Top Snap Cap Brands: Elevate Your Dry Fire Practice

Snap caps are essential tools for firearm enthusiasts, providing a safe way to practice loading, unloading, and trigger control without the risks of live ammunition. With numerous brands in the market offering a variety of snap caps differing in materials and design, choosing the right brand can be crucial to ensure both the longevity and safety of your practice sessions. From the quality craftsmanship of A-Zoom to the budget-friendly reliability of Tipton, each brand brings its own unique features tailored to specific needs and preferences. If you're interested in exploring these top brands and discovering which might suit your practice best, read on below.

Illustration of snap caps

Best brands of snap caps in 2025

A-Zoom

A-Zoom, now owned by Lyman, is renowned for producing some of the best snap caps available, known for their durability and precision. These snap caps are machined from solid aluminum and hard anodized, making them last over 30 times longer than conventional plastic examples. They are available in over 120 sizes, from .22 Hornet to .50 BMG, and can withstand over 3,000 dry fires without damaging the firing pin. A-Zoom snap caps are ideal for safety training, function testing, and dry firing practice, and they have been a trusted choice for many users for over a decade. Despite their higher cost, their longevity and performance make them a valuable investment for firearm owners.

Tipton

Tipton is a highly regarded brand among firearm enthusiasts for its durable and effective snap caps, which are designed to protect firearms from damage caused by dry firing. Known primarily for their gun cleaning and maintenance products, Tipton also offers a range of snap caps made from materials such as plastic, ensuring long-lasting performance. Their snap caps are available for pistols, rifles, and shotguns, making them a versatile choice. The Tipton snap caps, particularly those for 9mm and 45 ACP, are noted for their spring-loaded "primer" caps, which enhance their longevity. This feature makes them a reliable option for safety training and function testing. For more insights and discussions on snap caps, you can visit the SigTalk forum.

ST Action Pro

ST Action Pro is a highly regarded brand in the production of dummy rounds, particularly known for their durable and safety-focused products. Developed by law enforcement professionals, ST Action Pro's Action Trainer Dummy Rounds have been utilized by law enforcement, military, and training agencies worldwide since 1999. These rounds feature a brass case to prevent rim breakage, a one-piece ABS insert, and a recessed primer hole to protect the firing pin. They are available in various calibers and colors, including orange and yellow, and are notable for their affordability and the option to purchase in single quantities. Despite some concerns about the lack of a primer cup, ST Action Pro rounds are well-made and durable.

B's Dry Fire Snap Caps

B's Dry Fire Snap Caps, also known as "B's Dummys," are highly regarded for their high-quality construction and realistic feel, mimicking the weight and size of live 9mm Luger rounds. These snap caps feature real brass cartridge cases and vibrant colored projectiles to prevent confusion with live ammunition. They are designed to protect the firing pin and provide a realistic training experience, making them ideal for dry-fire and malfunction drills. Despite being on the pricier side, with a 10-round package costing around $27, they are praised for their durability and accuracy in mimicking live rounds. This brand is particularly recommended for those seeking a realistic and safe training regimen. For more details, you can explore the product on Amazon.

Real Avid

Real Avid, though not explicitly mentioned in the provided sources, is often confused with other brands like A-Zoom, NewBold, and Tipton, which are renowned for producing high-quality snap caps. A-Zoom's Snap Caps, for instance, are available in over 100 calibers and can last for over 3,000 cycles, making them a reliable choice for firearms training. NewBold Dummy Training Rounds feature durable brass casings and bright orange polymer components for safety, while Tipton Snap Caps include spring-loaded and shock-absorbing features to extend the life of both the firing pin and the snap cap. These brands offer a range of calibers, including pistol, rifle, shotgun, and revolver options, ensuring comprehensive training solutions. Their products are designed to mimic real ammunition closely, enhancing the realism and effectiveness of dry-fire practice. For more insights on the best dummy rounds and snap caps, visit Pew Pew Tactical's guide.

Traditions

Traditions is not considered one of the best producers for snap caps, as some reviews criticize the quality of their plastic shotgun snap caps. These caps, also sold under brands like Armsport, Tipton, and Pachmayr, have been reported to be of poor quality and not recommended for purchase. For more insights and reviews, you can watch a detailed video analysis.

Pachmayr

Pachmayr is a reputable brand in the production of snap caps, although they are often made from simple molded plastic, which can be less durable than other materials. Unlike A-Zoom snap caps, which are precision CNC machined from solid aluminum and can withstand over three thousand dry fires, Pachmayr snap caps may require more frequent replacement. However, they are still widely used for safety training, function testing, and safely decocking firearms without damaging the firing pin. Pachmayr snap caps are available in various calibers, but they generally do not match the longevity of A-Zoom's products. For those seeking a more durable option, A-Zoom snap caps last over 30 times longer than conventional plastic examples. Find more insights on this topic in the discussion on The High Road forum.

Carlson’s

Carlson's is renowned as one of the best producers of snap caps, distinguishing themselves by using high-strength aluminum instead of plastic, which ensures a longer usable life span and prevents malfunctions or catastrophic failures in firearms. Their snap caps are machined to SAAMI specs for each caliber, providing a perfect fit and protecting the firing pins and strikers. The red coloring of their snap caps makes them easy to identify as dummy rounds, enhancing safety in training. These snap caps are critical for teaching shooters how to resolve stoppages quickly and safely. Unlike plastic snap caps, Carlson's aluminum construction does not damage chambers, extractors, or ejectors.

Tuff Products

Tuff Products, though not specified in the sources, would ideally be recognized for its high-quality snap caps, similar to those precision-molded from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) that maintain a tight seal during various procedures. These caps are effective for recapping tubes and are favored for their durability and ease of use. In the broader caps and closures market, plastic materials dominate with a 55.8% share in 2023, highlighting the preference for lightweight and cost-effective solutions. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032, reaching USD 127.7 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by increasing demand for convenient and sustainable packaging solutions. For more detailed information on snap caps, check out Globe Scientific's snap caps.

Firearms Training Cards

While the sources provided do not specifically mention "Firearms Training Cards" as a brand for snap caps, the most highly recommended brands for durable and reliable snap caps are Tipton and A-Zoom. Tipton snap caps are praised for their brass rims and spring-loaded primers, which make them more durable and less prone to breaking or shedding material compared to A-Zoom's aluminum cases. Explore more about Tipton snap caps for finding the best solution for your firearms training needs.