Making own dummy rounds?

[Trickyd66]

Hi all,
On my search for the 222 for me, I've been looking at various advice on here ref buying a used rifle.
One of the suggestions is to use snap caps or dummy rounds to check magazine, extraction etc.

Is it possible to make my own? Thinking seat a bullet into an empty case with no powder or primer.

Good to go or not?

P.s. Will need the brass and bullets in the future so not an issue, and have the kit to seat and check length etc.

Thanks, TD66

 

[grandad of the woods]

Far as I'm aware I can't see why there would be any issue in doing that to test the extraction

 

[Trickyd66]

Far as I'm aware I can't see why there would be any issue in doing that to test the extraction

Thanks, seemed sensible and doable to me.

 

[enfieldspares]

I make my own but add an extra. I take a decapped fired primer and lever the anvil out. I then reverse the primer and seat it in the primer pocket of the fired case so it is wrong way around. So that it is a hollow cup. I then if I have some paint the inside of that cup red. A further extra would be to put a dowel rod in the case of such a length (trial and error to get the correct length) as to stop the bullet moving back inside the case at any future time if mishandled. For .222 I'd suggest using FMJ bullets also as the tip is more robust than a soft point type.

 

[Trickyd66]

Great, thanks for the advise / suggestion.
It looks like I will be playing in the workshop
I have some used primers that I acquired.
I was actually thinking of hot glue in the primer pocket and flour or similar to fill the case along with a strong neck crimp?

(Haven't reloaded a single round yet, but been researching and reading)

 

[Trickyd66]

I make my own but add an extra. I take a decapped fired primer and lever the anvil out. I then reverse the primer and seat it in the primer pocket of the fired case so it is wrong way around. So that it is a hollow cup. I then if I have some paint the inside of that cup red. A further extra would be to put a dowel rod in the case of such a length (trial and error to get the correct length) as to stop the bullet moving back inside the case at any future time if mishandled. For .222 I'd suggest using FMJ bullets also as the tip is more robust than a soft point type.

Thanks again for the suggestions. Just tried an invited primer, removed the Anvil, and tapped it home with a hammer. Ideal.

I will do the real dummies with the press to get them flush.

Thinking green nail varnish (joys of female children) in the pocket rather than red to denote "safe".

 

[enfieldspares]

Thanks again for the suggestions. Just tried an invited primer, removed the Anvil, and tapped it home with a hammer. Ideal.

I will do the real dummies with the press to get them flush.

Thinking green nail varnish (joys of female children) in the pocket rather than red to denote "safe".

Any colour really so that you know that if it has no colour it ain't a dummy round. The inverted primers can be seated, with care, using your usual primer seating tool.

 

[Heym SR20]

I have made a few. I take a resized case. Add a primer. Chamber the case and snap the primer. I prefer the firing pin to hit something.

Seat a bullet on top to standard length. Then drill a couple of holes in the side of the case so that you can, and everyone else knows it is a dummy and doesn’t contain any powder.

 

[philkelly]

Hi all,
On my search for the 222 for me, I've been looking at various advice on here ref buying a used rifle.
One of the suggestions is to use snap caps or dummy rounds to check magazine, extraction etc.

Is it possible to make my own? Thinking seat a bullet into an empty case with no powder or primer.

Good to go or not?

P.s. Will need the brass and bullets in the future so not an issue, and have the kit to seat and check length etc.

Thanks, TD66

If your into 3d printing you can get STL files in every calibre to sami spec to check what you need

 

[Trickyd66]

If your into 3d printing you can get STL files in every calibre to sami spec to check what you need

I struggle to get the paper printer to work

 

[Heym SR20]

I have made a few. I take a resized case. Add a primer. Chamber the case and snap the primer. I prefer the firing pin to hit something.

Seat a bullet on top to standard length. Then drill a couple of holes in the side of the case so that you can, and everyone else knows it is a dummy and doesn’t contain any powder.

I also do this when I make up a load. I make up a dummy to act as a master, that I keep with the dies and use this to set up seating dies etc when reloading.

 

[jb1]

I also do this when I make up a load. I make up a dummy to act as a master, that I keep with the dies and use this to set up seating dies etc when reloading.

Also right on the case powder charge, primer and powder used, this is for each rifle.

 

[Trickyd66]

Thanks all, at least I'm on the right lines it seems.
Not related, but was talking to someone who suggested part seating a bullet into a empty case, chambering it,then dropping it back a couple of thou to get ideal overall length? About right?
Thanks

 

[grandad of the woods]

That's one way to find the lands, there's a few way to do it with out having to buy a lands guage or what ever it's called lol what you reloading

 

[Trickyd66]

That's one way to find the lands, there's a few way to do it with out having to buy a lands guage or what ever it's called lol what you reloading

Thanks. Going to be 222 and possibly 243.

 

[grandad of the woods]

Haven't started my .243 yet need the dies and the case holder ect just to much other stuff to get at moment lol

 

[markyw]

Probably does not need stating, but if you intend to check firearms in a RFD using dummy rounds, be sure to ask first and also ask if they have their own dummy rounds made up. If they do not, let them have a look at yours before using.
People putting rounds into firearms in a shop is not a good look.

If you are making up dummy rounds, an additional step may be to drill a hole in the case body near the head (NOT the bullet ) so they cannot be mistaken for live rounds by people that know.

Regards

Mark

 

[Trickyd66]

Probably does not need stating, but if you intend to check firearms in a RFD using dummy rounds, be sure to ask first and also ask if they have their own dummy rounds made up. If they do not, let them have a look at yours before using.
People putting rounds into firearms in a shop is not a good look.

If you are making up dummy rounds, an additional step may be to drill a hole in the case body near the head (NOT the bullet ) so they cannot be mistaken for live rounds by people that know.

Regards

Mark

Thanks for the heads up. Already been advised ref RFDs.