[MacMilly]

If you're only ever going to buy one dry firing accessory, this would be it.
As a competition shooter, last year I transitioned from M&Ps to Sig P320s and used a DryFireMag for tactile trigger practice without live fire. Without consuming excessive amounts of ammunition, I finished the shooting season in 4th place nationally in Production Optics Division (the top three were shooting Shadow 2s).
For Glock use I have a TTrigger, which competes with the DryFireMag. Both are awesome products for learning correct triggering.

another vote for dry fire mag. It’s so convenient.

 

[spentcase]

I'm new to dry firing and handguns and firing. What should I consider in order to prevent any damage on my Glock 42? I read an older thread saying that Glock recommends snap caps since it has more give so it's easier on the firing pin. What else should I consider?

Dry firing your gun is not going to hurt it.

And even if by chance your striker did break it is a very simple and inexpensive part to replace. Dry fire away. But all the others have merit also, especially laser training which gives you feedback that can help you to learn trigger control in a measurable way. And provide instant gratification.

 

[Hoss]

I'm aware of cracked breechfaces on Glock OEM slides due to dryfiring without a snap cap. Do a Google search and you'll see photos.

I personally have never experienced it and to my knowledge none of the students in our classes ever had issues with their guns. But hey, a snap cap us easy enough to get and use if there is fear of damaging the gun from dry firing.

 

[DeltaFiveBravo]

Here's a link to a thread from 2011 with a handful of photos of cracked breech faces from dryfiring.

Wow, cracked the breech face on my Glock 23!

I went for my CCW test today. When it was time to use my G23, I couldn't even rack the slide. I was able to remove the slide from the frame, but I couldn't get the barrel out. With the help of my instructor, we were able to field strip it. We figured my G23 was just too dry, and he oiled it...

www.glocktalk.com

 

[spentcase]

How would that happen with dry firing? Nothing contacts the breech face in that scenario does it? That looks more to me like damage from a hot load, perhaps many of them. But then I don't know everything about anything, much less what those guns were used for.

 

[Overkill777]

I like both snap caps and laser training cartridges.

Snap caps allow me to focus entirely on the front sight post and keeping it steady through the trigger pull. I prefer to load snap caps because it is a deliberate action one step further than checking the chamber is empty. It just gives me more peace of mind so I always use them. They may arguably prevent some wear is an added bonus.

Laser cartridges give a good indication of point of impact at close range. The downside for me is I find myself shifting my focus to the target as the shot breaks so I can see the laser. This is not a good habit. I use them to verify my snap cap dry fire training, I don't use the laser cartridges exclusively.

 

[Jim]

How would that happen with dry firing? Nothing contacts the breech face in that scenario does it? That looks more to me like damage from a hot load, perhaps many of them. But then I don't know everything about anything, much less what those guns were used for.

When firing live ammo, the striker is stopped when it's tip hits the cartridge primer.
With an empty chamber, the striker is stopped when the "body" of the striker hits the back side (not visible) of the breech. Eventually, this can cause the breech face to crack and be pushed forward. Not common but well documented.

 

[spentcase]

But isn't the striker body softer than the breech? I really don't know, just curious.

 

[Jim]

^^^^^
The striker must be pretty strong to take the hit on the tip with every round. There may be issues with striker strength vs breech fatigue resistance.

Regardless of what seems logical:
"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, theory and practice are different."

 

[RIS]

I use both snap caps and a laser cartridge

 

[JMM1]

Take a look at the SIRT pistol. It was literally best training aid I have ever purchased. Mine has thousands of trigger pulls on it.

This. Mine has thousands of pulls also and I have a callus on my trigger finger.

 

[0.0-idontrun]

I started with A Zoom aluminum and they deteriorated. As already stated, the little shavings of AL have to go somewhere... I found some snap caps online that have real brass shells and a rubber primer. They weigh the exact same amount as a live round. Used them a lot when ammo was scarce.

 

[darkenfast]

I have Pachmayr caps. They seem to work well.