When are you supposed to use dummy rounds and snap caps? Do you need to use them when storing the shotgun? My two shotguns have been "dry fired" accidently or through ignorance a few times. I haven't fired them yet, but I suppose they are ok. I hope so-ha. What do you guys think about using them? I have a 500 pump and a Topper single shot.
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Dummy Rounds and Snap Caps
- Thread starter ron73644
- Start date
Snap caps are used for dry-firing while practicing your mount, point and swing. While occasional dry-firing without them probably won't due any harm - excessive amounts can break firing pins.
Dummy rounds are usually used to check for proper feeding or chamber depth when it is unknown or questionable. Some people like to put a dummy round, modified with a pencil eraser inserted where the primer should be, into the chamber an pull the trigger to release the firing pin before storage. This makes storing hammerless double-guns easier as the action won't be cocked or the firing pin springs be under tension.
Dummy rounds are usually used to check for proper feeding or chamber depth when it is unknown or questionable. Some people like to put a dummy round, modified with a pencil eraser inserted where the primer should be, into the chamber an pull the trigger to release the firing pin before storage. This makes storing hammerless double-guns easier as the action won't be cocked or the firing pin springs be under tension.
There are a variety of dummy rounds for a variety of purposes. For example, they have some (often plastic and orange) for training. The work good for teaching people to load and unload a gun.
They have more realistic rounds that can be used in place of actual rounds to simulate "failure to fire" during training. Often these are more robust.
The "Action Proving Rounds" are dummy rounds that are made with a great deal of care to simulate actual rounds. They are weighted properly and are often used by gunsmiths to check the proper functioning of the weapon without live ammo.
Finally, the have precision dummy rounds that are used to check chamber dimensions, head spacing, etc.
Brownells has a variety of dummy rounds at a wide variety of pricing. Personally, I like the "Action Proving Rounds" for most things but they are not dramatically different than normal rounds so they are probably not ideal for all situations.
They have more realistic rounds that can be used in place of actual rounds to simulate "failure to fire" during training. Often these are more robust.
The "Action Proving Rounds" are dummy rounds that are made with a great deal of care to simulate actual rounds. They are weighted properly and are often used by gunsmiths to check the proper functioning of the weapon without live ammo.
Finally, the have precision dummy rounds that are used to check chamber dimensions, head spacing, etc.
Brownells has a variety of dummy rounds at a wide variety of pricing. Personally, I like the "Action Proving Rounds" for most things but they are not dramatically different than normal rounds so they are probably not ideal for all situations.
I have heard great things about the Saf-T-Trainers so I just ordered some of those. I was also looking at the A-Zoom rounds but have heard mixed reviews about those.
Drunk Fat Man
New member
that about sums it up
narrowneck
Inactive
I have the a-zoom dummys.
They suck! They get chewed up real quick when you feed them and leave ally filings in your gun.
I only use them for dry firing now.
They suck! They get chewed up real quick when you feed them and leave ally filings in your gun.
I only use them for dry firing now.
I have dry-fired my 870's hundreds upon hundreds (probably more) of times with no trouble. As far as I am concerned, with regards to dry-firing, they are a waste of money and a solution for non-existent problem.
I do think that dummy rounds for load and unload drill are a good idea though.
Out of all the 870's that I own, I have only ever had one with a broken firing pin. It was a '55 that I bought for 100.00 and it came with the broken pin.
I do think that dummy rounds for load and unload drill are a good idea though.
Out of all the 870's that I own, I have only ever had one with a broken firing pin. It was a '55 that I bought for 100.00 and it came with the broken pin.
narrowneck
Inactive
Our 870s at work get dry fired hundreds of times a year (some of them thousands!). They are over ten years old and in the last five years I have never seen a broken firing pin, only the firing pin spring.
They are seriously tough guns.
They are seriously tough guns.