Cheap SnapCaps...

[nrvnqsrxk]

So, I don't like paying $6 bux a snap cap. So I did a little quick improv with things I had on hand. I'm sure someone has thought of this before, but I had a quick question.

I took spent shotgun shells, and cut off the part that unfolds when the shell is fired, to make the shell the same length. Then I stuffed it with toilet paper to give it a little heft so that the extractor can maintain some semblance of realism. My question is whether I can continue to use this method to practice drills at home. Is it okay to continue to shove these "Fake" shells into the mag tube? Would this put any stress on my extractor?

My Remington 870 is like 10 lbs, so I enjoy just lugging it around my house and just randomly "firing" all my "fake" shells at random objects. Am I putting my shotgun through unnecessary abuse? I remember reading somewhere that I should be using the action to smooth and wear it in.

[the_t0ny]

I've heard of some people doing that, but they take out the used primer in the shell and replace it with something to dampen the strike from the firing pin. Correct me if I'm wrong on that, but i believe I've seen it on here before.

[nrvnqsrxk]

Does it hurt the shotgun any way by repeated usage of these "fake" training rounds?

[Cokebottle]

It depends on the design of the firing pin.
Some guns can be dry-fired without a problem.
Some cannot. Don't dry-fire a rimfire gun.

Using the spent casings isn't going to hurt the extractor, but it should still be considered a "dry fire" since the primer is already depressed.

Also, it is a bad safety habit to use "neutered" genuine cartridges.
It would be WAY too easy to accidentally get a live round mixed in with your dummy rounds.
Just on that basis, I wouldn't do it.

[BigDogatPlay]

Are you putting your gun through unnecessary abuse? No. Running it and dry firing it will work it in. Keep the operating rods very lightly lubed on the outside.

Does it hurt the shotgun any way by repeated usage of snap caps? No. Eventually repeated strikes on the spent primers will hole the primer itself. If you want to go this route, pop the spent primer out and glue a piece of fairly firm rubber into the primer pocket.

I have a half dozen A-Zoom snap caps to use for practice at home. There is no way to mistake them for live ammo and they have the right weight and feel to approximate a loaded shell. Confusing home made dummy for live just once is not something I'd want to do. Spend a few bucks and order purpose built snap caps. They're cheaper on line.

[DaveFJ80]

I've used Traditions plastic spring snap caps, A-Zoom metal snap caps, and spent shell cartridges and filled them with silicone. The plastic traditions were too light and would stove pipe or just not eject at all, and I would have to remove the barrel to get them out. This happened about 90% of the time. The A-Zoom metal snap caps worked 100% of the time, but were a little light feeling. The spent cartridges filled with silicone also worked 100% of the time, but they were a little heavier than 00 buckshot and they were pretty solid feeling, so I didn't like it being cycled through the receiver. I also didn't like the shells themselves at the ejection end unless you trimmed the shells back down to 2 3/4 length, but then the edges were sharp and could get caught on something and not eject and possibly get stuck in the receiver (although it didn't happen to me, but then I only used them a couple of times).

Overall, the A-Zoom snap caps worked the best (approx $6 for 2 of them). If you wanted to be really cheap, filled & trimmed spent cartridges would work but it's not ideal. And stay away from any plastic snap caps as they'll either get stuck or the plastic will start to crack or chip away inside your gun.

[Mug]

If your going to do it, paint them Hot Pink or Day Glow Yellow. Zebra stripe them, anything so there is no way in hell you going to mix them up with live rounds. And, lock-up your live rounds before your firing exercises. Better yet store your dummy rounds on the opposite side of your home from the live rounds.

[Cokebottle]

Problem with painting them is the paint will be deposited into the chamber.

Seriously... don't be cheap, just buy some commercial snap caps. It's the safest way to do it.

[shrap]

I did something like this in a friend's shotgun. The hull became deformed and got stuck in the gun.

There are lots of ways to save money, a $6 snap cap isn't the place to do it. If you're too poor to buy snap caps and be safe, guns probably aren't the hobby for you.

[aippi]

It seems snap caps on a shotgun is a waste of money. You need to get dummy rounds to feed and function test your weapon after you clean it and they need to be the same weight as a live round. Sure, you just fired 100 rounds at the range and it was working fine, but you broke it down, cleaned it and could have altered somthing. For this reason after you get it back together you need to have the dummy rounds to load it up and cyle them through it. So, take the first dummy round and put a piece of masking tape on the base of it, drop the hammer on that and when you eject it, look at the hole the firing pin caused. Now, feed the rest of the dummy rounds through to test for feed and function. You can also get a pack of several hundred round stickers about anywhere and use one of them instead of the tape.

[MossbergMan]

The issue of dry firing or practicing with dummy rounds or snap-caps have been covered. Personally I do a standard 5 point safety check on my (870) gun and I know it's good to go. To check your firing pin: Take the barrel off, close the action gently, put your thumb over the firing pin hole and press the trigger. If the firing pin stikes your thumb you know it's going to hit the primer. While you're there pry on the extractor(s) and check the tension.

Now this practice of playing house ninja. Dry practice should be done on a dedicated dry practice target, in a secure area (secure meaning good backstop). Pointing in and pressing at random objects in the home is a behavior bound to lead to an ND (negligent discharge -no accident). How do I know this? I know at least two highly trained professional instructors and more than a few cops that have had ND's in this fashion. One of my close co workers lost his hearing in both ears because of his habit of using the bathroom mirror as a dry practice training aid. Yup, he practiced, finished, reloaded got dressed for work, saw his reflection and decided to see if he was still "tuned up". He's now deaf in both ears to point of bi-lateral hearing aids. And he knew better. If you don't think it can happen to you, it will.

If you want to play house ninja, get an air-soft shotgun, a friend with an air-soft and have at it. The force on force will excellent training, but please stop using a real gun on fixed objects in the home for dry practice.

[xgi1991]

I made some out of spent shells, just pop out the primer and fill with RTV, trim of the excess plastic from the shell at the top. The RTV will fill the primer area and provide a nice strick surface for the pin.

[NotSoFast]

You might try decapping the shells and either putting in eraser bits or silicon sealer. just sayin'.

[vega]

You might try decapping the shells and either putting in eraser bits or silicon sealer. just sayin'.

Erasers bits or old rubber thong bits work for me.

[aippi]

Some times I just shake my head at the stuff on here. I gave you guys the exact method used by the Armorers at the Remington Factory every time they check an 870. But hey, what do they know as most of them have only been there 40+ years.