I'm new to firearms, looking for blank/no gunpowder bullets

D

DJayAce

Inactive
Just bought my first gun, its a Sig P226 Combat. I'm going to go shooting for the first time next weekend! But before I do so, I'd like to buy some blank rounds with no gunpowder in them so I can mess around a little and REALLY get to learn my gun when there are bullets in it. I just don't want them to fire off if I accidentally pull the trigger. Also my brother lives with me and his girlfriend comes over a lot and I want them to also learn the gun inside and out and I want them to fully understand how it works when there are bullets involved...

I'd just like to go buy some just for some extra bit of learning for all 3 of us. The only thing is, I don't want to buy the wrong bullets! All I am looking for are bullets that won't fire off when I pull the trigger. What is the correct terminology for this? So when I go to like Academy or Walmart I can get exactly what I need, without messing up and buying live rounds (Which I wouldn't even accidentally do!), but just wanted to ask so I can get started knowing what to look for. Thanks for your help!
 
Lots of Good Info on the Web

Look for SNAP CAPS. (Click on this link)

I would also recommend a BLUE GUN for training and handling.

Animation of SEMI AUTO PISTOL

Jeff Cooper advocated four basic rules of gun safety:

- All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are.
- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. ...
- Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. ...
- Identify your target, and what is behind it.

Good for you getting your first weapon. Sig P226 is a fine choice. Lots of good info on the web. Also I would recommend a certified class for all who plan to handle the weapon. These can usually be found at your local gun range.
 
Ace,

Good advice above.
You might want to watch this video while you are learning about firearms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U32Hqp9QEjo

This guy is very knowledgable about guns of all types.
Plus, he has some good advice videos about learning to shoot for beginners.
Also loading, if that is in your future interest.

Best,
Rick

PS: I just checked Hickok45's website, and this is an example of his advice to new shooters:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGYf9AZlSyU

Rick
 
Last edited:
I recommend that all of you get some proper training. Handguns are especially prone to being pointed in the wrong direction. Don't let anyone touch your gun that isn't qualified, even then, only with your approval.
Be safe.
 
I am not an "expert", but I have had occasion to be involved in training a lot of what would be considered beginners, successfully. Our good internet friend Hickok45 linked above has some excellent recommendations, as he knows whereof he speaks.

Getting the snap caps and familiarizing with loading, function, and unloading is an excellent idea. While familiarizing, learn and live safety first by practicing safe handling when not using live rounds. The biggest being deliberately aware of the condition of the gun, and that it's only "clear" when the slide is locked back, chamber empty, magazine out, and pointed in a safe direction. Always be aware of where muzzle is pointing, and always in a safe direction regardless of whether loaded or not.

One recommendation that Hickok45 points out, its always nice to learn to shoot using a firearm chambered in .22 Long Rifle (LR), or a ".22". You may not have money or time to purchase and learn on a .22 pistol, I know you want to shoot the Sig as soon as you can, but you could rent a .22 at a gun range the first couple times out to help familiarize with shooting, especially with someone to instruct. You can learn some basics before graduating to the 9mm. Perhaps your personal situation/preference, budget, or even a potential threat do not allow for that time, so I get that.

Do not worry about recoil or noise (have good hearing and eye protection). The 9mm will be a little choppy, but the noise or recoil can't hurt anyone including the lady. Always concentrate on a proper grip, a sight picture or front sight on the target, a good consistent trigger squeeze until let off while keeping the sights on target, (not a jerk or an abrupt pull or yank), and a proper shooting stance to support it all.

Learn to shoot at close ranges, as in 7-10 yards, and most encounters are in that ballbark. Learn the basics, speed will come with practice, and shooting snap caps allows for some low cost practice. Have fun.
 
Welcome. Congratulations!! I give you kudos for the forethought of trying to be safe with dummy rounds.
However...There is a concern. Especially since you mention friends. Ever heard of Murphy's Law? "If it can go wrong,it will go wrong"

There is an old saying."Its the unloaded gun that kills people"

The point is that when folks believe a gun is unloaded,they get careless ,"Boom!!" Somebody is dying,and someone else is saying "It was unloaded"

Now think about what it is you want to do with the snap cap/dummy rounds.

Those four rules by Mr Jeff Cooper ? Rule one "All guns are always loaded"

That does NOT mean that "Guns loaded with snap caps are unloaded"

Rule two says don't let the gun point at anything you do not want to destroy.

If you wish to load a mag,keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction,and practice unloading,that might be fine.....but you still must treat everything as though it IS loaded with live ammo.

Here is a link to a post here discussing a fatal accident that occurred in a training excersize.It is food for thought.The "blue gun" discussed is a solid plastic dummy gun that cannot fire.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578756
 
Such great advice from all of you, I really appreciate that! Reading it all over and letting it soak in. Safety is #1, no exceptions and there is absolutely no room for error at all. I'm going out to the range with some very experienced co-workers next week and am going to bring my brother and his girlfriend out with us to learn as well. Hopefully she can handle the 9mm, but one of my co-workers' is bringing his wife's 380 out with us so that'll be a good gun to start on. Again, thanks for all the advice and help, giving it a good look over right now!
 
Blanks are not as safe as you might imagine.
People have been gravely injured or even killed from so called Blank cartridges.
They are better used to start races than for learning to shoot.
Go with the afore mentioned snap caps to fill the chamber.

Your experienced co-workers may know how to shoot, but do they know how to explain it to new folks?
Big difference, there.
Better yet, get real training.
Any gun store or shooting range can find you an instructor.
You can thank us later.

P.S.
Buying a gun before knowing how to actually safely use it was not a great idea.
Did you do that with your first car?
 
Last edited:
P.S.
Buying a gun before knowing how to actually safely use it was not a great idea.
Did you do that with your first car?
Click to expand...

Come on. Don't scare the guy.

DJayAce you'll be just fine. Sounds like you have plenty of common sense. Just make sure you and others around you abide by Coopers rules of gun safety. I refuse to hunt, shoot, or compete with guys and gals who don't. Another good practice is to learn how to pick up a weapon and make sure that it is "clear", i.e. no magazine and no cartridge in the chamber. Run drills with the snap caps.

There are plenty of people out there that are prior military and/or police, competitors, etc. that can teach you to safely and effectively shoot a firearm. They might not necessarily have an "instructor" diploma hanging on the wall.

Another good training device is the LASERLYTE.

But, we all agree that a good reputable course is a good place to start and they should also be able to familiarize you with your local gun laws. Something else that is very important. Be safe! Enjoy your new P226.

Wooly
 
Last edited:
Like others have alluded to - You are NOT looking for blanks. You are looking for snap caps, dummy rounds, etc.

Blanks are rounds without projectile. Blanks will have a primer that detonates and gunpowder. They will fire when shot. A blank can severely injure you and your hearing if fired indoors. Blanks are used to simulate live fire.

Dummy rounds are inert and can be used for function testing and dry firing. Snap caps are typically a solid aluminum piece with a rubber insert where the firing pin hits it.

It shouldn't be to hard to find snap caps locally but I doubt Walmart has them.
 
@g.willikers, I totally understand where you are coming from! I defiantly realize that there were better ways of getting introduced to firearms. I did a lot of research though, and decided that a 9mm is the best starting gun for me. I even went against some co-workers who were all about colt 45s and 40s, but yeah I didn't listen to them! I picked the Sig P226 Combat because its a 9mm and its a slightly bigger gun, the quality is extremely nice and the gun has some weight to it. So it should theoretically be a smoother shot then most guns. The reason I decided to not go with a smaller caliber gun is because this is purely for house protection, I want something powerful enough but not too powerful for someone starting out. I guess I don't know yet but I have 0 regrets! I mean just look at the gun, I fell in love with it the moment I set my eyes on it. So, even though I could have probably shot a 9mm before buying one, and got comfortable with firearms first. I trust myself enough that I won't even lay my hands on that gun before I feel good enough. I'm not like them young trigger happy kids out there, haha. I mean damn, its been a week and a half sense I've bought the gun and haven't even touched it!
 
OP,it doesn't seem that you are looking to hand load your ammunition.
You might get additional information and specialized answers to your questions in the Tactics and Training forum,good luck.
 
I second snap caps. And Hickok 45 videos! The guy is a champ! Also, Jerry miculek has some great videos.

What I did, instead of snap caps is I took some old brass that had loose primer pockets, seated a bullet, and filled the primer pocket with hot glue. The hot glue isn't necessary, depending on who you talk to. But I like having something to stop the firing pin, other than the internals of the bolt

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
I'm sure this will start another crap fight...

Snap Caps come in handy for training in a couple ways.
A mag full lets you practice cycling and trigger pull without any risk of shooting the TV.

Two snap caps in a mag of live rounds, random placement, will help teach failure to fire proceedure, and emergency failure drills.
This is advanced stuff, get proper training!
This will also tell you real quick if you are flinching.

A Snap Cap in a primary firearm mag will give you a chance to practice default drills, from rifle to pistol, ect.
 
Just a thought to consider after all the good advise above, a movie star (I believe it was Brandon Lee) died from a self inflicted wound to the head from a "blank" cartridge. He was on a set, playing with his "movie gun" loaded with blanks and placed the muzzle near/next to his head and pulled the trigger...

I can't add much to the advice given above, just treat every gun as loaded. I had a friend that would not take a gun if handed to him. He would ask to have the gun put down, on a counter, table, bench, etc. and he would pick it up and check the chamber himself...
 
It was a soap opera star that killed himself with a blank. He stuck it to his head and it pushed a piece of skull into his brain.



Brandon Lee died from a squib that was stuck in the barrel that had a blank push it out the rest of the way. It had enough energy to pierce his heart.
 
While I agree that blanks can be dangerous and potentially fatal,
I think our OP,as a newbie,just did not know the right words to use.

I believe we have figured out that he wanted totally inert dummy rounds with no potential to go "bang"
 
It was Jon Eric Hexom (I think...) that shot himself in the head with a stage blank and died.

Brandon Lee was killed when an internal 'Hollywood' blank adapter came loose in a barrel and discharged like a bullet.

Blanks have more muzzle energy release than an actual bullet because they use much faster burning powder.
The gas jet is INTENSE, and at contact or very short range the gas jet does incredible damage.

For instance, 'Shark Sticks', a loaded cartridge/short barrel on the end of a stick,
Use the water column/gas jet to kill sharks without an actual 'Projectile'.

Ironically, the same 'Propmaster' was doing both productions...
I read about it in the insurance flyers from the people that provide my insurance not long ago.
Both times the Prop company was using the highest safety training standards, best equipment, but stuff happens no matter what you have planned.
You can't anticipate a coked up drunken actor will violate all safety training and put a gun to his head,
And you can't anticipate a threaded in, spot welded blank adapter will break loose...

Now the blank adaptors are installed from the chamber side, so they are physically larger than the barrel material,
Instead of threaded in from the muzzle so the barrel bore is larger than the blank adapter.
 
Last edited:
JeepHammer, wow was not aware. Googled both actors, Mr. Hexom died exactly as you stated, very tragic to say the least. I recognize his picture from some parts he must have played back in the 80's.

Regarding Brandon Lee, Wikipedia goes into some detail to say how he died. (Both incidents involved .44 Mag handguns.) In Mr. Lee's case, it says they needed dummy rounds for a scene that would show bullets in the front of the cylinder. Instead of using approved dummies, the crew apparently pulled bullets from live rounds, dumped powder, and put bullets back over live primers. In a scene there was a shot and a squib bullet became stuck in barrel from force of primer, unnoticed or hazard not realized by crew. Later they put full power blanks in the gun, when fired at Mr. Lee from a short distance, the squibbed bullet was shot out into his abdomen.

Never sure of what is on the internet, but this article seems to back that account.

http://www.franksreelreviews.com/shorttakes/brandonlee/brandonlee.htm
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top