Shotgun storage and firing pin questions.....

[ShootingABN!]

So do you use a snap cap? Those little shell like things that go inside the chamber and you pull the trigger to release the firing pin?

Has anyone ever had a firing pin spring go bad? I'm just wondering.

Oh and I miss spring turkey hunting really bad.


Please share your thoughts on the subject and or your experance.
Thanks and have a blessed day.

[Greg Massey]

Never have really worried about it myself ... i'm not saying it's a bad idea.... I've just never had a problem...

[outdoors]

Iv thought about it  , every now and then through the years
Just never worried about it

[ShootingABN!]

Thanks for the replies. Knock on wood. I haven't had a spring fail yet. Oldest shotgun I have is 92 I think?

I would like to know if anyone has had a spring fail. 

[Turkeytider]

Use them routinely and have for a number of years. Never had a firing pin failure. Coincidence or related? Don`t know and I`m not sure how you could determine that.

[NCL]

I had snap caps in my competitive shotguns but then they were shot thousands of rounds per year. With that said even though those gun were shot extensively  there was never a spring failure.

[Sir-diealot]

I use them in two of my guns and will use them in all as soon as I can get more of them.

[greencop01]

I'm 65, been hunting 50yrs, never had problem w/ firing pins in my guns. Never used snap caps and I also never abused my guns, just shot them a lot and never had a problem with firing pins. I keep my guns clean and in a gun locker. Never had a mechanical failure. Owned Mossburgs and my favorite shotguns have been Remington 870's, 1100's and 1187's.

[Dr Juice]

I spoke to a gunsmith about this and according to him it is not an issue with modern day shotguns. Where it is a problem is the older side by sides and over unders that used leaf springs in the mechanisms. Just my two cents

[Mtd69]

I have never used anything and have never had a pin or spring fail I have guns I have used for over 40 years

[1iagobblergetter]

I've never heard had any issues and I have quite a few guns. The only thing I've ever heard with firing pins is don't dry fire a gun.

[daddyduke]

Never used them and no problems so far.

[Marc]

I have had both the pins and the springs go bad... 

Guns hardly used and in storage for a long time for the springs...  High use (clay target) guns I have had the pins go bad.

Most of my hunting guns, I can release the firing pin spring with the bolt half engaged and pull the trigger.  This releases the spring without firing the gun (obviously the gun is still empty when I do this).

All of my other guns have some sort of "snap caps."  I lubricate the snap caps before storing, and do NOT use empty casings with plastic hulls...  I have used empty paper casings (oiled) as snap caps though.

[Greg Massey]

I use them in two of my guns and will use them in all as soon as I can get more of them.

Why do you feel you need to use these in your guns ?

[Sir-diealot]

I use them in two of my guns and will use them in all as soon as I can get more of them.

Why do you feel you need to use these in your guns ?

Just to relieve the built up tension in the spring. Nothing is good to be under load for long periods of time. JMO