thomasbeaton Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 are snape caps relly use full? i use empty cartriges but is it any good for the pins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmsy Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 are snape caps relly use full? i use empty cartriges but is it any good for the pins? dont bother with either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 snaps caps are a (imo) gimmick that makers and gun shop want you to buy, actual use advantage none, you'll hear agrues for and against, as said personaly i have a set i use for paper weights in my office, the others went west,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,fast, as far as using empty shells,,,, dont you only need to put one live one in andits all over rover, and for the wait for it "that wont happen" guys dont let it happen by not using empty shells, dont use anything. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myuserid Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 The dreaded snap caps debate, you really should have searched the forum like I should have before starting this again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 (edited) It's all rubbish! I heard that the constant impact of the steel firing pins into the soft brass polishes them and hones them into more potent projectiles. Not only that, a polished and smooth firing pin will penetrate faster and therefore give the likes of DTL shooters 0.00000000000000001s advantage. This can mean the difference between a completely monotonous round of 300 absolutely identical targets of which you only hit 299 , into an achievement of managing to stay awake to shoot the last round and maybe hitting the 300'th Edited January 7, 2008 by pin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Outlaw Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 The only good ones are the Berretta ones with the mop on them that you can soak in a moisture inhibiter. Great for the good old Browning Browners Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 i always thought that snap caps stopped the firing pins being damaged when dry firing? is that a myth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 While the manufacturer still suggests using them in the handbook they ship with the gun - I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caplock Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Baikals of the double trigger variety would allow strikeless release of the hammers to preserve mainspring tension by pushing the safety off with the gun open and empty. Both triggers were then pulled and the gun shut allowing the hammers to come down with with the cocking rods. Russian technology eh... I think the snap cap does have its place for side lock guns with flat springs as these will take on a slack set if left cocked for long periods of time. Coil spring guns, dunno?:o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeihrauchPower Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 It's all rubbish! I heard that the constant impact of the steel firing pins into the soft brass polishes them and hones them into more potent projectiles. Not only that, a polished and smooth firing pin will penetrate faster and therefore give the likes of DTL shooters 0.00000000000000001s advantage. This can mean the difference between a completely monotonous round of 300 absolutely identical targets of which you only hit 299 , into an achievement of managing to stay awake to shoot the last round and maybe hitting the 300'th :o :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasbeaton Posted January 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 thanks guys for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 This is a quote from Clay Shooting Magazine, part of it explaining how ejectors work. I'm sure you guys know this anyway; ----- Berettas, in common with many other makers, use ejectors that are contained within the barrel monobloc. Each ejector leg is spring loaded and held back under tension in the unfired position. If a barrel is fired an activating rod releases the leg so that the spring pushes it forward as the gun is opened. Closing the gun compresses the spring again, ready to work once more. http://www.clay-shooting.com/faq_series/faq_gunparts_pt3.htm ----- Now, reading a quite few posts, especially from the senior posters on here, it seems the consensus is saying snap caps will hurt your ejector springs as much as your firing pin. But if this report is accurate then the ejector springs are already held under tension, whether fired or not. So really, you can't do any more damage or wear to your ejector springs if you use snap caps. But you can certainly prolong the life of your firing pins by using them. I must admit, I wouldn't normally have posted but reading some of the posts regarding snap caps I felt that pressure was applied to anyone considering them, from senior posters. I've been shooting for 30 years, my father and father-in-law double that, so I feel as though I have the experience necessary to make a comment. I think they are useful and obviously if this report is correct and I'm sure it is, then some of the previous comments saying they are useless, have been misleading and inaccurate. However, that's not meant as patronising and if I'm wrong and it's proved so, I'll hold my hands up and you can shoot me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Sam Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 snaps caps are a (imo) gimmick that makers and gun shop want you to buy, actual use advantage none, you'll hear agrues for and against, as said personaly i have a set i use for paper weights in my office, the others went west,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,fast, as far as using empty shells,,,, dont you only need to put one live one in andits all over rover, and for the wait for it "that wont happen" guys dont let it happen by not using empty shells, dont use anything. Martin Yup that happened up here last year. Gent was staying at hotel locally, cleaning his gun, in went an empty shell, BOOM... hole in floor and nailed one of the staff underneath who lucky only got 3 bits of #5 shot in the shoulder. So I would not recommend it! And from a engineers point of view, a used cartridge will be no good as the hammer will go into the hole already there and if misalign could force the rod sideways and over time damage it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Used cartrdiges as snap caps is an utter waste of time as Big Sam says; there's no back pressure from the used catridge other than its inherent strength (questionable and certainly not consistent) to maintain "just shot" position in the firing pin. However, I do use snap caps - as garyb said, if the manufacturer's recommend it, they'll do for me and at between £4 and £20 a pair and manufactured by all and sundry for use in any gun, they can hardly be considered a profit making gimmick by manufacturers. WGD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 More firing pins are broken by firing a shotgun without the resistance of a sprung snap cap than will ever be broken by actual shooting. Use them at all times - never let a pin fall on an empty chamber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topmantim Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 i us them on guns i don't us for a while,it takes the pressure of the hammer springs.anything that is kept under tension will weaken over time.thats common sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 i us them on guns i don't us for a while,it takes the pressure of the hammer springs.anything that is kept under tension will weaken over time.thats common sense i beg to differ i was kept under tension from my ex for 15 years ,,,,,,,,, i didnt weaken , i stood the test of time , i grew stronger sorry that was my Captain Morgan moment Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mry716 Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Releasing the tension on 'V' mainsprings is far more important than on those guns that use coil mainsprings although they also loose strength if left under constant compression for years on end. The best method of period storage for a SBS with V springs in action and fore-end is to fire the gun and remove the fore-end before the barrels are closed. Remove the barrels and then clip on the fore-end for storing separately from stock and action whilst the springs are not under compression and the ejectors fired. Now for the action - that will normally have been cocked as the gun was opened so the springs need releasing. Place a small piece of wood against the action face and fire both locks in turn. Leave action stored with fired locks and mainsprings not under cocked tension. To reuse, fit barrels and then before fitting fore-end cock the ejectors by pressing the kickers (the bits sticking down under the fore-end) against a bench edge until they click backwards into place. refit and pop in snap caps and close / open / close action. Remove caps and you are all ready for the next big day. It may sound a great deal of trouble but in actuality only takes a few seconds and is well worth the effort to keep springs in undoubtedly better condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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