Snap caps

[Spiritmaker]

I would like some recommendations of decent snap caps for the 45 Sch and 44/40. I bought some aluminum ones that have failed miserably. I need to practice my draw and  dry firing.

 

Edited July 21 by Spiritmaker

[Rip Snorter]

Make your own!  Easy if you reload.

[Griff]

This ain't quick draw... you just need to be smooth, where time can add up is on the RE-holstering, or transition between guns.  

[Shooting Bull]

The best I’ve ever found: A Zoom

[Spiritmaker]

That is what I want to work on. Transitions and holstering. What would you use to replace primer for roll yer on.

[Yul Lose]

I’ve cut slices of rubber o-ring to replace the primer with and it works out well and lasts a long time.

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Spiritmaker said:

That is what I want to work on. Transitions and holstering. What would you use to replace primer for roll yer on.

Some folks use a hot glue gun, others pencil erasers, I've used RTV Silicone (make sure it's the kind that will cure, as some won't). 

[Sedalia Dave]

1 hour ago, Yul Lose said:

I’ve cut slices of rubber o-ring to replace the primer with and it works out well and lasts a long time.

 

THIS ^^^^

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Shooting Bull said:

The best I’ve ever found: A Zoom

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[oak creek martin]

I just purchased two packs of the the new Carlson snap caps. Very impressed so far 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Empty cartridge with bullet placed back in place. 

Fill in the primer pocket with some Hot Glue and

Snap Cap Away !

[Ozark Huckleberry]

One of the things I like about the A-Zoom snap caps is that being entirely red, they look distinctly different from live ammo. 

[Spiritmaker]

Thank you Gents for the info.

[Rip Snorter]

I drill the cases as well.

[Choctaw Jack]

I picked up about a box of empty aluminum .45 Colt cases at the range. Since I've never bought any non-reloadable ammunition, they won't be mistaken for live ammunition.

I cut half of them down to C45S length and left the rest at .45 Colt.

After drilling out the primer pockets I super glued a piece of pencil eraser in the hole and cut it off flush with the rim.

Since I cast and powdercoat all of my own  bullets it was no problem to make some bullets in colors that I normally don't use for live ammunition. ( Safety yellow and "Zombie Killer Green")

Then seated bullets as usual, one color for the Colts, one color for the Specials. 

These have worked out very well. They are very durable, and are very easy to distinguish from live ammo. Plus they cost me practically nothing to make.

I also made a bunch of 12 gauge snap caps using a brand of hulls that I normally don't reload, loading them like I load my match ammo, but deleting the powder, of course, and using the eraser in the primer pockets.

I bought a package of eraser refills that will provide enough working stock for lots of snap caps to come. 

They were my only extra cost for the project.

Choctaw

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

I have used the A-Zoom caps for years, both rifle/pistol and shogun. They work great for me. After a few years they do get chewed up but not so much as to become unusable. 
Some folks don’t like that they weigh more than an empty hull and this will supposedly compromise your “shuck”. I haven’t had this issue myself but it could be possible if your technique isn’t solid to begin with. More often what I have seen is if you “shuck” really hard or at an incorrect angle they come out easier and faster which means they will occasionally come out of the chamber and hit the receiver where the firing pins are. Easily corrected with a smoother “shuck” IMHO. 
YMMV 

Regards

    

Gateway Kid

BTW no matter what you use, it is still a requirement that you practice with both snap caps and live fire to ensure proficiency. 

[Sedalia Dave]

When I make dummy SG shells I use either Pink or Orange hulls. 
Piece of 0.250 hard o-ring pushed into the primer pocket until it protrudes a little past the wad base. I taper the end to make it easier to insert.
This will hold it in place without any glue. 
 I stuff a plastic grocery bag into the hull with a 1/4” dowel until I can’t get any more in. Cut off the excess and then crimp. 
 

They work well and barely weigh more than an empty STS hull. 

[Sedalia Dave]

For Dummy cartridge rounds, I drill out the primer pocket leaving a small lip. Then insert o-ring until it’s a little past the lip. 

Edited July 22 by Sedalia Dave

[watab kid]

On 7/21/2025 at 11:39 AM, Yul Lose said:

I’ve cut slices of rubber o-ring to replace the primer with and it works out well and lasts a long time.

thats a great idea , 

 

14 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

I drill the cases as well.

i have too , but i like them to be as close to my real cartridge feel and weight as possible