Random thought: Should gun stores sell a single snap cap when selling a firearm?

[LateBraking]

I was reading a thread where people were talking about virtual seminars for new gun owners and stuff like that. I also know that some of the popular gun channels out there (Mr Guns n Gear, Garand Thumb, IV8888) have been posting videos online.

Thing is, I've been to a few gun stores at the start of all this COVID-iocy, and I feel like the problems go beyond that. People with shaky hands that are terrified of what they're holding, unable to wrap their heads around simply thumbing the slide lock down or powerstroking the slide back to chamber a round. Sweeping people left and right with a slide in battery. None of these people have any real interest in getting training at a range or anything, most they want to do is stuff it in their drawers in case they need it.

I know that typically, snap caps come in packs of 5 or 10. I was thinking, what if gun stores broke open like, a pack of AZoom snap cap 10 pack, which go for like $15 a pack of 10, and then sold one snap cap per new gun at $3? It would at least let these scared/uneducated new buyers practice safe handling at home without any negligent discharges, and they wouldn't lose any money for it either. (They won't make much more than a dollar all said and done either, though.) I hadn't seen any gun stores doing that, and the thought popped up randomly in my head.

Stupid idea? Decent idea?

[SoCal326]

I think it's a great idea. Not sure it should be mandated but I'd rather the guy in the apartment practice with that than live rounds.

[SanDiego619]

I think they should make the offer. It would be good for people to practice loading, safely unloading, etc. without having to spend $15 on caps when they only need one.

[9Cal_OC]

I think they should make the offer. It would be good for people to practice loading, safely unloading, etc. without having to spend $15 on caps when they only need one.

[LateBraking]

I think it's a great idea. Not sure it should be mandated but I'd rather the guy in the apartment practice with that than live rounds.

Right, that's what I meant. Not mandate it, but push it as an offer.

"For $3, you can buy this here snap cap and practice at home with zero fear of putting a hole in your wall!"

With how many new buyers there are out there, I figure they buy like 10-20 ten-round packs, and will double their money on it selling at $3 per snap cap. Sure, it's not a lot of money (doubling $1.50 to $3 isn't necessarily a forture-maker) but the point is they're not losing money on it, and the new-to-guns buyer can buy the one cap they need, rather than 10 that they don't need.

[K001]

Good idea and I would think 2-3 snap caps make more sense to verify extraction and chamber checking, etc. Great suggestion!

[broadside]

For a semi auto, they would need two to understand the full functionality of their fire arm even with manual manipulation of the slide.

Still not sure its a great idea though. Just a gut feel

[LateBraking]

Good idea and I would think 3 snap caps make more sense to verify loading and chamber checking, etc. Great suggestion!

For a semi auto, they would need two to understand the full functionality of their fire arm even with manual manipulation of the slide.

Still not sure its a great idea though. Just a gut feel

I see where people are coming from with the 2 and 3 amounts. I was initially thinking along the lines of "the bare minimum that you could convince these otherwise disinterested people to buy into."

Why the bad gut feel? Genuinely curious. (Not like I have anything better to do in quarantine anyways than pick your brain, right? )

[u04601]

Would be better if the manufacturer included them as an essential accessory. Alternative!y, if you know someone with a 3D printer, have them print some bullet shapes and press them into spent casings. Here is a link to some i have made.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2864021

[Preston-CLB]

I think it's a good idea. 2 caps would be optimum, but 1 would work.

Since dryfire-ing a striker pistol isn't too good for the gun, long term, using a couple of caps for dryfire practice would be a good idea.

The store could offer 1 for $3, and 2 for $5. The store would still make some money on the deal, and the new gunner would have a safe way to train at home.
-P

[LateBraking]

Would be better if the manufacturer included them as an essential accessory. Alternative!y, if you know someone with a 3D printer, have them print some bullet shapes and press them into spent casings. Here is a link to some i have made.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2864021

Both of those are interesting ideas.

The first one: I kind of wish manufacturers did in fact do this. It would guarantee that this slew of first time gun buyers would have something to get started with. That said, most guns up until recently were purchased by people who already own guns, and not sure if they would care for it all that much? I guess another question I propose to you all.

The second one: I guess it would depend on the new gun owner having friends that own guns that also have spent shell casings and a 3D printer. If all the variables align this would most definitely be the cheapest, most convenient way, but not sure enough new gun owners/buyers meet that criteria? Feels like the gun store is in the best position to know if someone is completely new to guns or has at least one at home already, and to offer to sell a snap cap if they should have one?

[broadside]

Why the bad gut feel? Genuinely curious. (Not like I have anything better to do in quarantine anyways than pick your brain, right? )

One of those gut feels about totally new gun owners with no training keeping a gun for HD and confusing live and dummy ammo without getting hands on right away.

Either putting in live ammo during dry fire or putting in a dummy round when they want an HD load and having to learn malfunction drills the hard way.

Basically while learning the first time, you should either have ammo or not. Much less like to make a mistake. Once you are more comfortable with the firearm, then get the dummy rounds to practice with.

I have been to two initial CCW courses (one in CA and one in ID) and I also teach a shooting sports to others. And like Farmers Insurance, I have seen a thing or two.

[LateBraking]

One of those gut feels about totally new gun owners with no training keeping a gun for HD and confusing live and dummy ammo without getting hands on right away.

Either putting in live ammo during dry fire or putting in a dummy round when they want an HD load and having to learn malfunction drills the hard way.

Basically while learning the first time, you should either have ammo or not. Much less like to make a mistake. Once you are more comfortable with the firearm, then get the dummy rounds to practice with.

I have been to two initial CCW courses (one in CA and one in ID) and I also teach a shooting sports to others. And like Farmers Insurance, I have seen a thing or two.

I do see where you're coming from with that. I guess even though they're brightly red, orange, or blue colored, you just can't stop every conceivable scenario where someone might mix up live and dummy rounds.

That said, if they're not going to a range or taking courses anyways, wouldn't it be at least a somewhat preferable alternative? I'm thinking like, bottom floor stuff, where these people don't search YouTube and don't consider training courses.

I absolutely, 1,000% agree that everyone should take a training course. My first ever range day in my life I went with a jackass that did so much sweeping and taught me so bad information that I left terrified of firearms. One year later, I was bored, and decided to give it a second chance, so I bought a training session at my local range. I was hooked, what a huge difference proper education makes.

That said, I'm not sure the kinds of people I've seen come in during the panic buys are that kind of "I want training, I want to really get into guns" kind of crowd.

[SanDiego619]

Great idea but not the "gun stores" responsibility. The manufacture should include the snap cap not leave it up to the lgs.

To be fair, it's not the manufacturers responsibility to include snap caps either. It is the gun buyer's responsibility to acquire proper training.

[golfish]

That's really a great idea.