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firing a unloaded gun


Mr mac
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Hi and hello

 

 

2 things firstly i have shot my silver pig a few times with out cartridges in ... will i of done harm and should i get it checked also a couple of time ive had the gun broke down and the locking pins in the de-stressed locked position and tried to close the gun. the top leaver just goes to the right and wont fully close... then i realise what ive done....

 

Also how should i be storing the gun as ive looked up about snap caps and so on but left me more confused than ever.... im new to shot guns and would appreciate as much help as possible....... currently i fully clean my gun, shut it up and stand in cabinet.

 

 

Thanks ian

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i use snap caps in all of my guns except my auto.

 

Snap Caps are devices manufactured for the purpose of being a safe method of dry-firing a firearm without damage to the firing pin or firing mechanisms. They are often used in shotguns for long-term storage so the mainsprings do not have tension on them during storage.

i also store my guns barrels down as this lets any excess oil run out instead of running into the fireing pins etc

 

hope this helps and welcome to the forum :good:

Edited by semiautolee
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I use to use snap-caps some years ago,but no longer bother.The option is there if you want to use them,but I usually just close my gun and put it away muzzles down.

If you decide to use them,be careful where the breech(the part where you insert the cartridges)is pointing when you break the gun.The ejectors can kick those caps out with some power!Best to keep your hand loosely cupped over the ejectors as you break the gun.

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Firing an empty gun (dry firing) causes the firing pin (or equivalent) to travel a tiny bit further than usual and so it may bang against the limit of its travel.

 

To make firing pins last they are hardened and therefore slightly more brittle. So the risk is that they might crack if this is done. If the gun still works you probably haven't done any harm. Best not to keep doing it though.

 

However, leaving the gun cocked adds pressure to the springs which might conceivably reduce their life.

 

Snap caps are sprung so as to provide a cushioned landing for the firing pins. So the pressure on the springs can be relieved without any risk of harm.

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snap caps are a gimmick , i have stored my shotgun for a few years without using snapcaps or firing the gun empty and nothing has gone wrong with it .

 

really you should never get into the habbit of shooting the gun in the house empty or with snap caps in. Save your money and go without

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haha, I once needed to check that the firing pins were hitting the primer. I emptied two carts and fired the primers. It took me 30 minutes to clean the barrels, you have never seen so much soot!

 

I won't do that again :lol:

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good idea,release the pressure on the main springs and put it on to the ejector springs which are not as strong. :hmm:

 

You don't leave the snap caps in while you are storing the gun, you remove the fore end and then break the gun to remove the caps, as you probaly know removing the fore end gives the cocking levers nothing to push on so the firings pin don't reset :good:

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Snap caps are useful for checking ejector timing and trigger function but they date back to the days when all guns were operated by hand made vee springs for which there was some point in relieving the pressure on.

 

Almost all modern guns are operated by coil springs and, as has repeatedly been pointed out, nobody has ever suggested that you need to relieve the pressure on the coil valve springs in your car engine.

 

Snap caps are not intended to be used during storage and can, especially if made of brass or other metal, lead to rust in the chamber due to condensation.

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I do exactly what semiautolee does but I remove the snap caps after firing. With Beretta’s you can remove the for end, then barrels then remove snap caps then put together without re cocking the pins.

I think its the same with pretty much every gun (well is on my Browning and my SxS I have some snap caps use them from time to time, using snap caps is different to dry firing (where pins have been known to leave the barrells and can prevent this but I have also dry fire unintentionally and pulling the trigger unintentionally is a BAD idea even with an empty gun!

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Dont like snap caps personally as i feel it only one step away from having an accidently loaded gun inside the house. many say a good spring cannot loose its power from being either relaxed or under tention, the only way to spoil a spring is to take it past it's elastic limit- not so sure about that one as i have heard strong arguments either agreeing or disagreeing, changing them aint a big fuss though so i don't bother generally. Given the choice give me weak springs over a negligent discharge any day

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