Dummy rounds and snap caps...

[Wingnut]

Is there any reason to choose one over the other for training/dry fire purposes?
Pros/cons of each?
Any suggestions for interesting/challenging drills that they can be used for?

Thanks...

 

[mikec]

In today's world I don't know why you wouldn't use snap caps for all training.

When I took my first handgun training class, maybe around 1980 or so, they has dummy rounds, which were real cases, with a hole near the base and a real bullet to show different cartridges to us. Since there was no powder, nor primer, they were safe if one got in with a real gun.

 

[ProShooter]

In today's world I don't know why you wouldn't use snap caps for all training.

When I took my first handgun training class, maybe around 1980 or so, they has dummy rounds, which were real cases, with a hole near the base and a real bullet to show different cartridges to us. Since there was no powder, nor primer, they were safe if one got in with a real gun.

For striker fired pistols, the firing pin should hit something. For that reason, I prefer snap caps.

 

[hole punch]

For striker fired pistols, the firing pin should hit something. For that reason, I prefer snap caps.

aren't GLOCKs striker-fired? and don't you have to dryfire to take down?

 

[Wingnut]

Thanks guys. I prolly should have said this was for my AR though. Does it matter?

 

[hole punch]

Thanks guys. I prolly should have said this was for my AR though. Does it matter?

i use the Red see-thru plastic ones with the brass heads. "Traditions" I think they're called. I have four of them in .223 and they are all beat to hell because I've use them so much, both for instructing other people new to rifles and for personal training around the house.

I also have a bunch of the dark red aluminum ones, "A-Zoom" they're called, and the cheap orange ones, in about 20 differnt calibers. Every time I see a caliber I don't have I buy em. They're great. Especially the Traditions and A-Zooms. Get em.

 

[Wingnut]

Great. Thanks.

 

[ProShooter]

aren't GLOCKs striker-fired? and don't you have to dryfire to take down?

Yes, and for the rare times that you are taking the gun apart, one trigger pull in not a big deal. Its the multiple pulls on an empty chamber (i.e. dry fire practice) that are an issue (from what I understand from the Glock fellas)

 

[Phoenix_1295]

I currently use the A-Zoom snap caps for dry fire practice and FTF drills, but I was thinking of purchasing some of the orange plastic dummies for the FTF drills. They are easier to see on the ground and if they get beat up, they are cheap to replace. If the A-Zooms are more expensive and if they get nicked up when they hit the concrete, they can get burs that are probably not so nice for the magazine.

 

[jawn]

They're also good for holster-draw exercises (you can practice drawing from cocked-and-locked without risk of an ND) and spotting any weirdnesses in how you shoot. A flinch becomes immediately apparent if you have a buddy load a snap cap or two in your magazines with live ammo.

 

[clandestine]

aren't GLOCKs striker-fired? and don't you have to dryfire to take down?

Yes, and for the rare times that you are taking the gun apart, one trigger pull in not a big deal. Its the multiple pulls on an empty chamber (i.e. dry fire practice) that are an issue (from what I understand from the Glock fellas)

Correct, this is the reult of excesive dry firing in a glock with no snap caps:

 

[mikec]

Chad, any issues with dry firing a S&W M&P?

 

[Tconfo]

Is there any fixing that after the damage has been done? Just wondering

 

[clandestine]

Chad, any issues with dry firing a S&W M&P?

I have never seen one with that kind of damage but I would be safe and not dry fire it to be safe.

Good news is M&P's have lifetime warranties so if it breaks they will fix it for free.

Is there any fixing that after the damage has been done? Just wondering

I could weld it up and remachine it, but Glock would likely replace it for cheaper than a good reweld would cost.

 

[Tconfo]

Thanks. I was just curious.

 

[hole punch]

wow thanks for clearing that up, James, Chad

 

[methlab]

You can make dummy rounds by seating a bullet in a dry casing and inserting an eraser in the primer area.

 

[Nanook]

I'm a big fan of bright colored snap caps like the A-zoom. I recently completed a course that used these http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.aspx?productid=LE Dummy and were pretty cool.

If we're doing slow fire (Bullseye) work I'll occasionally throw one in a magazine to closely watch the shooter's trigger pull and follow through. For tactical stuff, I do the same but I'll take a handful and drop them into about 100 rounds. I'll watch TV and load magazines without looking at them. Whenever it goes 'click' instead of 'bang', I tap, rack, ready and continue until I get the requisite number of hits in the target.

The cheap plastic orange ones I don't really like because they get chewed up by the extractor after a chambering or two.

 

[EL1227]

Snap caps are the way to go just for checking the ejector mechanics after an overhaul or those pesky 'off-brand' mags that don't always want to feed properly.

A definite must have bench tool.

 

[mikec]

You can make dummy rounds by seating a bullet in a dry casing and inserting an eraser in the primer area.

How long do you thing that eraser will last? The firing pin is getting propelled with enough energy to dent a metal primer, don't you think it will quickly bash the eraser material to bits and then you have an abrasive inside your gun.