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Forums10
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 62
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 62 |
Does anyone know what brand or style of snap cap is the best for protecting firing pins? I have some that are spring loaded with a brass striking spot and some that have a plastic striking spot (which dented shortly after they were put into service).
My guess is that the spring loaded variety offers the best protection- I need to buy a few pair and would appreciate your: Opinions? Brand preferences?
Thanks, Jim
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
All I know is that my double gunsmith is adamant I do not use the heavy brass nickel plated snap caps because they put too much strain on the ejectors due to their weight.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,137 Likes: 37
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,137 Likes: 37 |
De-prime some old hulls, Purchase some red gasket silicone. Fill in the primer pockets and let dry. The silicone is flexible enough not to leave any impressions yet resilient enough so the pins are not damaged. I like the red colour. When I open the gun I immediately know I have snap caps in it and not a loaded shell.
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 520
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 520 |
No, they are not.
The clear plastic two color ones are prone to having the rim snap off with ejectors.
The brass spring loaded primer on some of the short red aluminum ones is too soft and dents too deeply too fast.
The A-Zoom aluminum ones with the elastomeric primers seem to work well.
The chrome plated hollow brass ones are next to the best in my opinion. I don't see how the weight is straining the ejectors too much as I have never had a hint of an issue in 25 years or so.
The best I have ever had were some older solid red plastic ones with an elastomeric "primer". I don't remember who made them or where I got them. I also have some old solid black plastic ones with no separate primer that sill work but the rim "looks" weak. They looked weak when I got them 25 years ago.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Joe, I agree with your gunsmith, at least in theory. I've not had a bad experience with heavy snap caps simply because I won't use them. Any mechanical "train" anticipates some movement/flex/give unless it is specifically designed for a solid, no give blow. I doubt that the ejectors were designed with no such a heavy load on the business end.
Just my opinion.
DDA
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314 |
I use nothing but A-Zooms in all my shotguns, from SxS's to O/U's and even on my autos. Never had a problem with them.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,065
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,065 |
Jack Rowe liked my A-Zoom snap caps.
I am glad to be here.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 601
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 601 |
I've made some dandy snap caps for my rifles by drilling and tapping them to 1/4" NC and threading in nylon screws from the hardware store from the inside . As they wear they can be screwed out further and trimmed off. With your 209 primers you might need a bigger size hole/screw?
I'd think that shotty gun shells would work this way as well.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,158 Likes: 114 |
A-Zoom- hands down!! Keep them in all my LC Smith guns when they are not being used on a daily basis.
"The field is the touchstone of the man"..
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 916 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 916 Likes: 1 |
I've had rims break on clear plastic snap caps. Haven't had a problem with the nickel plated, but I like these better. http://www.midiowamachine.com/products.htm
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