Worried about dry firing damaging my gun

[Nathan]

I have heard different things about whether it's safe for the firing pin. Some say it's fine, others say use snap caps. What's the actual answer? Do you use snap caps or just dry fire empty?

 

[VenomBallistics]

both are true.
For most guns, it's not a problem, but I have seen a bryco 9mm shatter it's pin after two dry firings.
Rimfires tend to take damage from the pin striking the chamber face.

 

[Spartan5]

For the low cost, snap caps provide piece of mind on it, so I tend to error on the side of cheap caution.

 

[old timer]

Most new guns are fine with dry fire, but I use those fake rounds just to be safe. They are cheap, so why not when I do a lot of practice?