"Dry firing" hurts nipples? - The Firearms Forum

polishshooter · 01-20-2009, 07:10 AM

Everybody "knows" that "dry firing" is bad on nipples, right?

But I am a confirmed "dry firer" from my IPSC practice days, as well as my numerous trigger tuning jobs I have done in my life. SO I have many times (Granted, only a few times with each weapon, not the thousands and thousands of times with my .45....) have dry fired my Traditions 1860 revolver, my son's 1851 CVA Navy, my son's CVA Frontier carbine, and now my Bondini target pistol.

I used to remove the nipples, but was told that was bad if the hammer couldn't hit something to stop it, so thinking if I damaged them, the "old" nipples would become my dry firing ones, since new ones are not that expensive.

BUT...my old ones still work fine, and I have never had to replace them????

Is there a chance that occasional dry firing (after working on triggers, and to get the feel of the break, etc) does NOT hurt nipples like we all "know" (were told?

) that it will?

TranterUK · 01-20-2009, 07:17 AM

I knew one chap who used a leather disc on the hammer for dry firing a percussion handgun.

I asked if any leather worked into the nipple, he said he cleared them with a needle before use anyway, so it wasn't a problem.

Not ideal, but cheaper than a cracked nipple and it worked for him.

polishshooter · 01-20-2009, 08:08 AM

It's funny, Tranter, how just asking a stupid question gives you insight, with your help of course!

I am an inveterate pack rat, and right in the drawer of my work bench I may have found the answer!

I have a bunch of little plastic tubing ends that came as protectors of threads on screws for some mount or something that i did not throw away...

I winder if I trimmed one to fit would it fit over the nipple and protect it? HHmmmm...

I wonder why nobody else has thought of "snap caps" for muzzleloaders...or have they and I don't know about it?

Heck, I could be RICH....

"Polish Percussion Nipple Protectors!"

But then again, if some Polak can make some out of scrap plastic, I don't think there would be any money in it....

polishshooter · 01-20-2009, 08:15 AM

Well, it works, kind of....

They fit right over the nipple, and a quick trim with a pocket knife and it fits like a charm!

But after about three snaps the plastic is torn and in a few more it will probably separate completely around the top of the nipple. But I have about a dozen or so of those little caps so I guess I can keep replacing them.

Maybe if I left it a little longer and let it crush down more it might last longer, but I think the idea is good, I'll have to let someny else develop a stronger polymer to handle the shock....

"Nipple Protector Mark I"

AL MOUNT · 01-20-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Everybody "knows" that "dry firing" is bad on nipples, right? :

Well duh....

. don't hold it so close to yer chest ...

polishshooter · 01-20-2009, 09:29 AM

Al, the living embodiment of the old phrase.....

...."There's one in every crowd..."

TranterUK · 01-20-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL MOUNT

Well duh....

. don't hold it so close to yer chest ...

Thank you for that.

I had a good laugh....

jjmitchell60 · 01-20-2009, 03:32 PM

Actually there are cases in which dry firing can help a nipple of a BP firearm. One of the older remedies as to percussion caps falling off very eaisly the nipples of any BP firearm is to dry fire it enough times to mash the end of the nipple a bit thos causing the percussion caps to have to be forced on with a little pressure and that keeps them from falling off. IF I wanted to dry fire without hurting the nipples at all I would use leather between the hammer and the nipple or the rubber rain gear that you can buy to fit over the nipple during rainy weather to help keep the drum dry. Leatehr or thin lead has been used for years as a dry firing tool so as to not damage ant parts including the nipple. The answer as to a revolver is have a second set, one to dry fire and one set of nipples to use in shooting.

RunningOnMT · 01-20-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL MOUNT

Well duh....

. don't hold it so close to yer chest ...

Now that's funny...I don't care who you are.

BGKirkham · 02-14-2009, 08:51 AM

I have a Uberti Colt Walker replica, which I have dry fired many times. It has been a while since I have shot it, so I was going to take it out for some target practice today. I had some old caps and I wanted to make sure they were still good, so I put six on the revolver and started popping them in the back yard. Fired the first one and it worked, but I noticed that when I cocked the gun for the second shot the cap was stuck to the hammer. After I removed the cap from the hammer, I noticed that the hammer had a circular indentation that appears to be due to it striking the nipple. I guess that the cap partially extruded into the hammer causing it to grip the cap and pull it off the nipple when I cocked the hammer for the second shot.

Has anyone seen this before? Short of replacing the hammer, is there anything I can do about it? I thought about grinding down that area of the hammer, but I supect that it wouldn't strike the cap properly after that.

FJF0311 · 02-14-2009, 03:47 PM

I dry fire my percussion rifle by placing a foam ear plug over the nipple... Perhaps if you place one in the cut in the frame for the hammer.

mrkirker · 02-17-2009, 08:56 AM

I make practice rings from replacement hard rubber 'washers', found on older sink faucets.

glocknut · 02-18-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Al, the living embodiment of the old phrase.....

...."There's one in every crowd..."

Naw... he's just the warm up act... now that i have arrived!!!!

mike
gn

glocknut · 02-18-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Everybody "knows" that "dry firing" is bad on nipples, right?

But I am a confirmed "dry firer" from my IPSC practice days, as well as my numerous trigger tuning jobs I have done in my life. SO I have many times (Granted, only a few times with each weapon, not the thousands and thousands of times with my .45....) have dry fired my Traditions 1860 revolver, my son's 1851 CVA Navy, my son's CVA Frontier carbine, and now my Bondini target pistol.

I used to remove the nipples, but was told that was bad if the hammer couldn't hit something to stop it, so thinking if I damaged them, the "old" nipples would become my dry firing ones, since new ones are not that expensive.

BUT...my old ones still work fine, and I have never had to replace them????

Is there a chance that occasional dry firing (after working on triggers, and to get the feel of the break, etc) does NOT hurt nipples like we all "know" (were told?

) that it will?

I can't say that i have ever "dry" fired on nipples that i can ever remember of?!!

Had plenty of "wet" firings on nipples but thats neither here or there in the grand scheme of things. The important thing is that you make sure you have 2 large nipples between your hammer when you "fire off" so to speak.....

Large, perky nipples..... yeah, thats the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mike
gn

PS
Thanks Campingjosh, for letting me know about this thread!!!!!!!!!!!

Twaits · 07-14-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGKirkham

I have a Uberti Colt Walker replica, which I have dry fired many times. It has been a while since I have shot it, so I was going to take it out for some target practice today. I had some old caps and I wanted to make sure they were still good, so I put six on the revolver and started popping them in the back yard. Fired the first one and it worked, but I noticed that when I cocked the gun for the second shot the cap was stuck to the hammer. After I removed the cap from the hammer, I noticed that the hammer had a circular indentation that appears to be due to it striking the nipple. I guess that the cap partially extruded into the hammer causing it to grip the cap and pull it off the nipple when I cocked the hammer for the second shot.

Has anyone seen this before? Short of replacing the hammer, is there anything I can do about it? I thought about grinding down that area of the hammer, but I supect that it wouldn't strike the cap properly after that.

My Uberti Walker's hammer is the same way. I really haven't dry fired it much at all either. I don't remember what the hammer looked like when it was new though. I thought the case hardening of the hammer would be much harder than the nipples. I have a cheap Armi San Marco .44 "Reb" revolver that I have dry fired hundreds of times and the hammer face still looks perfectly flat.

Keystone · 10-06-2009, 10:31 AM

I never dry fire my BP guns. Just my 2 cents.

Tom TBo · 10-08-2009, 11:00 AM

Regular auto windshield-wiper hose cut to size works fine.

red14 · 10-08-2009, 12:16 PM

I was wondering if I had the right forum!

.

45nut · 10-08-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red14

I was wondering if I had the right forum!

.

You did right up until GN shot off a reply.

01-20-2009, 07:10 AM	#1
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	"Dry firing" hurts nipples? Everybody "knows" that "dry firing" is bad on nipples, right? But I am a confirmed "dry firer" from my IPSC practice days, as well as my numerous trigger tuning jobs I have done in my life. SO I have many times (Granted, only a few times with each weapon, not the thousands and thousands of times with my .45....) have dry fired my Traditions 1860 revolver, my son's 1851 CVA Navy, my son's CVA Frontier carbine, and now my Bondini target pistol. I used to remove the nipples, but was told that was bad if the hammer couldn't hit something to stop it, so thinking if I damaged them, the "old" nipples would become my dry firing ones, since new ones are not that expensive. BUT...my old ones still work fine, and I have never had to replace them???? Is there a chance that occasional dry firing (after working on triggers, and to get the feel of the break, etc) does NOT hurt nipples like we all "know" (were told?) that it will? __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. -->

01-20-2009, 07:17 AM	#2
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I knew one chap who used a leather disc on the hammer for dry firing a percussion handgun. I asked if any leather worked into the nipple, he said he cleared them with a needle before use anyway, so it wasn't a problem. Not ideal, but cheaper than a cracked nipple and it worked for him. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way! Last edited by TranterUK; 01-20-2009 at 09:32 AM..

01-20-2009, 08:08 AM	#3
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? It's funny, Tranter, how just asking a stupid question gives you insight, with your help of course! I am an inveterate pack rat, and right in the drawer of my work bench I may have found the answer! I have a bunch of little plastic tubing ends that came as protectors of threads on screws for some mount or something that i did not throw away... I winder if I trimmed one to fit would it fit over the nipple and protect it? HHmmmm... I wonder why nobody else has thought of "snap caps" for muzzleloaders...or have they and I don't know about it? Heck, I could be RICH.... "Polish Percussion Nipple Protectors!" But then again, if some Polak can make some out of scrap plastic, I don't think there would be any money in it.... __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-20-2009, 08:15 AM	#4
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? Well, it works, kind of.... They fit right over the nipple, and a quick trim with a pocket knife and it fits like a charm! But after about three snaps the plastic is torn and in a few more it will probably separate completely around the top of the nipple. But I have about a dozen or so of those little caps so I guess I can keep replacing them. Maybe if I left it a little longer and let it crush down more it might last longer, but I think the idea is good, I'll have to let someny else develop a stronger polymer to handle the shock.... "Nipple Protector Mark I" __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-20-2009, 09:29 AM	#6
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? Al, the living embodiment of the old phrase..... ...."There's one in every crowd..." __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

01-20-2009, 03:32 PM	#8
jjmitchell60 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raised in Buzzard Roost near Frog Town in hillls of Kentucky Contributor Posts: 1,471	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? Actually there are cases in which dry firing can help a nipple of a BP firearm. One of the older remedies as to percussion caps falling off very eaisly the nipples of any BP firearm is to dry fire it enough times to mash the end of the nipple a bit thos causing the percussion caps to have to be forced on with a little pressure and that keeps them from falling off. IF I wanted to dry fire without hurting the nipples at all I would use leather between the hammer and the nipple or the rubber rain gear that you can buy to fit over the nipple during rainy weather to help keep the drum dry. Leatehr or thin lead has been used for years as a dry firing tool so as to not damage ant parts including the nipple. The answer as to a revolver is have a second set, one to dry fire and one set of nipples to use in shooting. __________________ Oath Keepers NOT ON OUR WATCH www.oathkeepers.org 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes Duty... Thomas Jefferson

02-14-2009, 08:51 AM	#10
BGKirkham Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I have a Uberti Colt Walker replica, which I have dry fired many times. It has been a while since I have shot it, so I was going to take it out for some target practice today. I had some old caps and I wanted to make sure they were still good, so I put six on the revolver and started popping them in the back yard. Fired the first one and it worked, but I noticed that when I cocked the gun for the second shot the cap was stuck to the hammer. After I removed the cap from the hammer, I noticed that the hammer had a circular indentation that appears to be due to it striking the nipple. I guess that the cap partially extruded into the hammer causing it to grip the cap and pull it off the nipple when I cocked the hammer for the second shot. Has anyone seen this before? Short of replacing the hammer, is there anything I can do about it? I thought about grinding down that area of the hammer, but I supect that it wouldn't strike the cap properly after that.

02-14-2009, 03:47 PM	#11
FJF0311 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mt. Airy, MD Posts: 269	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I dry fire my percussion rifle by placing a foam ear plug over the nipple... Perhaps if you place one in the cut in the frame for the hammer.

02-17-2009, 08:56 AM	#12
mrkirker Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,067	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I make practice rings from replacement hard rubber 'washers', found on older sink faucets. __________________ *I don't know if dogs have a heaven, but there will be dogs in mine.*

10-06-2009, 10:31 AM	#16
Keystone V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portageville, MO. Posts: 106	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I never dry fire my BP guns. Just my 2 cents.

10-08-2009, 11:00 AM	#17
Tom TBo Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT Posts: 5	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? Regular auto windshield-wiper hose cut to size works fine.

10-08-2009, 12:16 PM	#18
red14 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N FLA Posts: 3,913	Re: "Dry firing" hurts nipples? I was wondering if I had the right forum! . __________________ I never argue, I state my opinion, and support my position.