Posted by revdocdrew on August 30, 2007, 12:22 pm, in reply to "Dry fire?"
Good question Weston, and we'll add this one to the FAQ on the Home Page. Some time after 1913, the following statement was added to the Hunter Arms Hang Tag:
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS-The gun should not be snapped when there are no shells in the barrels.
Both Parker and Fox hang tags instructed the user to have no concern about dropping the hammer without a 'striker block' or snap caps. To avoid broken firing pins, it would be advisable to use them however. Especially with pre-1913 guns with firing pin bushings, the pins may 'hang up' in the 'primer pocket' of some snap caps making it difficult to open the gun. If this happens, remove the forend and cock the hammers (rotating the cocking arms DOWN.) I've not had problems with the A-Zoom caps. If you let the hammers down with the gun disassembled, be sure and cock the hammers before reassembly.