What color is a dummy round?

• A. Full black
• B. No color
• C. Gray
• D. Bright orange

Answer: (A)

Color coding helps quickly tell apart inert training pieces from live ammo. A dummy round is meant to be nonfunctional, so it’s clearly marked to avoid any mix-ups on the range. Painting the whole cartridge solid black provides a strong, unmistakable cue that there’s no powder and no live primer, making it easy to recognize at a glance in magazines, loaders, or the chamber. Other colors might be used in some programs, but they aren’t as universally recognized for signaling non-live status, which is why full black is considered the most reliable indication in this context.