Snap Caps Question

[tracker]

How many people have ever had to replace a firing pin from dry firing or after shooting? In over 40 years I broke one pin while shooting ( not dry firing it ) on a cold winter day with a very old shotgun? Do you really need snap caps?

 

[shmelmafinga]

I use them if I'm doing dry-fire practice, but for checking function after reassembly I don't bother.

 

[H4831]

How many people have ever had to replace a firing pin from dry firing or after shooting? In over 40 years I broke one pin while shooting ( not dry firing it ) on a cold winter day with a very old shotgun? Do you really need snap caps?

Excellent question! Will be interesting to see what replies you get.
Looks like I've been dry firing guns longer than you have and I have never had a problem.
The only exception may have been with old 22 rifles. At least some, would let the firing pin hit, and damage, the part of the chamber where the rim fit in.
I have never heard of a centre fire being damaged from dry firing.

 

[scanner]

How many people have ever had to replace a firing pin from dry firing or after shooting? In over 40 years I broke one pin while shooting ( not dry firing it ) on a cold winter day with a very old shotgun? Do you really need snap caps?

Some centerfire models have thinner firing pin noses than others. The thinner and longer the nose (and the heavier the hammer strike) can cause a firing pin to break at the nose. I have had Win model 12 shotgun firing pins break just from everyday use.

I never dry fire a gun. It's just one of those rules I grew up with. However, some guns you don't have a choice, because leaving it cocked can damage it. For example a shotgun that has V springs instead of coil springs for the hammer. V springs left cocked will weaken and break over time. So you need to dry fire the gun, and I would always use snap caps.

 

[lone-wolf]

If I wanted anything to release the spring, I'd just use a already fired round.

 

[canadian hunter312]

If I wanted anything to release the spring, I'd just use a already fired round.

except for rimfires, that would be the same as dry firing

 

[asphalt599]

They are a waste of money as far as I'm concerned. The only thing I would be concerned about dry firing is a rimfire.

 

[beefman]

except for rimfires, that would be the same as dry firing

Not really...there is still brass in between the two, even though the rim of the case is already compressed.

 

[tracker]

If you use a spent 12 gauge and dry fire it a few more times the primer is pushed in quite a bit more than one firing, so the pin must hit the primer? I have bought the odd plastic snap cap but they do not last and I think they are a waste of money also? But each to their own?

 

[Aries-]

only things i dont dry fire are wimfires. (had to ream to many chambers from other people doing that) and older shotguns. anything else i dont see them breaking.

rimfires tend to damage the chamber if you dry fire to much (crushes the chamber in where the firing pin hits)

 

[xcr]

Have dry fired my centerfire rifles countless number of times, still do,
but avoid if at all possible, to not dry fire rimfire firearms.