Make your own dummy rounds?

[gwalchmai]

Is there any problem with making your own dummy rounds instead of buying snapcaps? Would it be OK to use a fired primer and seat a bullet, or would it be better to decap and fill the primer pocket with epoxy?

 

[Jim Watson]

I have made my own .38, .357, and .45 dummies so as to duplicate my actual ammo for speedloader and moonclip loading practice, so it is no trouble to do.

But you MUST be EXTREMELY careful to keep them away from loaded ammo to avoid unwanted loud noises at home. Hmmm. I think I will go stripe my dummies for easy identification.

 

[Dave R]

Yes, I did this with my .17/.357mag wildcat. A-Zoom doesn't make snap caps in that caliber.

I trimmed an eraser to size and glued it in the primer pocket.

 

[JNewell]

You can use silicone caulk in the primer pocket. I also drill a couple of holes in the case and deburr for easier ID. Crimp them really well if you want to use them for function-checking.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I made some dummy rounds in the 1970s with bits of pencil eraser instead of primers. I still use them.

 

[Michael2]

I made some with the aforementioned caulked primer holes (seemed to be the most durable), and have also tried it with hot glue and pencil erasers in the primer holes.

In place of bullets, I used trimmed-down electrical wire nuts, secured with hot glue. They are brightly colored to help with identification.

Regards,
Michael Pliska

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I made some up to practice loading my 625. Left the fired primers in, used the same bullet as in "hot" rounds and put them in a couple of moon clips, then used some white nail polish on the whole top or primer side. Pretty easy to see thet are the dummies and I get to use the same approximate weight when practicing.

 

[Joshua Hutchison]

.17/.357? wow.....must get some serious velocity.....

 

[straightShot]

I put nail polish in the extractor groove, and it doesn't readily wear off. It helps to quickly identify ammo as dummy, practice ammo.

 

[stans]

Left the fired primers in,

I have done this before and it worked right up until the firing pin pierced the primer. By the way, a 1911 firing pin will eventually pierce a used primer and get stuck. It happened to me.

 

[gwalchmai]

I painted mine purple with a Sharpie. It's pretty distinctive, plus it has a green eraser for a primer. I guess the Sharpie will eventually wear off, but I can fix that.