To Click or Not to Click

[W0THK]

What do you folks think about uncocking single-action .22's when you're done shooting for the day? That is, which is better for the gun - to leave the hammer cocked with tension on the springs, or to drop the hammer by pulling the trigger with an empty gun at the end of the, possibly damaging the firing pin?

Inquiring minds want to know ....

Tomk
Mpls, MN

[hammAR]

I always prefer dropping the hammar.........

[westhope]

With the 22's that I don't shoot very often, I put one of the orange 22 LR dummy rounds in the chamber and lower the hammer slowly, if possible.With those guns I can't lower the hammer slowly, just pull the trigger on the dummy round.

I don't remember ever having a problem with guns that have been kept cocked for a long time, I just don't like taking the chance of the spring taking a set. I have had problems with 22's that have been dry-fired often.

With the other guns which it is OK to Dry-Fire, I just drop the hammer.

[glock+ipod]

Leaving tension on the spring is not going to cause excessive wear. Dryfiring a rimfire can damage the firing pin and, worse, can deform the mouth of the chamber.

[cobb]

Dryfiring a rimfire can damage the firing pin and, worse, can deform the mouth of the chamber.

Yes, I have seen this on older rimfire guns. It peens the edge of the chamber where the firing pin strikes and then they start getting failure to extract because that peened area drags on the case. Also can cause a failure to fire from the firing pin being mushroomed and the peened area at the chamber mouth may keep the round from fully chambering.

I have been using those cheap red plastic dummy rounds that come 10 in a pack.

[onebohemian]

. . . I have been using those cheap red plastic dummy rounds that come 10 in a pack.

+1.