Hi all. I purchased some nifty full metal snap caps (bullet shaped and spring loaded pieces of metal that allow one to practice dry-firing without hurting the gun or firing pin) but am having a small problem with my handgun not extracting them when I pull the slide back to load another round. Is this normal?

When I pull the slide back it looks like the entire snap cap is fitted into the barrel minus the lip that stops from going all the way in. This results in the gun trying to load another round on top of the round stuck in the barrel which jams the slide back. Is this also normal or do I have to manually take out each round?

Thanks much folks, you all are great and have been extremely helpful previously.

Josh

Are the the correct caliber? I would also suggest that you use only one. They will not cycle the slide, so you only need to to practice your trigger pull. No need to fill up a mag full of something that will not cycle the slide. As far as it not coming out, I can only think that they are either the wrong ones, or they are made wrong. Not enough rim. Check the rim of one with a live round and see if there is a difference.

Yeah, they're the right caliber and this is my second set of two different kinds. All the same thing.

The snap cap should not push forward any farther than a regular cartridge. If it is going farther in the chamber/barrel, then there is something wrong, either with the chamber or the snap caps.

The problem might also be that the slide isn't closing all the way and the extractor is not snapping around the rim. Don't close the slide gently. The best thing to do is to pull the slide all the way back and then let go of it, allowing the slide spring to pull it forward with its full force. The extractor is spring loaded, and on most guns, the slide spring will not overcome the extractor spring if the slide is gently closed onto the cartridge.

I wish my A-zooms did what you are talking about, that way I can practice my SA trigger by racking the slide without having to practice only 5 times before reloading a mag. I actually had to grind the rim of one of my snap caps off so that it wouldn't get extracted when I rack the slide. Count yourself blessed.

Actually, Niner, one of the brands of snap caps is made by A-Zoom. And also, that made me think, I can't rack all five of them. I get the first one and then they all start to jam. Stupid Cobra POS!!!

BlackEcho,

What pistol are you talking about? Are you loading the mag and letting the pistol load it's self (racking the slide)? Or, are you dropping the slide on a chambered snap-cap?

A gun with an internal extractor could drive the snapcap into the chamber if not feed from the Mag, also, the snap cap may not be being hit by the firing pin at all, if it's moved further into the chamer.

Best o luck

Nate

ntjaxn, this is a .380 Cobra FS380 and I've had nothing but problems with it. I am loading the magazine and loading and cocking via the slide. It loads the first cap perfectly and the firing pin hits it. I then move the slide back as hard as I can to extract the 'fired' cap only to have it stick.

But come to find out, the gun won't extract even live ammunition in the same way. I loaded a full magazine at the range and started to rack it only to have it, guess what, jam after I've got the first bullet in. So, alas, it's not the caps but the gun. For some reason it extracts spent cartridges when firing real ammo, but not a whole non-shot bullet.

Sounds light a tight chamber. Is this gun new? If so, you might want to take it back and let them fix it.

Yeah, brand new. I've put about 150 rounds threw it since I got it two 1/2 weeks ago. Got it from a pawn shop. I think I need a new gun. I'm actually thinking about getting a Walther P22.

But anyway, thanks for the help everybody.

I have a stupid question. Have you cleaned it since you shot it last? Just thinking maybe some buildup in the chamber. Just a thought.

God, I wish it was something so simple, but I clean it usually within minutes of shooting along with oiling it. Good point though.

If you can't just drop a round fully into the chamber, with nothing but gravity assisting, then you have a gun problem.

I'd guess there was a reason it was in the pawn shop.... best of luck. You might find another brand of ammo that's slightly smaller, but I'd be worried about reliability.

BlackEcho & everyone,

anyone know if this is a blow back design, no extractor?.. That, or a broken/incorrectly adjusted extractor would explain this behavior.

Sorry not more help

Best o luck

Nate