dryfiring

Dry firing is the practice of pulling the trigger on a firearm that is not loaded, with no cartridge in the chamber and no round in the magazine. It is used to train trigger control, reset, and the cycling of the action, and to perform function checks without live ammunition. The practice is common for pistols and rifles, and to a lesser extent for shotguns, though safety considerations vary by design.

Safety and procedure: always treat the gun as loaded until you have verified it is unloaded; keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; ensure the magazine is empty and the chamber is clear. Many shooters use snap caps or dummy rounds when dry firing to cushion the firing pin and protect the chamber; check the firearm manufacturer's guidance, as some models may be damaged by repeated dry firing, particularly rimfire designs.

Limitations: Dry firing can cause wear on firing pins, breech faces, and springs, depending on the design. Rimfire firearms are more likely to be damaged by dry firing than centerfire models, so using snap caps or avoiding dry firing is often recommended unless the manual states it is safe. Overall, the appropriateness of dry firing varies by firearm, and users should consult the manufacturer's guidelines for their specific model.