Regular snap caps won't fit into the chamber of my Rock River 1911. Therefore, I am reluctant to dry fire it. What would be an alternative? Can I shave some of the material from the snap cap. What are others doing who were confronted with this problem?
Personally, I wouldn't worry about dry firing a center fire gun, especially a Rock River 1911. I have done it for years on a variety of centerfire firearms without any problems or damage.
After about 30,000 to 40,000 dry or fires, you might have a fractured firing pin stop pin or hammer (I've seen both.) But by that time you should be so damn good it will not make any difference.
Like someone once said:
"Once in the morning, new day a bornin'. Once at night and out'en the light."
I can only assume he was a shooter talking about dryfire training sessions....
A dab of silicone seal in a deprimed case should clear your head about dryfiring a 1911. When I went to SAFS in 91, Bill Blankenship stood right up and said he had dry fired at least 1/2 million times on his 1911's with no ill effect. That being said, clear your head and use the silicon.
Chris