Snap Caps -- Tactical Training

[StrongMedicine]

Could someone please explain snap caps. General useage in all Firearm Types.

1. Why they are used.

2. How they are used.

3. How many should I expect to practically use.

4. Cost.

Thanks,
SM

[MichonRAFW]

1. Dry fire (trigger practice)
- some guns can not/should not be dry fired on empty chambers such as .22's. I think CZ 52's were notorious for breaking firing pins if they were dry fired without snap caps
-some people claim that even guns that are ok to dry fire without snap caps would benefit from snap caps to "reduce wear" or "parts stress". Bottom line- if it makes you feel good then by all means use a snap cap.

2. Stoppage drills
-have a shooting buddy randomly mix in a snap cap or two into a loaded mag at the range to practice immediate action drills to simulate misfires/duds
-also useful is to load the snap cap backwards which will end up causing a jam. Everyone can use practice on clearing jams

Note: dummy rounds and snap caps are two different animals. dummy rounds are not intended or designed to be repeatedly struck by firing pins/strikers.

Snap caps last a long time. You can get by with 1, I have 3 or 5 in 9mm (my primary defense caliber)

HTH

Ryan

[Fn/form]

+1 on StrongMed's comments.

I'd only add that the brass-cased ones are best. The plastic ones get beat up/broken by the extractor, and you run the risk of a tiny bit of plastic lodging somewhere...

I've not had a prob with alumunium-bodied snap caps (A Zoom brand?), but mine are showing wear, as well.


-josh

[whirlibird]

Agreed with both previous posts, the A-Zooms are my prefered choice. Remember to cycle a new one in every 5-10 firing pin hits and let it have a few minutes to "heal" between cycles.
The goo that's in the primer hole will take the impact well but will set down a bit and needs a period of time to re-expand to take more hits as effectively.

The A-Zooms come in a 6 pack and make for realistic practice.
I use mine when on the road and opportunity to practice live fire doesn't present itself. 15-30 minutes of dry fire a night keeps the trigger finger limber and has kept me at least decent during the dry spells.

[Treborer]

I prefer the A Zooms, Midway is having a sale this month.http://www.midwayusa.com/eclearance.exe/browse?promotionid=9076&brandid=2000

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by MichonRAFW
Note: dummy rounds and snap caps are two different animals. dummy rounds are not intended or designed to be repeatedly struck by firing pins/strikers.


I just build my dummy rounds with the primer completely omitted.

I'm not sure how the idea that the firing pin needs to hit some surface keeps floating around here. You should be able to dry-fire a FAL 100,000 times without any adverse effect.

[StrongMedicine]

Thanks for the info everyone, I ordered and recvd. Got the Azooms from Midway.

Pretty handy!

SM

[AzDak]

Three gun practice.....

After shooting my first few matches I realized I was funbling and bumbling through shotgun reloads. As a lifelong bird hunter, I'd figured this would be old hat but under time pressure I wasn't been very efficient in my movement and it didn't feel right. Until I'd done it, I never realized that you spend more time reloading than you do shooting.

Unload my shotgun in the shop.
Check for clear twice.
Check my pockets and make sure no live ammo is on my person
Proceed to the ammo free living room
Load up my side saddle and bandolier with a dozen snap caps
Verify the gun is clear again...

Then practice practice practice....

I still suck, but it's coming a bit more naturally than it did.