Percussion Caps

[DJCasey]

Re: Percussion Caps

I used to always order my caps online assuming that was the only source without waiting for an event with sutlers. I didn't realized I needed caps the week before a no-sutler event and freaked out that I couldn't get any. I went to Fleet Farm (a hardware/farm store with a modest hunting section) and they had them for super cheap, plus you don't have to pay shipping. I paid under 4 bucks for a tin of 100. Look around town, I am sure you can find them.

David Casey

[Jim Cunningham]

Re: Percussion Caps

I shoot several thousand musket caps a year and have no difficulty puchasing RWS Musket caps. They are ribbed like pistol caps, but are designed to fit musket nipples, and perform very well. They don't fragment and while not as finger friendly in the capbox as the 4 winged variety, I still have no difficulty feeling the opening. I shoot them all the time and find the lack of wings don't slow me down.

I don't know how many caps you shoot per season, but I order them 5,000 at a time, and am usually set for 6 months. Individual mileage will vary depending on the amount of shooting you do. Frankly, I find it harder to get powder than caps.

Jim Cunningham

[Foggy Bottom Jim]

Re: Percussion Caps

Worse case scenario, in the future all we can get is 6 wing caps from CCI, what happens then. Do we hang it up, or deal with the schrapnel ?

This situation was much discussed at a recent event and several ideas were bandied about including resorting to flintlocks! The general consensus was that should the worst happen, we would have carefully consider each upcoming event to determine if it were "cap worthy" :wink_smil or not.

Hopefully it will not come to that.

Jim Reynolds

[Beaner]

Re: Percussion Caps

Doing research on purchasing caps I have found the following:
Farm & Fleet as be bought out and they will no longer be handling hunting supplies. There is an outfit in Va. that sells Germans for $32.00 per 1000 ( .03 per cap). Dixie raised their prices from $5.95 to $10.25 because of the shortage. Once I have the name of the outfit in Va, I will pass it along to all.
The probelm is the hoops that the cap manufacturer has to go through to import them into the U.S.A. since 9/11.

Sam Billingsley
4th Texas Co. E

Will, I will contact my resource for you if you would like to order a couple of thousand for your event.

[Heelplate]

Re: Percussion Caps

Been having a real hard time trying to locate caps, everything has dried up
in this neck of the woods other than CCI. :baring_te

[Michael McComas]

Re: Percussion Caps

I really don't think that will happen since the caps are being made just not imported at this time. I think worst case scenario is that someone will supply the demand, simple economics. This is really no different than the short supply of powder we had a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately, I have to disagree. Importing caps and primers from RWS has gotten increasingly difficult due to post-9/11 restrictions. Just ask anyone who has tried to find RWS Berdan primers in the last five years. They're still produced in Germany, but if you need some, your only choice is to swim there and carry them back in your teeth. There's more of a market for musket caps, but the amount of paperwork involved in importing anything that explodes is very daunting. And there have been legislative proposals for increased post-importation tracking and record-keeping (similar to what's already in place for explosives) which would make it nearly impossible to get into the business as a wholesaler.

Around here, everything's gone, including the CCI. Walmart used to carry them, and now all they have is 509 shotgun primers.

[reddcorp]

Re: Percussion Caps

This may have already been posted, but Dixie Gun Works still has the German caps available (200 count tins), two tin maximum per order, for $10.25, plus shipping. I guess Navy is kaput.
I ordered on a Friday, online, and got my caps on Wednesday the next week.

A.W. Redd

[unionreb]

Re: Percussion Caps

FYI,

This last weekend I purchased from a sutler two tins of 100 each, 4 wing without flange musket caps. They are German made. $6.50 at tin. Worked beautifully and the wings flared so they were easy to remove from the nipple after firing. Had no problems.

This vender says he has plenty and is bring me a brick at Perryville. He also stated it would be another 60 to 90 days before he can get the normal flanged caps were all love.

Charles F. Bradford (the older)
Central Texas

[toptimlrd]

Re: Percussion Caps

Unfortunately, I have to disagree. Importing caps and primers from RWS has gotten increasingly difficult due to post-9/11 restrictions. Just ask anyone who has tried to find RWS Berdan primers in the last five years. They're still produced in Germany, but if you need some, your only choice is to swim there and carry them back in your teeth. There's more of a market for musket caps, but the amount of paperwork involved in importing anything that explodes is very daunting. And there have been legislative proposals for increased post-importation tracking and record-keeping (similar to what's already in place for explosives) which would make it nearly impossible to get into the business as a wholesaler.

Around here, everything's gone, including the CCI. Walmart used to carry them, and now all they have is 509 shotgun primers.

I've spoken with sellers and I've heard from more than one source that the paperwork is nearly done and that we may be approaching the end of the drought.

[csa blacksmith]

Re: Percussion Caps

I've found german 4 wing caps at a local gun store for $40 a 1000, they usually have them all the time.

[dclarry]

Re: Percussion Caps

I bought a box of Navy Arms musket caps at a local gun store last weekend, $7.95 for 250. They are four wing caps, apparently made in Brazil. I have not tried them yet, and I bought them just because I saw them there. I also bought some Navy Arms Minnies there, which the store's "black powder guy" had handwritten "thick walled" on the package. The gentleman who was helping in the store was not sure what the significance of that was, but said the Black Powder Guy had noted to him that he was marking these pacakges. I hope to try these caps and Minnies out this weekend. I am truly an amatuer at black powder, and in my ignorance, I am not sure why I should care about thick-walled bullets. I would like to know, because it clearly was something that was considered notable by somebody.

Any comments on the "thick walled' notation? Also, should I buy up the Navy Arms caps, just to have them around?

Regards,

Lawrence E. Kingsley
BTTY F, 1st PA LT ATTY

[toptimlrd]

Re: Percussion Caps

=
Any comments on the "thick walled' notation? Also, should I buy up the Navy Arms caps, just to have them around?

[/QUOTE]


My understanding was that Navy was completely out of business. You may have found some place that still has some in stock. Try out the caps and if they work for you I would buy a supply. Many people I know have had good results with Navy Arms caps, I have not been as successful. For some reason the only times I have ever misfired was when I had a crappy cone and when I used Navy Arms caps. I'm not saying they are bad caps, just I personally had problems with them for whatever reason.

Can't help you on the thick walled as I have not been involved in live firing............... yet. :)

[csuniforms]

Fragmenting Caps!!! Check your Hammers

One of the biggest reasons the cap might fragment is that your hammer is not striking the nipple square. Check the face of your hammer, and you will see a wear ring in the face. If its not in the center, but left or right of center, than you could be spraying fragments. Check the nipple for wear. If the nipple wear is lop sided or bent on one side, you will have fragments. To fix it. Use shims on the bridle, that will move the hammer in or out, and then buy a new nipple. Worn nipples can also cause fragmenting. Human error, like your rushing and you put the cap on crooked, can fragment the cap too.
Tom Arliskas :cry_smile

[65thgainf]

Re: Percussion Caps

Many years ago at Resaca. I had a German 4 wing cap fragment on me. The piece hit me square in the left eye. It was hot, sharp, metal. At first it burned, then felt like someone had walked up and socked me in the eye with their fist. I left the field and went to the emergency room. I was somewhat lucky that it hit the white portion on my eye, instead of the pupil. If it had struck my pupil...I would have probably lost my eye. X-rays, doctors probing finger, lots of anti bacterial solution, etc....it wasn't embedded, but sure felt like it was.

I have strongly considered wearing period eye glasses, as safety glasses. I don't think it would have broken the lens ? It sure ain't worth losing an eye, all the medical bills, etc...

Knock on wood. I have shot no telling how many times before and since without a problem. But, I still think about it everytime I pull the trigger or anyone around me does.

[ewtaylor]

Re: Percussion Caps

I bought a box of Navy Arms musket caps at a local gun store last weekend, $7.95 for 250. They are four wing caps, apparently made in Brazil. I have not tried them yet, and I bought them just because I saw them there. I also bought some Navy Arms Minnies there, which the store's "black powder guy" had handwritten "thick walled" on the package. The gentleman who was helping in the store was not sure what the significance of that was, but said the Black Powder Guy had noted to him that he was marking these pacakges. I hope to try these caps and Minnies out this weekend. I am truly an amatuer at black powder, and in my ignorance, I am not sure why I should care about thick-walled bullets. I would like to know, because it clearly was something that was considered notable by somebody.

Any comments on the "thick walled' notation? Also, should I buy up the Navy Arms caps, just to have them around?

Regards,

Lawrence E. Kingsley
BTTY F, 1st PA LT ATTY

Lawrence,
I have used Navy Arms for the past 5 years and have never had a problem. I used the German caps at the Perryville reenactment 2002 because I forgot my others and was disgusted with them. I only use Navy Arms.
everett taylor