etymology -- "bust a cap"

[JohnBT]

Primers, caps, same thing to a lot of people

www.sellier-bellot.cz/ammo-components-primers.php

Look at the first chart, the one titled CAPS. It's for centerfire pistol and rifle primers.

It's just what they're called some places. Heck, look at the menu on the left side of the linked page. Item seven is Centerfire Caps.

I suppose there are more examples out there.

 

[JohnBT]

"www.enterprisenews.com/news/cops_and_courts/x338105745/Ammunition-primer-caps-are-uncommon-but-legal-to-transport-in-checked-baggage"

TSA says primer caps are okay if in the original packaging.

The gun store owner had this to say:

"He said modern semi-automatic weapons require highly calibrated bullets that make it impractical to reload bullets, but it’s still done with shotguns and less so with pistols."

 

[69Falcon]

"www.enterprisenews.com/news/cops_and_courts/x338105745/Ammunition-primer-caps-are-uncommon-but-legal-to-transport-in-checked-baggage"

TSA says primer caps are okay if in the original packaging.

The gun store owner had this to say:

"He said modern semi-automatic weapons require highly calibrated bullets that make it impractical to reload bullets, but it’s still done with shotguns and less so with pistols."

Wow, that guy sounds like he knows his stuff. I never knew about these extreme "calibrations". Funny, because my handloads are better than the factory rounds I've bought. More consistent crimp, C.O.L., etc. Good results on the range, too!

 

[Hatterasguy]

It does sound plausible that it could have originated in the mid 19th century, interesting.

 

[jbkebert]

The term busting a cap was refered to in the book " The Rifle and the Hound of Ceylon" written in 1854 by S. W. Baker. Samuel Baker a Victorian era hunter from London. Refering to the dread when his front stuffer failed to fire the charge merley busting a cap.

A few pages about some of this guys exploites were also noted by Peter Capstick in the book "Death in the Silent places"

So my most educated guess would be somewhere shortly after the Percussion cap rifle was introduced.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

He said modern semi-automatic weapons require highly calibrated bullets that make it impractical to reload bullets, but it’s still done with shotguns and less so with pistols

Well, it is impractical to reload bullets -- they're usually all smashed up after firing.

On the other hand, if you have new bullets, powder and primers, it's quite easy to reload cartridge cases.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I read a book entitled "The Prairie Traveler" which was written about that time - and the term was used in it (if I recall correctly)

Written by Captain Randolph Marcy. One of the best books of that era on the subject of traveling and surviving beyond the frontier.

 

[Tomcat47]

Goes right along with birdman gun sites! LOL

 

[wrs840]

When I tell my wife "I'm gonna crossa skreet an' bussa cap" she knows I'm heading south of the old ridge-road-cut and into the woods to do some target shooting. After 30+ years together, she understands almost any gibberish I utter.

Les