Making "Dummy" Cartridges...

[Adam Helmer]

As an old reloader and a firearms instructor, I stopped tossing all old brass into the recycle bucket and am making "DUMMY" rounds. They are resized brass cases without powder and primer, but with bullets in place for my students to use for practice loading and unloading their guns.

Today I went to my spouse's physical therapy session and the therapist told me about his new M1911 pistol. Jay said, "I'd like to have my wife cycle the pistol and learn how to use the gun, but how can I do it safely?" I told him on Wednesday this week he would have 10 rounds of DUMMY .45 rounds for teaching purposes.

I know many folks who "Run" Live rounds through pistols or rifles to show their audience how the gun functions. I suggest the reloaders use reject brass for Dummies for such instruction.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Just a couple of added thoughts:

1.) the dummy cartridges should probably be marked in such a way as to be readily identified as dummies, as opposed to looking like live rounds....I would suggest painting the tips of the bullets a with a flourescent orange or chartruese paint (such as that used for painting jig heads). I know that over time the paint would be scraped off, but they could then be repainted. A disaster in the making would be to accidentally mistake live rounds for dummy ones.

2.) Instead of a spent primer, I would suggest a dab of silicon in the primer pocket; this way, the said dummy rounds could also be used as 'snap caps' and save wear & tear on the firing pin and related mechanisms. I've used pencil erasers as substitute primers in shotgun hulls for similar purposes.

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Points well taken. I make my Dummys WITHOUT a primer and powder. A person loading a revolver can see the dummies have no primer.

When I give limited numbers of Dummies to folks, I assume they will keep them away from live ammunition in view of the fact Dummies are for training and NOT Combat.

Adam

[dovehunter]

I make dummy rounds for my own use only (without powder charge or primers) to use in setting my dies for the correct bullet seating depth.

[Rapier]

A few suggestions:

I have been making dummy rounds to set my dies by for many, many years. These cartridges are not used for any other purpose at all, ever. They are full length sized and of course deprimed. I like Adam use old worn cases mostly.

I write the bullet make and weight on the side of the cartridge with a small round ball carbide cutter and a motor tool. Say a 140gr Hornady Interloc is Hor 140 in.

The dummy rounds are stored in the die box, if I have two or more guns, the last three numbers of the serial number is also cut. I have a dozen Swedes so my numbers will go like Hor 140 in 101. With the last 3 on the other side of the case.

For my Dillon 550B I use a red plastic drinking cup to hold my dummy rounds, mostly handgun stuff. The two cups I keep in a drawer under the press. They are the same setup as the rifles. But the gun is also noted, Rug, S+W, Colt, etc

I have extra pistol barrels to check function for my match ammo. The barrels are not in a gun. This allows me to check a hundred rounds in a few minutes and verify that every round will chamber correctly before I have a misfeed at a match.

I also have separate dies for autos and other guns. The auto die boxes have the auto gun's dummy rounds in them, duly noted.
Ed

[Adam Helmer]

Rapier,

Like you, I also make up dummies for all arms I reload for, mark them and keep them in the reloading die box. Dummies have many uses and I encourage folks to use dummies for gun drills and famariliarization of guns and gun handlers.

Adam