you WILL get all kinds of opinions

to be on the safe side get some snap caps, that is what I use to dry fire. after cleaning I drop the hammer on one and just leave it in the chamber. eliminates all the worry about chamber damage. :bthumb:

 

I use wall anchors for snap caps. #2 I think? Yellow. A bunch cheaper than snap caps.


I'm not talking with my gun. I'm talking to it. Pretty big difference.

 

Thanks for your helpful advise, guys! I looked for some snap caps online and found few different brands. If there is any particular brand that you have any positive or negative experience with, please share with me. I'll also check into the wall anchors at local hardware store.

 

wall anchors

yello color, #4 I THINK. I just got them but haven't tried them yet. everyone says they work great and 100 for about 4.00 at ACE HDWE is cheap. I am now using the pachmayr ORANGE color dummy rounds. work well but about 5-10 hits is ALL they will take before they need replacing. the "case edge" begins to break off with multi hits.:bthumb:

 

yello color, #4 I THINK. I just got them but haven't tried them yet. everyone says they work great and 100 for about 4.00 at ACE HDWE is cheap. I am now using the pachmayr ORANGE color dummy rounds. work well but about 5-10 hits is ALL they will take before they need replacing. the "case edge" begins to break off with multi hits.:bthumb:

#4 is right. Just checked.

I'm not talking with my gun. I'm talking to it. Pretty big difference.

 

It is perfectly safe to dry-fire your 10/22. I have an explanation, with photos, here: http://1022companion.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/dry-fire-practice/

If you are still concerned and you want something as a cushion between the firing pin and breech, here's a trick: Take a flexible refrigerator magnet (the kind you get free as advertising from lots of sources) and cut a small strip of it to fit over the chamber and upper portion of the breech face where the firing pin hits. cut it and place it so that the extractor will not catch it, leaving the extractor slot clear. That way the cushion will stay in place while you cycle the bolt. This material will last much longer than any snap caps I have seen.

 

Dry firing is not only safe but highly recommended. Some of my bakers dozen have been dry fired thousands of times...I sit at my desk at work and practice trigger pull sometimes for hours.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/long-guns/longgun_reviews_mark_091306/

 

Unless something is already really wrong about the bolt assembly, it’s not physically possible for a 10/22™ firing pin tip to protrude far enough to even reach the breach face.

 

Unless something is already really wrong about the bolt assembly, it's not physically possible for a 10/22™ firing pin tip to protrude far enough to even reach the breach face.

Which was the case with mine, thankfully Ruger fixed it. I wasn't even dry firing except the occasional ghost 11th round when I was not counting or lost count.

I do recall hearing that excessive dry firing can eventually deform the firing pin stop enough that peening will occur. So if you want to make a habit of it get some snap caps or make a FiremanBob to be safe. Or just replace the firing pin stop from time to time, which is probably cheaper.