Slide release - MAJOR PAIN IN THE THUMB!

[Walt-Sherrill]

The IDPA rulebook doesn't say dry-fire but it does say:

"Unload and show clear
Slide down or cylinder closed  (our club says SLIDE CLOSED)
Hammer Down
Holster

Range is safe."

Hammer down is universally construed to mean drop the hammer to show that the gun does not have a round in the chamber... and if you don't drop the hammer by pulling the trigger, you've proved nothing.   You ARE going to get flak from the safety officer.  They want to be sure your gun is unloaded when you leave the firing line.

Let the slide go forward slowly to avoid sear damage, if that's a concern, then drop the hammer by pulling the trigger.   (If you're shooting a gun with a mag safety, you'll have to insert an empty mag.  You will have to show hammer down.)

I'm an IDPA Certified Safety Officer and have been to many matches.  I can tell that your aversion to dry-firing will get you a lot of hassle.  

Get over it.

[Blankwaffe]

Dry firing a few times per weekend to show an empty chamber at a competition is one thing to meet requirements/rules,but repeated dry firing on a empty chamber for practice over and over is not good IMHO.
Ive had to do it many many times training as an LEO with personal weapons and did not like it.
That said I do not like to dry fire my weapons much either,for that I use a snap cap for practice clearing etc..

[Walt-Sherrill]

How about dry-firing with a snap cap?  There should be NO ISSUE when a snap cap is used.

With regard to most guns, why is dry-firing on an empty chamber NOT a good practice?  Some reasons might help us understand your concern.

It is NOT an issue with the pre-B CZ-75s.  We know it is not an issue with Tanfoglio guns.  There is NO indication that even long-term drying firing causes probelms for these specific models.

Its not even an issue with some rimfire guns.  

(The entire line of Ruger rimfires can be dry-fired without damage, as they have firing pin stops/limiters to keep from peening the chamber.)

Some gun manuals give specific warnings.  Due to their design, dry firing can be an issue.  (Beretta Tomcats will BREAK the firing pin.  They might even break with a snap cap in use, as I found.)

[misfire]

   I use an o ring for the hammer to hit on!

              Misfire

[dlidster]

. . . I'm more interested in IDPA but the IDPA rule book makes no mention of dry firing your weapon to prove it's not loaded. My expereince in the world of competive shooting is limited. I could be wrong on the IDPA . . .

You are wrong. When you have completed an IDPA stage the command sequence is "If Finished Unload and Show Clear; If Clear, Slide Forward or Close Cylinder; Pull the Trigger; Holster."

That command, "Pull the Trigger," differs differs from the USPSA "Hammer Down." The point is to make it absolutely clear. Here's how it is spelled out in the IDPA Rulebook.

2.12.3.11 Pull the Trigger
The shooter will point the firearm at a safe berm and pull the trigger to further verify that the chamber is clear. If the firearm fires, the shooter will be Disqualified from the match. This requirement also applies to firearms with a de-cocker or magazine disconnect. For firearms with a magazine disconnect, an empty magazine, or dummy magazine must be inserted before the trigger is pulled, and then removed again. This command is not needed for revolvers.