Dry Fire - Does it damage a modern firearm?

I remember not that long ago I used to "cringe" when someone dry fired a weapon.

Now I don't give it a second thought. So what I'd like to discuss is why or why not dry fire a weapon?

I guess we might need to clarify the weapon type. Maybe the older Colt SA revolvers or antique guns should NOT be dry fired...while something like a modern Glock or Springfield XDM would not matter? How about Bolt guns...I always dry fire my bolt guns before putting them up so that the springs are not "under pressure" when stored...maybe another old wives tale

I'm just curious....was dry firing an old wives tale?...Did it ever matter?

U gunsmith types out there ...educate us with a nice thread

Thanks

I never dry fire a rimfire unless I pull the slide back a little so the firing pin cannot contact the side of the chamber.

As far as your bolt guns you can just pull the bolt handle up not back but just up. Squeeze and hold the trigger and slowly drop the bolt handle and that will drop the firing pin without a hard dry fire.

I was told that handy rifles should never be dry fired something to do with there design.

I never think twice about dry fireing most newer automatics handgun.

Don't dry fire, don't think it will do any damage but old habits die hard. Also I got some snap caps still, don't know if they still sell them.

I dry fire my 1911 pretty often i've read in several articles that it's good practice , I don't think it's good to dry fire a rim-fire. I think on most guns letting your slide slam closed by engaging the slide release on an empty gun is worse, especially with new springs.

dry firing your pistol and your bolt rifles is excellent pracitce for trigger control. i dry fire my pistols and rifles often.

check out this link
http://www.rangemaster.com/ left side article titled dry fire drills.

there was also a good article on sniperhide about using a penny on the top of the barrell while practiceing dryfire.... dont let the penny move=good trigger control.

Everything i have read says do not dryfire rimfires. but modern pistols and centerfire rifles are fine. This was echoed by my gunsmith and a great many articles by shooters with a lot more experience than I .

Rimfire = Broken firing pin, or worse cracked opening of the chamber.

Centerfire = No big deal.

I've dry fired every competition gun I've ever owned. I won't tell you how many times I've pulled the triggers on empty chambers as you wouldn't believe (can't say I'd blame you) me anyway.

I've.Never.Broken.A.Single.Part.

I dry fire my Glock for training for compatition and its mandatory to field strip the firearm. So its not a big deal.