mudman Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I think snap caps for your high end shotgun will be the best money ever spent. For around $12-35 you can use them after shooting to release firing pin and assure your hammer spring wont become weak and cause misfiring and factory rebuilding of your shotgun. TRUST ME!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xamoel Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 link? never heard of them before, but i'm a shotgun-noob anyway, so dont mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioM4 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I bought a set when I bought my M4. Mostly I wanted to practice drill so I wouldn't look like an idiot at the range. I still use them to check function after I strip and clean the shotgun. Just remember to keep them completely separate from live ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agm65ccip Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 link? never heard of them before, but i'm a shotgun-noob anyway, so dont mind. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=776843 I have these in 12ga and .308 Win. as Ohio said very good for checking functionality and practicing loading/unloading with a new weapon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishootkittens Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 are they really that important??? cant you just buy a new spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tucker301 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 are they really that important??? cant you just buy a new spring? Once again, common sense rears its ugly head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xamoel Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 of course i know these things! but why do you need them? can't you just pull the trigger after unloading to release the firing pin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novaking Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) I still don't think springs get weak under tension. Edited January 21, 2010 by Novaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody6.0 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Springs that stay extended or compressed don't wear out it's the movement between extension and compression that wears them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agm65ccip Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 of course i know these things! but why do you need them? can't you just pull the trigger after unloading to release the firing pin? NEED is a big word, yes you could just pull the trigger if you really really wanted to store your gun with the hammer down. Like I said I think they are great for becoming familiar with the workings of a new gun, or for making sure the gun still works like you think it should after you make a big change without having to use live ammo right away. Springs that stay extended or compressed don't wear out it's the movement between extension and compression that wears them out. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.V.Mises Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Snap caps are very useful for safely practicing drills such as emergency port loading, select slug, and tactical reloading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willygee2 1911lover Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 If you buy the dummy rounds or snap caps that are almost totally plastic. Then I wouldn't cycle them through your gun. After using mine a few times on my Nova. I noticed that the plastic edges on the rounds had pieces broken off of them. Hopefully they are not wedged anywhere in the action of my gun. Just a heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timb99 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) I asked my buddy to weigh in on this subject a while back. He has a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in machine design and strength of materials. Alas, I have only a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, so obviously, he's smarter than me. His answer? It depends. It depends on the material and the level of stress seen in the sprung (cocked position) and the unsprung (hammer down) position. Metals used for springs DO INDEED take a set, that is, if kept in a stressed condition for long periods of time, the metal will actually "creep" (and yes, that really is an engineering term.) Which is why your hammer springs get shorter over time, because regardless of whether the hammer is cocked or uncocked, the hammer spring is under stress. Its just under higher stress when its cocked. However, cycles (each time you take a shot) will fatigue a spring as well. And in the case of someone who shoots 5,000 targets a year, spring fatigue due to cycles may indeed be the governing cause of spring weakening, and not creep due to storing it in a stressed position. So, for guns used occasionally, like hunting guns, snap caps may indeed extend the life of the hammer spring. On the other hand, for guns that are used regularly, like competitive trap guns, chances are that using a snap cap may be of limited benefit. Will a snap cap harm anything? Oh, probably not. Do you NEED them? Oh, probably not. I use my snap caps for practicing mounting my gun and improving my swing to the target in my basement. As with all things...your mileage may vary. Probably the right answer is, if you shoot A LOT with your guns, you should replace your hammer springs periodically. If you DO use snap caps before you store your guns, make doggone sure its really a snap cap and not a live round! Edited January 21, 2010 by timb99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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