Is it best to cycle the slide when dry firing, or is it OK to just cock the hammer with the thumb and leave the dummy round in the chamber?
Hello all/Dyoll Ron L here = SERESURPLUS I'VE ALWAYS DROPPED OR FED THE DUMMY INTO THE CHAMBER, THEN JUST COCKED THE HAMMER! IT'S DOES WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND I'M GLAD YOUR USING THE DUMMY, AS MANY A FIRING PIN HAS GONE SOUTH OTHERWISE?
I like to put four or six in the mag and cock the hammer for a few times and then to a "tap-rack" drill to get the next one in the chamber. Good practice either way.
You should NEVER 'drop' a roung into the chamber and release the slide stop allowing it to go to battery. This forces the extractor out and around the base of the round. Not a design function of the extractor. The round is captured as it slides up from the mag and behind the extractor on its way to battery. When using snap-caps, always feed them from the mag. cane
Agree with Canebreak. Except for a very few pistols, like some of the Berettas with the tip-up barrel, feed from the mag. Base of the round SLIDES UP the face of the slide, and slips UNDER the extractor.
The manual for my Kimber said: unless you're releasing the slide on a round, ease it forward slowly. Never ease the hammer forward, as it damages the sear. Dry firing is perfectly acceptable and will not cause the gun any harm.
The 1911 platform is built to be able to handle dry firing and it is encouraged. You won't damage it by dry firing. I agree with Cane though - You should not load a round into the chamber and let the slide slam forward on it. You will damage the extractor. JD
