Dry Firing a Single Action Army

[gungate]

Uberti says not to dry-fire their SAAs. Why? Their claim is that it will ruin the cylinder. But nothing ever touches the cylinder so how can that happen? You can see my pictures below where the firing pin and no part of the hammer ever comes into contact with the cylinder. So how could that happen?

Uberti SAA Manual

NEVER DRY FIRE your revolver. If you do this you will ruin your cylinder and the ammunition will not enter the chamber in the correct way.

 

[dist1646]

Probably have it confused with what happens to rimfire types, where the firing pin can deform the edge of the chamber with repeated impacts. Only issue with centerfires that I know of is that the firing pin can become brittle and break at the tip.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Probably have the same language in the owners manual for all revolvers .

 

[John from MD]

Probably have it confused with what happens to rimfire types, where the firing pin can deform the edge of the chamber with repeated impacts. Only issue with centerfires that I know of is that the firing pin can become brittle and break at the tip.

Uberti cuts a divot on their rimfire revolvers so that you don't peen the edge of the chamber. The manual was probably written long ago and never updated.

 

[TI-tick]

Use snapcaps.

 

[John from MD]

Probably have it confused with what happens to rimfire types, where the firing pin can deform the edge of the chamber with repeated impacts. Only issue with centerfires that I know of is that the firing pin can become brittle and break at the tip.

That is pretty much true with older steel. If you have a modern replica, and it has a replaceable firing pin bushing, I would not hesitate to dry fire it. Some bushings are soft and will deform outwards so that is why I specify replaceable. I would not dry fire it if there is no bushing as their steel isn't the hardest I have seen.

 

[Michigander08]

You can but use these yellow jacket to cushion the pin strike.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-100-Pack-1-in-x-0-138-in-Yellow-Plastic-Light-Duty-All-Purpose-Anchor-with-Screws/1000103115

I think you can buy just the plastic jackets pack. Look for it.

Just load the cylinder with those yellow jackets. Make sure you pick the right size for your revolver. I only have 22LR revolvers.