Oh Lordy but I like this "subject." I most always start a fight
From the standpoint of a practicing Gunplumber (Retired), a standard Single Action with a hammer mounted firing pin should NEVER be dry fired without Snap Caps. There will be several results when snap caps are NOT used.
First thing that happens, is the firing pin strikes the back of the hole in the recoil shield. This raises a burr on the face of recoil shield which causes the cartridges to hang up on the burr making the cylinder rotation rough or even jam. The rough cylinder rotation also causes undue wear on the hand, eventually affecting timing. Then, to correct that burr, you remove it with a stone or small file which leaves and enlarged hole in the recoil shield and on firing, the primer flows back into the oversized hole, which causes rough cylinder rotation or more often, an outright jam. This also results in undue wear on the hand. Correcting this problem requires a trip to a skilled gunsmith to have a hardened bushing installed in the face of the recoil shield. That procedure ain't cheap.
Dry firing with the hardened bushing causes excessive wear on the firing pin and cross pin that holds it in place. Often breaking the cross pin. This requires replacing the firing pin and the cross pin. If at the same time the hole for the cross pin has been elongated where the in no longer fits, the hammer and firing pin have to be drilled out and a larger cross pin found. That ain't cheap either.
Dry firing guns with a transfer bar results in broken transfer bars. New transfer bars are fairly cheap. They are a hassle to replace. Additionally, if we are talking about Open Tops, bent firing pins will result even with snap caps. Again, new firing pins.
Bottom Line: If one is bound and determined to dry fire ..... Dry Fire only with good quality snap caps. Even that may eventually damage the Firing Pin. My council has always been ....... Don't Dry Fire single action hand guns. It ain't good for em. There are those who will claim they have been dry firing for years with no damage (BS). IF your aim is to play CAS and become a top 10% shooter, your going to dry fire. If that is the case, buy a separate set of guns specifically for dry fire practice. Never dry fire your match guns. When they break, Murphy says it will happen in the middle of a three day match you've paid lots of folding money to attend.
Navy 45 ....... We're a Lighthouse ...... Your Call
Coffinmaker