Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. Default Home Made Snap Caps

    I'm thinking about machining some solid brass plugs to press into primer pocket holes and using them as snap caps to protect the firing pin. Has anyone seen this or done it? Wondering how long each one would last.
    Fred Pillot
    Captain
    San Jose Zouaves
    1876

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Northeast Connecticut
    Posts
    819

    Default

    Try nylon or a similar semi-hard plastic. Better cushion and lasts longer.

  3. Default

    I may try both. I'll update here if i discover anything.
    Fred Pillot
    Captain
    San Jose Zouaves
    1876

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Bay area, Calif
    Posts
    14,985

    Default

    The two commercial jobs that I bought [red plastic] lasted about five minutes
    before center froze solid making them totally useless.
    Thought about putting soft gummy stuff in empty case pocket.
    Thinking about it is as far as I've got.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    The dry side of Washington St.
    Posts
    606

    Default

    Blob-o-silicone. Or some old leather. I suppose it depends on the firearm if it is even necessary at all. For example the 1903 firing pin is actually stopped by the cocking piece, not the pin. I'd suspect that the primer barely slows the mechanism at all.

    I'd be concerned that a solid brass plug would resist the pin so much that it would cause damage rather than prevent it. The material would need to be able to return to original shape promptly or it would cease to provide any function.

  6. Default

    I made 3 plugs.

    1) UHMWPE
    2) Brass, free machining 360
    3) Nylon

    The UHMWPE was way too soft.

    Brass worked best, giving a slightly larger indentation with each shot although indentation slowed as the dent got bigger.

    Nylon was right behind the brass, but looks like the indentation was getting bigger a bit faster.

    I tested the brass and nylon 15 shots each, and they look like both have many more shots left in them.
    You can tell that they are working because the firing pin has a muffled sound to it.
    As the dent grows, especially the brass, you must scrape away the raised crater rim.
    Fred Pillot
    Captain
    San Jose Zouaves
    1876

  7. #7

    Default

    How about a pencil eraser??
    Jon

  8. Default

    I also made a .308 snap cap by drilling out the primer pocket and sliding in a brass plunger and a heavy coil spring. Then soldered a brass plug in the case neck to hold it all together.
    Last edited by Fred Pillot; 06-04-2015 at 03:47.
    Fred Pillot
    Captain
    San Jose Zouaves
    1876

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    1,371

    Default

    Fred - like to see a photo of your snap cap, if you could. Sounds like a nice Winter activity (planning ahead!). - Liam
    "Wars are, of course, as a rule to be avoided; but they are far better than certain kinds of peace." - T.R.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    London, Ontario
    Posts
    3,251

    Default

    Solid brass plugs won't protect that which doesn't need protecting. Centre fires don't need snap caps. DP cartridges simply have nothing in the primer pocket.
    Spelling and grammar count!

Similar Threads

  1. Home-made BP - the sulfurless type
    By LARscout in forum Black Powder
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 06-08-2017, 05:40
  2. snap caps
    By McCormickDeering M in forum On the Firing Line
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-17-2012, 03:33
  3. leather caps for 1903A4
    By pelago in forum Sniper Rifles
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-02-2010, 04:23
  4. Value of muzzle caps?
    By Ron22Fanatic in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-31-2010, 06:10

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •