Make your own dummy rounds?

[IronsightsRifleman]

I'm looking for advise on making dummy rounds.

I have an M1 Carbine with feed failure troubles (rounds frequently go crosswise on the feedramp and get stuck diagonally between the bolt and the chamber) and I want to troubleshoot it at home. I had bought some Snap Caps for that purpose but they are quite a bit shorter than any of the 3 brands of actual Carbine ammo I have, so they're not suitable for my purpose.

My plan is to use a kinetic extractor to remove the bullets from a few rounds, remove the powder, put the shell in the rifle to fire the primer (in a safe direction,of course), then remove the spent case and reinstall the bullet. Question #1: any negative issues with this approach?

Question# 2. Now, I want to easily identify these dummys. What's the best way to do that? Sharpie? Drill holes in the case? Other ideas?

[Tere_Hanges]

De-prime them should be obvious.

[hermosabeach]

Drill a 3/16" hole through the case.....

I hope you are saving brass for reloading so use an already fired empty...

If you don't have a press and dies.... It's a cheap way to shoot 30 carbine

[Spyder]

Do it without firing. Firing will expand it.

[ar15barrels]

I'm looking for advise on making dummy rounds.

I have an M1 Carbine with feed failure troubles (rounds frequently go crosswise on the feedramp and get stuck diagonally between the bolt and the chamber) and I want to troubleshoot it at home. I had bought some Snap Caps for that purpose but they are quite a bit shorter than any of the 3 brands of actual Carbine ammo I have, so they're not suitable for my purpose.

My plan is to use a kinetic extractor to remove the bullets from a few rounds, remove the powder, put the shell in the rifle to fire the primer (in a safe direction,of course), then remove the spent case and reinstall the bullet. Question #1: any negative issues with this approach?

Question# 2. Now, I want to easily identify these dummys. What's the best way to do that? Sharpie? Drill holes in the case? Other ideas?

In my experience, you can't troubleshoot a dynamic system without the dynamic conditions.
Without live fire, you won't have the same velocities of all the moving parts so you won't get the same results.
Rather than trying to re-create a dynamic condition in almost static conditions, get a camera that will record in high speed and have someone film the gun while you are shooting it with live ammo.
You will be able to see what's happening MUCH better and then you can decide what you need to do.

[SharedShots]

I'm looking for advise on making dummy rounds.

I have an M1 Carbine with feed failure troubles (rounds frequently go crosswise on the feedramp and get stuck diagonally between the bolt and the chamber) and I want to troubleshoot it at home. I had bought some Snap Caps for that purpose but they are quite a bit shorter than any of the 3 brands of actual Carbine ammo I have, so they're not suitable for my purpose.

My plan is to use a kinetic extractor to remove the bullets from a few rounds, remove the powder, put the shell in the rifle to fire the primer (in a safe direction,of course), then remove the spent case and reinstall the bullet. Question #1: any negative issues with this approach?

Question# 2. Now, I want to easily identify these dummys. What's the best way to do that? Sharpie? Drill holes in the case? Other ideas?

What you described works.

To identify the dummy cartridges the ways to do that are endless.

Don't drill the cases. Before you seat the bullet back into the case, weight the case and bullet and put something into the case to make it weigh identical to the loaded cartridges. You can use sand and a cotton ball. You can also use sugar, salt etc and the cotton just goes in last, then seat the bullet. The idea is to make the dummy cartridge as close to a loaded one as possible and that includes how much it weighs.

If you want to see how the cases are being impacted by any part of the gun get some Brass Black, it's often sold next to Aluminum black and perma-blue (cold blue) at gun shops. It will turn the cases a dark brown to black and then when you cycle the action you'll easily see where the cases are hitting something, how they are being hit and so on. You can re-color them when needed. The brass black works on bullets too and doesn't change any dimensions.

You can leave the fired primers in, you can deprime the cases, either way isn't going to make any difference.

One last thing and it's important. Depending on where you live, when firing the primers, keep it on the discreet side as the last thing you want is someone complaining you are shooting a rifle in a residential area and then trying to explain what you are doing.

[IronsightsRifleman]

In my experience, you can't troubleshoot a dynamic system without the dynamic conditions.
Without live fire, you won't have the same velocities of all the moving parts so you won't get the same results.
Rather than trying to re-create a dynamic condition in almost static conditions, get a camera that will record in high speed and have someone film the gun while you are shooting it with live ammo.
You will be able to see what's happening MUCH better and then you can decide what you need to do.

I'll try this in addition. Thanks.

[IronsightsRifleman]

What you described works.

To identify the dummy cartridges the ways to do that are endless.

Don't drill the cases. Before you seat the bullet back into the case, weight the case and bullet and put something into the case to make it weigh identical to the loaded cartridges. You can use sand and a cotton ball. You can also use sugar, salt etc and the cotton just goes in last, then seat the bullet. The idea is to make the dummy cartridge as close to a loaded one as possible and that includes how much it weighs.

If you want to see how the cases are being impacted by any part of the gun get some Brass Black, it's often sold next to Aluminum black and perma-blue (cold blue) at gun shops. It will turn the cases a dark brown to black and then when you cycle the action you'll easily see where the cases are hitting something, how they are being hit and so on. You can re-color them when needed. The brass black works on bullets too and doesn't change any dimensions.

You can leave the fired primers in, you can deprime the cases, either way isn't going to make any difference.

One last thing and it's important. Depending on where you live, when firing the primers, keep it on the discreet side as the last thing you want is someone complaining you are shooting a rifle in a residential area and then trying to explain what you are doing.

I actually think I may have some Brass Black out in the garage, now that you mention it.
I'll pay attention to weighting, too.
Thanks.

[robert101]

AR15 Randall nailed it. However, I create dummy round by depriming, seating a bullet, drilling a hole through the case and bullet and inserting a pin through both, and then shaving down any protrusions with a file or grinder. Bullet won't move in the case. You can insert a hot glue or eraser into the primer pocket too if you desire to soften the hammer (firing pin) blow.