Well, let's see: We agree that the original issued nipples aren't the best- so use an Ampco replacement nipple made of Bronze. I think we can also agree that this is not a NSSA site, so most shooters here are not going to be bound by the NSSA shooting rules. We agree that if YOU ARE GOING TO SHOOT IN AN NSSA competition, you probably are going to be better off using those big musket caps. My big fingers don't handle those small #11 caps( the #10 are even worse!) well either.
But, apparently you don't think we should use a Capper to hold the #11 caps for both ease of handling and for safety? Or at least a Leather capper, that protects the thumb in the event that the cap fires when being pushed down on the nipple?
And, I didn't know that NSSA rules forbade the use of leather cappers with the musket caps.
( For the uninformed, you can make a capper from leather by taking two pieces of thick leather, punching holes near the edges( round cappers are the norm)of one of them, large enough to hold each musket cap, with the open end out. The second piece of leather is left full, and is sewn, or otherwise attached to the first so that it protects the back, or top, of the musket nipples. There are slits from the side of the hole to the edge of the lower piece of leather, so that the musket caps can be pulled off the capper after they have been pressed down on the nipple. The heavy piece of leather on top protects the thumb from burns and most injuries if the cap goes off due to friction igniting any priming compound as the nipple is pushed down on to the nipple. You can make the same kind of capping tool for #11 cap, too.)
The advantage of using the Tedd Cash cappers, is that the capper can hold an entire tin of caps,(100) at one time. As much as I liked my leather capper, its a pain to have to stop and reload it during a match.
I have no doubt that extraordinary shooting can be done with those large bore guns with the right shooter, and the right nipples in the guns. My comments about using standard #11 caps was intended for those members who are using .58 and larger bore barrels on their rifles, often octagon, heavy barrels, for HUNTING. The use of Standard percussion caps for this purpose produces some very fine accuracy in these guns.
Many shooters either don't know about Ampco nipples, or are loathe to use anything other than factory equipment. I don't get it, but that is the way some of these shooters act. I run into this attitude all the time at my gun club with new members. Most have been exposed to some know-it-all who is practicing law without a license! When I explain that switching nipples is Not going to void any warranty that has any value, and that their foreign made gun is Not subject to US laws on Products Liability, they stop making bad decisions based on worse advice.
( Guys: My birthday present to you. A Warranty is nothing more than an invitation to go to court! Sometimes SOME companies establish enviable reputations for honoring their warrantees. A great example is the Thompson Center Company. But there are other gun companies, who offer all kinds of warranties, and who do not honor them as well. If that company is American, you are usually going to find your self in Federal Court unless you live in the same state where the company is located. Federal Court litigation is expensive- all litigation is expensive. For what you pay a lawyer as a retainer, its cheaper to buy 5-10 more guns! That is why you don't hear much about these companies being sued to enforce their warranties.
Case in point: many years ago, I was approached by a local gunsmith, who had sent back a gun to the factory for replacement of a barrel. The original barrel was mis-marked as to caliber, and when the owner used the named ammunition in the gun, he damaged the gun. The company refused to replace the barrel, or action, and instead, cut the handle off the bolt and returned the remains, sans the bolt handle to the gunsmith. Now, this was clearly a factory error that lead to the damage to the rifle. But, at the time, the gun cost about $600.00. The owner just could not afford to sue the gun company to recover his loss, even tho' he had a good claim.The gunsmith showed me the returned " gun " and asked me if the company was wrong to destroy the bolt. I said, "Yes", but that the owner would have to sue. I suggested that a separate count be used to sue for that intentional damage, with a request for punitive damages for this intentional tort. That would certainly get the attention of the Company's attorneys, if not management, and I suspect some kind of settlement would have been made to the plaintiff's satisfaction. Later, I was told that the gun owner talked to his own lawyer, ( who was not a trial lawyer) and decided it was too expensive for him to sue.
Punitive damage awards are based on the defendant's net worth, and what kind of money a jury believes is necessary to stop the company from doing this kind of wrong to other members of the public. Its very likely that a jury would be as angry about what the company did as my gunsmith friend was, and award a substantial amount of money as punitive damages- more than enough to pay the costs of the litigation.
Any time a trial lawyer can get a good intentional wrong doing count into a suit, against a defendant with deep pockets, he is in heaven! He knows that not only can he do justice for his client, but he can be paid, well, too! Its not unusual for lawyers who do not regularly do trial work to overlook an intentional wrong that gives rise to punitive damages. Even lawyers who do lots of civil law suits arising from auto crashes miss intentional tort claims. They just don't come up in that context very often.)
