What kind of snap caps/dummy rounds do you use?

[gearbox]

I've got a pair of A-Zoom snap caps. I hate them. The aluminum bodied type that gets chewed up by the bolt face and extractor claw. I hate them. The rim is smaller than the rim on actual live ammo, so you MUST jerk the slide back rapidly. I hate them. I should've learned from the moderately adequate functionality of my 9mm A-Zooms.

I want some dummy rounds that I can pump through as if I were actually shooting. Have any of you had better luck with another brand?

 

[kotengu]

I've tried a few and had the same experience as you. I finally found somebody I know who reloads and had them make up some dummy rounds out of old hulls. I tried to get them to put shot in them so the weight would even be right but they wouldn't do it for fear of mixing them up with real shells......

They've lasted MANY cyclings adn loading/unloadings.

 

[dghboy315]

i just bought some remington dummy rounds. they work just like regular 12 ga. shells. cycle perfectly. they are even loaded with some shot to give them the right weight and feel. they were only $2 each at my local gun shop.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Any reloader can make up some in trash hulls. I've done it using hulls of strange hue, like Fiocchi lavenders so they do not get mixed with real ammo.

Leave the old primer in, add a wad and shot, crimp heavily.

 

[The Bum from the Docks]

Will dry firing hurt your shotgun??

 

[9mmMike]

I have a done a ton of dry firing drills with my 870's and have never broken anything.
The only thing that I can see using the dummy loads for is for reload drills.
YMMV.
Mike

 

[gearbox]

Yep, reloads and realistic shell-shucking is what I'm aiming for.

 

[Red Label]

Will it hurt the firing pin to just drop it on a used primer? I have thought of this too but figured that the primer was already indented so the pin really wouldn't be hitting anything.

 

[Black Majik]

I use the blue pachymrs, they work great for my use.


I can rack slowly, and the pachymr's dont get stuck/jammed etc... I'd recommend them. They're plastic instead of aluminum.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

just bought some remington dummy rounds. they work just like regular 12 ga. shells. cycle perfectly. they are even loaded with some shot to give them the right weight and feel. they were only $2 each at my local gun shop.

DITTO!

This is what I use and they take the abuse that is associated with all the loading/reloading/malf drills that I do.

Jim

 

[discusser]

Hi. Where can I purchase the Remington dummy shells?

Thanks.

 

[JNewell]

I have sort of decided that the AZoom snaps are the best of the three I've tried, but YMMV. I found that the Armsport ones (red bases, clear tops) broke very quickly in every handgun I tried them in. I don't remember breaking the shotgun ones but I stopped using them. I've also tried the orange plastic training dummies (which in fairness are not sold as snapcaps). Those really don't last long...extractors break chips off the rim, firing pins occasionally crack the whole "head" apart, etc. Making up dummies in real shell casings is probably the best solution. Just make sure they're well and clearly marked (orange paint?).