How Effective Is Dry Firing With Snap Caps?

What is dry firing? Well, dry firing is defined as discharging a weapon without ammunition in the chamber. There is the perception that dry firing is not good for the weapon itself. In all reality, what determines whether or not a gun is safe to dry fire is what type of weapon is being used. 

Newer guns are more dry fire-friendly than older weapons. Older guns are designed so that the firing pin in the weapon hits the rim of the casings. So if the gun is not loaded and is dry fired, there is an increased chance of damaging the weapon. The pin will hit the shoulder of the chamber wall, increasing the likelihood that it breaks. Still, that is not the case with every gun, so check the weapon’s manual to figure out whether or not dry firing is safe to do with a given weapon. 

With that being said, some people prefer not to dry fire regardless of what the instruction booklet says. So if someone has reservations about dry firing, they have the opportunity to use what are called “snap caps”.

Snap caps are fake rounds that are made to protect your weapon by relieving any potential stress that could be placed on the firing pin during dry fire. So using snap caps is a precautionary measure if someone does in fact want to dry fire without any inherent risk. 

Some people confuse snap caps with “dummy rounds” but there is a difference between the two. Contrasting from snap caps, dummy rounds are made up of plastic and are only intended to use while dry firing. Snap caps on the other hand are made up of real casing and a primer to protect the firing pin and simulate the weight and feel of live bullets.  

So why would someone dry fire in the first place? Well, dry firing allows shooters the possibility to work on their marksmanship skills while not physically having to be in a gun range. It also allows people the opportunity to practice gun safety by replicating the weight of a loaded weapon without actually having a live round in the chamber. 

Snap caps help this practice immensely. For example, using snap caps to teach a first-time gun owner to load a weapon properly is much more ideal than letting said first-timer load a chamber with live rounds. Also, snap caps can help with making sure the gun's functionality is working properly without actually having to fire anything that puts people in danger. 

Overall, dry firing with snap caps is a worthwhile thing to do. There has been the consistent question of how effective dry firing with snap caps actually is, but if someone wants to become a better marksman using snap caps does not hurt in the slightest. They can teach a lot about one’s shot, and how to better maneuver with a gun in hand. And in all honesty, there is no point in not using snap caps because their intended purpose is to help, not to hurt. 

Sources:

https://skyaboveus.com/hunting-shooting/The-Benefits-of-Dummy-Rounds-or-Snap-Caps-in-Dry-Firing

https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/Snap-Caps-training-cartridges

https://www.concealedcarry.com/safety/simple-and-effective-why-you-need-to-use-dummy-rounds/