Snap caps...how important are they?

I use them in my shotguns......but cant find any in .475 NE...

But how important are they...? Can you use an empty case instead to minimise wear...or what..?

There's some debate on if you even need snap caps/empty case for a centerfire rifle. I use them just for piece of mind.

Did you try Amazon? I just did a search and found a set for $8.99.

P.S. Welcome to ah.com!

I had a fellow tell me once to pop out the primer of a used case and put in a piece of cork.

Welcome to AH. Sure someone here will be able to answer your question.
Here is my take on snap caps (dummy rounds) Every year before the hunting season starts I start by practicing with dry fire drills using snap caps (aluminuim, you will see why later). I start at home using 2 to 4 caps, I pick a spot on the wall load the rifle with a cap and 1 to 3 in the mag. I will then shoulder the rifle and try to get it on the spot I picked as quickly as possible, this ensures I find the weld spot on my stock and proper alignment with the scope. The moment I find the spot on the wall, I pull the trigger and reload, fireing the second snap cap, do not remove the rifle from your shoulder or move your head when working the bolt, if the bolt touches your face in the back ward cycle, your scope needs to be moved. After these two shots, I will either reload the rifle, or assume the neutral shooting position and start the whole cycle again.
You are creating muscle memory with the repetition, dont over do it, stop when your arms get tired.
After a few weeks I will run a hunting movie on the tv and pick my shots with the snap caps, always fire a follow up shot as above.
My range sessions are always ended with the snap caps, it ensures no flinching, this is also why I use the alu caps, the plastic ones melt in a hot barrel.
I practice the same way for moving targets.
The alu caps will last between 550-650 full cycles from the mag before the rim is useless, pretty good bang for your buck.
I cannot take credit for this training method,it was taught to me by probably the worlds best moving animal shooter.
Good luck.

here you go they have 470 NE snap caps

http://gunaccessorysupply.com/hunting-shooting/snap-caps/azm11405.html

Welcome to the forum!!!

From my understanding dry firing is bad in shotguns, double rifles, and rimfire due to the engineering of the firing pin. So if you're wanting to pull the trigger without a live round you should use some kind of dummy round or snap cap.

With centerfire you don't run the risk of damage, but as hunthardsafaris said they are great for drills. Just don't do reloading drills in the bathroom while your wife is in the bedroom. Don't ask me how I know this....

Hi Pondoro and welcome to AH!
Excellent info and advice already given. Here's my two bits. I prefer snap caps that are immediately recognizable from live rounds (red, blue, etc.) and also much prefer aluminum over plastic. Not a fan of the plastic ones. I know some folks load up "dummy" rounds with no powder and a substitute for the primer such as pencil eraser, but I get a little nervous about that. As long as diligence about proper safety is exercised, I guess that's an individual call. More than one person has made a mistake
Very solid advice from hunthardsafaris. I train/practice in a similar manner and feel like it is some of the most valuable time spent. The more real world you can make training the better. With your double, especially if it has extractors and not ejectors, incorporating spent brass into your training drills would seem like a great idea.
Best of luck and have fun
"Train like you fight"
"If you have to think, you're dead"

Hello Pondoro,

I agree with Royal27 in that dry firing with double guns will likely damage your firing pins.
This is no doubt why the most expensive doubles are always shipped with snap caps from the manufacturer.
I believe your rifle must be a double, since it is a .475 NE and with that, I am concluding it is the .475 NE Straight version (not very common / never was very common).

To make snap caps for it, you can either use your own proper brass or, the more common .450 NE 3.25 inch brass, by pressing a (trimmed to fit tightly), pencil eraser into each one.
Also, a properly cut to size/shape piece of automobile tire tread or shoe sole are reportedly also very good materiel but, who can cut a tiny, cylindrical plug of those?

However, if I am mistaken on your caliber version and it is instead the .475 No2 NE (3.5 inch bottle neck) version, then you can make it, again from your own proper brass or, from the .450 No2 NE.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

Yes Velo Dog...its a double in .475 Straight....I will make up snap caps the way you suggest, thanks all for filling in..

A far better way to make simple snap caps that work is to drill /tap out the primer hole to 1/4" NC ad use the white nylon screws from the local big box hardware store. Cut the case off roughly 2" short and trim the screw heads down until the fit the hole. as they wear you simply screw them out further and trim off the damaged area.

Erasers and cork are too soft IMO

Welcome Pondoro, clearly you found the best place for questions!

AkMike said:

A far better way to make simple snap caps that work is to drill /tap out the primer hole to 1/4" NC ad use the white nylon screws from the local big box hardware store. Cut the case off roughly 2" short and trim the screw heads down until the fit the hole. as they wear you simply screw them out further and trim off the damaged area.

Erasers and cork are too soft IMO

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AKMike,

I like your idea best.

It's surprising that as old as I am (fossil status very soon) that nobody has mentioned this method to me before.

Also, I agree that erasers are not the very best material and cork is even softer.

I had read about car tire tread and/or shoe sole material being superior to eraser material but the drill & tap -nylon screw is genius.

Thank you for that,
Velo Dog.

PS:
You planning to be at the Wasilla Gun Show in January?

I'm with Velo Dog. Never seen the nylon screw method before, but it makes perfect sense. I like it! Thanks AkMike!

I came up with this trick myself. No it's not patented so feel free to use it. I made the first set for Dr Brett a "Chirocracker" in Anch and several sets for others over the years. VD may know him?
It works so well for some of the oddball sizes that aren't made commercially now. If you have old split necked / dented brass it's a great way to get a bit more life from them.

VD I'm in Ukraine until the first part of Feb.


BTW Guys, I forgot to mention that if you sharpen the tip of the screw threads it'll really help getting it started in the hole. Then trim it off flush with the base

AkMike said:

I came up with this trick myself. No it's not patented so feel free to use it. I made the first set for Dr Brett a "Chirocracker" in Anch and several sets for others over the years. VD may know him?
It works so well for some of the oddball sizes that aren't made commercially now. If you have old split necked / dented brass it's a great way to get a bit more life from them.

VD I'm in Ukraine until the first part of Feb.


BTW Guys, I forgot to mention that if you sharpen the tip of the screw threads it'll really help getting it started in the hole. Then trim it off flush with the base

Click to expand...

We will miss you at the show and yes, I know Brett (side note: I believe he was one of Cal Pappas's History Students back at Diamond High School - we're all getting old).

No, Brett was imported from Ohio IIRC. His office is near my place.

Cal taught there after I got out. IIRC We're close to the same age.

AkMike said:

No, Brett was imported from Ohio IIRC. His office is near my place.

Cal taught there after I got out. IIRC We're close to the same age.

Click to expand...

Obviously I must have him confused with some other character I met at Cal's.
Did Brett consign a cased 500/450 double with Walter Earl, during the past one or two years ?

Yes he did. It's 3-4 numbers away from one that I have. He just posted that he's 31 elsewhere. That means that I was out of Dimond before he was born.. Now I do feel old..
There is another guy who is a former student of Cals that also is into DR's

AkMike said:

Yes he did. It's 3-4 numbers away from one that I have. He just posted that he's 31 elsewhere. That means that I was out of Dimond before he was born.. Now I do feel old..
There is another guy who is a former student of Cals that also is into DR's

Click to expand...

Yep, I had the two lads confused with each other.
Thanks for the clarification.
No doubt I have met you as well, at Great Northern Guns (used to work there shortly after I retired once) or some such place but, cannot put a face with your name.
One of these days we must get together and trade stories.
Cheerio.

We'll round up when I get back!