Can anyone tell me about these older caps?

[BowerR64]

I have some older percussion caps my dad had from who know how long. These were in his rifle bag, he had a bag he took when just shooting rifles and a small tackle box he took when he shot his pistols. I havnt found the pistol box yet im not sure where it could be.

Anyway, these old caps what are they and the size?

Im still pretty green to the black powder thing but im starting to think the #10 and #11 doesnt really mean the size of the cap it has more to do with the overall dimensions.

Some 10s are smaller around but deeper, some 11s are bigger around but shorter so it depends on brand.

These older caps i have seem to be the same size (all are #11) but maybe they are different in how hot they are? They all fit tighter then the CCI#11

 

[72coupe]

They are all #11 caps. The unfortunate thing is #11s aren't all the same size.

 

[44 Dave]

"Back in the day" when all I shot was those brass percussion caps I never had cap-jams on my 1860. they don't get stuck in the hammer safety notch.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Those brass caps were probably made by Fiocci for at least a dozen companies and importers. I shot them once in my Ruger Old Army and had to use a crowbar to scrape them off, well at least a knife, but it wasn't easy.

 

[Hellgate]

Zimmerstutzen,
The only reason I shoot a cartridge in my rifles it to have the empty brass cases to pry the caps off my revolvers. ;>)

 

[Chawbaccer]

The CVA caps in the blue plastic "tin" were readily available in the 70's, would be hanging on a peg board where ever ml supplies were sold. It did seem they really stuck to a nipple when fired.

 

[BowerR64]

That makes sense why they are so hard to get off being brass.

The CCI do seem a lot softer and way easier to bend.

I didnt even think about them being brass over copper.