Home made caps

[Appalachiannative]

Also had another thought. How corrosive is the prime all stuff compared to the commercial caps? My prime all and cap making die came in yesterday

 

[Lyle]

Also had another thought. How corrosive is the prime all stuff compared to the commercial caps? My prime all and cap making die came in yesterday

Frankford Arsenal FH-42 (WW1)
Potassium Chlorate 47.2
Antimony Sulfide 30.83
Sulfur 21.97

This is the priming compound used in WW1. This is what Prime All is. It is corrosive. That means that the residue left over after shooting will collect water. Water will flush the compound out. In a dry area several days can go by without a problem. On the coast one day. Rust is the problem not some acid or something else. I clean the same day.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Frankford Arsenal FH-42 (WW1)
Potassium Chlorate 47.2
Antimony Sulfide 30.83
Sulfur 21.97

This is the priming compound used in WW1. This is what Prime All is. It is corrosive. That means that the residue left over after shooting will collect water. Water will flush the compound out. In a dry area several days can go by without a problem. On the coast one day. Rust is the problem not some acid or something else. I clean the same day.

Doesn't sound like it will make my maintenance any more elaborate than usual. Usually take the nipple off my rifle then drop it in a shot glass of TC solvent to soak while I clean the barrel with hot water and dish soap

 

[Lyle]

I clean my ‘51 by doing a detailed strip, then take the frame, barrel and cylinder outside to the water hose and flush them. Cleaning is done with Balistol and water, 25% to 75% which is sometimes called moose milk. The cleaning ratio is on the can. I use moose milk on all of my guns.

 

[44 Dave]

Is any one using brass shim stock? In the way back there were Italian caps, sold under different names, that did not cap jam and times the spent ones had to be pried off.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Is any one using brass shim stock? In the way back there were Italian caps, sold under different names, that did not cap jam and times the spent ones had to be pried off.

wouldn't that be expensive? I also wonder if the cap maker tool could handle it

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

Hello and thanks for all help... I ordered a Pietta 1860 Army revolver in 44 cal. I found bullets and powder but no percussion caps anywhere so making my own caps seems to be the way to go if I want to shoot it instead of hanging it on the wall to look at. I also ordered Slix-Shot nipples. I see Brian now makes the cap making tool in #10 as well as #11.. has anyone used the homemade #10 or the #11 caps on Slix-Shot nipples? I'm not sure which one to order. I sent a message from the 22reloader web page, but haven't heard back from him yet.

 

[Lyle]

Hello and thanks for all help... I ordered a Pietta 1860 Army revolver in 44 cal. I found bullets and powder but no percussion caps anywhere so making my own caps seems to be the way to go if I want to shoot it instead of hanging it on the wall to look at. I also ordered Slix-Shot nipples. I see Brian now makes the cap making tool in #10 as well as #11.. has anyone used the homemade #10 or the #11 caps on Slix-Shot nipples? I'm not sure which one to order. I sent a message from the 22reloader web page, but haven't heard back from him yet.

I have the #11 tool, purchased January 2021. The caps that it makes are to small to fit on the Slix Shot nipples. I use factory nipples for my caps, and Slix Shot nipples with commercial caps.

 

[Zulch]

Hello and thanks for all help... I ordered a Pietta 1860 Army revolver in 44 cal. I found bullets and powder but no percussion caps anywhere so making my own caps seems to be the way to go if I want to shoot it instead of hanging it on the wall to look at. I also ordered Slix-Shot nipples. I see Brian now makes the cap making tool in #10 as well as #11.. has anyone used the homemade #10 or the #11 caps on Slix-Shot nipples? I'm not sure which one to order. I sent a message from the 22reloader web page, but haven't heard back from him yet.

Congratulations JamesSh@@ter on your new 1860!! Awesome revolver to have. Best of luck on your pursuit of the caps.

 

[Black Jack Shellac]

I used the Italian caps.Really hard brass cups ,corrosive as hell too. I had to bring a needle nose pliers to get em off. Ah good times. The rolled brass the Lyle showed is ideal. It's soft and .005 thick. Punches out with about as much effort as a double layer pop can. As cheap as you are going to find it too. The prime-all is very corrosive like the Italian caps. Clean as like you are using Pyrodex and you will be fine. My #11 cap maker makes em and the cups fill fit on any of my #11 nipples.Also my stock revolver nips too. I don't know whats going on with six shot nipples that they don't more easily fit on. So far nobody who has bought the #10 cap maker has reported back.I wonder why?
Black Jack Shellac

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I remember those Italian caps as well, I carried one of those nut pick thingys for getting walnuts outta the shell to remove stuck caps. Still get the occasional stuck CCI cap.

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

Congratulations JamesSh@@ter on your new 1860!! Awesome revolver to have. Best of luck on your pursuit of the caps.

Thanks Zulch! I always wanted a black powder pistol. I was talking to a guy that works at the range and he sold me 3 tins of Rem #10s from his personal stash. That will get me started anyways. Pistol shipping from Midway and should be here about Saturday.

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

I have the #11 tool, purchased January 2021. The caps that it makes are to small to fit on the Slix Shot nipples. I use factory nipples for my caps, and Slix Shot nipples with commercial caps.

I got a replay back from Brian at 22reloader, short reply. He said "number #10" to my asking for suggestion for Slix-Shot nipples... But from your experience I'm thinking #11 should be tight enough if not too tight, lol. Maybe the way they are made either one would expand enough to work about the same. Anyways I will have both the stock and Slix-Shot nipples.

 

[Appalachiannative]

I used the Italian caps.Really hard brass cups ,corrosive as hell too. I had to bring a needle nose pliers to get em off. Ah good times. The rolled brass the Lyle showed is ideal. It's soft and .005 thick. Punches out with about as much effort as a double layer pop can. As cheap as you are going to find it too. The prime-all is very corrosive like the Italian caps. Clean as like you are using Pyrodex and you will be fine. My #11 cap maker makes em and the cups fill fit on any of my #11 nipples.Also my stock revolver nips too. I don't know whats going on with six shot nipples that they don't more easily fit on. So far nobody who has bought the #10 cap maker has reported back.I wonder why?
Black Jack Shellac

my theory is that the original motive for making caps was saving money and buying both the #11 and #10 tool costs more. However in these times of scarcity the motive has changed. I wouldn't be surprised if someone pops up soon who's got the #10 and #11 maker to avoid having to worry about "supply chain issues related to the pandemic"

 

[troy fairweather]

my theory is that the original motive for making caps was saving money and buying both the #11 and #10 tool costs more. However in these times of scarcity the motive has changed. I wouldn't be surprised if someone pops up soon who's got the #10 and #11 maker to avoid having to worry about "supply chain issues related to the pandemic"

If I had the money I'd get both, seems most of my guns like #10s tho.

 

[Appalachiannative]

If I had the money I'd get both, seems most of my guns like #10s tho.

I just got the #11 and I've done made some caps. I'm gonna try some out next weekend on my rifle and revolver since I'm working overtime this Saturday and I dont shoot on Sundays. I figured I might get the #10 I ever get something that works better with them. Or if thing get any worse with supplies I might get it for a just in case

 

[troy fairweather]

I just got the #11 and I've done made some caps. I'm gonna try some out next weekend on my rifle and revolver since I'm working overtime this Saturday and I dont shoot on Sundays. I figured I might get the #10 I ever get something that works better with them. Or if thing get any worse with supplies I might get it for a just in case

My 2 cap and ball like #10s actually I picked up some cci #11mags a while back for 6 something a tin and they fit like rem and standard cci #10. My Hopkins and Allen likes #10s as well.

Anyone try using roll caps in the home made caps, think I seen guys use 2 in each. Believe they use a paper hole punch to make them. Or use the 6 gun plastic caps, used to see a 100 pack at the dollar store as a kid.

 

[Appalachiannative]

My 2 cap and ball like #10s actually I picked up some cci #11mags a while back for 6 something a tin and they fit like rem and standard cci #10. My Hopkins and Allen likes #10s as well.

Anyone try using roll caps in the home made caps, think I seen guys use 2 in each. Believe they use a paper hole punch to make them. Or use the 6 gun plastic caps, used to see a 100 pack at the dollar store as a kid.

I used paper roll caps combined with crushed strike anywhere match heads in my old set up. Look back through the pages of this thread for details. I used the same method with just 3 roll caps instead of 2 roll caps and a match head as well. Both are disappointing in my experience but then again I was not using the cap making tool. I don't want to explain again what I used for the metallic cup instead. The cap making tool is definitely superior for making the metallic cup part of the cap itself.

 

[Appalachiannative]

My 2 cap and ball like #10s actually I picked up some cci #11mags a while back for 6 something a tin and they fit like rem and standard cci #10. My Hopkins and Allen likes #10s as well.

Anyone try using roll caps in the home made caps, think I seen guys use 2 in each. Believe they use a paper hole punch to make them. Or use the 6 gun plastic caps, used to see a 100 pack at the dollar store as a kid.

Another inherent problem with the paper caps is that sometimes paper gets rammed down into the nipple when you fire. It gets down in there so good you have to unscrew it then run it back out the top with the pick on your wrench

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

Thanks Zulch! I always wanted a black powder pistol. I was talking to a guy that works at the range and he sold me 3 tins of Rem #10s from his personal stash. That will get me started anyways. Pistol shipping from Midway and should be here about Saturday.

Got my pistol today! I was surprised on how good the trigger pull is, and the pistol looks great... I got the caps from the guy that works at the gun range, they wasn't Rem #10, they was CCI#10. No way they would start on my Slix-Shot nipples, so put the factory nipples back in. The CCI #10 was really tight starting on the factory nipples and had to use a wood dowel to force them on. Not sure how safe that is as far as setting one off. About half would fire first time, and the rest would fire second time after the hammer seated them better the first time... good practice for seeing if you flinch anyways, lol. I'm just glad I got to shoot it! Looks like I'll be getting a #11 cap making tool, and shooting the tight CCIs till I can make some caps or find other caps.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Got my pistol today! I was surprised on how good the trigger pull is, and the pistol looks great... I got the caps from the guy that works at the gun range, they wasn't Rem #10, they was CCI#10. No way they would start on my Slix-Shot nipples, so put the factory nipples back in. The CCI #10 was really tight starting on the factory nipples and had to use a wood dowel to force them on. Not sure how safe that is as far as setting one off. About half would fire first time, and the rest would fire second time after the hammer seated them better the first time... good practice for seeing if you flinch anyways, lol. I'm just glad I got to shoot it! Looks like I'll be getting a #11 cap making tool, and shooting the tight CCIs till I can make some caps or find other caps.

I haven't fired any home made caps on either of my guns yet but just for shoots and ladders sake I tried putting a blank un primed #11 on the nipple of my rifle and it honestly fit better than the Remington #11 which is all I've ever used. Never even seen CCI for sale around here and no luck ordering caps on line. Why I've resolved to be a DIY kinda guy

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

I haven't fired any home made caps on either of my guns yet but just for shoots and ladders sake I tried putting a blank un primed #11 on the nipple of my rifle and it honestly fit better than the Remington #11 which is all I've ever used. Never even seen CCI for sale around here and no luck ordering caps on line. Why I've resolved to be a DIY kinda guy

If I had more CCI#10s I would try turning my nipples down to fit. But only have a couple tins of them... seemed strange I had to modify my Traditions revolver nipple wrench to fit, it was too small to fit over my stock Pietta nipples and also to small for my Slix-Shot nipples. But a little file work and it is a nice tight fit now.

 

[Zulch]

Got my pistol today! I was surprised on how good the trigger pull is, and the pistol looks great... I got the caps from the guy that works at the gun range, they wasn't Rem #10, they was CCI#10. No way they would start on my Slix-Shot nipples, so put the factory nipples back in. The CCI #10 was really tight starting on the factory nipples and had to use a wood dowel to force them on. Not sure how safe that is as far as setting one off. About half would fire first time, and the rest would fire second time after the hammer seated them better the first time... good practice for seeing if you flinch anyways, lol. I'm just glad I got to shoot it! Looks like I'll be getting a #11 cap making tool, and shooting the tight CCIs till I can make some caps or find other caps.

JamesSh@@ter, Awesome news!! So glad you got your shooter!! Feels good, like Christmas came early. I had the sae problem with the 10's one of my Walkers that I the first time. The CCI 10's had to be pressed on just about, the wood dowel is probably a good idea. I used my thumb and tip of index finger.None of them went off. Took them off and replaced with CCI 11's BAM!!. All worked. However, I did have to ever so slightly pinch the 11 caps to secure them better. I was using the stock cones. Anyway, very happy for you. Would like to hear of your cap making when you get to that point.

 

[Zulch]

my theory is that the original motive for making caps was saving money and buying both the #11 and #10 tool costs more. However in these times of scarcity the motive has changed. I wouldn't be surprised if someone pops up soon who's got the #10 and #11 maker to avoid having to worry about "supply chain issues related to the pandemic"

Pandemic.......I reckon so. One has to wonder sometimes????
I need to try this cap making process myself Appalachinnative.

 

[JamesSh@@ter]

JamesSh@@ter, Anyway, very happy for you. Would like to hear of your cap making when you get to that point.

Got my cap maker today. .005 copper from Hobby Lobby, and Pepsi can. As you can see from the picture the aluminum pop can was easier to make. The copper hung up in the die after punching some, but still worked ok. My first try so following advise here for my first try. Used a small wood roller to roll the bags and break up the Potassium Perchlorate to a fine power before mixing.. filled the caps about 1/2 full, then tamped the dry powder mix down with a small wood dowel, then added a drop of the Acetone/Duco mix. I didn't use the off white bag of hardener that came with the Prime All. I'll try them tomorrow and see if they work. Thanks again for all the advise here.