Snap Caps

[Matt Natoli]

Hi everyone,

I will be picking up the restored GHE ( the one I mentioned in an earlier thread) later in the week. I have a question about snap caps. Does anyone have any suggustions to which are better than others? I have a set of Parker Hale for 20 ga that I had to have a machinist alter to fit a Citori so I most likely will avoid that brand.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Bruce Day]

Galazan makes nice ones. However, you probably know that since Parker internal hammer guns don't have firing pins, there is no functional need for snap caps, and Parker said that anyway.

[Matt Natoli]

Bruce,

Thanks for the reply. I did not know about the internal hammer's. I have to get started on reading "The Parker Story"!

Thanks for the info.

Matt

[B. Dudley]

Yes, Parker used to advertise that the hammerless guns could be dry fired with no concern of harming the gun.

The type with the spring loaded brass striking surface are nice. They are less prone to getting beat up by the pin like solid caps are.

[Matt Natoli]

Thanks Guys.
So if Parker said they were not needed, do most people not use them? I was thinking of ordering a set from Galazan and maybe a velco leather pad to protect the buttplate while I have an order in.

Matt

[Double Play]

Matt,
When I first got involved with Parkers I bought a set of snap caps from Galazan in every gage. I never use them in any of my Parkers.

[Matt Natoli]

Maybe I'll skip the snap caps. If they are not needed no sense spending the $ on them.
Thanks guys for the info.

[B. Dudley]

Even though the gun will not be harmed by a dry fire. It would not hurt to have some. If you don't want the expense, just use a pair of once fired shells if you need to uncock the gun.

[Pa SxS]

I would do as Brian suggests. I've also heard of guys knocking out the spent primer and inserting an eraser off of a new pencil to use for shock absorption. You could also buy some inexpensive snap caps, no need to pay a lot of money for them. Just about all the snap caps now a days are painted a bright color, the reason being so as not to confuse with a live shell.

If you do use a fired hull, I suggest you paint the base for easy identification. You don't want to think you have a snap cap in the chamber when in fact you have a live shell

[Roundsworth]

'A-Zoom' snap caps are a good choice. They are available at multitudes of sporting goods emporiums. I really do not see anything wrong with an inexpensive device that absorbs the shock of a firing mechanism in the absence of a live cartridge, especially in older/antique firearms.