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Is it ok to dry fire a smith and wesson 642 air weight j-frame .38 special?

Sure, you may want to use snap caps if you're dry firing a lot.

+1 on the snap cap. I try to use one regardless of what brand the firearm is.

Why use snap caps at all if the firing pin isn't striking anything? I use spent cases when I dry fire my .22 revolver, because the firing pin destroyed a set of expensive snap caps.

Embalmo wrote:Why use snap caps at all if the firing pin isn't striking anything? I use spent cases when I dry fire my .22 revolver, because the firing pin destroyed a set of expensive snap caps.

I think there are at least three things that make snap caps a decent idea.

One is that they certainly won't hurt the gun, so anyone wondering if it's safe to dry-fire ABC model 123 can feel pretty good about doing so with the snap caps. That includes rifles and shotguns.

I personally like the added safety routine of not only emptying and clearing a gun, but charging and loading snap caps. I've never shot the TV and, knock on wood, I never will.

Third, there's something to be said for handling dummy ammo while you dry-fire, and that includes reloads, malfunction drills, and even shell-swapping with a shotgun.

But granted, for some guns like your revolver, it's just as easy to use spent brass.

Embalmo wrote:Why use snap caps at all if the firing pin isn't striking anything? I use spent cases when I dry fire my .22 revolver, because the firing pin destroyed a set of expensive snap caps.

The snap cap is to give the firing pin something to strike. Firing pins that are hit by the hammer can break if they don't have something to cushion the blow.

You can dry-fire a center-fire firearm all day long and not hurt anything. Only some of the older rimfire firearms can be damaged by repeated dry firing as the firing pin can "peen" the edge of the chamber at the breech-block. Modern and semi-auto rimfire weapons typically have a relief cut or slightly off-set firing pin that prevents the firing pin from striking the edge of the chamber. As a general rule, I would not dry fire a .22 unless you knew for a fact that the firing pin did not strike the edge of the chamber.

I should add - please make sure that any live ammo is securely stored away from the firearm prior to dry-firing and triple check the action to make sure its empty.

To go with dry firing...

If we're listing things not to do, let me also throw in the 'Don't let the slide on a 1911 slam home without a round (or snap cap) in the chamber.'
If you must release the slide on a 1911 without a round, use your hand to gently slide it home.

As Skiprr said, snap caps are great for reload/malfunction practice. I try to get some practice in every day using them.

My knowledge is limited to my own arsenal and I don't think the firing pin on my LCP or Bersas hit anything when they are dry fired. I course I would never fire my rim fire .22 without a spent case to protect the firing pin.

Embalmo

You can dry-fire a center-fire firearm all day long and not hurt anything.

That's generally true, but there are exceptions. The Colt double action revolvers (Cobra, King Cobra) are supposed to be dry fired with snap caps; breaking the firing pin on these guns apparently requires a trip to the factory.

With S&W revolvers, absolutely no problem dry firing them.

I guess Im'e just luckey.In the Marine Corps at the rifle range we dry fired our M14s about a kazillion times,and when I was practicing my draw for IPSC competition,I dry fired my Clark Pin Gun all the time.Never used a snap cap,and never had any kind of problems.