snap caps

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  • johnsopi

    Member
    Feb 8, 2018
    88
    I was told that snap cap are just for dry firing not for cycling. Is this correct.
     

    Sticky

    Beware of Dog
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 16, 2013
    4,501
    AA Co
    I don't know how 'to spec' they are, but I cycle them through my pistols (glocks) when dry firing and testing function before I run a dummy round or three through. I have also used rifle rounds to do some debugging on my SA/LA feed issues with a bolt gun and loaded them in the mag, chambered and extracted them to prove my tweaks. I had no issues.
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    The ones I have are basically like a loaded cartridge, brass, bullet, just no power and a rubber plug where the primer would be. I hand cycle them just fine.
     

    Pale Ryder

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 12, 2009
    6,234
    Millersville
    Some are better than others. I have some 9mm that cycle fine, but some cheap plastic 12 gauge I bought won’t even load in the Mossberg magazine.
     

    Bullfrog

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 8, 2009
    15,160
    Carroll County
    I have used the solid aluminum ones (A-zoom) for test cycling in almost every firearm I own, and it has not caused any sort of problem.

    I could see where others, like the solid orange plastic ones, might not work well.
     

    Art3

    Eqinsu Ocha
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2015
    13,267
    Harford County
    I agree with the previous sentiments of, "kind of, sometimes." I have some of the translucent plastic ones with the brass base and spring loaded "primer" (Tipton might be the manufacturer) that are so undersized, they are pretty much useless as a cycling test. They usually cycle fine in guns that work...and even guns that don't work. Sometimes, they barely stay in a properly functioning magazine.

    The aluminum A-Zoom ones I have seem much closer to the proper size, but I think they are still just a little small.

    I have some aluminum .22lr "dummy rounds" that specifically say they are for loading/cycling practice and NOT to be dry fired. Ironically, they feed just fine in two finicky magazines I have that will not cycle any type of live rounds that I've found so far.

    So...to answer the OP's question: "maybe" :shrug:

    Is there more to the question?
     

    Bullfrog

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 8, 2009
    15,160
    Carroll County
    Some are better than others. I have some 9mm that cycle fine, but some cheap plastic 12 gauge I bought won’t even load in the Mossberg magazine.

    The red A-Zoom aluminum 12g ones load and cycle fine in a Rem 870, if you're looking for some that may work for you.
     

    4g64loser

    Bad influence
    Jan 18, 2007
    6,382
    maryland
    Depends on the individual cap. I have some azoom that work well for malfunction drill and basic feed testing in certain chamberings. For rifles, I like harbour arms. More money but good quality. When I was tinkering with feed cycle tuning in certain cases, I typically used them. Once the initial work was done I would move to loaded dummy rounds using the correct bullet.
     

    Pale Ryder

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 12, 2009
    6,234
    Millersville
    The red A-Zoom aluminum 12g ones load and cycle fine in a Rem 870, if you're looking for some that may work for you.

    Thanks, the ones I have are clear plastic with a spring. If they’re not for cycling you would only need one not the three they come with. :)
     

    GuitarmanNick

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 9, 2017
    2,221
    Laurel
    The A-zoom caps tend to leave tiny aluminum chips in a few of my pistols. Make sure to check for that after using them.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,884
    Strickly speaking :

    Snap Caps - Cushion the firing pin for dry fire
    Dummy Cartridge - Duplicate a loaded round in size, shape , and weight , to test feeding and cycling .

    That said , the two catagories aren't exclusive from each other . It is certainly feasible to mfg a Dummy Ctg that also cushions the firing pin . The A- Zoom product line is an example .
     

    GuitarmanNick

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 9, 2017
    2,221
    Laurel
    When dry firing, it is usually required that the action be cycled to repeat. It is therefore logical to conclude that snap caps are intended to be used for cycling the weapon, too. Tipton are my preferred snap caps. They are red plastic and brass with a spring inside. They cycle smoothly, make it safe to dry fire a few of my old toys, and leave no debris.

    Can't get them for everything which is why I have any A-Zooms.
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    I was told that snap cap are just for dry firing not for cycling. Is this correct.

    I have not read through the thread; however; I have on my bench “snap” caps which I use for dry-firing and which are entirely different from “proving” rounds which I use to test and diagnose feeding extraction and ejection (aka - “cycling”)

    Some “proving” rounds I have work great for dry-firing; however; many (if not most) of the dry-firing “snap caps” I have are not constructed well enough to hold up to being “cycled” through an action numerous times …

    Long story short: buy proving rounds when possible and practical

    Example of “snap” caps quickly rendered useless by repeated cycling through an action: https://www.amazon.com/Pachmayr-03200-Plastic-Safety-Snap/dp/B0018DYGSA

    Example of “proving” round: https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1...31155c3f68dfe9df479815&utm_term=1101131606244
     

    Uber

    Member
    Mar 20, 2021
    31
    Gaithersburg
    I love these "snapcaps": RealisticSnapCaps.com

    The good: They're brass rather than aluminum. So I don't worry about tiny shards of aluminum left behind in the gun as I cycle it during dry fire.

    The downside: I also insert them randomly into mags with live rounds at the range to practice things like tap-and-rack. But their color is indistinguishable from spent brass. So I have a hard time finding them on the floor.

    Overall, I love them. I bought a second set after the first set began to wear out. I cycled them 1000+ times in dry fire.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I was told that snap cap are just for dry firing not for cycling. Is this correct.

    It depends on the type of snap cap. Some, like A zoom are metal, shaped like a cartridge and can be cycled. Others are only shaped like a case and can only be used for dryfiring. There a plastic .22 cartridges that work for cycling but should not be used for dryfiring as dryfiring breaks the plastic.
     

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