jweaver Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I always thought that it was a bad idea to store a gun 'cocked' (I think thats the right word for it) as I thought it puts tension on the mechanism/spring. But I havn't seen this mentioned.. Is this true for a shotgun? If so, how do you uncock it? I guess you would either have to "dry fire" or put a Snap Cap in the chamber to allow you to fire the gun. Can someone confirm this as I don't want bad habbits to set in from the start? Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 Yep, Use a snap cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I just leave mine cocked, if you fire it off you are just putting strain on your ejectors instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootingman Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 Snap caps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 snap caps, ive heard of people using empty cartridges before but too risky incase you slip in a live one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agusta Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 If you uncock your shotgun you will then tension the ejector springs, so it makes no difference. Just depends on which springs you would rather replace! Of course if its a non-ejector it may be worth while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jweaver Posted December 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I am going out on a limb here, as I don't even have my shotgun yet (will be getting it tomorrow) and have only had one lesson so far. But I thought that the ejectors were activated by the "blast" of the cartridge, rather than the firing pin... I could be wrong (and I probably am), but I was under the impression that if you just pull the trigger and release the hammer with no round (or a snap cap) in the chamber, there wasn't enough energy to activate the ejection mechanism.... Are you saying that even without a live round, once you pull the trigger and then break the barrel, the cartridge is 'spat' out? Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I am going out on a limb here, as I don't even have my shotgun yet (will be getting it tomorrow) and have only had one lesson so far. But I thought that the ejectors were activated by the "blast" of the cartridge, rather than the firing pin... I could be wrong (and I probably am), but I was under the impression that if you just pull the trigger and release the hammer with no round (or a snap cap) in the chamber, there wasn't enough energy to activate the ejection mechanism.... Are you saying that even without a live round, once you pull the trigger and then break the barrel, the cartridge is 'spat' out? Jon Yep The ejectors are mechanical and are "cocked" when you break the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 I had no idea about this. I have a Miroku MK70 O/U. Should I buy snap caps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airgunalex Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 what i read in the beretta manual on how to prepare them for storage is you put in two snap caps fire off the hammers then take off the forend and open the barells and take out he snap caps. now close the barrels and put back on the for end. this makes the hammer springs released as the springs will not reset if the for end is not on. not sure if it helps with the ejector springs though maybe some one will know :S Thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 I had no idea about this. I have a Miroku MK70 O/U. Should I buy snap caps? Your local dealer will no doubt be more than happy to sell you a lovely brass set in time for Xmas, the reality is, they're simply not required, don't bother using them, storing a modern shotgun with it's mainsprings cocked does it no harm whatsoever. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Snap caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHunter Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Never ever use snap caps, any procedure which encourages the pulling a shotgun trigger when indoors or in a confined area is utter madness. I have seen a complete and total idiot put snap caps (we know that now!!) into his shot gun, pull the trigger, bump the gun on the floor and pull the trigger again IN A CLUB HOUSE FULL OF PEOPLE, what brainless fool would think this is normal or safe. The snap cap does not remove stress from the spring it only reduces it slightly, and for a spring which only cost a few quid, the risk will NEVER be worth it. Any gunsmith who tells you that they will have to replace your springs because you left the gun cocked is ripping you off. Throw your snap caps in the bin, they are just a very dangerous marketing gimmick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 To all the people here that are saying 'use snap caps' have you ever had a mechanical failure due to not using them? Are you talking from experience? I don't use them. Why not? Becuase i can't be *****. The gun is a moving mechanical part, it'll wear out at some point while i'm using it, no wait hang, i'll best not fire the gun either, that will cause undue stress on its parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Ditto - never had a main spring snap - it's just so rare with coil springs (vee springs a bit different) so can't see the point in using snap caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 If you are the type that thinks its beneficial to release the springs in you gun in storage, please don't also forget to take the head off you car at night. The valve springs in it are made of the same stuff and might not work tomorrow if you don't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 I understand what yur argument is against snap caps. But then again, it would not do any harm to use them, would it? I mean, what is the worse that can happen? I just bought a pair of brass snap caps over ebay for £6. Not a major financial burden, is it? Please explain to me what is the problem with trying to protect your gun, especially if you are anything like me that I only go shooting once a month maybe. I am not being sarcastic, I really want to learn. Please enlighten me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 I understand what yur argument is against snap caps. But then again, it would not do any harm to use them, would it? I mean, what is the worse that can happen? I just bought a pair of brass snap caps over ebay for £6. Not a major financial burden, is it? Please explain to me what is the problem with trying to protect your gun, especially if you are anything like me that I only go shooting once a month maybe. I am not being sarcastic, I really want to learn. Please enlighten me. Well as per my previous post, has anyone actually reported failure due to NOT using snap caps? Seems a lot of people are quick to suggest using them but not any of them are as quick to suggest why it's so important, i.e. are you actually protecting your gun at all? If not and then considering the other reasons suggested as to why NOT to use them (below) then maybe they are an issue? Anyway, the choice is yours, personally i'd rather spend £6 of a bottle of red. -The practice of pulling the trigger in an enclosed space should not be promoted. -The spring tension is only partially released after 'dry firing'. -After 'dry firing' you then put tension back on to the ejector springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Well as per my previous post, has anyone actually reported failure due to NOT using snap caps? Seems a lot of people are quick to suggest using them but not any of them are as quick to suggest why it's so important, i.e. are you actually protecting your gun at all? If not and then considering the other reasons suggested as to why NOT to use them (below) then maybe they are an issue? Anyway, the choice is yours, personally i'd rather spend £6 of a bottle of red. -The practice of pulling the trigger in an enclosed space should not be promoted. -The spring tension is only partially released after 'dry firing'. -After 'dry firing' you then put tension back on to the ejector springs. for £6 id rather have the snap caps, even if its for nothing more than dry firing the gun to practice. one of my friends broke the firing pin in his mossberg 500 a few years ago, the guy that fixed it told him that closing the breach on an empty chamber contributed to it (along with standing in front of a mirror and dry firing on an empty chamber....) so ever since that i use snap caps. maybe it is useless, who knows, all i know is that the guy that fixed my mates gun knew a hell of a lot more about guns than me or my mate did (being a gunsmith), so if hed said to stuff a pair of the girlfreinds pants into the chamber to help the gun we probably would Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Sam Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Dry fired my Rossini, broke a sear Dry fired my Baikal, the mainspring slipped off the peg Now I leave them cocked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninj Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 (edited) I have used snap caps in the past but no longer bother. Careful using a spent shell though, asside from the safety implication of slipping a live cartridge in, they will offer little more protection than an empty chamber to the firing pin as the primer has already been fired and now sits sunk into the case. Edited December 3, 2008 by Ninj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I use snap caps in my O/U to relieve the pressure on the firing pins but as has been mentioned this then puts the pressure onto the ejector springs (unless you dismantling the gun) but the difference is I can replace the ejector springs myself, i'd have to get a gunsmith / send the gun off to manufactureres for anything to do with internal mech = time & expense. Its one benefit of semi's, you can decock them without a snap cap. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I use wool mop snap caps to stop any oil residue running down the barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 (edited) Snaps are an anachronism - they come from bygone times when gun springs were hammer forged leaf springs. There was undoubted benefit in relieving these, it did prolong the life of them. Modern springs are usually coil springs made of best spring steel - the same sort of metal memory is in a gun spring as in a car valve spring. Now, by wife's Merc 300TE has done 230,000 miles - and thats roughly 50 million spring reciprocations, and there are still fine - indeed, I had a Merc 410 van I sold running at 470,000 miles or 100m reciprocations, and an AA recovery driver told me they sell their relay trucks at a million miles, or 200,000,000 reciprocations Now, a gun is likely to be loose in the action and in need of a major overhaul by 50,000 firings - thats 100 targets every weekend for 10 yrs, but the springs are still good for several million more cockings. So, de-cocking is not going to make the slightest difference. If they are going to break it will be from a crystalline flaw in the metal, and they will go sooner of you use caps, not later, just because you are adding 1-2% more trigger pulls to the actions life ( and wearing everything else that moves in the process). Snaps have good purpose, as coaching aids to prepare a novice by trying the trigger pull, and taking dummy shots at a target; and as a gun smiths aid to test guns after dismantling, and of course anyone buying a gun who does not have the opportunity to fire it should at least action test it with snaps, as will dealer with guns being bought in. Safety is also a concern. Snaps look very like live rounds in the gun, and live rounds have been mistaken for snaps with disastrous results. An empty gun is clearly not going to go off. Empty is safe. Lastly, it is poor etiquette to open a gun at a shoot, and have anything in the chambers. To the casual glance , they could be live rounds. There is little harm to using snaps if you feel it is of benifit, but place them in the gun at home, and remove them before leaving. Leave your snaps at home. Edited December 5, 2008 by clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Your local dealer will no doubt be more than happy to sell you a lovely brass set in time for Xmas, the reality is, they're simply not required, don't bother using them, storing a modern shotgun with it's mainsprings cocked does it no harm whatsoever. Cat. and believe me it pains me :wacko: LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.