How long does 1’000 caps last for an average shooter

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Snapping caps is a pretty reliable way to clear the fire channel. This is the way N-SSA competition shooters have been doing it for years. I recommend a minimum of 2, 3 is better, to make sure the fire channel is clear. You will know you have a clear channel when you snap a cap at some grass or a bit of leaf on the ground and see it move.
I'm not trying to talk anybody into or out of anything. If the NSSA does it they surely have their reasons. You probably have enough experience cleaning your guns that you don't leave excess oil in the flash channel. Probably go off perfectly without any snapped caps.
 
IMO, caps do not leave enough residue in the flash channel to hurt a thing.
I agree. It's, IMO, only a problem if enough oil residue is left in the breech to combine with cap residue to even partially obstruct the ignition channel. Iike I said, I think the cleaning procedure you use pretty much assures that you won't have problems whether you snap a cap or not.
 
I have 1’000 cci #11’s and was wondering if any of you out there could give a ball park estimate of how long these should last me, shooting maybe 2-3 times a month
Assuming just the Rifle in the photo?
As stated; revolvers a whole different game.
Now; how many shots per outting?
Depending on weather and time I shoot an average of 10 to 30 each time.
Now; are you one who pops a cap to clear the channel at the beginning of each outing? That will cost you 2-3 caps per month right there - However, I have seen people who pop off 3, 4, maybe 5 or 6 just trying to figure out why it won't fire....

Now; how clumsy are you? Count on losing one here and there - they simply Vanish.
Now; BIG QUESTION: Are you using Black Powder or pretend powder?
Then; how good is your loading practices? Do you tend to dry ball occasionally...or maybe often? -> Those will each cost you a cap or two or some people even five or six trying to figure out what's wrong...

Then: duds are, well ....loke tootsie roll pops - you will never Now.

And then there is taking friends out with you who not have any.

Once you have All that figured out, just multiply by 2-3 and divide by 12 and calculate in the unknown and THAT is how long they should, on the average, last you.

My suggestion: get one more 1,000 and you should be set, for a while at least.
 
I average 30 shots per range visit when shooting a caplock. Add snapping to clear the flash channel to start the day plus a few after range cleaning between shot string say 40 caps per session. At this rate 1,000 caps would last me about 25 range visits or less than one year. The only problem is, where to find enough caps and for a reasonable price. I think it's a case of, how did one candidate put it? Oh yeah, "price gauging". Come on, the asking price for percussion caps in an absolute rip off.
 
It really depends on how much shooting you do. As a kid I remember folks only using two or three shots for deer hunting, with one or two shots to test their gun to make sure it is working and still shoots where they aim. Nothing special on accuracy just in the pie plate range. Then the one shot to get the deer. That is for the guys who go once a year of course.

If they hunt other animals then the round count goes up more though. Plus some guys will dry the rifle’s bore and set off a cap to make sure the nipple and passage is clear before loading it up as well.
 
One day banjo for sure
One day banjo for sure
Exactly what Ian in process of doing. I just gave one of my friends a new flintlock kit to build and bought another one already made cause he is old and probably not enough to to build and enjoy. I’m 83 and am seriously thinking of building myself a flintlock. I’ve built 2 cappers. .45 and .54
 

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