In this article, we'll explore the difference between Snappy Caps vs Dummy rounds. There are many benefits of using them in your training and how they can help you improve your shooting skills.
Disclosure: All products have affiliate links for earning commission to support the website when you purchase
What are Snap Caps?
Snap caps are used for dry firing a weapon.
From practicing magazine changes to remedial actions, they are a valuable tool that every shooter should have in their training arsenal.
The main reason to choose snap caps over training rounds for dry firing is that snap caps are designed specifically for this purpose.
They have a rubber insert in the back where the primer is located, which cushions the impact of the firing pin and prevents damage to the firearm.
Additionally, snap caps can be used repeatedly, making them a more cost-effective option in the long run.
We highly recommend using snap caps so the user can clearly identify them rather than using dummy rounds.
Multiple calibers available including 45 ACP, 40SW, 380, 556, 308, 12 GA, 38 and more.
Why Use Dummy Rounds?
Dummy rounds are non-functional replicas of live ammunition or real cartridge without power nor primer.
They are much cheaper to make if you have reloading tools at home, however, the indentation on the back where the primer is located provides no cushion for the firing pin in order to prevent damage.
Why Use Them?
Practicing Magazine Changes
Use an empty magazine and locking the slide to the rear as if you had just fired your last round. Then, insert a magazine filled with dummy rounds and practice reloading your weapon.
Repeat this process until you've built muscle memory and can perform magazine changes quickly and efficiently.
Whether you're on the range or in a self-defense situation, being able to change magazines quickly can be the difference between life and death. Using dummy rounds, you can practice magazine changes almost anywhere.
Practicing Remedial Actions
By practicing remedial actions with dummy rounds, you can build muscle memory and prepare yourself for real-world scenarios.
Another valuable use of dummy rounds is practicing remedial actions. Remedial actions are the steps you take when your firearm fails to fire, such as a failure to extract or a stovepipe.
On a live range, uses a mix of live and dummy rounds in his magazines to simulate remedial actions. The shooter will load three live rounds, followed by one dummy round, and then repeat the process.
This allows the shooter to practice his remedial actions in a controlled environment.
Improving Shooting Technique
By mixing live and dummy rounds in your magazines on a live range provides the shooter the chance to react to malfunctions and trigger control.
It helps a lot when someone else loads the magazine with dummy rounds mixed in, so the shooter can't expect it. If the shooter flinch the trigger or anticipate the recoil on a dummy round, there is more training to be done!
That's the whole point!
Users can also use Mantis X training tool along with snap caps to fine tune trigger press either dry firing or live fire with data feedback.
Learn more about Proper trigger placement for pistol shooting
