Should I get snap caps?

[six seven tango]

Dummy round/snap cap, what's the difference?

I see them as one in the same, amI missing something?

It's a lot easier for someone to mistake a live round for a dummy round if they're not paying 100% attention. Bad things can result, especially if you're doing dry fire exercises at home.

Snap caps look nothing like a live round, so you would have to be the dummy to confuse it with a live round.

[Snerk]

Yes get snap caps for two reasons. One for dry fire practice at home. Two for learning to deal with anticipation when shooting. Load your magazine with a few real rounds and a few snap caps at random. When you get to the snap caps you'll see what you're doing wrong. Great tool

I saw a video on that and that's another thing I considered. That and dry firing exercises to learn smooth consistent trigger pulls.

You should never, ever do a function check with live ammo.

With the exception of one or two magazines in the nightstand, I intend to keep all ammo locked up when not at the range. And never use those mags unless **** actually goes down. If I need more than one or two then I'm probably ****ed anyway.

Yes get them and do the penny trick.

Penny trick?

It's a lot easier for someone to mistake a live round for a dummy round if they're not paying 100% attention. Bad things can result, especially if you're doing dry fire exercises at home.

Snap caps look nothing like a live round, so you would have to be the dummy to confuse it with a live round.

Like I said above, all live ammo will be locked up when at home and in the closet, with the exception of a mag or two for HD in the nightstand. Those mags will also never be loaded unless absolutely necessary.


I was raised with a healthy respect of firearms and certainly "know better", and fully intend to go through as many steps as necessary to prevent accidents without limiting my ability to defend myself too severly. That said, I don't need access to hundreds of rounds of 9mm FMJ or the 7.62x54R surplus on a moment's notice, just 10-20 of the JHPs to start and again, only if actually necessary.


So the general consensus is snap caps are good investment. Thanks guys, I will look in to picking some up.

[calif 15-22]

It's a lot easier for someone to mistake a live round for a dummy round if they're not paying 100% attention. Bad things can result, especially if you're doing dry fire exercises at home.

Snap caps look nothing like a live round, so you would have to be the dummy to confuse it with a live round.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^
I have snap caps in .38/.357, 9mm, .223, and 12Ga for all my guns. I bought them when I initially bought each gun to get familiar with the loading and unloading, as well as the controls. Simple easy solution.

I would personally stay away from dummy rounds, but that's just me. They look too much like the real thing and could get mixed up.

[Echidin]

i have snap caps for all but 2 of the firearms I own. I see them as a good investment for dry firing exercises.

[Sharp Shooter]

Yes. Get the ones with a spring where the firing pin strikes the primer area such as Tipton.

[FourT6and2]

The problem with snap caps is they don't make them in every caliber. Only the really common ones. And they are made of aluminum, which I don't want going into my precision match rifle's chamber. Especially if the "bullet" part of the snap cap is going to get jammed into the lands of my barrel.

If you're worried about confusing a dummy round and a live round, then mark your dummy rounds with a sharpie. Or use colored hot glue in the primer pocket, like Red, or Blue, or something. Or drill a hole in the case. I draw a line down the entire length of the case with a sharpie. Problem solved.

[six seven tango]

The problem with snap caps is they don't make them in every caliber. Only the really common ones. And they are made of aluminum, which I don't want going into my precision match rifle's chamber. Especially if the "bullet" part of the snap cap is going to get jammed into the lands of my barrel.

Plenty of calibers here...





No aluminum here...


To each their own. Your mind is obviously made up for what you are doing. But, a lot of people use snap caps mixed with live ammo when they are doing misfire drills. Using dummy rounds in that situation is an accident looking for a place to happen.

[FourT6and2]

The ones in that first group get chewed up in my guns. I've tried them. They leave aluminum in my barrels. The ones in the second group don't come in the calibers I need. So my solution is to use dummy rounds. Seems like your mind is made up though so do what you want. I'm simply offering up an alternative option for those who may be interested. This isn't an argument.

[Crazycomic]

Yeah, they are a good option for the above mentioned reasons. I have some for my shotgun.

[six seven tango]

You're right. This isn't an argument. You have your way that works for you, and I mentioned an alternative that I feel is safer.
I was only pointing out, for those who may be interested, that your blanket statement that only common calibers were available and only made in aluminum was incorrect.