percussion cap shortage? or overpriced?

[mad murdock]

Are any of you guys/gals seeing a dearth of percussion caps? stores that used to stock them, still are, but like rimfire ammo, caps are either never on the shelf, or where you find them they are sky high priced! I had looked into the tap-o-cap tool, but after calling Foster Products, they have not built it for several years, and were not planning on bringing it back any time soon. Ones that show iup on ebay are crazy priced. I found the original patent (expired) on the tap-o-cap, and made one of my own. It works very well, and now I can figure out a way to keep shooting regardless of what goes on with store bought caps. I just need to stock up on all the ingredients for BP, hot toy caps, or even get the ingredients to make my own primer powder(in small quantities of course). What is everyone else seeing in their region? Merry Christmas!

 

[RS1860]

There are caps on the shelves at most stores in my region. I have seen no shortage whatsoever. That being said, I usually pick up a tin or two every time I'm at a shop in case the so called shortage hits my area.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

When I find them I buy as many as my wallet can stand. Then the caps are stored away.

 

[col.lemat]

I have noticed that over the last four years prices have doubled in my area for pistol caps. Cost for Remington caps in 2010 was $3.50 for a tin. Last year they were $7.00 a tin. Have not bought musket caps for a long time but looked at the price on the two tins that I have left and they marked $5.95 for Dynamit Nobel & $7.95 for CCI winged musket caps

 

[splattergun]

I've found caps less available for the past year. In stock for a few weeks, then out for a few weeks. Remington #10s have been the biggest hole, but when they do come in, prices are still reasonable, though higher
. I was buying them for about $3.5 - $4 per tin a year ago, now about $4.5 - $5. A pretty big price jump, but still a fraction, not a multiple.
I've bought about 1500 Rem 10 caps in the past few months a couple hundred at a time. I know it's not the most cost effective manner to buy, but I didn't want to hoard 'em all.

 

[OcelotZ3]

They used to be in short supply around here but are now fairly available (Oregon).

 

[eastbank]

i have quite a few put back,so i,m in good shape. but i have been shooting my flintlock,s more. a few years ago a local black powder store went under and i bought about 500 black english flints at a steal price, so no matter what happens i,m still be shooting some thing. eastbank.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Not too hard to find around here, but I haven't been able to find any brand in any quantity that comes out to less than $7.99/ 100 before tax.

I understand supply and demand, but more than double the price of center fire primers seems high.

 

[Hellgate]

Rem #10s are the one's I need and only occasionally seen at Cabela's but never at the on-line shooter's suppliers where I usually buy a case of 5000. I've had a standing order for 5K at one supplier since Nov 2013 and so far, it has not been filled.

 

[Noz]

double tap

 

[Noz]

http://cowboyshooterssupply.com/ out of Ft Tyson, OK has them. I try to catch them at mid west shoots that they attend as vendors. Standard for me is 1000 #10 Remingtons every time I see them.
Brisco Kid and Kiamichi Queen are good people.

 

[Hellgate]

Noz,
Agreed. Good folks. Unfortunately they no longer can ship hazmat so I can't order from them directly. I bouught 10K from them a few years ago for myself and a buddie but now I'm low so I'll keep looking. I'll never get to the midwest shoots. If I did I might just have to look you up. My grandma's family was from "Mizurrah" before Montana.

 

[holdover]

there has been a shortage of Musket caps this last year in this area (east). I shoot N-SSA and go through about 3K caps a year with competitions and practice, this last year had to scale back. I get my caps from Back Creek Gun shop in Winchester and this year there were times that he was low and restricted purchases to 1K or was out. I believe at the spring nationals he got an order in for 300K, but with over 2K shooters that isn't very many caps. price has been between 70-75 per K for the last few years.

 

[EljaySL]

2013 it was hard to find anything. 2014 they've popped up now and again locally and at some of the online places. I'd say the local Bass Pro has had caps about half the times I've been there. Cabelas often has them online for $80/1000 plus shipping and hazmat. As noted that's twice what modern primers cost.

I don't think I've ever seen musket caps locally and even a couple of years ago they were hard to find anywhere, they're not being produced as much. When I got a gun that required them I ended up buying 2,000 of them online so I guess I'm set for a while.

Update: Ironically I got them from Black Creek, so that's interesting that they went from a 2K minimum to a 1K maximum.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Now, that the Republicans have control of both houses of Congress, the black powder & reloading components, ammunition and hard-to-find items will likely return to pre-2008 levels....sitting on the shelf with dust on them.

 

[rodinal220]

I haven't experience a shortage but they are overpriced.

 

[RonC]

Haven't had a problem finding them recently. Bought 1000 CCI at one local shop and 1000 Remington at another. The CCI were $4.99 per 100 and the Remington were $5.99.
ron

 

[kurr]

Murdock I would be very interested in how you did your cap maker. Any pics/videos etc to share?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Big R in my area has them. I was able to buy a tin for myself and another for our rangemaster (I had mooched caps from him a couple of sessions).

 

[mad murdock]

Here is a video that is out there on a copy of the capmaker I made, my buddy Kevin makes them and is referenced in the video and his contact is in the comments. http://youtu.be/91nRXFEXaEg
I will see if I can link the patent info I used to build mine. The patent has long expired, U pence it is available on freepatents

 

[paul54]

Was in Cabelas outlet store in Waco TX yesterday. They had Remington #11's for $7.99/100. 2 years ago I bought the same caps for $29.99/K from Third Generation Supply in OK. Added 4 bottles of Pyrodex RS to the order for my Lyman Trade Rifle to help off set the Haz Mat.

 

[EljaySL]

Be careful comparing prices with 3rd Generation. They were unloading a bunch of old stock Remington caps at one point at low prices. Some people are happy with them, others not so much but you would expect them to be cheaper in any case.

 

[Noz]

Come around Hellgate. Be happy to see you!

 

[Texas Moon]

They've been very scarce in my area.
My Walkers like the Remington #10's and they've been pretty much unobtanium for a couple of years now.
When I do find them I try to purchase as much as possible.

 

[Bluehawk]

Cabelas has Remington caps in both #10 & #11 at the moment online but they are way overpriced at $80/1000. Regardless, I bought 1,000 of each because I simply don't like the CCI brand. Luckily I had a $25 gift certificate so that took care of the damn HazMat fee.