Problem with snap caps.

[emilianoksa]

Following an earlier post about dry firing, I decided to try out a set of Tipton snap caps in my 380 Glock, and with very disappointing results.

I put the five snap caps in magazine, loaded and pulled the trigger. However on all but one occasion, on retracting the slide, the chambered cap came out only far enough to contact the next round and jam the slide. I had to keep pushing the slide back and dropping the magazine.

The barrel on my Glock was squeaky clean and dry - no trace of oil - and I cleaned the snap caps with some alcohol and a dry cloth just to make sure grease was not to blame.

However every time I tried to cycle the action the same jam occured.

With the last round, I was only able to extract the snap cap from the chamber by removing the barrel from the gun and using tweasers.

If anyone has any idea what caused this, I'd be grateful for their comments.

The only thing I can think of, bearing in mind the tightness of the cap in the barrel, is the weather. It's quite cold and damp here at this time of year.

In any case, it's quite put me off ever using snap caps in a semi-auto again.

Or are there better snap caps out there that I should have bought?

 

[BlindJustice]

I don't recall what brand Snap Caps I have, but they work in my
S&W 1911, for Dry Fire or checking feed and ejection after re-Assembly.
Perhaps this relates to a striker fired Glock? and the relationship to
ejection is for empty cases? How does your Glock eject live unfired
rounds?

Uh just curious, where the heck is it so cool and damp this
time of the year? It's hot and low himidity here in
SE Wash. State.

R-

 

[shotgunjoel]

He's from Lima, Peru. That's also how he is able to have a 380 Glock.

 

[emilianoksa]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm in the southern hemisphere, so it's winter here.

The Glock ejects full live rounds without problems.

I have some A zoom snap caps for rifles and, because they're all metal, they appear to be more sturdy than the Tiptons.

Don't know if it makes much difference though.

I wonder if the type of gun I've got doesn't take kindly to snap caps. Although it's a Glock with the normal floating barrel and looks like it should lock up, it's actually 380 calibre, and so I guess it's a blowback.

 

[emilianoksa]

I'd rather have a Glock 19, or a CZ 75, but 9mm is out for civilian use here.

 

[Kangspec]

hmmm. i heard good things about them.

i'd connect company see what they say.

 

[EOD Guy in VA]

Go with A-Zoom and you'll never have a problem.
http://www.azoomsnapcaps.com/

 

[sohcgt2]

I have some A zoom snap caps for rifles and, because they're all metal, they appear to be more sturdy than the Tiptons.

Don't know if it makes much difference though.

My guess is that the snap caps you have are defective (somehow out of spec) and since you are familiar A-Zoom products I would suggest trying their product. I use them in both of my Glocks with no problems regardless of the weather.

 

[emilianoksa]

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Spartacus451]

In a safe location are you able to do this hand cycling with live rounds? Could it be that the gun is not designed to have the slide retracted partially with a round in the chamber? I don't know what the story is with the .380 Glocks as they are not available in the US.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have only ever used Snap Caps for my revolvers. I use A Zooms. I have noticed something about them though that may relate to your problem. The "primer" part of them has come out past the rim a little bit. It is not enough to jam up my revolvers but it might be enough to interfere with the slide picking up the next round from the magazine and jamming it there.