Dry firing practice...snap caps question

[estrom]

I don't get to the range as much as I'd like, especially with my wife and girls, who all like to shoot as well. How many of you practice dry firing at home and which brand of snap caps do you use/suggest? Are there some that are significantly better than others? This is for a 9mm. Thanks.

[teg33]

I use an ammo case for dry firing.

[ocabj]

I don't use any snap caps.

[BKinzey]

I used to use them, not so much anymore so for me any snap cap would do.

[speedrrracer]

For pistols, I use the a-zoom brand on top of 9 dummy rounds which are just real rounds, but have no powder nor primers. The snap caps provide cushion for the firing pin, and the dummy rounds provide the weight, so the mag feels as a "real" mag will feel.

The fake, rubber primer in the snap caps will eventually wear out from many thousands of strikes, so check them every few months, and toss & replace the useless ones.

None of that is strictly necessary, but if you want to maximize the effectiveness of your dry fire, I think it's a good way to go.

If you don't load your own ammo, see if you can find someone who does, and pay them load to you a few dozen dummy rounds without powder or primers. Obviously, you'll want to mark them very carefully, but just in case, using the snap caps on the very top is another layer of insurance against a loaded round somehow making it into your chamber when you're dry firing.

[Sharp Shooter]

I use Tipton. They have the spring in them that helps cushion the firing pin.

[The Gleam]

I only use them on .22LR, certain older C&R rifles and C&R revolvers, and all of my .50BMG rifles as a precaution. But it's not as if I am dry-firing any of these to death in the first place.

Anything modern centerfire/pistol or revolver, dryfiring practice or not; no.

[estrom]

So it's okay to dry fire without anything in the chamber? I was told that is bad for the firing pin. Bad information?

[TheComebacKid]

I've always been happy with A-zoom Snap caps.

[speedrrracer]

So it's okay to dry fire without anything in the chamber? I was told that is bad for the firing pin. Bad information?

I think it depends on the particular gun in question. When in doubt, use 'em

[Marktallica]

+1 for Tipton snapcaps. I practice maybe a couple times a week for 5 mins, and mostly just because I like the feeling of cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger on my PX4.

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[CHS]

If you're just doing dry-fire practice, you don't need snap caps.

99.999% of all modern firearms, including most .22lr's produced today are just fine dry-firing on an empty chamber.

Now, snap caps are great for doing drills involving the magazines and racking the slide. But for just dry-fire practice? Not necessary at all.

[TheExiled]

I have a bunch of the metallic A-Zoom's. I like the squishy primer area and they are good for practicing reloads etc. Also fun to have people mix them into your mags for practice on the range

[stix213]

Most firearms today don't require snap caps for dry firing. Check if your's needs them first before getting all concerned about them. For example, I have an old S&W 686 with the firing pin on the hammer, and I have a Keltec PF-9. Both of those you're supposed to use snap caps and don't dry fire on an empty chamber (PF-9 specifically says so in the manual, the old 1980's 686 it is just common knowledge). All my other guns don't need them.

[Guerrilla Warfare]

+1 for A-Zoom