Anyone Having a hard time finding caps?

[arcticap]

A lot of vendors seem like fronts for the same company only using websites with different names.
They essentially use the same product photo and website format.
One that's a little different is 2nd Amendment Guns located in Las Vegas.
They list CCI #11's as in stock @ $59.99 per thousand but do not provide any shipping info. unless an order is completed.
However they do have a web store phone number: (775-419-6001) --->>> https://www.2ndamendmentguns.com/cci-311-11-percussion-caps-1000-5

 

[brewer12345]

Mr. Brewer12345, i have access to some remington 11s if you cant find any. Im already sending 10 packs to a member here on the forum. Ill send you 10 packs of 100 remington #11s for 65 shipped.

Thanks. At this point I am just trying to pad my stockpile, so let's see if my latest order fills.

 

[Rex in OTZ]

Years ago I made my own caps.
You need a pop can and some toy paper roll caps.
Its a major pain to make them.
Still rewarding to see them work though.
Got the jist of making them from the Dixie Gun Works Tap-O-Cap cap maker.
At the time was 1980's Barrow Alaska and nobody had percussion caps.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002230329

 

[TheOutlawKid]

The tap o cap has been discontinued for years. But you can still get one. I mainly make my own caps and own primer formula. I make the H-48 primer formula used in guns up until ww2, its corrosive but works all the time and great shelf life. I got my cap maker fron .22 Reloader, they sell primer mix called "prime-all" but irs way over priced for what it is and i get the primer ingredients in bulk..and i dont use their binder ingredient. I use Duco cement mixed with acetone as a binder...as duco cement is nitrocellulose glue and is flammable. Works great and keeps them water proof. I also have made hot caps from the German roll caps but dont mess with them much anymore...although i still have a very large amount stored just in case...the 2400 "shot dots" of Legends of the West german roll caps. I have about 30 packs in storage for a "just in case i get desperate" scenario. I also keep a few pounds of H-48 primer ingredients. Ill never need primer or black powder ingredients for as long as i live lol

 

[grter]

Something like this ? It's about $50.00. Is it a good value ?

https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/products/11-percussion-cap-maker

I wonder has anyone ever tried this product ? I would like to hear about it.

Oh TheOutLawKid beat me to it.

Is his primer mix waterproof when it dries ? Is it corrosive ?

If I ever get the primer mix which I have not, I would prefer to keep the amounts on hand as small as possible. He does say to mix it away from your face which leads me to think that once these ingredients are combined all due fire hazard precautions are to be expected. The lack of a hazmat requirement probably means that the ingredients are relatively safe to handle when not mixed.

How do the caps compare to production caps are they more like CCI size 11 or Remington.

Do they seal the nipples good ? What brand of nipples are a good match ? Oh I see RMC stainless nipples but these are Pietta. Do these nipples work on the Pietta 1873 black powder version? Do they make equivalents for Uberti ?

 

[Mike 56]

I have an old cap former called Tap O Cap it worked good It looks the same as the sharpshooter cap former. I have Sharpshooter priming compound on order to try it.

 

[grter]

All the nipple wrenches I have handled are junk, not to say there aren't good ones out there. A good nipple wrench is easy to make. I buy 3/16 1/4 drive sockets at swap meets for fifty cents. Try standard and deep to see what you like better. For a handle, you can use a 1/4 socket wrench, breaker bar, I like using a 1/4 nut driver you can even drill and tap the handle for a nipple pick from an old nipple wrench.
Tools needed
Dremel or portable grinder with a thin cutting disk.
Small file set from a craft store, HF, or hardware store. If you own a cap and ball revolver you should own a set.
Some kind of vice
Making the wrench
Put the socket in a vice cut a slot across the top of the socket with a cutting disk big enough to fit a thin file. Using the small files file slot so a nipple fits nicely fits the slot. It takes about ten minutes to do.
Nipple wrenches made from 3/16 fit all my revolvers NMA, 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, Walker, and 1849 pocket pistol. Some 3/16 sockets need the outside ground down a little to fit the pocket pistol.

This one may be pricey (about $35.00) but it's the best that I know of. The Carbon Steel UNIVERSAL NIPPLE WRENCH at the Possibleshop https://possibleshop.com/s-s-nipple-wrench.html the star shaped one at the bottom of the page.

It's also large enough and shaped to get considerably better leverage than most other nipple wrenches

 

[TheOutlawKid]

The cap maker fron .22 reloader is of very good quality. I recommend not using aluminum and get .005 sheet copper or brass (copper is Better though) from Hobby Lobby and use their online 40% off coupon that can be used online or in store. The prime all mix is basically H-48 primer...although its more cost efficient to buy the ingredients seperately from a chemical supply store. They are safe to handle unmixed. I also mix it by passing it back and forth between small paper "boats" or post-its bent in half. Just gently pour it and back and forth between the two sheets of paper. It mixes easily. Only make small batches. I also add baking soda to keep the mixure stable and safe from humidity affecting its shelf life. I pour very little of it into my homemade cap hulls using a hone made scooper (i use a small plastic scooper made from a red plastic toy roll cap cut in a lil less than half and attached to a matchstick).once ive filled the cap hulls i then use an eye dropper filled with Duco cement glue mixed with acetone...i put one drop of this and it acts like a binder. Optional is to place a small rice paper disk punched from 5/16th or 1/8th punch. I place this over the primer before it solidifies and then pour another drop of duco/acetone mix. This glue seals and hardens the primer powder. Ive never had a failure to fire with this method and its VERY hot. As hot as regular caps and can be made hotter by adding more primer mix. It is corrosive but i never have an issue as i clean my guns well.

 

[Mike 56]

I used to use three toy caps with a small amount of crushed black powder under them. Pie pans worked better than soda cans. The toy caps were very corrosive. how much Baking soda and what is the acetone/ Duco mix?

 

[Mike 56]

This one may be pricey (about $35.00) but it's the best that I know of. The Carbon Steel UNIVERSAL NIPPLE WRENCH at the Possibleshop https://possibleshop.com/s-s-nipple-wrench.html the star shaped one at the bottom of the page.

It's also large enough and shaped to get considerably better leverage than most other nipple wrenches

The homemade nipple wrench works on my Walker, 51 and 60 Colts, Remington NMA, and my 49 pocket Colt. Some 1/4 sockets need to have outside ground down a little to work on pocket pistols. I remove the nipples when cleaning so all I need is a nut driver for a handle. I have seen those nipple wrenches before they look like they would work well.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Get 3 grains of sulfur and add .2 grains of baking soda. It helps stabilize the mixure. Or do what i do...mix 30 grain batches of sulfur and add 2 grains of baking soda and keep this sulfur seperate only for making caps. You can also add the same amount of very fine aluminum powder to this mix. This will make it have a hotter mix as it will have more burning particles that ignite the black powder. As far as making caps from roll caps i did a forum write up on it. It will explain what duco cement is and how to use it. Here it is:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-i-make-hot-percussion-caps.849353/

 

[Mike 56]

Get 3 grains of sulfur and add .2 grains of baking soda. It helps stabilize the mixure. Or do what i do...mix 30 grain batches of sulfur and add 2 grains of baking soda and keep this sulfur seperate only for making caps. You can also add the same amount of very fine aluminum powder to this mix. This will make it have a hotter mix as it will have more burning particles that ignite the black powder. As far as making caps from roll caps i did a forum write up on it. It will explain what duco cement is and how to use it. Here it is:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-i-make-hot-percussion-caps.849353/

Thank you for the info

 

[arcticap]

Powder Valley still has Remington #11's @ $5.50. --->>> https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/remington-11-percussion-caps-per-100/
Their hazmat fee is $19.95 + shipping which runs $9.95 for subtotals up to $100, $13.95 for a single package from $101 - $200, and #15.95 from $201 - $400.
They also have some fairly low prices on black powder and sub.'s which helps cover the shipping costs.
For those who can resize their caps or don't mind pinching them, #11's will work.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Ive never had to resize my 11s to fit...they are pretty simiar to the 10s unlike CCI who makes their 10s and 11s of way different sizes from eachother. When it comes to remingtons..if it fits with a 10 it will fit with an 11..buuuuut thats cuz im using aftermarket nipples...slixshot nipples. Im sure on stock pietta nipples i would have to adjust the remington 11s as they may not reach down enough to grip the nipples taper. Hmm...i might have to give the resizing method a try. I wish RMC made their stainless nipples to fit remington 10s and 11s. Theyre so small and only fit CCI 10s. They clean up so easy and also seem to be made of a very good quality stainless steel. Im glad they work perfectly with my homemade caps tho.

 

[alsaqr]

Visited the Lawton Academy store today. Lots of muzzleloading stuff but no caps or primers.

 

[Stophel]

I just went to Uncle Lee's, which is a big gun store here in KY (now run by Bud's Gun Shop). I just bought 8 packs of CCI #11 caps at $4.99 each. I took most of what they had out on display, but I'd bet they have more. Glad I found them!

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Mr.stophel do they sell remington caps? In my opinion they are the best caps due to they "petal" open and stay whole instead of turning into shrapnel pieces like other brands do. I also never have had issues with remington caps losing their primer...with cci i have had numerous caps lose their primer and just leave an empty hull...especially when put into a capper. They dont take to being bumped around too much like in a possibles bag or pocket...remingtons are a wholw lot more durable. Try them out...you wont regret it.

 

[Stophel]

I wish they did have Remington caps. I almost never run across Remington caps. Everybody has CCI if they have anything at all. I do have a small stash of Remington #10 caps that I got several years ago.

 

[woodnbow]

Mr.stophel do they sell remington caps? In my opinion they are the best caps due to they "petal" open and stay whole instead of turning into shrapnel pieces like other brands do. I also never have had issues with remington caps losing their primer...with cci i have had numerous caps lose their primer and just leave an empty hull...especially when put into a capper. They dont take to being bumped around too much like in a possibles bag or pocket...remingtons are a wholw lot more durable. Try them out...you wont regret it.

They’re also much less prone to falling into the works of the open top Colts. I seriously cannot remember the last time I had a cap fall into the hammer slot and none of my Army pistols have cap rakes or other modifications. I’m fanatic about cap to nipple fit and I use only Remington 10’s.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Mr.woodnbow i am also a fan of remington caps only. Ive never had an issue with remington and ive had sooo many issues with other brands. I only use remingon 11s and ill use 10s if i can get them and im very picky about my cap to nipple fitment. I feel that is a big factor on the guns overall performance. Remington caps are the only caps that i feel are worth spending any money on...and if they ever stop making them then ill only use homemade caps as im not willing to spend any money on any other brand.

 

[Stophel]

I got my cap rake done for my Pietta 1860 "London" model with iron grip frame (I hate brass.. and Pietta's brass formula doesn't like me. It reacts with my skin, making an awful metallic stink that is hard to wash off). I currently still have the original Pietta nipples on it, and I'm using CCI #10 caps (which fit...sort of, and don't fall off...but I wouldn't really trust them too far). Went out and shot the gun today. Even with not-the-best nipples, and super thin CCI caps... POW, POW, POW, POW, POW, POW. Fast as I can work the hammer and trigger (pretty quick. I have big hands and long thumbs, and I can cock the hammer without shifting my grip at all). NO fuss, no muss. No cap sucking. Flings them suckers out the right side like it's supposed to. I was pleased. Even with less than the best components, it still runs like a champ. Which makes me happy.





Oh, I only shot 18 (it's hot outside! and I had something else to do), 30 grains of Pyrodex (man, that crap stinks.. but it's what I had in my flask, ready to go). No wad. NO grease. No lube at all, other than plain Hoppe's gun oil. I could have kept right on shooting with no fouling problems for quite a while, I'm sure. I know I would never have made it through three cylinders in my Remington like that....

I do have to come up with a taller front sight.. it shoots about 6" high at backyard distance, which I know is normal, but I probably won't be trying too many 75 yard shots with it.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Congrats! Looks really good. Id shave the cap rake/post to not be so long...i had one that was about the same size and cap fouling would end up caking onto it...the less surface area for fouling to stick to the better...but you did a great job! And i too prefer all steel london models, if its not a london blued steel then its nickel plated brass which i only have one of. Where Did you get your 1860 London? EMF?

 

[Stophel]

Yep, I got it from EMF several months ago. (By the way, the picture they show has the stubby navy grip frame, but it actually has the full length army grip, fortunately!) They have almost nothing at the moment! Pretty much the same situation everywhere, out of stock. However, Dixie seems to still have a fair number of different guns on hand, though they do tend to be higher than everyone else (I just had to buy one of the fantasy "1851 Navy .44 snubnose" guns... yeah, it's high, but I wanted it, and they had it! )

I have the rake high enough to match the slot in the hammer, short about 1/32" maybe to assure clearance. It's not as tall as it perhaps looks in the picture, as it's not a "pin" but more of a "fin", being full width, front-to-back, of the 6-32 bolt it's made from. It's fairly close side to side, but the hammer cannot quite contact it, even leaning on it to one side or the other. I think it will do fine, but we'll see how it does longer term.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Yeah thats what i meant...the fin! Couldnt quite describe it right. You may not have an issue...i didnt have issue with mine till i shot a long session in high humidity and the hammer would kinda get stuck when it would contact the thick fouling...thats when i decided to make the fin into more of a post. Also i round off the square edges as it helps with any fouling build up. But yours might do just fine if the clearance is big enough. I make my posts just a lil shorter than the nipple height, so about 3/4 to 4/5ths the nipple height. But i really dig ur cap post especially if its your first one. It gets addictive so soon all your guns will have a post/rake.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

And about the 1860 london...been thinking about getting one and although i do love the navy grip i want the 1860 to have the 1860 grip frame. So i was always on the fence when it came to getting it...but now i wont hace an excuse not to get..or is it now i have an excuse to get it? I love EMF as they actually inspect their guns and wont sell any lemons...so they all are blemish free and great timing. Did you know they have employees that use magnifying glasses to look for small scratches and send back whatever isnt perfect? I got an 1851 London for 200 bux due to being a "blemish" item...the scratch was a little dot under the barrel where the loading rammer arm is! I had to call them to ask where the blemish was...and it really surprised me on how strict they are when it comes to accepting a gun for them to sell to their customers. Other retailers are hit and miss as they just sell whatever they get and most wont accept the guns back if you receive a lemon...make you contact the manufacturer which usually takes months to fix an issue no matter how big or small. So for that very reason i am a HUGE emf fan and trust the products they sell.