[faster200]

I did a search on this issue, and didn't see anything like this, so here it goes...



When I use snap caps on my 9mm (A-Zoom) the trigger feels decidedly different when dry fire with an empty chamber. The break feels very crisp with an empty chamber, but softer by half when using a snap cap.



I have never ran into this issue with dry firing, has anyone else? I prefer the feel of the break with the snap cap, as it feels more like the break when firing live ammunition.



Thanks in advance!

 

[Jeff 9mm M&P]

Your firing pin is striking the snap cap in the chamber this is why it 'feels' like a round is in there.



Keep dry firing, it helps a lot.

 

[G56]

Since the sear release is exactly the same whether there's a round in the chamber or not, I can't see any possible way it could change the trigger feel.

 

[ToddG]

Since the sear release is exactly the same whether there's a round in the chamber or not, I can't see any possible way it could change the trigger feel.

The only thing I could come up with: is the A-Zoom casehead thicker than spec? If it was preventing the slide from coming as far forward as normal it could, possibly, conceivably, theoretically, lead to a different trigger pull feel.



But I'm with G56, I'd have to see the gun and try it myself because it's almost impossible to imagine how a snap cap would make the trigger pull feel different. However, it's not at all uncommon for people to perceive the trigger pull differently when dry firing, since their brains handle things differently when they know for sure there won't be a big *BOOM* when the trigger is pulled. You're also going to feel things much differently once the trigger breaks, since there is no recoil to make the gun move in your hand.

 

[ER_STL]

Since the sear release is exactly the same whether there's a round in the chamber or not, I can't see any possible way it could change the trigger feel.

Without the AZoom you feel the striker slam into the breechface. With it you don't...that's the difference you'll feel. It's even more obvious with a Glock, which has a striker that seems to come further through the breechface.

 

[ToddG]

Without the AZoom you feel the striker slam into the breechface. With it you don't...that's the difference you'll feel. It's even more obvious with a Glock, which has a striker that seems to come further through the breechface.

Can you explain this in more detail?



The striker is released after the trigger is pulled, therefore its movement forward can't be affecting the trigger pull.

 

[G56]

The striker is released after the trigger is pulled, therefore its movement forward can't be affecting the trigger pull.

That's exactly what I'm thinking.

 

[ER_STL]

You notice the difference because your trigger finger is still on the trigger when the striker hits the AZoom. It feels different compared to what you feel when the striker smacks the breechface.



In my G19 the trigger makes a dull, faint click when I dry-fire with an AZoom but it makes a very metallic and sharp click without it. In both guns, I can tell you whether or not an AZoom is in the gun by the sound and feel of a trigger pull.

 

[ToddG]

In my G19 the trigger makes a dull, faint click when I dry-fire with an AZoom but it makes a very metallic and sharp click without it. In both guns, I can tell you whether or not an AZoom is in the gun by the sound and feel of a trigger pull.

ER_STL: I don't disagree with this at all. However, I don't think that is what most people mean by "trigger pull." The OP's post was pretty clear that it is the actual trigger pull (the feel of the trigger as it's moving rearward before it breaks) he thinks is different.

 

[ER_STL]

This is what he wrote:

When I use snap caps on my 9mm (A-Zoom) the trigger feels decidedly different when dry fire with an empty chamber. The break feels very crisp with an empty chamber, but softer by half when using a snap cap.



I have never ran into this issue with dry firing, has anyone else? I prefer the feel of the break with the snap cap, as it feels more like the break when firing live ammunition.



Thanks in advance!

I have a feeling that what he is describing is the felt difference between the striker hitting the Azoom verses the breechface, rather than the rearward pull of the trigger itself.



If he responds perhaps he can clear it up for us.

 

[faster200]

Ok guys, sorry its been longer than I had hoped to return to this thread.



I enlisted a friend who I shoot with. I had him load a 9mm brass case in my M&P, and a snap cap. he loaded each one without my knowledge of which one he was using. I then donned ear proctection, so I could not hear the click of the trigger break. Low and behold, I could not tell the difference between the two. Upon borrowing my fathers trigger pull scale, both snapcap and empty brass yeilded a of approx 6lbs. I also measured the dimensions of the A-Zoom snapcap and a Remington UMC 9mm 115g round. They are identical as far as I can tell using some very nice calipers.



I can only determine that the difference I thought I could feel was actually audible, and affected my perception of the break. Thanks for the help guys. Much appreciated!

 

[medicff0879]

Your firing pin is striking the snap cap in the chamber this is why it 'feels' like a round is in there.



Keep dry firing, it helps a lot.

So Dry firing is absolutely, without a doubt, OK for my gun? I have been dry firing by pulling the trigger, racking the slide, and then pulling the trigger again. Is this the proper, or ok way to do this? I usually dont put a mag. in, is that ok as well?

 

[bang-flash]

yep all is ok. dry firing w/o a mag is perfectly fine. i usually have a mag in so my snap cap doesnt fall out the magwell if i rack the slide too far.