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SAF-T-TRAINERS DUMMY ROUNDS

SAF-T-TRAINERS DUMMY ROUNDS Reviews & Ratings

Brightly colored plastic and a different “feel” makes sure you won’t confuse these for live rounds. Popular with many departments and agencies for use in Immediate Action training for just that reason. These do not duplicate weight and balance of loaded rounds or function-testing dummies.


SPECS: Orange or yellow plastic. Rifle and Handgun calibers supplied 50 or 10 rounds per bag, Shotgun calibers supplied 25 or 10 rounds per bag. 9mm Makarov : (9mm Mak.).


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Reviews Summary
The SAF-T-TRAINERS Dummy Rounds are a budget-friendly training tool, primarily suited for malfunction drills and classroom practices. However, users report issues with reliability and durability, especially in cycling and extraction, leading to malfunctions. Though valued for safety and visibility, many recommend alternatives for hardcore training. Overall, they serve well for basic needs but have significant limitations.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Training Utility
70%
Many reviewers find these dummy rounds useful for basic training purposes, particularly for malfunction drills and teaching students about magazine loading. Their bright color enhances visibility during outdoor practice, making them easy to spot. Although they serve as a practical resource for instructors, they may not be reliable for high-stakes training sessions.
Reliability Issues
60%
A recurring issue throughout the reviews is the lack of reliability in cycling and extracting the dummy rounds. Users report that the rounds often double feed, jam, or break during use, particularly with semi-automatic weapons. These reliability issues can disrupt training and lead to frustration, prompting users to seek better alternatives.
Durability Concerns
55%
The plastic construction of these dummy rounds leads to concerns about their durability. Many users report breaking rims and being unable to cycle rounds after limited use, especially during dry firing. Reviewers emphasize that while the price is attractive, the lack of sturdiness could lead to costly interruptions during training exercises.
Value for Money
50%
Though not highly durable, several reviews mention the cost-effectiveness of these dummy rounds, especially in bulk. Many instructors appreciate being able to provide these inexpensive training tools to students, but caution against relying on them for critical training where performance is paramount.
Not Suitable for Live Fire Drills
40%
Users express strong opinions against using these dummy rounds in live fire conditions, as the soft plastic can get stuck or cause malfunctions. Reviewers recommend actual snap caps for dry firing instead, labeling these dummy rounds mainly for classroom or preliminary training settings.
5
Great for teaching how to load magazines
We use for teaching how to load magazines and slip one into a loaded magazine to teach the immediate action drills.
5
Great for teaching how to load magazines
We use for teaching how to load magazines and slip one into a loaded magazine to teach the immediate action drills.
5
Very Cost Effective for Specific Uses
Of course, these are not as durable as aluminum snap caps, but you can have a lot of them, and at low cost. (I bought 50 9mm Luger dummy rounds.) I use them for checking ease of loading and functioning of pistol magazines and particularly "large capacity magazines" (more than ten rounds, oh, heaven forfend!) for a pistol caliber carbine. It is a heck of a lot safer than loading and cycling a magazine with, say, 20 or 32 rounds of live ammunition. Some of these might get chewed up, but it will take years to chew up fifty of them! I like 'em! (Of course, your mileage my vary.)
5
Good Medicine!
These are excellent to avoid dry firing on an empty chamber BUT.... they are much better to teach new pistol shooters to break bad habits. Randomly place dummy rounds in magazine with live rounds when training. (Works best if someone else loads shooters magazine.) Works best with Anticipating recoil, picking up head in follow through, looking at target after shots fired. Pistol jumps on a dummy round means shooter made the weapon move, not recoil or weapon cycling. Even helps break bad habits in older shooters. Well worth the price.
5
Everything they need to be
I went back and forth between aluminum snap caps and Saf-t-trainers before deciding to give these a try. Even though I only needed a few I sprung for the 50 ct package. I have used a handful of them 8 to 10 times over the past two weeks for dry practice in my XD-40 pistols. Specifically, trigger control, reloads and type 1,2 & 3 malfunction drills. After reading other reviews I was concerned about their durability, but in my experience with them thus far they have proven to be quite robust. They do appear to be ever so slightly undersized (as other reviewers have indicated) because they slide into and out of the chamber pretty easily and they don't perfectly align with the round count markings on my magazines, but I'm inclined to believe this helps ensure they function reliably, which they do. After 8-10 practice sessions with the same handful of dummy rounds I'm really pleased with their performance and durability. The only wear is a dimple on the base from being struck by the firing pin. The rims, ball tips, and case walls still look new. I expect my 50 pack will provide several years of regular dry practice. They are a little pricey for small pieces of molded plastic, but the value of being able to safely practice reloads, malfunction drills and trigger control at home far exceeds their cost. I highly recommend them.
5
No problems
An instructor handed these out at a RWVA Project Appleseed shoot for the Ball & Dummy Drill. Probably half of the 20+ rifles on the line were 10/22s, and there were a couple of AR conversions, an dedicated AR 22LR rifles. I didn't have any issues, and I heard of no other issues except for rifles that were already having feeding problems due to the dusty conditions. The dummy rounds fed, chambered, and extracted flawlessly.
5
Good Product
Excellent product, especialy in the classroom. I've used 9mm 45 and 38 for years as an instructor without issue. Bright color and ultra light feel ensures that these are not mistaken for live ammo. I use them in a very limted capacity on the range, and feel that they are best in a classroom setting. The plastic, I think, just wouldn;t stand up to live fire feeding and extraction. Wouldn't suggest for dry fire - get snap caps for that. When teaching groups in classes, especially beginners, this is an excellent, cost effective option.
5
Works Fine in my AR
I have used these in my AR-15 to practice reloads and malfunctions. I have not had any feed or extraction issues.
5
HUNTER ED
We use these for Hunter Ed classes after I purchased the 12ga to try out. The have never hug up in always work. We have used them in Remington 870 & 1100's, Break Actions, SxS and O/U firearms.
5
Great training tool
Great for malfunction/fail to fire drills.