Dewey Vicknair believes snap caps are a true exercise in futility, as a spring has X amount of life cycles in it, and a snap cap doesn’t change that.
I’m inclined to agree with him. I have a set, given to me by a friend, that are really nicely made (Galazon?) brass heads with a fuzzy mop in front. I dutifully hosed them down with silicone spray, allowed the solvents to dry of, and stuck them in a Browning BSS sidelock, snapping the triggers, and putting the gun in the safe.
I felt a little silly, thinking of Dewey’s advice, but, hey, it was silly that didn’t cost me anything, anyway.
Best kind of silly.
Best,
Ted
I don't agree with Dewey on everything but I do in this case.
I use them for testing function during regulation. I am protecting the various lumps of hardened (and tempered) steel from the shock of an empty chamber, not just the spring. All the component parts of a gun are spec'ed to take the shocks of firing but I simply don't see the point of subjecting them to any extra shocks without a little bit of help!
What I don't do is let my springs down for storage which I think is the common usage of s'caps. It's a poor analogy but you wouldn't lift the head on your car to relieve the valve springs!