What is this?

In my opinion it is indeed a snap-cap. With a poorly-designed "primer".

Training round.

ST Action Pro 9mm Action Trainer Dummy Round (20 Rounds)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQSR6LO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_26VM2T3FSW1K64H1C016

I have some in .223 as well, we mix them unseen into magazines for malfunction/transition drills every few range training sessions.

They’re also great flinch-catchers!

Stay safe.

Col. Harrumph said:

Thanks, TinNePa! (and please decode your handle )

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I'm going to guess 'Tom in North East Pennsylvania.'

Riomouse911 said:

I have some in .223 as well, we mix them unseen into magazines for malfunction/transition drills every few range training sessions.

They’re also great flinch-catchers!

Stay safe.

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Same, they were loaded randomly into our mags at re-qual sessions to make sure we all could experience malfunctions and take proper action to clear them and keep going.

I still have some laying around somewhere. No good as snap caps, but good for action function checking without live rounds.

Gus Chiggins said:

I'm going to guess 'Tom in North East Pennsylvania.'

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Close, very close!!!

beag_nut said:

In my opinion it is indeed a snap-cap. With a poorly-designed "primer".

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I got into a debate in another thread about dummy rounds versus snap caps and came out on the short end of that, so I'll just ditto the above analysis with a caveat on the term "snap cap" as being technically not entirely correct.

I normally use the terms "dummy round" and "snap cap" interchangeably without regard as an item suitable to substitute for real ammo in dry firing, but if someone wants to get anal about it the "snap cap" needs to have a spring-loaded "primer" to take the impact of the firing pin same as a real primer would, and the dummy round pictured does not. Whether or not this dummy round pictured can be used for dry-firing depends a whole lot more on the firearm involved than it does on the item itself. Frankly, I wouldn't hesitate using that as a dummy round to dry fire and function test any 9mm firearm that I own.

Some of those dummy rounds have a decent "primer" that manages to handle repetitive firing pin hits. Bought some off eBay that didn't even take 10 hits before it was just like this. I still use them for clearing and mag drills. At least this one used a nice case.

Training ammo!

TinNePa said:

Close, very close!!!

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I know the NEPA is correct lol. (hello neighbor)

Yep Rio said it. Great for FTF drills.

Col. Harrumph said:

I don't get this part: "recessed primer hole prevents damage to your firing pin"... it seems like it would invite damage.

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Let's just say it won't contribute to firing pin damage. The hole in the "primer" is deep enough that the firing pin won't make contact if the trigger is pulled with one of these chambered. I don't see them as something to use for dry firing practice, though. I have these I use for training purposes. Brass base for durability with extractors, and a spring-loaded primer for dry-fire practice, marked for caliber, and no mistaking them for a live round.