Spent Cases As Snap Caps

[MG5150]

Hi All

I'm pretty sure I accidently threw out two pairs of nap caps for my 30-06. (they were in a paper woolies bag with a few other things I took camping and I threw out the bag at the end of the trip with the rubbish. At $25 for a pair (and I had two pairs) I'm kicking myself.

Is it possible to use an empty casing (with a primer) as a snap cap?

[deye243]

If you're trying to save any potential firing pin damage not worth it you've only got to hit the primer about four or five times and then the indentation will be the full length of the protrusion of the firing pin so the shoulder on that will still be hitting the back of the bolt face they can be modified though with something that does not Dent but won't damage the fire in bin

[womble]

You get spring loaded primers in proper snap caps.
But I think I’ve only seen them in 12 gauge.
Or they might be marketed as training rounds.

I don’t know if anyone does this or not but I’ve also seen some that trigger a laser and that interacts with a special target.
I think it’s more a pistol shooting training thing.

[No1Mk3]

I have used hard rubber glued into the primer pockets with great success, other people I know have used hot melt glue and replaced it when it gets too battered. I did try a nylon plug but it didn't last very long.

[womble]

And we have bingo. And it is a lovely afternoon for a cold beer incidentally.
The video gives you an explanation. Primer has a spring.
Just an internet search for me. I have no idea if they’re good or rubbish. But perhaps of interest
A little further reading and apparently dry fire practice is very beneficial. I guess it would be. Muscle memory and a more natural reaction.
Just remember not to mix them up with live ammo or you might kill a cow. This is important.
https://www.aushunteronline.com.au/accessories/snap-caps/pro-tactical-rifle-snap-caps-30-06-springfield-2-pack/?srsltid=AfmBOooUL06FzFygjR89NqnKZlKN6GPncHo4C9IYFRETfDQ4RzgoRIb-

And now it’s time for another beer

[womble]

I have used hard rubber glued into the primer pockets with great success, other people I know have used hot melt glue and replaced it when it gets too battered. I did try a nylon plug but it didn't last very long.

Here he goes again.
In my day we used hard rubber and we used to walk 50 miles in the snow to school and we ate gravel for breakfast and if we complained we’d get beaten with a tyre iron you young people with your fancy pants spring loaded snap cap primers

[No1Mk3]

I have used hard rubber glued into the primer pockets with great success, other people I know have used hot melt glue and replaced it when it gets too battered. I did try a nylon plug but it didn't last very long.

Here he goes again.
In my day we used hard rubber and we used to walk 50 miles in the snow to school and we ate gravel for breakfast and if we complained we’d get beaten with a tyre iron you young people with your fancy pants spring loaded snap cap primers

Whipper-snappers thank you!

[fnq22]

Mate, a quick email to the manufacturer of the specific firearm you intend dry firing would be the route I'd take first..

If its a rimfire then dont do it because of the obvious....the firing pin strikes the edge of the cartridge and of course if there is no brass there then it may hit the front edge of the chamber face which will possibly damage both the pin and chamber if done "x" amount of times..

But generally because the firing pin of a centrefire will basically just be hitting fresh air then its pretty much accepted that modern centrefire firearms are safe to dry fire..

I grew up with the mantra of never pull the trigger on an empty chamber because it will will damage the gun....but no one actually was able to explain why and I never thought to ask why...?

These day almost every competative handgun shooter of Centrefires,dryfires, and those that are very good shooters will have done thousands possibly 10's or 100's of thousands of pressing the cocked trigger with no ammo or snap caps with no adverse effects...its an extremely vital aspect of becoming a consistently accurate shooter..

So rip in Bro and become one with the nuances of your trigger press....

[No1Mk3]

Mate, a quick email to the manufacturer of the specific firearm you intend dry firing would be the route I'd take first..

If its a rimfire then dont do it because of the obvious....the firing pin strikes the edge of the cartridge and of course if there is no brass there then it may hit the front edge of the chamber face which will possibly damage both the pin and chamber if done "x" amount of times..

But generally because the firing pin of a centrefire will basically just be hitting fresh air then its pretty much accepted that modern centrefire firearms are safe to dry fire..

I grew up with the mantra of never pull the trigger on an empty chamber because it will will damage the gun....but no one actually was able to explain why and I never thought to ask why...?

These day almost every competative handgun shooter of Centrefires,dryfires, and those that are very good shooters will have done thousands possibly 10's or 100's of thousands of pressing the cocked trigger with no ammo or snap caps with no adverse effects...its an extremely vital aspect of becoming a consistently accurate shooter..

I broke the firing pin in my Win 94 dry firing. Made a new one out of silver steel and then made some snap caps. Haven't had an issue with other firearms, rifle or handgun. Have repaired firing pins for others but most of them had worn holes in the bolt face which was most likely the contributing factor.

So rip in Bro and become one with the nuances of your trigger press....

[No1Mk3]

Just for info, A-Zoom, one of the worlds leading brands of snap caps uses a high impact polymer plug for a dummy primer as do several others. Tipton make spring-loaded types, but as you seem to be looking for a lower cost than $25 to $29 I would go with A-Zoom or make my own. (I am a cheap-skate old fogey though !!)

[Blr243]

That hard rubber glued in sounds like the go

[Wapiti]

If you like making stuff, or have nothing better to do, make your own.
Fnq22 has my vote.
Wish I'd thought of it, something that does nothing , sold for gazillions, marketed as if without one the sun won't come up.

[Tiger650]

The theory behind not dry firing a centrefire is that without a primer or snap cap to stop the firing pin the pin can be stretched [obviously gradually] and then seperate.
Never seen it first hand but I suppose it could happen, particularly with inferior materials.

[Wapiti]

Yeah, true.... in theory it makes absolute sense. Firing pins generally bottom out in a cone or wedge inside the bolt itself, with the last few mm or so in front just coming to a stop in mid air.
Even rimfire pins. Some firearms made not-so-great had pins that could contact the barrel face, but properly dimensioned they do not protrude further than the thickness of a rimfire cartridge rim. Maybe half that? So in theory that's cr@p too with most well designed rimfire firearms. But someone will have a gun that disputes what I just said.

But case in point, my 10/22 has been dry-fired gazillions of times, usually every time a mag is empty. And there isn't the slightest mark on the rear of the barrel.

I think snap caps are an essential item to solve a problem that never existed, except in theory. But people need to consume !!! Do not dissapoint !!

[Wm.Traynor]

When it comes to dry firing centrefires, there is one thing that occurs to me.
The cocking helixes of a rifle of mine appeared to be making contact when the bolt was in the uncocked position; that is, when it was in the de-cocked position. This is the position after dry firing, unless I am mistaken. A gunsmith rectified the situation.
Just how all this came to be, I do not know. How long it had been that way, I also do not know.

I would like to know what you blokes think.