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I hope to have a .38/.357 Marlin 1894 in my hands soon. What do people use for .38spl training rounds?

Ideally, I'd like some that:

1. are easily distinguished from the real thing

2. load and cycle in the Marlin like the real thing

3. are safe for dry firing.

I notice a number of options, but a lot of them seem designed for revolvers, so I don't know how well they'll work in a lever action. These have metal bodies but obvious plastic heads and might be good to practice loading - but no primers so not for dry firing:

http://www.amazon.com/ST-Action-Pro-Tra ... B004JJC2N6

Of course, I could make up some inert rounds (once I get reloading), but they wouldn't be so easily distinguishable...

I make up dummy rounds, just a bullet in a case, but use nickle cases.... easily distinguishable from brass...

Daryll wrote:I make up dummy rounds, just a bullet in a case, but use nickle cases.... easily distinguishable from brass...

Hmm, all my saved used cases are brass, but there's plenty of nickel ammunition used at the range, so ideally I'd like something even clearer. (Not that I plan on taking the inert rounds to the range, so there shouldn't be an opportunity for them to get mixed...)

If you use a new or de-capped case, then the lack of a primer should be enough to distinguish it as a dummy...

Buy proper snap cap dummy round type things. That way you'll avoid mistakes.

I've made some up for a few friends in the past and used some fmj bullet heads that I only use on .357, I also sprayed the bottom of the cases black to distinguish them further (+ they only use lead bullet heads in their .38's).

I think the only other way of making them look totally different would be to try and get some cases anodised in a bright colour.

Make up some dummy rounds.

Spray the bullets with some pink/lipstick red/neon green/whatever epoxy paint.

Pour some molten lead into the primer pocket for the firing pin to hit against.

Good to go.

I make up inert rounds then drill holes in the case to show its inert.