clayboster Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) opinions please...having just bought a new shotgun, i asked the dealer about sum snap caps to go with it, he advised that i wont need any as its better to leave the gun cocked as the load left on the hammer springs is ok and cheaper to replace than the ejector springs which would come under load if the trigger was pulled onto the snap caps? is he correct? i would have thought the ejector springs were still under load untill the gun is opened, fired or not.! thanks for your opinions and advice. dave. Edited February 15, 2014 by clayboster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettadevon Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 put my caps in the nearest bin ages ago!!!!!! cheaper and easier to replace the springs than other items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 Rust will ruin any spring before being under load will ever do any damage! If it works now and is not allowed to rot it will work for donkies Sir U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 Never used a snap cap in over 30 years of shooting , never had to replace a spring in that time either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 Loads of threads on this, conventional wisdom is as your dealer described. Best analogy is, do you worry about the valve springs in your car being compressed and stressed when it's parked? Modern springs can be compressed almost permanently without damage or loss of "springiness" (technical term). Good on your dealer for not trying to sell you useless tat for a quick buck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayboster Posted February 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 how about fireing pin damage? i know its considered bad practice to pull the trigger but the inevitable does occur, just wondered if the snap caps help? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 Hi IMO you don't need them metal has no memory if it did we would all be jacking up our cars at night to take the pressure off the springs only time I use them is for checking trigger pull or to check ejectors Hope you enjoy your gun All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) You will find the following in the Beretta user manual. Make of it what you will. Edited February 15, 2014 by aris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimey121uk Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) I wouldn't bother with them, after all how long do guns sit on the shelf at an RFD in a cocked state. Not once have I seen any RFD store them deckoxked with snapcaps. Edited February 15, 2014 by grimey121uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 Its like de-cocking a rifle bolt metallurgists tell us its a waste of time (I still do it though). I hate snap caps, too great a risk of mistaking for a live shell IMO. The trick to not damaging you pins is don't pull the trigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 Snap Caps are brilliant as a training aide during a first shooting lesson or when working on a gun no need for them for storage in a modern gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 Snap Caps are brilliant as a training aide during a first shooting lesson or when working on a gun no need for them for storage in a modern gun. +1 Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayboster Posted February 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 well thats my little niggle sorted then....goodbye to buying snapcaps...thanks folks for all replys and advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 When not using the gun for a while I do the following: Put in snap caps, "fire" both barrels. Remove fore end. Open gun, pull out snap caps. Close gun, replace fore end. Hopefully all springs relaxed. Why? Original handbook for Browning 325 says so plus local gunsmith agrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Nah the ejector spring will always be under tension whilst the barrel is closed, only with the ejectors extended would the spring have any less tension on it V springs tend to suffer more through being left compressed, coil springs no problem I've yet to use a snap cap in a stored shotgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicblue Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 It's a 'mechanical sympathy' thing, some of us with engineering backgrounds have it, others don't. In truth with modern materials there is probably little benefit in taking the tension out of one of the springs however there is a case for 'why not if you can?'. I never store ammunition in proximity of the gun under advice from the FAO so no risk of a mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 It's a 'mechanical sympathy' thing, some of us with engineering backgrounds have it, others don't. In truth with modern materials there is probably little benefit in taking the tension out of one of the springs however there is a case for 'why not if you can?'. I never store ammunition in proximity of the gun under advice from the FAO so no risk of a mistake. I come from a heavily engineering background and i don't use snap caps, at the end of the day the strain put on it is so minimal there is no need for the " mechanical sympathy " I'm more worried about the springs in my car than the ones in the shotgun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Never used a snap cap in over 30 years of shooting , never had to replace a spring in that time either. +1 Except it's more like 60 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) I don't think snapcaps have a place today! For whatever reason I always leave guns uncocked though! Edited February 18, 2014 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 I don't think snapcaps have a place today! They do have a place, dry firing, checking operation and timing if ejectors etc used daily by gun smiths.... I tend to use them after cleaning the gun. But as for relax springs not very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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