Dummy rounds recommendation

[frayluisfan]

Hi, all.

Was wondering if you have any recommendations on dummy rounds to use for shotgun reloading practice (as in 3-gun). I am looking mainly at these two:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31872/psize=96/Product/SHOTGUN-DUMMIES

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=...2=AEE_12+Gauge/Product/AMMO-SNAP-CAPS#skugrid

It seems strange to me that the first one is 5 for $8, but the second is 2 for $10. Any thoughts on which is better for practicing a shotgun reload?

Thanks,
frayluisfan

 

[kludge]

For practice loading, you want the first one.

The second one is snap caps, and they are made out of solid aluminum. I suppose they would work, but they aren't going to feel right.

Also, I think you can get these without being an instructor.

http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.aspx?productid=LE Dummy

 

[NYShooter]

You don't want snap caps and you definitely don't want the rounds suggested by Kludge (sorry). They are made by S.T. Action Pro and I have tried them. http://www.stactionpro.com/12-gauge-action-trainer-p-8.html
They are almost weightless and do not handle like an actual shell. Thus, they are pretty useless for reloading practice.

The Dummy rounds from Brownells are good, but for about half the price you can get the even better Fiocchi Dummy rounds, which are sized perfectly and weigh 1 1/8 oz. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/34633

 

[BlisteringSilence]

The Dummy rounds from Brownells are good, but for about half the price you can get the even better Fiocchi Dummy rounds, which are sized perfectly and weigh 1 1/8 oz. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/34633

STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP - STOP

The "dummy" rounds from Buds you cited are not inert rounds - they're blanks. HUGE DIFFERENCE.

The Brownells rounds are the right ones. They're good to take to the range and use to practice FTFs too.

 

[NYShooter]

The "dummy" rounds from Buds you cited are not inert rounds - they're blanks. HUGE DIFFERENCE.

No, they are inert dummies and do not have a primer, powder or shot charge. The problem is that the Fiocchi dummies and blanks are both categorized as "blanks", but one is a actually a dummy and the other is a blank. Here are the two listings that Buds has for Fiocchi "blanks": http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/34633 (the one I referenced) and this: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/34631

Notice that the pictures are identical, as are the descriptions, but the product numbers are different and one is called "Fiocchi 12 Ga. 2 3/4" Dummy Round" (the one I referenced) and the other "Fiocchi 12 Gauge 2 3/4" Blank" (which is the blank). Confusing, for sure. To be certain, the proper UPC of the dummy load is 762344703404, so double check when ordering.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Anyone with a loader can turn out dummies costing a few cents each.

I use a old hull of a color different from my regular ammo.

After removing the fired primer, I whittle a piece of pencil eraser to fit and then add a wad, shot and hard crimp it. Some folks add an inert powder substitute like grits or cream of wheat.

A small amount of epoxy on the crimp seals it forever, but I usually don't bother.

 

[oneounceload]

OR, you buy the AZOOMS - which ARE practice rounds - and EASILY distinguishable from a live round and you practice away

 

[frayluisfan]

Many thanks to all for your input!

 

[guzzi]

as in 3-gun. That is exactly why I got some AZOOMS. That shotgun reloading time is a killer.

Good luck in your quest to get fast and accurate.

 

[CWL]

I have AZooms in pretty much every caliber of firearm I own. The main problem I have with them is that they are aluminum and the rims get buggered-up from extractor wear after lengthy training use.

With shotguns, I really like the dummy rounds you can buy through Brownells. Right look and weight - but I have painted a yellow stripe across the base and side to better visually distinguish them from live rounds. If you shoot any rounds that look similar (S&B immediately comes to mind) then you want to be able to easily tell the difference , particularly in low light conditions.