Dry firing and photography
Dec 10, 2021 19:35:53 #
Well, it isn't really the same, because you do get an image to review, so unlike dry firing a target firearm, you can do more than just implant good habits. I do it fairly frequently, in varying light with different apertures and speeds, most times while sitting at my desk. There are various objects, and dog friend photos that would have a viewer scratching their head. I think it is helpful, particularly for low light work. Anyone else doing it?
Dec 10, 2021 19:52:55 #
Yep - I do it all the time.
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Dec 10, 2021 20:05:42 #
Quixdraw wrote:
Well, it isn't really the same, because you do get an image to review, so unlike dry firing a target firearm, you can do more than just implant good habits. I do it fairly frequently, in varying light with different apertures and speeds, most times while sitting at my desk. There are various objects, and dog friend photos that would have a viewer scratching their head. I think it is helpful, particularly for low light work. Anyone else doing it?
I think it's the same when I do that with a film camera.
Dec 10, 2021 20:20:28 #
TriX wrote:
Yep - I do it all the time.
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
I’ve broken more than one firing pin in my first rifle and also in one of my pistols. Took me a while to wise up and either us a spent cartridge or for my shotguns a dummy ..
Bud
Dec 10, 2021 20:42:08 #
You can dry fire most modern firearms without damage. I've always used snapcaps in shotguns.
The idea is the same with cameras, hold, pan, release, etc., etc. even down to breathing. I do think there is value in the exercise, and with digital, you get an actual outcome, no cost.
The idea is the same with cameras, hold, pan, release, etc., etc. even down to breathing. I do think there is value in the exercise, and with digital, you get an actual outcome, no cost.
Dec 10, 2021 21:12:37 #
Quixdraw wrote:
You can dry fire most modern firearms without damage. I've always used snapcaps in shotguns.
The idea is the same with cameras, hold, pan, release, etc., etc. even down to breathing. I do think there is value in the exercise, and with digital, you get an actual outcome, no cost.
The idea is the same with cameras, hold, pan, release, etc., etc. even down to breathing. I do think there is value in the exercise, and with digital, you get an actual outcome, no cost.
For me, the dry fire effect is looking thru the lens, adjusting my composition and then exposure, and hitting the second shutter stop. Then I recalculate using what my eye was looking for and what my camera delivered. Was it in the center ring? Yes? No? Adjust. Redo. Next time I’ll know what not to do.
It’s so much easier to do without the weapon. And quieter too.
Dec 10, 2021 21:39:46 #
pmorin wrote:
For me, the dry fire effect is looking thru the lens, adjusting my composition and then exposure, and hitting the second shutter stop. Then I recalculate using what my eye was looking for and what my camera delivered. Was it in the center ring? Yes? No? Adjust. Redo. Next time I’ll know what not to do.
It’s so much easier to do without the weapon. And quieter too.
It’s so much easier to do without the weapon. And quieter too.
Quieter for sure. Easier in the sense you can see a result without putting an actual round down range into a paper target. Less expensive than that as well.
Dec 10, 2021 22:56:10 #
Quixdraw wrote:
Quieter for sure. Easier in the sense you can see a result without putting an actual round down range into a paper target. Less expensive than that as well.
I rarely went to the range when i had weapons. Hunted thru all the seasons and always came home with some game, but just decided one day to stop killing for sport. Now i go to the market for food and i hunt with a camera.
Dec 11, 2021 00:01:00 #
Never occurred to me. On a normal day at the range I shoot 150 rounds from 3 guns. I gave up dry firing when I gave up shooting Bulls Eye. On a normal day in the field I shoot about 50 shots with the D7200.
Dec 11, 2021 06:37:52 #
TriX wrote:
Yep - I do it all the time.
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
I know that is definitely true with black powder guns that use a cap. Dry firing will damage the nipple that holds the cap. I'm not sure about all firearms. For example it's not true for my 1911 45 amd my Ruger 357
Dec 11, 2021 07:04:31 #
Quixdraw wrote:
Quieter for sure. Easier in the sense you can see a result without putting an actual round down range into a paper target. Less expensive than that as well.
One key to accurate shooting is learning to ignore the "boom" and ignore the "kick" and concentrate on the squeeze. Most people unconsciously jerk the trigger in anticipation of the boom and kick. So you can learn the squeeze by dry firing but you still have to deal with the "B&J". But Im just talking about guns. Fortunately, there is NO boom and kick with cameras. LOL
Dec 11, 2021 07:04:56 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
With some firearms it is true. Depends on the firing system design.
Firing pins tend to have a cone or tapered shape. The hammer side is large and primer side small.
Depending on design, if there is no round in the chamber, there is nothing to stop the taper/cone from slamming into the channel. This can cause cracks to form.
Many modern guns have gotten around this through design practices or using better metals for the pin.
Firing pins tend to have a cone or tapered shape. The hammer side is large and primer side small.
Depending on design, if there is no round in the chamber, there is nothing to stop the taper/cone from slamming into the channel. This can cause cracks to form.
Many modern guns have gotten around this through design practices or using better metals for the pin.
Dec 11, 2021 07:12:16 #
TriX wrote:
Yep - I do it all the time.
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Not sure if it was/is true, but when I was growing up, we were taught to never dry fire a shotgun - always used a dummy Or spent cartridge. Supposedly it might damage the firing pin. Is that true or just an old wive’s tale?
Since all I shoot are old west style firearms in competition, I never dry fire my hammered double barrel shotguns or my Winchester 73 for that matter. When I shot Colt single actions, I would only do it with snap caps. When I moved to Ruger Vaqueros, I dry fire them empty before every match. When it comes to my camera, I just go ahead and take the picture to see how it turns out. I take a lot of useless pics, it seems. Some of the practice shots turn out to be keepers.
Dec 11, 2021 07:50:50 #
pmorin wrote:
I rarely went to the range when i had weapons. Hunted thru all the seasons and always came home with some game, but just decided one day to stop killing for sport. Now i go to the market for food and i hunt with a camera.
Love this.
Dec 11, 2021 08:14:08 #
Quixdraw wrote:
Well, it isn't really the same, because you do get an image to review, so unlike dry firing a target firearm, you can do more than just implant good habits. I do it fairly frequently, in varying light with different apertures and speeds, most times while sitting at my desk. There are various objects, and dog friend photos that would have a viewer scratching their head. I think it is helpful, particularly for low light work. Anyone else doing it?
Mostly every night! Especially like to experiment with off camera flash.
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