Will dry firing my Black Widow with the cylinder removed damage it in any way?

Houdini · May-29-19 19:05

Will dry firing my Black Widow with the cylinder removed damage it in any way? I hope not because I find this to be a very convenient and safe way to practice my draw, grip, cocking, and trigger pull. The BW fits snug in my kydex holster even with the cylinder removed so I really enjoy practicing with it like this. It is my understanding that dry firing a rim fire revolver is bad for them since the hammer would bang into the cylinder with no cartridge in it. Removing the cylinder clearly removes this issue but the hammer still hits the frame. Anybody know the answer to this question. Any gunsmith's want to give their opinion on this?

bill_deshivs · May-29-19 22:05

The NAAs are tiny little things. There isn't much meat there to absorb the hammer blows. Eventually, something will either bend, expand, or break.
Buy real snap caps (not wall anchors) and use them in the cylinder.

Ruger · May-30-19 04:05

I agree with Bill . . . the impact of the hammer on the frame is basically work hardening, moving the material hardness into the brittle zone, eventually failing to absorb the impact. Something will give and you will not be happy.

top dog · May-30-19 04:05

Houdini,
I agree with Bill. Snap caps are the correct way to go and much cheaper than the cost of sending the piece to NAA for repairs.

Top Dog

Canoeal · May-30-19 07:05

I use spent cartridges to soften the blows. Afterall, it is not like you are going to reload them...

OV-1D · May-30-19 09:05

With nothing for the hammer to fall on is like taking a ballpeen hammer to the edge of a modern day coin eventually reshaping it .

RICKS PLACE · May-30-19 11:05

I will simply agree it is not good for the weapon and will lead to problems.

bill_deshivs · May-30-19 11:05

Fired cartridges are great, but only if you move the rim to a new spot each time you dry fire.

Houdini · May-30-19 18:05

Thanks for the replies everyone. I already have the plastic snap caps and will go back to using them. I guess I enjoyed not having to put them in the revolver and the fact that without the cylinder in it, verifying the BW was not loaded was extra easy.

mrmurl · June-01-19 06:06

I respectfully disagree with this thread for the most part. Stainless steel like what is used in the minis does work harden, but not anywhere like carbon steel. I still do not recommend dry firing the minis with out snap caps, or like someone said and my favorite practice is using fired cartridges. You can get by dropping the hammer on the same spot a couple of times but do need to move the brass in the cylinder to a new location after at most two snaps in one location.
Both the stainless steel and the carbon steel will work harden and crack or break, the stainless just not quite as much, so with that in mind I recommend snap caps. I personally have not used wall anchors so can not speak about them.
OK fellows this is my opinion on a subject that I have some limited experience on, so take it for what you paid for it. Just don't ruin a nice little pistol.

grayelky · June-01-19 13:06

Why don't we see what NAA has to say on the subject:

https://northamericanarms.com/faqs/

[The following is under FAQ- Mini-Revolvers]
Will dry firing harm this gun?

If you first remove the cylinder, dry firing is a great way of becoming accustomed to the trigger pull. Otherwise, while it's unlikely that any harm will come to the firearm, it's not a practice we recommend. This applies to The Companion (cap & ball mini) as well.

I was a little surprised. I was sure I remembered them recommending it. Now, they are saying something different.

Houdini · June-01-19 21:06

Thanks for posting the link to the NAA FAQ's. The way I read this, which may be incorrect as I was never that good in English class. NAA is saying it is OK to dry fire without the cylinder installed. And, although not recommended, dry firing with the cylinder installed is unlikely to cause any harm to the firearm.

Am I reading this correct? I hope so because dry firing with the cylinder removed so easily verifies it is unloaded, it still fits snug it the kydex holster to practice drawing, and is just so much fun!

grayelky · June-09-19 03:06

Houdini-

If I read your last question correctly, you did misunderstand. It IS safe, but no longer recommended to dry fire with the cylinder REMOVED. I have seen a Black Widow that was dry fired extensively WITH the cylinder in place. DO NOT DRY FIRE WITH THE CYLINDER IN PLACE AND NO SNAP CAPS. The gun will have to go back to NAA. The tip of the hammer and the cylinder where it strikes will get chewed up and cause the gun to not fire every time.

The best way is to use snap caps. While NAA says it is okay to dry fire with the cylinder removed, they no longer recommend doing so.

autofull · June-09-19 08:06

yup, you can deform the frame, break the hammer and lots of other bad things. nope, do not do it please.

Canoeal · June-09-19 09:06

Quote from: bill_deshivs on May-30-19 11:05
Fired cartridges are great, but only if you move the rim to a new spot each time you dry fire.

Agreed.

Bigbird48 · June-09-19 14:06

I've never used snap caps but would they have to be moved in the cylinder every once and a while also?

Canoeal · June-09-19 20:06

Quote from: Bigbird48 on June-09-19 14:06
I've never used snap caps but would they have to be moved in the cylinder every once and a while also?

Not snap caps, spent cases.

RangerJim · June-10-19 07:06

Quote from: Bigbird48 on June-09-19 14:06
I've never used snap caps but would they have to be moved in the cylinder every once and a while also?

Hey, Bigbird:
From everything I've read, you would need to rotate snap caps, just like you would the spent brass. They are generally made of a soft metal (like aluminum) or even plastic (like wall anchors), so they will deform with each strike.