LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - What's the verdict on dry firing? Snap-caps?

Wernher von Browning · 09-20-2015, 07:17 PM

Hi, all.

New Swiss Luger owner here. 06/29, made in 1939, all matching. I intend to use it in competition. Which means I should practice with it.

I did try the search function but didn't find anything...

I hear a lot about never dry-firing a Luger.

I would like to practice dry-firing for competition ("Go buy a cheap .22 to practice...")

I made my own "Snap-Cap" by turning off the rim of a fired case on the lathe, making a nylon insert for the primer pocket and turning that flush with the head, and a dummy nylon bullet. The idea being to not extract that but just re-**** the pistol and dry-fire again.

The nylon shows a distinct dimple from the striker; I don't know if it performs much of a cushioning function, if that's what's called for.

I have a friend in Europe sending me some Italian-made Snap-Caps with a spring-loaded brass plunger where the primer would be.

I see that the Swiss manual for these does tell troops to check for correct re-assembly by dry firing, but one friend pointed out "They didn't have to worry about spare parts supply, or matching numbers."

So, what's the word -- OK to dry fire? Home-made Snap-Caps adequate? Commercial Snap-Caps OK?

Thanks in advance.

(I'll also copy this to the "new owners" subforum).

09-20-2015, 07:17 PM	#1
Wernher von Browning User Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 10 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What's the verdict on dry firing? Snap-caps? Hi, all. New Swiss Luger owner here. 06/29, made in 1939, all matching. I intend to use it in competition. Which means I should practice with it. I did try the search function but didn't find anything... I hear a lot about never dry-firing a Luger. I would like to practice dry-firing for competition ("Go buy a cheap .22 to practice...") I made my own "Snap-Cap" by turning off the rim of a fired case on the lathe, making a nylon insert for the primer pocket and turning that flush with the head, and a dummy nylon bullet. The idea being to not extract that but just re-**** the pistol and dry-fire again. The nylon shows a distinct dimple from the striker; I don't know if it performs much of a cushioning function, if that's what's called for. I have a friend in Europe sending me some Italian-made Snap-Caps with a spring-loaded brass plunger where the primer would be. I see that the Swiss manual for these does tell troops to check for correct re-assembly by dry firing, but one friend pointed out "They didn't have to worry about spare parts supply, or matching numbers." So, what's the word -- OK to dry fire? Home-made Snap-Caps adequate? Commercial Snap-Caps OK? Thanks in advance. (I'll also copy this to the "new owners" subforum).