Are you wanting to step up your firearms training?
Let me introduce you to one of the most versatile training tools on the market — dummy rounds. Dummy rounds are not to be confused with blanks or live training rounds.
These faux cartridges are perfect for malfunction drills and dry fire exercises because they lack the dangerous boom components, specifically, the primer, propellant, and explosive charge.
Today, we are covering our top five picks for the best dummy rounds, how they work, and why you might want some.
THE QUICK LIST
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Editor’s Pick
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Best Bulk Snap Caps
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Most Durable
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Most Realistic
Table of Contents
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How We Chose The Best Dummy Rounds
Between all of the full-time Pew Pew Tactical staff and our writers, we have done our fair of dry firing. Much of that practice has been done using various dummy rounds and snap caps.
We chose the items on this list based on our personal experience with each product. Our primary considerations are durability, value, ease of use, caliber selection, and the overall weight and feel for each round.
Best Dummy Rounds
1. A-Zoom Snap Caps
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
A-Zoom’s Snap Caps are available in over 100 calibers. New caliber options are added to the lineup on a reasonably consistent basis.
These snap caps are a great place to start if you’re working with a less-popular caliber.
As for the caps themselves, they come in packs of five for standard pistol cartridges (or six for revolver calibers) and in packs of two for 12-gauge and rifle cartridges.
The caps are constructed with a coated aluminum that is fairly robust. Supposedly, one of these caps can last for over 3,000 cycles.
But that’s just marketing. In real life, some people have complained about the finish scraping off and the cap wearing out around the case rim.
However, that reportedly doesn’t seem to be the case with the latest run from A-Zoom. Maybe we’ll luck out, and they can truly last those 3,000 cycles.
These are a favorite of the Pew Pew Tactical team. We particularly like that the 12-gauge shells have a nice heft to them. These simulate real ammo weight, which is indispensable for safely practicing loading and unloading shotguns.
What’s your take on A-Zoom?
2. NewBold Dummy Training Rounds
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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NewBold Dummy Training Rounds are durable snap caps designed for dry firing.
The brass casings give these rounds a realistic look, while the polymer “primers” and bullets are bright orange.
That “safety color” allows you to easily differentiate these training rounds from your live ammo.
These are some of my favorite options for practicing home defense scenarios and malfunction drills.
These brass cases could pretty much last forever, and the soft polymer primer protects your firing pin by giving the spring a place to release its energy.
Beyond the polymer projectile and faux primer, these snap caps look and feel pretty much like a real round, which is great for training purposes.
They also come in a variety of calibers. However, most of their product line is in the pistol caliber category, which is fine for most shooters.
Not a lot of folks sit at their desk dry-firing an AR-15.
I mean, we do, but that’s different.
3. ST Action Pro Trainer Dummy Rounds
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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ST Action Pro Trainer Dummy Rounds are awesome for practicing mag change drills; in fact, it’s one of our preferred options because one pack comes with 10 rounds for handguns.
I like to use these dummy rounds when I’m sitting at my desk or standing in front of the TV practicing mag changes.
If that’s a drill on your training regimen, then this might be a go-to dummy round for you.
True, you can do the same drills with an empty magazine, but the weight will be off, and it won’t have the same effect.
And if you’re doing more complicated tasks, like drawing a second mag from a CCW holder, you want your training experience to be as close to the real thing as possible.
ST Action Pro Trainer Dummy Rounds are an effective option for practicing self-defense scenarios and training for competitions.
When these rounds are loaded, your mag will feel close to its regular, fully loaded weight — which is exactly what you want.
4. Tipton Snap Caps
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Tipton is one of the biggest names in firearms accessories, so it’s no surprise that they started manufacturing their own snap caps.
While these training rounds aren’t weighted like a standard live round, they do have other great features to recommend them.
Namely, that they’re spring-loaded.
Another cool detail is that the primers have what is, in essence, tiny shock absorbers that completely absorb the impact of the firing pin.
This makes both your firing pin and the snap cap last much longer.
These training rounds don’t feel like live rounds, but they’re great for double-action firearms or a gun with a resettable training trigger installed.
The best news? Tipton offers calibers for pistols, rifles, shotguns, and revolvers.
5. B’s Dry Fire Brass Snap Caps
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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B’s Dry Fire Snap Caps — also known as “B’s Dummys” — are designed to mimic real ammo.
Not only is the weight almost exactly the same, but the design also includes a real brass cartridge case.
Even with that swanky brass case, it’s still difficult to visually confuse one of these snap caps for a live round.
They come with either vibrant blue or neon green projectiles and a giant logo etched directly on the cartridge to help tell them apart.
But I’m not complaining; that level of obvious is what we like to see in a dummy round.
Other than that, B’s has pretty much nailed the size, weight, and feel of a 124-grain 9mm round.
If you’re looking for a dummy round that’s as close to the real thing as possible, this is the way to go.
Only downside? It’s a little pricey for a pack of 10.
What Are Dummy Rounds?
Dummy rounds are phenomenal tools that can enhance your firearms training.
On that note, it’s important to recognize that “dummy rounds” and “snap caps” are different things, even though the terms are often used interchangeably.
The big difference is that snap caps have inert primers to protect your firing pins, making them ideal for dry fire drills.
Dummy rounds and snap caps mimic the weight and feel of a live cartridge but are completely safe and inert.
Many dummy rounds – particularly snap caps – have brightly colored bodies and/or faux projectiles. We recommend these colorful atrocities for two reasons.
First, that eye-catching color makes it easy to tell the difference between training ammunition and live cartridges.
With a single glance, you’ll know exactly what type of ammo you’re loading into the magazine.
Second, if you’re running stoppage drills, as you should be, the “rack” part of “tap, rack, bang” is going to eject your fancy dummy round into the dirt somewhere.
You shouldn’t have any trouble locating these attention-getters.
Dummy rounds and snap caps are widely available in most common calibers. If you do a little searching online, you can find them for a lot of the “weirder” calibers as well.
Why Bother With Dummy Rounds?
You can’t be the gun-wielding hero of your dreams without getting a lot of practice in!
On a more serious note, firearms are a critical means of home and self-defense. Consistent training is the only way to effectively prepare yourself for a worst-case scenario.
Dummy rounds often mimic the shape and weight of real ammo. This lets you can safely practice reloading and stoppage drills, which are just as important as honing your shooting ability.
You could be Wyatt Earp reborn, but it’s not going to matter if your gun jams and you can’t clear it quickly enough.
For a little fun at the range, have your buddy load your magazine with live ammo plus but with a dummy round somewhere in the mix.
Shoot as normal, and then, when you get to the dummy round, you can practice clearing the malfunction.
This is the best way to both simulate an unexpected stoppage and practice how to clear one.
Beyond that, most of us can’t get the range as often as we’d like, so being able to train safely at home has its perks.
For example, you can practice what you would do during a home invasion or live fire situation.
A common drill is to chamber the dummy round, squeeze the trigger, rack the slide, and fire again like you’re clearing a malfunction.
Fellow PPT contributor Travis wrote an entire article about how practicing drills for 15 minutes a day can help you become a more proficient shooter.
To learn about some nifty dry fire drills and optional (but amazingly fun) gear, check out Safe and Effective Dry Fire Training at Home [Guide].
Finally, while most modern centerfire firearms can handle thousands of dry fire trigger pulls without complaint, having something against which the firing pin can strike can help extend its lifespan.
As a warning note, you should never dry fire a rimfire weapon, so .22 LR dummy rounds are essential for serious .22 LR training, especially if you’re trying to become a competition shooter.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re training for competition, defense, or general self-improvement, practicing with dummy rounds is a great way to develop your shooting and gun handling skills.
With inert cartridges, you can hone your talents with a stand-in that mimics live ammo, but without all the muss and fuss of needing a range.
And if you want to kick your training up another notch, consider getting into laser training tools too!
What’s your preferred snap cap brand? Let us know in the comments below. And if you’re new to guns, please don’t hesitate to check out How to Shoot a Pistol Accurately [Ultimate Guide]. We look at the fundamentals of shooting, easy at-home exercises, and practical tips for the range.
16 Leave a Reply
*Looks nervously at the airsoft in the corner
I have a set of the Tiptons in 9mm. What I don't have is a single pistol that I've tried them in yet that they don't jam up. The polymer body seems to not have enough of a step at the case mouth and to jam itself into the throat. The extractor can't pull hard enough to pull the cas eout before the extractor pops off the case rim. I've tried them in over a dozen pistols and PCCs over the years.
Since the diameter is the same, does any 40 caliber laser cartridge for practice work in a 10 mm like the XDM Elite 3.8 inch?
Just a caution. I reload ammo using popular "Blue Bullets". They make great bullets for re-loaders. I also buy from SNS Casting which makes "Red bullets". Both of these are some kind of polymer coating. So if you reload these bullets make sure your snap caps are neither Blue nor Red and eliminate the chance of confusing your "snap caps or dummies" with your colored reloaded live ammo. I also make my own "dummies" by leaving a fired primer in the case and drilling a hole in the case before seating a new bullet in the drilled case. If the bullet or case deforms from repeated use I throw it away and make a few more. While it is true that it is easy to mistake the dummy for a live round if you miss seeing the hole in the case no harm is done if you chamber one of them and pull the trigger. And when it is time to reload the live pills you should be checking them each time you load your carry ammo anyway.
My biggest complaint is the cost. You practice with dummy things to not spend so much on the real item. Here the the dummy is several times the cost of the real thing. I understand, it's a safety thing, but darn, these things are expensive!
Ugh. I can’t determine the diff btn snap cap and a dummy.
i want dummy rounds for ball and dummy training. the problem with lead cast bullets is that they often deform an we spend time on malfunctions which is time consuming
can i cast the bullet with linotype or other super alloy for harnness
You can get whatever color of bullet you want these days. B's Dummys are made with Eggleston colored bullets.
I have seen some negative reviews about these not cycling thru an automatic and getting stuck in the weapon.
I can't dry fire my Bond Arms Derringer, so that is a gimme to buy these. And makes sense for revolvers.
* But have been told most all automatics are meant to be dry fired? And have done that regularly after cleaning and fresh lube.
If you reload using "Blue Bullets", don't use B's Dry Fire Snap Caps. They look too much alike, even with the case engraving. not worth the safety risk
That’s exactly what I was thinking, having blues loaded right now.
I know it's a bit nit-picky but the word you wanted in #3 was "regimen", not regime. Common mistake but most of us are not intimately involved in governmental powers.
Additionally for us revolver shooters. Snap caps are great for practicing reloading from either speedloaders or speed strips, not so much for ejecting empty brass. Snap caps don't swell like fired brass does. Suggest you use fired brass, punch out the old primer but don't resize the case. Use a rubber type caulking to fill the primer pocket. Now you'll have a practice case that sticks in the cylinder, acts like a fired case should. Good article.
Clearly you guys have never tried striker caps. These make it far easier to work on your trigger pull and barrel discipline WITHOUT chasing plastic all over the floor.
We'll check these out! Thanks for the suggestion!
Striker Caps