since im new to the game i ordered some snap caps ,seemed a bit salty but i dont want to screw up my weapon. skeeter's so bad right now can't hardly get outside to shoot.so i figured i could at least practice trigger pulling in the house.what's ur take on them , good to have or waste of money?

i use "a zoom" snap caps, always, when i dry fire my s&w k or j frame .38 specials.

Smart man. I buy snap caps for all my guns too. No sense in peening out the firing pin channel when snap caps are so cheap.

While there is an ongoing debate over whether snap caps are necessary to protect the firing pin in centerfires, I like having the weight of the A-Zoom (aluminum) caps in the cylinder. It helps maintain the feel of the gun between dry firing and live firing.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

I have a few sets of A-Zoom dummy rounds for my revolvers. As someone who has broken the hammer nose on a revolver from dry-firing, I like having them. More importantly, imo, is having the ability to practice dry-fire reloading drills, particularly one-handed techniques.

Big fan of the Azoom snap caps here. IMO they are an absolute MUST if you engage in a lot of dry fire practice. Take the time to scan the net and you'll find lots of complaints about pins that retain the firing pin in many semi's fracturing from unprotected dry firing. In addition, on a revolver the hammer gets a heck of a shock when it smacks into the frame, about 2 months back a poster had a hammer spur break off on his 686 due to an admitted extensive use of dry firing without snap caps.

As for the protection they provide, I've actually shot the rims off the snap caps in my 620. By my estimated it probably took about 500 hits to do that, however any hit strong enough to take the rim completely off a snap cap it strong enough to do some damage if a snap cap isn't used.

Why spend the $$$'s? I've always used empty cases. They always seem to be in great supply!

If you think that a previously dimpled primer will rebound like the urethane button in the Azoom snap cap does, think again. Using a fired case only works with rimfires and you have to rotate that casing after each strike. Spend the bucks for a set of Azoom snap caps and try LISTENING to the sound of the strike. Just the difference in the sound alone will tell you that the Azoom snap caps provide a real benefit because you can hear it.

I'll grant they aren't cheap, however considering the cost of the damage that excessive dry firing can cause in some guns, they are inexpensive in the long run.

Fact is that I'm a real penny pincher. However, I'm also old enough to realise that it's cheaper in the long run to spend a bit more up front to save money down the road.

I also swear by A-Zoom caps and use them for dry fire practice in my .38 revolvers. Also, I have several Bianchi Speed Strips that I load with the A-Zooms and, while practicing dry fire, practice speed reloads. And FWIW, A Zoom also makes a 12 gauge shell that I use when practicing speed reload and dry fire with my 870. Simulates the size and weight of the shell.

if you are using snap caps (double & triple check) you can't blow up the tv or anything else.

One thing for sure . . . AZooms won't damage your gun. Not using them might.

I like them. I've used them for years and I believe in them.

The "experts" say snap caps are not necessary for centerfire calibers and I would tend to agree if you pull the trigger once or twice. Dry fire practice on the other hand is totally different IMO. Like said many times above, there's no reason to beat up your handgun when snap caps are so inexpensive. I always use snap caps when practicing.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Maybe not, but if you pop out the spent primer and put a drop of silicone in the primer pocket a fired case works pretty well. In addition I put cast bullets in my cases and paint the bullet and base red. 1/3rd of the calibers I shoot regularly I don't think you can find snap caps off the shelf.

I've got two sets of .38 special snap caps for my revolvers. They allow me to dry fire with no worries but more importantly let me practice reloading with speed strips without the risk of using live ammo. I also have one set for my 9mm used mainly for my wife to practice chambering a round and clearing misfires; something she originally had problems with. Haven't decided if I'll get them for our .22a since it's a rimfire, we don't dry fire it and most folks here seem to feel they don't last in a rimfire anyway.

hey steveno... is that the voice of experience? Although there are times when I'd like to shoot what/who's on TV, I'd rather not. I definitely agree. Please make sure you've got the snap caps loaded and not live rounds.

no it isn't a voice of experience but I'm quite that a number of tv's have been shot. no doubt it would be a very eye opening experience.

IMO when doing dry fire practice there should be no live ammo anywhere in the room. It's possible to reload the handgun with live ammo and mistakenly continue to practice if you get distracted. My iron clad rule is no live ammo anywhere in the room when doing any kind of dry fire or reloading practice...

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Make your own. Size and de-prime an empty case. Cut a bit of pencil eraser to size, with a bit of protrusion, and wedge it into the primer cavity. Works great!

The value of snap caps shouldn't be underestimated.

Not only can they used to cushion your firing pin when being dry fired, but they can also be used as action proving dummies and for improving your speedloading techniques with revolvers.

Also, don't forget the snap caps for hammerless shotgun use- you don't want to store your fine, or even regular hammerless double shotgun with the hammers cocked. It doesn't matter if it is a Holland & Holland or a Stevens 311 or Russian import.

__________________
Lost it all in a boat accident

I am another fan of A-Zoom snap-caps. I may differ in opinion than the "experts" who say they are not needed for dry-fire. I believe they are. I say an occasional dry-fire is fine, but if one practices dry-fire exercises and reloads and the rest of the gamut, they are a necessity. IMHO.....

Y'all will be happy ya have 'em....

__________________
GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

got my caps today and actually found right off the bat that i was probably jerking the hell out of the trigger .so i would say that the caps have already payed fpr themselves.im looking for some tighter groups next go around.boy,i thought learning to shoot a bow was hard.

There you go. Don't pay attention to the folks who say that dry firing isn't necessary and that you're better off practicing with live ammo. Dry firing shows you what you're doing wrong without all the flash/bang distracting you.

Spending a few bucks for snap caps is priceless for the peace of mind.

Tipton makes some spring-loaded snap caps that I've been using for years. Just broke in a 442 with them; about a thousand snaps.
The A-Zoom caps more closely resemble real rounds, and I use those as well.
I had heard about peening of the firing pin channel, so I just don't
take any chances. TACC1