Small pistol primers as percussion caps?

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Speedgoat44

32 Cal
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Anyone try a variation of this as a homemade percussion cap option for times of scarcity? There are (of course) youtube videos of folks doing all kinds of things to make caps, and this is one of several ways folks have tried to DIY. It might be a horrible idea and I'm in no way condoning it - just curious if anyone has tried it?
I hear of adapters for primers that were once commercially available, but I've yet to see one. Small Pistol primers seem to always be in decent supply even in times of scarcity for other components. Thanks all!
 
Clear PVC tube of the type used for aquarium pumps friction fit over nipples cut just long enough to secure a primer. Not all revolvers may have enough clearance, but for rifles shotguns and single shot pistols, they will work.

You can get 10 feet at Home Depot for less than $10, enough to last a while.

Being an "unmentionable" reloader as well, I wouldn't say small pistol primers are always in decent supply, in fact right now, of the four main types they are the scarcest in my latest perusing, but they come and go.
 
Thanks - will try this. This would be for a hawken - less in-line than a pistol, so do you think the flame would still get to the charge?
 
I’ve used small pistol primers often on an 1858 Remington, CVA mountain rifle, investarm hawken and TC Cherokee rifles. I cut the aquarium Tube about 1/4” or so. It works great.
 
Speedgoat44 said:
Thanks - will try this. This would be for a hawken - less in-line than a pistol, so do you think the flame would still get to the charge?
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, definitely. The reason they don't work on some revolvers is simply sticking out too far in one with a cylinder with tight tolerances no being able to rotate.

I think pistol primers are probably hotter than regular caps, and if not (which I doubt you will see), there are magnum small pistol primers for the same price or a small amount more.
 
Speedgoat44 said:
Thank you - I'm down to about 200 caps and an alternative would be helpful since they are really hit or miss locally.
Click to expand...
Don't know if it's helpful or not but I have been getting regular emails from Graf and Sons, Natchez Shooting Sports and Midsouth Shooting Supplies, running free hazmat and/or shipping of late. I do business with all three regularly and they are good to go. Don't know what they have right now, but I got a case of Large Pistol Primers from Natchez not too long ago on sale, and some caps from Grafs
 
How big is the spent pistol primer if you remove the little anvil in the center ?? Is it the right size then to fit firmly over a nipple ?? If it is a good fit, I wonder if you can refill them with priming compound and get a second use from them.
Ohio Rusty ><>
 
Ohio Rusty said:
How big is the spent pistol primer if you remove the little anvil in the center ?? Is it the right size then to fit firmly over a nipple ?? If it is a good fit, I wonder if you can refill them with priming compound and get a second use from them.
Ohio Rusty ><>
Click to expand...
Not sure the primer would detonate without the anvil, even pressed onto a nipple.
 
I've had better luck finding percussion caps than modern primers. For me it is a hit or miss item. I buy either when I see them.
 
What state do you live in and can you order some? If you can find musket caps they make adapter nipples.

If it were me (and it is me since I live in one of the worst states in the US for shooters), I would put my efforts into piecing together a supply of the proper caps.

Not so much trying to jury rig something that involved aquarium tubing or rigging tap o caps. These are still firearms and the idea of damaging the gun or blowing tap o cap slivers into my face does not sound too appealing.
 

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