Dummy Cartridges?

[JayFramer]

Anyone use inert dummy cartridges to practice their reloads in their revolvers?

I've got some nickel plated jobs with orange plastic bullets and primer pockets. They do okay but they are very lightweight and not balanced like the genuine article.

Anyone use a different kind or make their own?

-Jay

 

[Kurusu]

Anyone use inert dummy cartridges to practice their reloads in their revolvers?

I've got some nickel plated jobs with orange plastic bullets and primer pockets. They do okay but they are very lightweight and not balanced like the genuine article.

Anyone use a different kind or make their own?

-Jay

Yup. I use reloaded dummies without powder nor primers.

 

[august1410]

Yup. I use reloaded dummies without powder nor primers.

Me as well. These also work for use in photographs.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I use A-Zooms for dry fire and reload practice. I haven't noticed a big issue with weight/balance differences, but the roundnose profile is different than the JHP I use. That's why I practice reloads with live ammo at the range, too.

I have seen dummy rounds for sale made from real cases and bullets, but with no powder or primer. I haven't tried them because I think it'd be easier to mix them up with live ammo, whereas the A-Zooms are red aluminum. While one should always pay attention to such things, I try to minimize the chances for a mistake when possible.

 

[Jeppo]

I found a seller on that big auction site offering quality snap caps. He uses clean (perhaps even new) brass (also offers nickel) cases and puts red silicone in the place of primers. They weigh the same as live ammo and the only way to differentiate is by the red "primer".

I like these very much and have found the price more than fair. The guy ships very quickly and the quality is top notch. I have them for each caliber I shoot. The only downside, as mentioned previously, is that I periodically need to stripe them with a Magic Marker to be certain I know what kind of rounds I'm handling.

 

[Bosquebass]

Yup. I use reloaded dummies without powder nor primers.

Me too. Paint them a bright color so as not to confuse them with live ammo.

 

[Mals9]

I made dummy round with no primer and painted the bullets purple. No confusing these.

Mals

 

[chief38]

My preference for the practice of reloading is to make up dummy rounds of the exact same configuration as the real deal (with NO powder and leave in spent Primers of course). I have painted them black on the rim of the cartridge so there is never a mix-up and I keep them in a special container marked "inert cartridges for practice only". They seem to last for years.

For dry fire drills I like to use Tipton brand snap caps which I find to be the highest quality brand available. They have a very strong spring in the primer and give more than adequate resistance as to not damage firing pins. They also stand up rather well with use and have taken a beating with no appreciable wear.