#11 caps or musket caps

[sandbergski]

I have a cva and i just bought a cabela's hawkins in 50 cal. one of the guy i know told me that the musket caps will give me better Accuracy than the #11's.any info will help.

 

[Swampman]

IMO, musket caps are a waste of time.

 

[sandbergski]

Realy !! so they are just bigger and easer to handle ?

 

[rabjr]

If your using black powder, you really don't need anything more than the #11 cap. If you are using substitute powders and find the gun isn't exactly 100% reliable, then maybe a musket cap might help that situation.

 

[sandbergski]

i am new to this but what dose IMO mean ?

 

[rabjr]

Means "In my opinion".

But yes musket caps are easier to handle for some being bigger.

 

[Dan Goad]

IMO = in my opinion.
IMHO = in my humble opinion.

:thumbsup:

Jac S. Muell

 

[longfowler]

even with real blackpowder, if you shoot in a damp climate (like new england in a feburary snowstorm) musket caps ARE MUCH more reliable. I speak from experience...I'm going into my 3rd year of primitive biathlon with out a single missfire since switching. (yeah, I know, now I'll have a bunch cuz I opened my big mouth)and yes there is the advantage of the size. even with a capper those darn little #11's are a PIA when it's -5 out & you have 2 pair of gloves on. I don't think it'll make a difference in accuracy, but it sure helps my confidence in weather or not the gun will go off! and confidence is the basis for accuarcy. save those little caps for your handgun.

more important than IMHO is IME (In My Experience)

 

[wtilenw]

If your using black powder, you really don't need anything more than the #11 cap. If you are using substitute powders and find the gun isn't exactly 100% reliable, then maybe a musket cap might help that situation.

My opinion exactly.

 

[Swampman]

Having fired probably a 100,000+ musket caps, I can assure you that they aren't more reliable. Misfires are caused by defective, or improperly fitted nipples.

Careful testing has shown that they aren't any hotter. They may be easier to handle but with a capper that isn't an issue. They will not be more accurate.

They are a waste of time.

 

[sandbergski]

Thanks guys i'm Learning

i am 41 years old and this black powder stuff is awsome!! i just wish that i would have dicovered it 20 years ago

 

[Zonie]

Another thing to think about when considering going to a Musket Cap on a non-Military style of gun is the size of the hammer.

Many of the caplocks out there have hammers that don't align with the nipple. They also have recessed faces located down inside a cup that is intended to keep cap fragments from hitting the shooter.

While using a standard #11 cap the somewhat mis-aligned hammers will work quite nicely however if a Musket sized nipple is substituted for the standard nipple and a large Musket sized cap is placed on it the hammers mis-alignment may hang up on the side of the cap rather than hitting the top of it as is intended.
This can cause a mis-fire.

The Military style guns have very large hammers with very large recesses in their faces to accommodate the larger Musket Caps.

IMO, if one is using a synthetic black powder that needs the extra fire from a Musket cap to ingnite it they should try the #11 Magnum or RWS 1075 caps first. These caps are noticeably more powerful and they will often do wonders for eliminating mis-fires.

 

[longfowler]

100,000 caps? you must have done alot of reenacting...maybe you had some left over civil war caps! I don't know what kind of careful testing you're refering to, but my simple test is go in your garage, shut the doors & turn off the lights, and cap an empty rifle with a #11 and watch the flame at the muzzle. now try that with a musket cap - it's like the difference between a 22 rifle and a .44 magnum. you'll light up the whole place, scare the manure outa the neighbors and have to open a window to the smoke out. cops may show up. manufactures claim 600 degress hoter & double the blast volume than a #11, that's why they used them for fake powders before the 209 ignition became popular. sure, you may not NEED that much, but the one time you WANT it and don't have it you'll change your mind. Like when it's been raining and 40 degrees for a week of deer season and you're aiming at a buck! and since they cost about the same, what's the waste?
and yes, like zonie says, I've had the clearance issue but it's an easy fix with a thin washer under the hammer.

 

[marwat06]

I have a cva and i just bought a cabela's hawkins in 50 cal. one of the guy i know told me that the musket caps will give me better Accuracy than the #11's.any info will help.

Did anyone answer the Accuracy question? Because I would like to know also if and how a musket cap can give you better accuracy? Faster ignition?

 

[mykeal]

There is no effect on 'accuracy'. The gas pressure time history that determines projectile motion depends on powder characteristics, not ignition conditions. The powder doesn't care if you light it off with 1500 degrees or 2500 degrees; it still burns based on it's own chemistry.

 

[swedepie]

41 yrs. old you a starting to show your age. "Wish I had started 20 yrs. ago", is just the kid rising to the surface on a 41 yr.old. Better get to shooting and catch up, there's still plenty of time. Mac.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Hotter, larger/easier to handle, just like my wise said...Bigger IS better.

I use them (Musket caps) exclusively and wouldnt change!

 

[Swampman]

They are not hotter. They are the same as #11s just bigger.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

The musket caps are easier to handle whether you are putting one on a nipple or refilling a capper--especially in cold weather. And they are hotter. You do need to modify the hammer but you can also buy a spare hammer and modify that one for use with the bigger caps. You need a different nipple too. Some rifles used to come with two nipples, one for musket caps and one for #11s. Zoli comes to mind in this regard. If you have to modify the breech to use the larger nipple, then you are making a permanent alteration and you should give that some serious thought. But you certainly don't lose anything by using musket caps all the time. By the way, your lock does have a stout main spring to make sure those big caps light off everytime--right?

 

[bingo1952]

Yep that's a lot of musket caps. That works out to 69.444 8 hour days firing 3 rounds per minute and the cost at $12,000.00 if purchased by the tin.
WHEW! :shocked2: