Double feeds, stove pipe, and ftf malfunctions are what I do. What else do you lads use them for?
Yes I do. They can also be used as a stress inducer when doing some other drills (where the focus is not on malfunction clearing).
For instance, I like to stick them in peoples guns when they are in a shoot house to see what they do when they attempt to shoot a “bad guy” and their long gun goes “CLICK!”
C4
I use them heavily when training shooters in malfunction clearances and as Grant mentions ingraining the idea of transitioning from the rifle to a pistol. I also use them to help with pointing out a flinch or similar issue and using them to help fix the problem. I also use them for demonstration purposes in some instances.
Training various malfunction clearances, ball-and-dummy remediation, dry handling demonstrations, and basic gun handling training (loading, unloading, etc).
Training dummies should be high visibility, and unmistakable as such in order to prevent “mishaps.”
I have 5 snap caps that I use for simulating malfunctions mostly. I randomly throw them in a magazine and have a friend do the same. We swap mags so neither of us know when that CLICK is coming. I also use them when showing someone who is new to the AR platform how to operate the gun. Id have more snap caps if they werent so damn expensive.
I use them regularly in my handguns. Have not in my AR, but I need training from others as to the appropriate use of them in an AR.
Simple use for me is load 4-5 mags, add one training rnd at random to a mag, mix of the mags, and shoot. Training rnd will make it self known when you get a click and no bang, and (hopefully) your TRB drill is immediate and without any pre thought/delay.
I use them for dry fire drills at home also, and I’m sure those with more knowledge then I can give useful uses/drills with 'em.
Definitely a good training aid. Especially when your buddy loads your mags and you have no idea when it’s going to happen.
I use snap-caps for all the reasons mentioned. But as EC noted, they’re really expensive and if you use them in low-light (which I try to do at least occasionally) or even just grass, the purplish ones from A-Zoom or wherever get lost really easy.
I remember Grant had bright orange ones for our classes and since he had handfuls for all of us, I’m guessing they might’ve been cheaper. Care to comment Grant?
-'bridge
They are cheap. I get them in bags of 50 from Brownells.
C4
I like the A-Zooms (not sure if thats spelled correctly). They are more expense but seem to me to last longer as far as the striker hitting the ‘primer’ area. So if you are one of those guys ,like me, thats concerned about dry firing and causing damage to the gun it lessens the possibilty. Some of the cheaper ones will punch in the fake primer after some use and you might as well not even be using a dummy round. I know the question was geared towards training purposes but just some food for thought…and yes I use them extensively as well.
-Jax
These I assume?
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=9923/Product/SAF-T-TRAINERS
:eek: 10 for 6.99 :eek: Thats much cheaper than what Ive been using. I almost added to my cart before I read this review:
We spend more time clearing these things from our guns than training with them. They won’t stay in the nagazines and pop out causing double and triple feeds. The rims also get messed up easily and wont extract properly. We have to drive them out with a cleaning rod all the time.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Still though, for that price, I dont think it will hurt to try them out myself. Who knows, the bad review could be from a guy running a Bushcrapper with extractor issues.
I use these:ST Action Pro
The orange ones seem more visible in my environment which is mostly sand and dirt.
I take 10 dummy rounds and 10 live ones and load up three magazines (so they are not at full capacity). Mix them around in my pocket and shoot a string at 25 yards to check for flinching, work on reloads and malfunction clearance.
Yep.
C4
I use them all the time. No worries.
With that said, you cannot use them forever because the rims will get eaten up from the extractor.
C4
I’ve had Saf-T-Trainers in various calibers. The rims are prone to breakage and the cartridge will get stuck, sometimes hard. Less frequently, they have also deformed in hot chambers. If you use them, watch the rims and anticipate short life expectancy.
Good stuff. Recommended.
The only ones I have are some A-Zooms for my 870 for loading drills etc. They have been chewed up a bit but still have a while til they are past their time and function great
If you reload, or know someone who does, you can make your own.
I have a dozen or so that I use for my IDPA. Looks like all my other rounds, no powder, and a leather plug for the primer.
This way I can dump them in a bag with my live rounds and never know when or how many I will get during a stage.