A-Zoom snap caps

F

fcoliver

Inactive
How long can you use these?

Mine are getting dimpled in the plastic "primer", so I wonder how many dry fires they can be used before they no longer protect the firing pin from damage.

Also, in several pistols I have to partially cycle the slide to recock the DAO trigger, and the rim edge gets roughened where it hits the headspace of the chamber. I've sanded this smooth a couple of times to make cycling easier.

Have you tried the Tipton snap caps? They have a spring on the "primer", which might extend the life of that part, but they appear to be made of plastic, which would seem to shorten the life of the rim edge.

What has been your experience with the A-Zoom and Tiltons?

Thanks,

Fred
 
Most people seem to prefer the A-zooms.
I use Tiptons, but not heavily. I have had no problems with them. The spring-loaded center and the rim are brass, however the center brass does get dimpled after repeated use.
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It looks like the A-Zooms cost around 50% more. That's what I've been using, but I want to get some more and keep a snap cap in several pistols that I periodically pick up to "shoot" the TV. (Yes, I know; no real ammo anywhere NEAR that room.)

I got two new pistols at a gun show on Jan 2nd, and we've had more weather than I've ever experienced - record snow, record breaking low temps for weeks, and now in our second ice storm this month. I've only been able to get to the gun club to shoot once in the past six weeks.

So I've been doing a LOT of dry fire practice recently - probably several thousand 'snaps' in a new PF9, which I think will be one of my carry pistols, once it's proven itself reliable. (So far only 50 rounds, but flawless performance.)

I don't assume that dry firing is a substitute for the 200-round break-in for these guns, but I can tell the trigger is getting a little smoother.

How would one know when the snap-cap "primer" is no longer protecting your gun's firing pin from dry fire damage?
 
I have used the same Azoom snap-cap in my Glock 19 for years. It is chewed up around the rim and the primer is very worn out. It continues to function fine though with thousands and thousands of dry-fires through it.

I can still hear the striker on the gun engaging the primer well before hitting the breachface. To me, the snap-cap is still doing its job.
 
I've used both A-Zoom and the Tiptons. Even with the spring it seems like the Tiptons dimple up faster so I think I get more life out of the A-Zoom ones.

Still, for the price I have no trouble replacing a snap cap after 1-2k dryfires.
 
I use them until they start to look nasty and a little chewed up.

I used to use the Tipton type, but they were always short lived and the little primer/plunger would always get stuck up inside the cap, and usually in short order. The A Zooms last a lot longer.
 
Thank you, all, for your input. Seems best to pay more for the A-Zooms, which I'm about to order, and just replace them when they get chewed up.

I've wondered if the square firing pin on the Glocks might damage the "primer" faster.

I haven't used the snap caps to cycle rounds through a pistol, but have to partially cycle the DAO types to recock them. After a while the rim case gets curled out and the lip gets roughened; one of those makes it hard to cycle. I've smoothed them out with sandpaper and gone back to easy function, but I assume eventually the cartridge rim won't properly headspace/seat in the chamber.

Don't know that much about guns, so somebody tell me if I'm in the weeds.
 
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