Does anyone else wish they would make a C&B revolver that uses 209 caps?

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AbitNutz

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I'm living in a dream world where Ruger still makes the ROA and it comes with an extra cylinder that uses 209 caps.

Let's face it, the chief complaint about most C&B revolvers has something to do with the caps. If a cylinder was made where a 209 cap could be used we would get rid of the vast majority of those complaints. 209's will set off pretty much anything, no more misfires. The caps would not be blown apart and fall into the works and jam things up. We could use powders like like Blackhorn 209, which I really like in my muzzle loaders.

There is a vast difference between a No.11 cap and a 209 and I just wish we could take advantage of it.

Is there any reason why this wouldn't work?
 
If you're going to go down that road, why not just get a cartridge conversion cylinder instead? Actually, a cartridge conversion cylinder would be more authentic than something using 209 primers.

The whole point of a cap and ball revolver is the historic experience.
 
Because I don't want to resize cases. All I want is a better ignition system...which we have. I just want the option to use it. They make interchangeable cylinders for cartridges. I'm willing to wager they could make one for 209 primers and it would sell at least as well as the cartridge conversions.
 
Because I don't want to resize cases. All I want is a better ignition system...which we have. I just want the option to use it. They make interchangeable cylinders for cartridges. I'm willing to wager they could make one for 209 primers and it would sell at least as well as the cartridge conversions.

I see that from very far because my ROA is a cap and ball, but I don't think so...
Caps for one way and cartridges for other so is the manner I understand the question: conversion or caps is for me the right choice for the ROA (twoo cylinders can be the best way)...
 
I'm living in a dream world where Ruger still makes the ROA and it comes with an extra cylinder that uses 209 caps.

Let's face it, the chief complaint about most C&B revolvers has something to do with the caps. If a cylinder was made where a 209 cap could be used we would get rid of the vast majority of those complaints. 209's will set off pretty much anything, no more misfires. The caps would not be blown apart and fall into the works and jam things up. We could use powders like like Blackhorn 209, which I really like in my muzzle loaders.

There is a vast difference between a No.11 cap and a 209 and I just wish we could take advantage of it.

Is there any reason why this wouldn't work?

Idea like that pisses the purist off to no end, never mind In that in-lines are top sellers to day in the muzzle loading rifle category. And a revolver that uses something other than hard to get, finicky percussion caps would also sell. As a shooter who routinely switches from center fire smokeless, center fire/black powder conversion and percussion revolvers, I, for one, buy into the idea.
 
The problem, as is, is clearance. However a member here, Doak, had made nipples with firing pins that work with large primers. He sent a few out for the ROA. At the time percussion caps were hard to find, and the Rem #10's I needed weren't available for some time. Thankfully I had a stash but if I hadn't I'd not have been able to shoot for months on end which is why I felt this was a good idea.

Like many others I feel these are meant to be used in a more traditional fashion despite not being exactly a purist, and I wouldn't berate anyone for doing so themselves.

These primer capsules requires additional custom tools to use and so it certainly adds to the timeframe of reloading. Percussion caps keep it simple I feel. And I haven't had issues with either my ROA or NMA, though I have found the priming compound missing from a few caps.
 
Actually while this is interesting, I do not believe they would sell as well as cartridge conversions. On the other hand such a cylinder for the ROA or Remington NMA (1858) might not be hard for a company already making conversion cylinders to do and might make a few nickels on the side for them. This assumes that the hammer nose (firing pin as it where) of those guns would reliably set of 209s.

I seem to recall an English poster on either the BP area or revolver area of THR that posted about front loading revolvers in England that used 209 primers. This was to get around UK gun laws on Modern pistols to allow sport shooting to continue. Armscor .357 revolvers were modified to use the 209 primer in a load off the gun system.

A NMA cylinder could be loaded and primed off the gun easily and no more dangerous to handle in my mind than a cartridge conversion cylinder that was on a gun lacking a gate. The 209 shotgun primers might be an improvement for those few folks that show up around here that keep a BP C&B revolver for home defense or daily carry.

Might be something a lower case "s" survivalist might add to his Justin Case foot locker next to his NMA and spare conversion cylinders.

-kBob
 
Beat me to it. The English firm building "muzzleloading revolvers" is Westlake Engineering. At present they are getting stripped Alfa revolvers and installing a compliant cylinder designed for a .38 wadcutter, a midrange charge of smokeless, and a 209 primer. They had previously worked with Taurus and Armscor revolvers and I think some S&Ws before all of them were confiscated. They say there is a Britarms revolver in the works.

This is not exactly what the OP is talking about but it shows that his wish could be fulfilled if anybody cared enough to do it.

A gunsmith or advanced DIY could take a common cartridge conversion cylinder and plug the rear of the chambers, then cut a .209 primer pocket.
 
Because I don't want to resize cases. All I want is a better ignition system...which we have. I just want the option to use it. They make interchangeable cylinders for cartridges. I'm willing to wager they could make one for 209 primers and it would sell at least as well as the cartridge conversions.

Only around 1210.64 US Dollars without extra cylinder and shipping and whatever paperwork to get it here.

Please keep us updated on how it loads,shoots n accuracy. Pictures would be good.
 
I can't find the video now but there are a couple eastern european guys on youtube that converted a ROA to 209 primers. Looked like they were getting a lot of hammer blow back.
 
A while back I saw a post about an English company that was making replacement revolver nipples that used the 209 primers. Can't remember where it was.

A option that might please both the purest and the pragmatic is a nipple that takes musket caps. I have been told these are available.

IronHand
 
Found the solution and a maker...will have to remain under wraps till it's done but it will utilize the Kirst Konverter back plate. This avoids all kinds of issues but you do give up some cylinder capacity. I'm ok with that as it's just something else to play with...but brother it ain't cheap!
 
30 grains of triple seven behind a 210 grain BigLube bullet is enough for me to play with. Would I like it to be the 45 grains I get with my Classic Ballistix cylinder? Well, sure but not possible. Using the Kirst plate gets rid of sooo many issues. I don't need a new hammer with a traditional firing pin...There is no recoil plate to speak of on the ROA. There's just a big rectangular hole where the hammer nose passes through.
 
Not much interested in the 209 conversion, I am too much of a traditionalist. I would be interested in the musket cap nipples. I have seen references to them but couldn't find any online. Anyone know about them?

IronHand
 
um.....no! The only real advantage to the 209 in a rifle is to set off the large charges of black powder substitute powders with a higher flash point.
 
BH 209 is the only powder I'm aware of that can't be set off with a standard percussion cap. I've used Pyrodex and T7 in my revolvers and muzzleloader without issues with a Rem #10.
 
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