Snap Caps

[JBTJ]

Which or should I say what type of gun needs to have snap caps to practice DA dry fire. I'm .22's do but not sure of any other type of gun.

 

[Rpg]

Rim fire firearms and double barreled guns are the primary firearms you should use snap caps in.

Lots of folks like to use them in virtually all firearms.

I find them to be unnecessarily fussy gadgets in anything but rimfires and doubles.

That said, using them won’t hurt anything.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I would suggest that if you're going to be doing any kind of extended dry firing, such as dry fire practice, get some good snap caps for whatever gun you'll be using. I like A-Zooms.

I should also mention that I've broken the nose on a hammer-mounted firing pin twice from dry fire practice before, so I now use snap caps for dry fire practice, regardless of the gun I'm using. They also help if you want to practice reloading.

It's cheap insurance.

If your only concern is just for quick function checks and maintenance purposes, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[dubshooter]

I use snap caps in all my revolvers. But my dry fire practice usually includes reloading with speed loadersand speed strips. They’re handy for that as well and help boost your times and confident come qual time

 

[WheelGunMagic]

I also use snap caps in all my revolvers for dry firing. A-Zooms work the best for me.

 

[Bob1943]

Tipton snap caps, with the spring inside.

 

[smoothshooter]

For any gun with a visible hammer, snap caps are a waste of money.

Take a foam earplug, cut it in half, cock the hammer, insert foam plug down inside the hammer recess in the area of the firing pin, and dry-fire away. Lasts almost indefinitely and is cheap.

Just don't forget to remove the earplug when you are finished.

 

[ADP3]

I broke a supposedly unbreakable firing pin in a Ruger Security Six 40 years ago. I've used snap caps ever since and never broken another. I like A-Zooms. The spring-loaded Tipton's and Carlson's are ok for automatics but I've had the spring/plunger back out, i.e,fail, and they can lock up a revolver when they let go. Yellow plastic screw anchors, I think the size is #10, work great for .22 rimfire snap caps. They're inexpensive and last quite a while.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

I have a new Kimber KS which I fired w/o snap caps and the floating firing pin broke almost at once. Kimber replaced it and I began using snap caps (with the spring in them). Firing pin broke after 29 snaps.
I have several Smiths with floating firing pins, both exposed and concealed hammer, and have never had a broken pin.
Kimber wheelgun owners beware!

 

[JBTJ]

I guess I also didn’t make myself all that clear. I was referring to S&W revolvers, particularly my 1980’s M25 and M29 also have a 2016 686+. So that’s 2 different type firing pins involved. I have a bunch of those orange plastic .22 snap caps for my 1989 M17.

So I decided to make my own snap caps. Got on line and found a bunch that looked like the primer pockets were filled with RTV silicon. So we’ll see how that works out.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[Wee Hooker]

This has been posted several times before but it's worth duplicating.
#6 drywall anchors cost about $3.50 per 100 and make perfect snap caps for 22's.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

One good use for snap caps is if you are doing combat drills, especially with a pistol, not a revolver. Load a snap cap in the middle of your magazine, fire away, then do a rack/tap (whatever it's called) drill to clear your gun and get back into action.

 

[Kurusu]

Just to be on the safe side. Use them on anything you dry fire a lot.

In anything rimfire definitely a must.

 

[smoothshooter]

Those are some pretty expensive dry wall anchors!

 

[richardw]

I shoot centerfiew so this does not apply to rimfire.

I take a cartridge and remove the bullet. Then I empty the powder. Next I ca ber the casing and fire gun to set off the primer. Then I remove the primer. Then I clean the casing up and reinsert the bullet. I end up with a dummy cartridge that has no matador where the firing pin strikes. I make one at a time. I have been using the one I made last year for over 10 months.

If you do it remember that when you fire the primer the residual powder in the cartridge is going to burn. You have to make a little extra effort with a bore brush or reamer and bore cleaner after you do it.

 

[oneounceload]

This has been posted several times before but it's worth duplicating.
#6 drywall anchors cost about $350 per 100 and make perfect snap caps for 22's.

I'm hoping you meant $3.50, not $350 YIKES!

I use them in my K-22 Masterpiece

 

[damascusdave]

One advantage I have noticed about having a set of snap caps is that some gun dealers will not let you dry fire a revolver without them. I bought a set specifically for that reason, changed my mind about buying that particular gun, and now have changed the other way and am going to add it to my gun safe.

 

[Inusuit]

I shoot centerfiew so this does not apply to rimfire.

I take a cartridge and remove the bullet. Then I empty the powder. Next I ca ber the casing and fire gun to set off the primer. Then I remove the primer. Then I clean the casing up and reinsert the bullet. I end up with a dummy cartridge that has no matador where the firing pin strikes.

I don't understand the purpose of the dummy you describe. The purpose of snap caps is to cushion firing pin strikes to avoid stress on the hammer and pin. If there is no "matador" (material?) where the pin strikes, the effect is the same as if no dummy cartridge or snap cap is used. I have seen people who filled the empty primer pocket with silicone caulk or a pencil eraser cut to fit. I don't like these dummy rounds unless they are painted or clearly marked to differentiate them from live rounds.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I'm hoping you meant $3.50, not $350 YIKES!

I use them in my K-22 Masterpiece

Yes, sorry about that.
I use them in anything 22.