A-Zoom snap caps?

scoobysnacker · Oct 28, 2017

Ok, I don't like to dryfire any of my guns without a snap cap or dummy round, and for some (Star, for example), that's not just preference, it's mandatory to use a snap cap.

Which leads me to an odd problem I'm running into...

I just bought a Mauser 1914 in 7.65 Browning (one would assume that to be .32 acp).

I have a couple other old .32s, and I must state for the record, none of these liked WWB, but they all love Fiocchi and PPU (which as we know are made in Europe). The Fiocchi is called both, the PPU is labelled 32 Auto.

Mauser 1914, Savage 1907, CZ 27; all cycle the real ammo like butter.

But the Mauser chokes on the snap caps. The snapcap will jam into the barrel, and won't extract. I have to remove the barrel and tap it out with a dowel. I then carefully retested with live ammo, and again, slick and smooth. Easy, you wouldn't know there is anything in the mag or barrel.

Any ideas? I've tried all 5 snap caps in the thought one (or 2) might be out of spec, but no go.

Just for clarification, we're talking about A-Zoom snap caps, they come in 5 pack. Aluminum objects the size/shape of real ammo, painted a maroon lacquer. I've never had a problem with this in any other gun, and my CZ and Savage both cycle them.

Hamster65 · Oct 29, 2017

I'm not a fan of the A-zoom brand. The aluminum tends to get chipped away by the extractor way too easily and tends to leave aluminum shavings inside the chamber. The little plastic/polymer (whatever they are) primer inserts wear out pretty quickly too.

I prefer Tipton snap caps when I can find them. The rims are made of brass and seem to hold up better. All of the ones I have, have spring loaded primers.

The only exceptions are, the dummy rounds I bought for my 38 SPL. They are real brass casings, complete with bullets installed. Just no powder and the primer hole is drilled out oversized and filled with a soft polymer center. They are firm enough to "catch" the firing pin but, still have enough give not to damage it.

Couldn't find "snap caps" but, here are some dummy rounds that may work for you.
7.65 Argentine Mauser snap caps X3 7.65x53 | eBay

chief38 · Oct 29, 2017

Yea, I also much prefer the Tipton to any other brand of Snap caps and they are the only ones I use. I've got them in almost every caliber gun I own except .22LR. For the .22's I use Yellow #4 - #6 Wall Anchors. They work great, are cheap as hell and readily available at any Home depot.

Jessie · Oct 29, 2017

I have some Traditions snap caps. See thru red plastic case with brass base and the primer is spring loaded.
I have 9mm and .38 and no troubles, so far.

Walter Rego · Oct 29, 2017

Scoobysnacker, I use snap caps in my hammerless pocket autos or hammerless .22's so I don't have to dry fire on an empty chamber. I have the A Zoom brand in several calibers including .32 ACP. No problems with them jamming in any of my guns including a Mauser 1914, although like some others here I do prefer the Tipton brand as an actual "snap cap". The A Zooms seem OK for checking feeding from a magazine or other functioning though.

scoobysnacker · Oct 29, 2017

Walter Rego said:
Scoobysnacker, I use snap caps in my hammerless pocket autos or hammerless .22's so I don't have to dry fire on an empty chamber. I have the A Zoom brand in several calibers including .32 ACP. No problems with them jamming in any of my guns including a Mauser 1914, although like some others here I do prefer the Tipton brand as an actual "snap cap". The A Zooms seem OK for checking feeding from a magazine or other functioning though.

So with your Mauser, the A-Zoom will feed from a magazine into the chamber, when you insert a mag into the gun with the slide locked back, and it doesn't jam?

Mine jams in so tight the extractor won't pull it out. It's fully chambered, it just won't come out. Live ammo (gun pointed safely) feed in smooth, and extract easily by racking the slide.

Odd, if the chamber was fouled up I would expect the live ammo to give me problems. I'll clean it out more vigorously, maybe there's a fine layer of gunk/varnish that isn't YET causing problems. I think a larger bore brass brush should do the trick. I don't want to mess anything up, so I won't use steel anything.

scoobysnacker · Oct 29, 2017

Hamster65 said:
I'm not a fan of the A-zoom brand. The aluminum tends to get chipped away by the extractor way too easily and tends to leave aluminum shavings inside the chamber. The little plastic/polymer (whatever they are) primer inserts wear out pretty quickly too.

I prefer Tipton snap caps when I can find them. The rims are made of brass and seem to hold up better. All of the ones I have, have spring loaded primers.

The only exceptions are, the dummy rounds I bought for my 38 SPL. They are real brass casings, complete with bullets installed. Just no powder and the primer hole is drilled out oversized and filled with a soft polymer center. They are firm enough to "catch" the firing pin but, still have enough give not to damage it.

Couldn't find "snap caps" but, here are some dummy rounds that may work for you.
7.65 Argentine Mauser snap caps X3 7.65x53 | eBay

Hi, thanks for the info.

I am referring to the Mauser model 1914 chambered in .32 acp (it actually says 7,65 on the gun). I was a bit curious whether European 7.65 x 17 Browning was actually the slightest bit different than US .32 acp, not enough to cause problems most of the time, but in this case it could be. My .32 acp snap caps fit in my other .32's; I've read a reply that states it SHOULD fit in the Mauser too.

However, the info about the brands is helpful, and the link actually is too: I do have an 1891 Argentine Mauser in 7.65x53, and dummy rds would be appreciated. I'd looked before and couldn't find any. The seller on your link has a "on vacation" block preventing me from buying right now, but I've saved it, and will buy them when he returns.

Hamster65 · Oct 30, 2017

Sorry, don't know much about Mausers so.........I didn't realize you were talking about a pistol.

Checked a couple of forums and found that the 7.65x17 is supposed to be the European version of the 32 ACP and is the exact same size. Therefore, a 32 ACP should work just fine in your pistol. Get some Tipton snap caps and see if they work better for you.

A-Zoom snap caps?

scoobysnacker

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Hamster65

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chief38

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Jessie

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Walter Rego

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scoobysnacker

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scoobysnacker

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Hamster65

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