Same notice as the Security-9. |
| Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact | Rimfire pistol | Safety & Instruction Manual, 2023 edition | Never: “Never dry-fire your M&P®22 COMPACT pistol, damage to the pistol will result.” |
Is it safe to dry fire a revolver or a shotgun?
A modern centerfire revolver is usually fine. Use a snap cap with rimfire revolvers and revolvers with the firing pin on the hammer; any shotgun is better off with one.
Ruger’s LCR manual, which also covers its 22 LR and 22 WMR models, says the LCR can be dry fired without damage to the firing pin or internal components. Shooting Illustrated’s 2023 snap cap guide sees no firm need for snap caps on most centerfire revolvers, except rimfire revolvers and those with the firing pin mounted on the hammer.
For shotguns, American Rifleman (a 2005 answer republished in 2022) says any shotgun is better off dry fired with a snap cap, and hammer guns only with one.
When should you use snap caps?
Whenever your manual asks for one, on any rimfire, on older guns, and for long or daily sessions. A snap cap is a dummy cartridge with a spring or rubber insert that cushions the firing pin.
Without that cushion, Shooting Illustrated notes, the energy of each strike goes into internal parts and springs, which fatigue over repeated impacts, which is why older guns deserve one.
A snap cap protects the gun, not the room. It never replaces the protocol below.
How do you dry fire safely?
The same protocol, every session:
- Unload, then check twice that the magazine is out and the chamber is empty.
- All ammunition goes into another room, and no live round comes back during the session.
- Point only in a safe direction, at a backstop that would stop a bullet. Ruger’s manuals ask you to be sure of the bullet stop behind your target even when dry firing.
- Follow your manual’s limits on dry firing and snap caps.
- Reload only after the session, and say it out loud: “Dry practice is over. I am loading the gun.”
For the full routine, see dry fire training.
Where does dry fire fit in a training plan?
Before the first live round. Every NES Defense LEVEL 1 technical session opens with a dry stage at the range: present to the target, acquire the sight picture, dry press, 5 to 15 reps of each.
Our pistol training program gives you 4 months of printed plans and targets for every range session, built with Israeli special forces operators with combat experience. It is not a permit class, there is no live instructor, and session videos are in Hebrew for now. More free guides are in Academy & Tools, including how often to practice shooting.
Ready to use dry fire with a plan?